Podcast Summary: Day 156 – How the Liturgy Is Celebrated

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
• Host: Ascension
• Description: Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 daily episodes, offering explanations, insights, and encouragement. Utilizing Ascension’s Foundations of Faith approach, the podcast employs a color-coded reading plan to enhance understanding of the Catechism’s structure and content.

Episode Overview

Episode: Day 156: How the Liturgy Is Celebrated
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Readings: Paragraphs 1145 to 1152 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into the question, "How is the liturgy celebrated?" He explores the foundational role of signs and symbols in the celebration of the liturgy, drawing connections between natural human communication and the sacred rituals of the Church.

Key Themes and Discussions

1. The Role of Signs and Symbols in Liturgy

Fr. Mike emphasizes that the liturgy is celebrated through an intricate tapestry of signs and symbols, aligning with the "divine pedagogy of salvation." He explains that these elements are deeply rooted in both creation and human culture, reflecting events from the Old Covenant and their fulfillment in Christ.

"Today, we're looking at how is the liturgy celebrated? It is celebrated through signs and symbols." [00:05]

Illustration of Signs in Communication: Using the analogy of sign language, Fr. Mike highlights that just as physical signs facilitate human communication, so too do symbolic actions and words facilitate communication with God.

"Any word on a page is a signification. Right. So if you read the word snow, it signifies something. Right? It is a sign for the reality of snow." [00:28]

2. Human Expression through Physical Signs

Exploring paragraph 1146, Fr. Mike discusses how humans, being both body and spirit, naturally express and perceive spiritual realities through physical symbols. This dual nature enables meaningful communication both among people and with God.

"Man expresses and perceives spiritual realities through physical signs and symbols." [06:45]

Example – Helen Keller: He references Helen Keller to illustrate the profound necessity of signs and symbols in understanding and communication, drawing a parallel to how God communicates with humanity.

"We can't understand ourselves, we can't understand others and others can't understand us without signs and symbols." [10:15]

3. Creation as a Sign of God’s Presence

Fr. Mike elaborates on how the material cosmos serves as a medium through which God’s presence is manifested. The natural elements—light, darkness, wind, fire, water, and earth—are seen as reflections of God’s greatness and nearness.

"The material cosmos is so presented to man's intelligence that he can read there traces of its creator." [12:30]

4. Elevation of Ordinary Actions in Liturgy

Drawing from paragraph 1148, he explains how everyday human actions like washing, anointing, breaking bread, and sharing the cup are elevated within the liturgy. These acts, which hold ordinary meanings in daily life, acquire sacred significance when integrated into religious rites.

"Normal things, like washing and anointing, are given supernatural power through liturgical rites." [19:50]

Transformation of Old Covenant Symbols: Fr. Mike connects Old Covenant symbols—such as circumcision, anointing of kings and priests, laying on of hands, sacrifices, and Passover—to their fulfillment in the New Covenant through Christ. He underscores how Jesus transforms these symbols into sacraments that convey salvation and sanctification.

"Jesus in his very self ... makes ... these actions ... salvific, and they come to us in the sacraments." [24:10]

Insights and Reflections

Sacramental Signs as Means of Grace: Fr. Mike articulates that the sacraments do not merely preserve the richness of pre-existing signs but purify and integrate them, making them effective conduits of divine grace.

"The sacraments of the Church ... signify and make actively present the salvation wrought by Christ." [22:45]

Visible Creation as a Communication Tool: He reiterates the Catechism's stance that God communicates through visible creation, allowing believers to perceive and respond to His presence through the natural world.

"God speaks to us through the visible creation. Do you see the snow falling down?" [14:20]

Embodiment of Faith in Daily Life: Fr. Mike encourages listeners to recognize and elevate their daily actions, understanding that ordinary gestures can become profound expressions of faith when aligned with liturgical practice.

"These actions of Jesus become salvific and they come to us in the sacraments." [25:30]

Conclusion

In Day 156 of The Catechism in a Year, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers a profound exploration of how the liturgy is celebrated through signs and symbols. He bridges the gap between everyday human communication and the sacred rituals of the Catholic Church, demonstrating how the latter elevates ordinary actions into powerful expressions of faith and grace. By understanding the liturgy’s use of physical symbols to convey spiritual truths, listeners gain a deeper appreciation of their participation in the divine mysteries and the continuous thread of salvation history that binds creation, tradition, and the incarnate Christ.

Fr. Mike concludes with a heartfelt reminder of the interconnectedness fostered through these symbols and an invitation to continue the journey of faith together.

"I am praying for you. Please, please pray for me. ... I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless." [29:55]

Notable Quotes

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:05]: "Today, we're looking at how is the liturgy celebrated? It is celebrated through signs and symbols."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:28]: "Any word on a page is a signification. Right. So if you read the word snow, it signifies something. Right? It is a sign for the reality of snow."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [06:45]: "Man expresses and perceives spiritual realities through physical signs and symbols."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [10:15]: "We can't understand ourselves, we can't understand others and others can't understand us without signs and symbols."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [12:30]: "The material cosmos is so presented to man's intelligence that he can read there traces of its creator."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [19:50]: "Normal things, like washing and anointing, are given supernatural power through liturgical rites."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [22:45]: "The sacraments of the Church ... signify and make actively present the salvation wrought by Christ."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [14:20]: "God speaks to us through the visible creation. Do you see the snow falling down?"

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [25:30]: "These actions of Jesus become salvific and they come to us in the sacraments."

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [29:55]: "I am praying for you. Please, please pray for me. ... I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless."

Final Thoughts

This episode serves as a profound reminder of the depth and richness embedded in the Catholic liturgy. By recognizing the significance of signs and symbols, believers can engage more meaningfully with their faith, understanding that every gesture and word within the liturgy is a conduit for divine grace and a reflection of God’s eternal plan.

Listeners are encouraged to contemplate the sacredness of everyday actions and to see the liturgy as a living, breathing expression of God’s ongoing relationship with humanity.