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

Episode Summary: Day 16 – Senses of Scripture (2026)

Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 115–119

Episode Overview

This episode delves into how Catholics are called to read and interpret the Bible, focusing on the senses of Scripture as outlined in the Catechism. Fr. Mike breaks open the concept that Scripture can (and should) be read according to two primary senses—the literal and the spiritual. He introduces listeners to the three spiritual sub-senses: allegorical, moral, and anagogical. Through vivid examples and practical explanations, he makes this foundational teaching accessible, illustrating the organic connection between Scripture, Church authority, and personal faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Challenge and Community of Studying the Catechism

• Fr. Mike encourages perseverance in following the daily readings, acknowledging the material can be “simple but dense” ([01:55]).
• He reminds listeners that community and prayer for one another are essential for making progress:

  “The fact that here you are on day 16…means not only that the Lord is moving you…but also that we're praying for each other.” (02:30)

2. Introduction to the Senses of Scripture ([03:30])

• The Catechism teaches two main senses:
  • Literal sense: What the words actually mean within their context.
  • Spiritual sense: Subdivided into allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses.
• Fr. Mike highlights the importance:

  “Whenever we read the Bible, we read it according to these two senses of Scripture.” (04:12)

3. The Literal Sense Explained

• Defined as the meaning conveyed by the words, determined through proper exegesis.

• Emphasized by St. Thomas Aquinas as foundational:

  “All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal.” (05:20)

• Example:

  • David marching into Jerusalem:
    • Literal sense = “David walked into Jerusalem.” (09:01)

4. The Spiritual Sense and Its Three Subtypes

a. Allegorical Sense ([09:24])

• Looks for deeper significance, particularly how Old Testament events foreshadow Christ and the Church.
• Catechism example: Crossing the Red Sea as a “type” of Christ’s victory and Christian Baptism:

  “The allegory there, the connection is that's a type, the Jews crossing…the Red Sea is a type or foreshadowing…Christians are baptized in water.” (09:45)

• Another example:
  • David’s entry as an allegory for Christ entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

b. Moral Sense ([11:32])

• How Scripture instructs us to act justly, shaping our personal and communal morality.
• Application to David:

  “David worshiped before he led the Ark…in the same way, we too have to sacrificially worship the Lord to truly honor him.” (12:00)

c. Anagogical Sense ([12:41])

• Considers how scriptural realities point to our ultimate destiny—eternity, heaven.

• Example:

  • David’s entry as a type of Christ’s future return to establish God’s eternal kingdom:

    “David enters the city of Jerusalem, just like Jesus will one day come back…he will establish an eternal kingdom…” (12:52)

• Mnemonic Summary:
  “Literal, what happened; Allegorical, about Jesus; Moral, about me; Anagogical, about eternity.” (13:38)

5. The Tradition of Interpreting Scripture ([14:00])

• Early Church Fathers carefully considered all four senses.
• Fr. Mike shares admiration for their “beautiful and powerful” insights.

6. The Role of the Church in Interpretation ([14:42])

• Echoes the Catechism: Exegetes must work under the guidance of the Church, which ensures orthodoxy and unity.
• Quote from St. Augustine:

  “But I would not believe in the Gospel had not the authority of the Catholic Church already moved me.” (15:10)

• Fr. Mike explains the Church’s authority predates the New Testament:

  “We rely upon the New Testament based off the authority of the Church that Jesus Christ himself established.” (15:40)

7. Looking Ahead: The Canon of Scripture ([16:15])

• Tomorrow's episode will discuss how the canon—the list of Scripture books—was established, reiterating reliance on Church authority.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On perseverance and prayer:

  “We're journeying as a community…praying for each other. I think we really, really need that…” (02:32)

• On senses of Scripture:

  “The literal sense is kind of the obvious one, right? The text says what it means. It means what it says.” (03:43)
  “The spiritual sense…what might be a truth that is conveyed that was not originally intended by the human authority.” (04:02)

• Mnemonic for interpreting Scripture:

  “Allegorical is how this applies to Jesus, moral is how it applies to us, and anagogical is how it applies to the end of time.” (13:38)

• St. Augustine on Church authority:

  “But I would not believe in the Gospel had not the authority of the Catholic Church already moved me.” (15:10)

• On the relationship between Church and Scripture:

  “The authority of the Church comes before the authority of the Bible, not necessarily in order of importance…but the reason why we know that there are 73 books in the Bible is…off of the authority that Jesus gave the Catholic Church.” (16:00)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening Reflection & Community Encouragement: 01:00 – 03:15
• Introduction to Senses of Scripture: 03:30 – 05:00
• Literal Sense Explained: 08:45 – 09:20
• Allegorical Sense: 09:24 – 11:32
• Moral Sense: 11:32 – 12:41
• Anagogical Sense: 12:41 – 13:38
• Church’s Role in Scriptural Interpretation: 14:42 – 15:40
• St. Augustine Quote/Discussion: 15:10 – 15:55
• Preview of Canon of Scripture: 16:15 – End

Final Takeaways

• Catholics are called to read Scripture with “all its richness,” attentive to literal and spiritual senses.
• All non-literal readings are grounded in the literal sense.
• The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, serves as the living authority ensuring unity and orthodoxy in interpretation.
• Understanding these senses profoundly shapes Christian life, practice, and faith.
• Tomorrow’s episode will discuss the canon of Scripture—the “why” behind which books are recognized as Scripture.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a deep, yet accessible overview of this episode of The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz).