Podcast Summary: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 15: Interpreting Scripture (2026)

Date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

On Day 15 of "The Catechism in a Year," Fr. Mike Schmitz dives into the crucial question: How should Catholics interpret Sacred Scripture? Drawing from Catechism paragraphs 109-114, he unpacks the Church's principles for scriptural interpretation, focusing on the relationship between human and divine authorship, the necessary context of tradition, and the safeguarding principle known as the "analogy of faith." The episode is both educational and encouraging, equipping listeners with practical guidelines and profound reverence for engaging with God's Word.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Human and Divine Authorship in Scripture (02:55–06:15)

• Human Authorship: Fr. Mike stresses that while the Holy Spirit is the ultimate author of Scripture, human writers played an essential role, using their own time-bound language, idioms, and genres.
  • “The author of Sacred Scripture is the Holy Spirit, and the author of Sacred Scripture is the human author. They are both truly authors. That might seem like a contradiction. It is not. It is a paradox. It's a mystery...” (05:50)
• Interpretive Responsibility: To interpret the Bible faithfully, readers must understand what the human author intended in their historical and cultural context.
  • Example: Genesis 1–11 ("prehistory") is a true account but not a scientific or biological one; it's aimed at answering "who" and "why," not "what" and "how." (07:05–08:45)

2. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Interpreting Scripture (09:15–10:00)

• The Holy Spirit, as the inspirer, must also be the interpreter. Scripture is “God-breathed,” and must be read “in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written.”
  • “Without which, Scripture would remain a dead letter... Sacred Scripture must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written.” (09:10)

3. Three Criteria for Interpreting Scripture (10:40–13:30)

a. Content and Unity of the Whole Scripture

• Principle: Never isolate a text; interpret every passage in context of the entire Bible.
  • “We never take a text out of context. … Every text is read in light of every other text, right? The whole Bible is seen as a unity.” (11:00)
• Key Point: 73 books, many human authors, but always the same divine Author.

b. Reading within the Living Tradition of the Church

• Principle: Scripture doesn’t stand alone; it must be understood alongside Sacred Tradition—the ongoing lived memory and teaching of the Church.
  • “We don’t believe in this idea of Scripture alone, because Scripture didn’t come out of nowhere. It came out of the tradition of the Church.” (12:15)
  • St. Paul’s exhortation: “Hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, whether by written word or orally.” (12:45)

c. Being Attentive to the Analogy of Faith

• Definition: The coherence and harmony of all truths of faith; no interpretation can contradict or be out of proportion with Church teaching.
  • “Every article of faith, every truth in the faith, is in relationship to every other truth of the faith. … There is never going to be one that cancels out another.” (14:25)
• Scriptural Reference: Romans 12:6 and the early Christian insight that no prophecy or teaching can contradict the one faith of the Church. (13:45–15:00)

4. Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Approaching Scripture with Confidence:

  • “What gives us that freedom to open up the Bible and say, I’m not going to be steered wrong? … I’m just reading it from the heart of the Church. And that’s such a great consolation and such a great comfort and gives us such great confidence.” (16:35)

• On the Joy of Learning Together:

  • “Here we are as a community once again saying, ‘I want to learn more, God. I want you to reveal yourself even more.’” (01:15)

Important Timestamps

• Opening Thematic Introduction: 00:05–02:50
• Significance of Human Authorship in Scripture: 05:00–07:15
• Example: Genesis as Prehistory vs. History: 07:15–08:45
• Role of the Holy Spirit as Interpreter: 09:10–10:00
• Three Criteria Outlined: 10:45–13:30
• Explanation of the Analogy of Faith: 13:30–15:00
• Summary and Encouragement: 16:00–17:00

Final Thoughts: Unity, Tradition, and Faith as Guardrails

Fr. Mike likens these three interpretive criteria to "guardrails" or a "fence" around the truth. They don’t limit exploration but offer safety to delve deeply into Scripture, confident that one will remain within the fullness of the faith handed down by Christ through His Church.

“Here are those guardrails... stay inside these and you can just run and explore and play and dive deeply into the Scriptures.” (15:20)

He concludes with encouragement and prayer, inviting listeners to approach Scripture with confidence, guided by the Church and the Spirit, and always connected in faith to the global Catholic community.

Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Podcast: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Day 15: Interpreting Scripture (2026)

This summary covers the essential teachings, emphasizes key insights and quotes, and provides a clear structure with timestamps for reference. Perfect for anyone wanting a thorough, engaging recap without listening to the full episode!