The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Day 25: Summary of Faith (2026)
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism Paragraphs 176-184
Episode Overview
This episode marks "Nugget Day," summarizing the essential teachings on faith as presented in the Catechism’s recent sections. Fr. Mike guides listeners through key points about the nature of faith, the distinction between believing in God and believing facts about Him, and the communal and ecclesial dimensions of faith. Listeners are encouraged to grapple with faith's depths—not only intellectually assenting, but entrusting themselves personally to God within the Church.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What Is Nugget Day? (01:30)
- Fr. Mike calls this episode "Nugget Day," concluding the section by reviewing the “in brief” summary (paragraphs 176-184) of faith.
- These "nuggets" offer distilled takeaways from previous readings.
2. Faith: Personal and Communal (02:20)
- Faith means more than intellectual assent; it’s a personal adherence, entrusting oneself completely to God.
- Faith is both personal and communal, not a private action:
- "It's individual, it's personal, but at the same time it is communal. And it is not private, right. That we don't come to the Lord in isolation." (02:42)
3. The Object of Belief (03:08)
- We believe not merely in concepts about God but in God Himself: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Distinguishing between trust in God and trust in people: only God is perfectly trustworthy because "he can neither deceive nor be deceived."
4. The Twofold Nature of Faith (04:12)
- Faith involves both the intellect and will, submitting both to God's self-revelation.
- Quoting the "In Brief" section:
- “To believe has thus a twofold to the person and to the truth. By trust in the person who bears witness to it.” (04:22)
5. Ecclesial Act of Faith (04:50)
- Believing is both a human and an ecclesial act; the Church's faith supports our individual faith.
- As St. Cyprian says:
- "No one can have God as Father, who does not have the Church as Mother." (05:04)
- The faith of the individual is grounded in and nourished by the faith of the Church.
6. Faith as a Gift and a Virtue (05:35)
- Faith is a supernatural gift requiring the grace and help of the Holy Spirit.
- It is a conscious, free human act, respecting human dignity.
7. The Necessity and Fullness of Faith (06:20)
- "Faith is necessary for salvation. The Lord Himself affirms. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned." (06:34)
- Faith is required to embrace all that the Church proposes as divinely revealed.
8. Faith as a Foretaste (07:00)
- Citing St. Thomas Aquinas: "Faith is a foretaste of the knowledge that will make us blessed in the life to come." (07:14)
- Our current understanding of God is “through a mirror darkly”—incomplete but real, destined for fulfillment in the life to come.
9. The Challenge of “Total” Faith (08:09)
- Fr. Mike shares an anecdote about a prospective Catholic who expressed, “I don’t think I’ve ever believed everything about anything.” (08:45)
- Emphasizes that Catholics assent to the whole of Church teaching not by individually verifying every doctrine, but by trusting the authority and identity of God who reveals through His Church.
10. Church as “Mother and Teacher” (10:10)
- The Church is a sacrament and vehicle of salvation. God is the source; the Church is the instrument.
- “No one comes to the faith on their own." (10:34)
- Trust in the Church is based on trust in God, not blind assent to an institution.
11. Wrestling and Community (11:08)
- Fr. Mike reassures listeners that wrestling with faith and encountering doubts is a normal part of the journey.
- “That’s why we’re walking together. That’s so good. You can have difficulties, you can have questions. That’s why we’re on this journey together.” (11:38)
12. Prayer and Encouragement (12:16)
- Fr. Mike prays for listeners to be good students of the faith, to trust God as Father, and to love the Church as Mother.
- Looks ahead: the series moves next into a deeper study of the Creed—not just the facts, but an encounter with the One revealed in them.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Faith is a personal adherence of the whole man to God who reveals Himself.” (Reading Catechism, 04:15)
- “We don’t believe in the Church. We believe in God Himself. And because we trust God, because we have faith in God, we can profess the faith of the Church without hesitation and with great zeal.” (10:58)
- “I don’t think I’ve ever believed everything about anything.” (Prospective Catholic, anecdote shared at 08:45)
- “Faith is a foretaste of the knowledge that will make us blessed in the life to come.” (St. Thomas Aquinas, 07:14)
- “No one can have God as Father, who does not have the Church as Mother.” (St. Cyprian, 05:04)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:30 – Nugget Day explained
- 02:20 – Faith: personal and communal
- 03:08 – Object of belief: God alone
- 04:50 – Ecclesial dimension of faith
- 05:04 – St. Cyprian: Church as Mother
- 06:20 – Necessity and fullness of faith
- 07:14 – St. Thomas Aquinas on faith as foretaste
- 08:45 – Wrestling with believing “everything”
- 10:10 – Church as teacher and vehicle of faith
- 11:38 – Wrestling and community support
- 12:16 – Concluding prayer and encouragement
Tone & Final Takeaway
Fr. Mike’s tone throughout is warm, encouraging, and honest, gently guiding listeners through both the beauty and the challenge of Catholic faith. He underscores that faith is trust in a person—God—lived out in the communion of the Church, generously gifting listeners with reassurance that wrestling with faith is both understood and expected.
Next Episode Preview: The journey continues deeper into the Creed and its articles, exploring not only what Catholics believe, but who Catholics encounter in these truths.