Podcast Summary: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) - Day 128: Unique Calls to Holiness

Episode Details

• Title: Day 128: Unique Calls to Holiness
• Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
• Publisher: Ascension
• Release Date: May 8, 2025
• Duration: Approximately 15-20 minutes

Introduction

In Day 128 of The Catechism in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into the unique calls to holiness within the Catholic Church, exploring the distinct paths of religious life, secular institutes, and societies of apostolic life. This episode, guided by the Foundations of Faith reading plan, aims to elucidate the diverse vocations that contribute to the Church's mission and the sanctification of its members.

Overview of Consecrated Life

Fr. Mike begins by contextualizing the discussion within the broader framework of consecrated life, distinguishing between various forms of dedicating oneself to God and the Church's mission.

Key Points:

• Religious Life: Communities such as the Benedictines, Franciscans, and Carmelites who live out the evangelical counsels in community settings.
• Secular Institutes: Groups where members live in the world, striving for sanctification without necessarily residing in a convent or monastery.
• Societies of Apostolic Life: Organizations focused on specific apostolic missions without taking public religious vows.

Notable Quotes:

• "Religious life is... led in common, and they give witness to the union of Christ in the church." [01:25]
• "Secular institutes... live intentionally, even if they don't live necessarily in community." [02:20]
• "Societies of apostolic life... dedicated to the service of the church in a very specific way." [02:43]

Deep Dive into Religious Life

Fr. Mike elaborates on religious life, emphasizing its liturgical character and communal living as hallmarks that distinguish it from other forms of consecrated life.

Key Points:

• Historical Roots: Originated in the East during the early centuries of Christianity and evolved through various monastic traditions.
• Liturgical Focus: Communities like the Benedictines prioritize prayer and liturgy ("ora et labora") as the cornerstone of daily life.
• Fraternal Community: Living in brotherhood or sisterhood, members support each other in their spiritual and apostolic endeavors.

Notable Quotes:

• "Religious life was born in the East during the first centuries of Christianity." [05:05]
• "The liturgy becomes the pivot... the touchstone of their entire lives and their entire day." [10:12]
• "Religious life... distinguishes itself by its liturgical character, public profession of the evangelical councils, fraternal life led in common." [05:13]

Exploring Secular Institutes

Transitioning to secular institutes, Fr. Mike highlights their unique position of living consecrated life while actively engaging in the secular world.

Key Points:

• Worldly Engagement: Members strive for the perfection of charity and work towards the sanctification of the world from within society.
• Diverse Missions: Includes roles such as education, healthcare, and social services, reflecting the founders' vision to address specific societal needs.
• Flexibility in Living Arrangements: Members may live individually or in community, maintaining their consecrated vows while participating fully in secular life.

Notable Quotes:

• "Secular institutes are... communities that are dedicated to the evangelical councils." [01:49]
• "They strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world, especially from within." [06:28]
• "Secular institutes enter into the world for the sake of the world." [12:32]

Understanding Societies of Apostolic Life

Fr. Mike then turns to societies of apostolic life, focusing on their commitment to specific missions without the requirement of public religious vows.

Key Points:

• Mission-Driven: Formed to address particular needs within the Church or broader society, such as education, missionary work, or service to the poor.
• Community Life: Members live in community, sharing a common purpose and supporting each other in their apostolic activities.
• Evangelical Counsels: While not taking public vows, members dedicate themselves to the evangelical counsels according to their constitutions.

Notable Quotes:

• "Societies of apostolic life... without religious vows, but they pursue the particular apostolic purpose of their society." [07:10]
• "They operate without public religious vows but are dedicated to the evangelical councils." [07:27]
• "Proclaiming the King who is coming... dedicated to him through baptism." [07:35]

The Essence of Consecration and Mission

In concluding the episode, Fr. Mike synthesizes the discussed forms of consecrated life, underscoring the fundamental mission of consecration: to proclaim Jesus Christ and participate in His redemptive work.

Key Points:

• First Mission: Living out one's consecration through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
• Missionary Obligation: Engaging in missionary work as an extension of one's consecrated life, whether through direct service or exemplifying Christ-like virtues.
• Universal Call to Holiness: Emphasizes that all members of the Church, regardless of their state in life, are called to holiness and to contribute to the Church's mission.

Notable Quotes:

• "The whole mission of consecration... is to proclaim the King Jesus Christ." [03:30]
• "The first mission of those who profess the evangelical councils is to live out their consecration." [14:29]
• "Our call to surrender ourselves to the God we love above all else." [14:01]

Reflections and Personal Application

Fr. Mike encourages listeners to reflect on their personal call to holiness, drawing parallels between the vocations discussed and the universal call to live a life consecrated to God.

Key Points:

• Personal Holiness: Whether one is in a consecrated state or living a secular life, the call to holiness remains central.
• Community Support: Emphasizes the importance of praying for one another and supporting each other in the journey through the Catechism.
• Continued Learning: Encourages listeners to stay engaged with the podcast for ongoing insights and spiritual growth.

Notable Quotes:

• "Let your lives and hearts and their actions, their mind, their love be conformed to Jesus." [15:09]
• "That's all of our calls as well." [15:29]
• "Please pray for me." [16:23]

Conclusion

Day 128 of The Catechism in a Year offers a comprehensive exploration of the various paths to holiness within the Catholic Church. Fr. Mike Schmitz effectively breaks down the distinctions and commonalities between religious life, secular institutes, and societies of apostolic life, highlighting their unique contributions to the Church's mission. By emphasizing the universal call to holiness, the episode invites listeners to consider their own vocations and roles in the broader tapestry of the Catholic faith.

Listeners are encouraged to continue their journey through the Catechism, deepening their understanding of faith and their personal relationship with God.

Additional Resources:

• Reading Plan: Download your own Catechism in a Year reading plan by visiting Ascendingpress.com/ciy.
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Prayer from the Episode: Father in heaven, we give you praise and glory. We thank you so much for this day. We thank you for the gift of your life... Amen.