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

Episode: Day 23: We Believe (2026)
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Transcription Coverage: [00:05] – End (episode content only)

Episode Overview

On Day 23, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through paragraphs 163–169 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, concluding Article 1 ("I Believe") and beginning Article 2 ("We Believe"). The episode’s central theme is faith—both as a personal response to God and as a shared, communal treasure passed down through generations. Fr. Mike explores the tension between the struggles of faith “in darkness” and the immense gift and communal nature of believing, highlighting both individual and communal aspects of Catholic faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Faith: The Beginning of Eternal Life

(Paragraphs 163–165; 04:05–06:35)

• Faith offers a foretaste of Heaven.
  • “Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the beatific vision, the goal of our journey here below. Then we shall see God face to face, as he is. So faith is already the beginning of eternal life.” ([04:45])
  • Fr. Mike references St. Basil’s imagery: even now we possess “the wonderful things which our faith assures us we shall one day enjoy.”
• The now and the not-yet:
  • We currently “walk by faith and not by sight” ([05:10]).
  • Life presents darkness, suffering, and apparent contradictions to our faith—challenging but not negating it.
• Struggles of faith are real:
  • “Faith is often lived in darkness and can be put to the test. The world we live in often seems very far from the one promised us by faith. Our experiences of evil and suffering, injustice and death seem to contradict the good News. They can shake our faith and become a temptation against it.” ([05:19])
• Turning to witnesses:
  • We look to Abraham, Mary, and “so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12) for inspiration and perseverance.

2. CS Lewis Analogy – Living Heaven or Hell Now

(Commentary; 07:15–08:35)

• Fr. Mike references CS Lewis’s The Great Divorce:
  • “Those who are in hell will look back on their whole lives and realize that they were always in hell. And those who are in heaven will look back on their lives and realize that they were always in heaven.” ([07:30])
• Personal Take:
  • We choose our eternal destiny by our present faith or lack thereof—walking by faith is living the beginning of eternal life even now.

3. Faith Lived Amid Darkness

(Paragraph 164 & Commentary; 08:40–09:25)

• Reality of doubt and suffering:
  • Fr. Mike affirms that all believers face temptation, suffering, and inner resistance—“the experiences of our own heart that wants to run away... that says, ‘no, my will, not Thy will be done.’” ([08:50])
• Importance of the Church and others:
  • "We realize this... we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses... we never believe in isolation.” ([09:10])

4. Introduction to Article 2: “We Believe”

(Paragraph 166 onwards; 09:30–12:50)

• Faith is both personal and communal:
  • “Faith is a personal act, the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone.” ([09:42])
  • “You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others.”
  • We are “each a link in the great chain of believers.” ([10:15])
• Analogy: Building a Wooden Chair Alone
  • Fr. Mike points out: even self-sufficient acts rely on community or predecessors (“You have to go mine for ore, you have to find metal somewhere... we could say, ‘I can live alone,’ but none of us could really, truly live alone and thrive.”) ([10:50])
• Handing on the faith:
  • “We’re also called to pass on the faith. Christianity is not an individual sport, right? ...it’s a family endeavor.” ([11:30])

5. The Church as Mother and Teacher

(Paragraphs 168–169; 12:50–15:15)

• Faith is received through the Church:
  • “It is through the Church that we receive faith and new life in Christ by baptism... ‘What do you ask of God’s Church? Faith. What does faith offer you? Eternal life.’” ([13:10])
  • The Church provides not only belief but also nurture: “...the Church is our mother. Of course, God is the author of our faith... but since this eternal life comes through the Church in a real way, the Church gets to be our mother.” ([13:45])
  • The Church is both “Teacher—Magister, Magisterium—and mother, Mater. The Church teaches us and mothers us. The Church gave birth to us and feeds us and teaches us.” ([14:10])
• Personal and communal dimension:
  • Praying “I believe” is never done alone—"when we are by ourselves, maybe praying the rosary and we pray the Apostles Creed... we’re realizing we’re not alone.” ([15:00])
  • Fr. Mike highlights the Catechism in a Year community as a living example of the Church’s faith being lived and handed on together.

Memorable Quotes

• On the foretaste of heaven:
  • “Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the beatific vision, the goal of our journey here below... faith is already the beginning of eternal life.” ([04:45])
• On communal faith:
  • “No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone.” ([09:47])
• On passing on faith:
  • “The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith.” ([10:05])
• On the Church as mother and teacher:
  • “Since this eternal life comes through the church in a real way, the church gets to be our mother... the Church teaches us and mothers us.” ([14:00])
• Encouragement to listeners:
  • “You are not alone. I am praying for you. Please pray for me.” ([15:10])

Important Timestamps

• 00:05 — Introduction and brief overview of today’s readings
• 04:05 — Reading and discussion: Faith as beginning of eternal life (para. 163–165)
• 07:15 — CS Lewis analogy: living heaven or hell now
• 08:40 — Faith amidst darkness; turning to witnesses
• 09:30 — “We Believe”: Faith’s communal dimension (para. 166+)
• 12:50 — The Church as Mother/Teacher; faith and baptism
• 15:10 — Closing encouragement: personal prayer, community, and support

Tone & Community

Fr. Mike’s tone is warm, engaging, and deeply pastoral. He blends clear explanation of catechetical texts with approachable analogies and heartfelt encouragement, reminding listeners that they are not alone on the journey of faith—whether walking “by faith, not sight” individually or as part of the Church’s great communion.

Summary

This episode invites listeners to encounter the beauty, struggle, and communal reality of Catholic faith. Fr. Mike presents faith as both a personal relationship with God and a shared inheritance, rooted in the Church as mother and lived out through mutual support. Drawing from catechetical text, personal stories, and memorable analogies, he makes clear that faith is a journey navigated together—supported by the witnesses of the past, the grace of the present, and the community of the Church.