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

Episode: Day 24: Unity of Faith (2026)
Date: January 24, 2026
Paragraphs Covered: 170–175
Duration: ~15–20 minutes

Main Theme Overview

This episode centers on the “Unity of Faith” within the Catholic Church, as illuminated in paragraphs 170-175 of the Catechism. Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into how the Church unites believers across time and cultures through a single faith, the indispensable role of doctrinal formulas, the Church’s role as “Mother” and “pillar of truth”, and the witness of early Church father St. Irenaeus. The episode calls listeners to appreciate the living reality behind doctrinal formulations and emphasizes the Church’s mission to preserve, teach, and renew the faith across generations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Language of Faith: Formulas and Realities

• Paragraph 170 Clarity:

  • Fr. Mike stresses that Catholics “do not believe in formulas, but in those realities they express, which faith allows us to touch” (02:28).
  • Faith does not terminate in doctrinal propositions, but reaches to the profound realities they convey.
  • The Nicene and Apostles’ Creed are examples: “I’m not saying that I believe in these words... I believe in the reality that they express” (09:28).

• Importance of Formulas:

  • While formulas are not ends in themselves, they are indispensable:
    • “Without the formulas, we can fall into grave error. The formulas are actually indispensable in our faith.” (12:25)
  • They provide clarity, guard essential truths, and foster unity.

2. Growth and Development in Understanding

• Faith Seeking Understanding:
  • Fr. Mike points out that as faith deepens, “there might be a more unique way we can express the truth about the same reality.” (10:20)
  • Doctrinal development does not change the reality, only how we articulate it as understanding grows.

3. The Church as Safeguard and Teacher

• Pillar and Bulwark of Truth:

  • The Church is called by St. Paul “the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (13:39); it guards the full deposit of faith and ensures its transmission.

• Motherly Role of the Church:

  • The Church is “our mother” who “teaches us the language of faith in order to introduce us to the understanding and life of faith.” (15:00)

4. Apostolic Succession and True Unity

• Witness of St. Irenaeus:
  • Fr. Mike highlights St. Irenaeus, directly connected to St. John the Apostle via St. Polycarp.
  • Apostolic succession proves the continuity and authenticity of the Church’s teaching (16:37).
  • St. Irenaeus described the Church as one “house,” with “one soul and a single heart,” and preaches “with a unanimous voice, as if possessing only one mouth.” (18:45)

5. One Church, Many Cultures – Unchanging Faith

• Unity Amid Diversity:

  • Despite global diversity, “the content of their tradition is one and the same” (St. Irenaeus, quoted at 19:15).
  • Different cultures and languages share an identical faith.

• Enduring, Renewing Faith:

  • The faith is a “deposit of great price” that is “constantly being renewed and causes the very vessel that contains it to be renewed.” (21:00)
  • The Church always needs renewal and deeper conversion.

6. Call to Ongoing Conversion

• Every believer is called to ask: “How can I submit once again to the invitation of the church to come back to the Lord? How can I be renewed?” (23:20)
• Renewal in faith comes through returning to Christ, trusting the guidance of the Church, and being open to the Holy Spirit.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On not believing in formulas:

  • “We do not believe in formulas, but in those realities they express, which faith allows us to touch.” — Fr. Mike quoting Catechism/Thomas Aquinas (02:28, 09:25)

• On doctrinal development:

  • “As our understanding grows, as our faith deepens, there might be a more unique way we can express the truth about the same reality.” — Fr. Mike (10:20)

• On the necessity of formulas:

  • “Without them, without the formulas, we can fall into grave error. Therefore, the formulas are actually indispensable in our faith.” — Fr. Mike (12:25)

• On the Church’s unique unity:

  • “The Church...believes as if having but one soul and a single heart, and preaches, teaches, and hands on this faith with a unanimous voice, as if possessing only one mouth.” — St. Irenaeus, quoted by Fr. Mike (18:45)

• On the Church and renewal:

  • “This deposit of great price, as if in an excellent vessel, is constantly being renewed and causes the very vessel that contains it to be renewed.” — St. Irenaeus, quoted by Fr. Mike (21:00)

• On Christian unity and struggle:

  • “From the very beginning, the Church had to fight for unity...not with swords, but by wrestling for the truth, gathering together and invoking the Holy Spirit.” — Fr. Mike (20:10)

• On perpetual conversion:

  • “One thing that we can recognize as Catholic Christians is that we are constantly in need of renewal. We’re constantly in need of conversion.” — Fr. Mike (22:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:28] – Introduction to the language of faith: “We do not believe in formulas…”
• [09:25] – Applying the truth to the Creeds: not believing in the words, but the reality
• [10:20] – On doctrine developing as understanding deepens
• [12:25] – Importance and indispensability of doctrinal formulas
• [13:39] – The Church as “pillar and bulwark of the truth”
• [15:00] – The Church as Mother teaching the faith
• [16:37] – Apostolic succession and connection to St. Irenaeus
• [18:45] – St. Irenaeus on Church unity: “one soul and a single heart”
• [19:15] – Global unity: “the content of their tradition is one and the same”
• [21:00] – Renewal of the faith and the Church
• [22:30] – Call to continual renewal and conversion

Tone and Final Reflections

Fr. Mike speaks with humility, clarity, and pastoral care—consistently returning to the core idea that faith is about a real, living relationship with God, not mere assent to abstract ideas. He passionately highlights the need for both unity and ongoing conversion, blending deep theological insight with practical exhortations for daily faith.

In summary:
This episode invites listeners to appreciate the unity, depth, and lived reality of the Catholic faith. Through historical witness, doctrinal clarity, and the ever-present call to conversion, Fr. Mike reminds the faithful that formulas protect and guide us but are always in service to the living truth to which they point.