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

Episode: Day 258 – The New Law (2025)
Date: September 15, 2025
Paragraphs Covered: 1965–1969

Overview of the Episode

Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the “New Law” or “Law of the Gospel,” as found in Catechism paragraphs 1965–1969. He contrasts the Old Law given to Israel with the new, interior law established by Christ—highlighting its transformative power, rooted not just in actions, but in the heart. Special emphasis is placed on how the New Law is fulfilled through grace, especially as communicated in the sacraments, and how its perfection is expressed in Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Relationship between the Old and New Law

• Old Law: Good, holy, spiritual, but “imperfect.” Not defective, but preparatory—could not empower people to fully live out God’s will (00:50–02:10).
• Purpose: The Old Law readied humanity for a deeper, fuller law brought by Christ.
• Summary Quote:
  “The old law is a step on the way to prepare us, to prepare humanity for the deeper law, a fuller law ... a new law goes beyond actions and gets to the heart.” – Fr. Mike (01:25)

2. The New Law: Perfection of Divine Law on Earth

• Definition: “The new law or the law of the Gospel is the perfection here on earth of the Divine law, natural and revealed. It is the work of Christ and is expressed particularly in the Sermon on the Mount.” (05:00)
• Interior Law: Established and written on our hearts—no longer just external commands (06:00).
• The Holy Spirit enables and empowers believers to live this law through grace.

3. How Does the New Law Work?

• Grace-Fueled: The New Law is the “grace of the Holy Spirit given to the faithful through faith in Christ” (07:05).

• Charity/Love: According to the Catechism, it “works through charity,” guiding believers from within.

• Teaching and Empowerment:

  • The Sermon on the Mount “teaches us what must be done.”
  • The sacraments “give us the grace to do it.” (08:50)

• Where We Find Grace: Through Jesus, especially in the sacraments—Mass, Eucharist, reconciliation, baptism, and renewal of our baptismal promises.

  “Let's never forget, ever, ever forget, because or else what we find ourselves doing is kind of wandering around saying, ‘Where am I going to get this grace?’... We look to the Mass, to the heart of everything in the Eucharist…” – Fr. Mike (11:10)

4. St. Augustine on the Sermon on the Mount

• Memorable Quote [from Catechism 1966]:

  “If anyone should meditate with devotion and perspicacity on the sermon our Lord gave on the Mount, as we read in the gospel of St. Matthew, he will doubtless find there the perfect way of the Christian life. This sermon contains all the precepts needed to shape one's life.” (12:15)

• Fr. Mike’s Commentary:
  • Explains “perspicacity” as understanding or discernment.
  • Suggests everyone should reread Matthew chapters 5–7 often, treating Jesus’s teachings as if addressed personally to listeners, not just people “back in the day.” (13:20)

5. The Beatitudes and the Heart of the Gospel

• The Beatitudes (Matthew 5) embody the radical call of the New Law, oriented “toward the kingdom of heaven.”
• Fr. Mike asks listeners to consider:
  “Can I see myself among the ‘poor, the humble, the afflicted, the pure of heart, those persecuted on account of Christ’? Am I among their number?” (15:05)

6. Not Just More Rules, But Heart Transformation

• The New Law “does not add new external precepts, but proceeds to reform the heart, the root of human acts, where faith, hope and charity are formed, and with them the other virtues.” (16:10)
• Radical Demands: Love your enemies, forgive, be generous in secret, strive for perfection as the heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5–7).
• Acknowledges that these challenges are “not stuff that we do naturally”—they go beyond social or moral expectations. (14:00)

7. Dependence on Grace, Not Ourselves

• When convicted by the challenge of the Gospel and our human frailty, we are called not to discouragement or despair, but to rely on the grace of the Holy Spirit:

  “Not to discouragement, right? Not to discouragement, but the great call to once again rely on God's grace to live out the life of faith, the life of grace and the life of the Holy Spirit.” (17:35)

• The episode ends with an encouragement to read the Sermon on the Mount with openness and humility, letting it convict the heart and draw us to deeper dependence on grace.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fr. Mike Schmitz:

  “The law of the Gospel fulfills, refines, surpasses, and leads the old law to its perfection. In the Beatitudes, the new law fulfills the divine promises by elevating and orienting them toward the kingdom of heaven.” (05:20)

• On Human Limitation:

  “I don't have the ability in me to forgive like that. I don't have the ability in me to pray and to give alms and to fast like this. How can I move forward, Lord? And he tells us, through the grace of the Holy Spirit.” (16:00)

• Invitation to Action:

  “Let's all of us reread the Sermon on the Mount and let's reread it as if it were addressed to us right now ... this is how I need you to live.” (13:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:50–02:10 — Contrast between Old Law and New Law; the preparatory function of the Old Law.
• 05:00 — Catechism’s bold statement on the perfection of the New Law.
• 07:05 — Grace through the Holy Spirit as the heart of the New Law.
• 08:50 — How the sacraments bring the grace to live this law.
• 12:15 — St. Augustine’s reflection on the Sermon on the Mount.
• 14:00 — The radical demands of the Gospel, especially difficult teachings.
• 15:05 — Who are the Beatitudes for? Personal reflection.
• 16:10 — New Law reforms the heart, not just external actions.
• 17:35 — Encouragement not to be discouraged, but to rely on grace.

Conclusion & Listener Challenge

Fr. Mike leaves listeners with a pastoral challenge:

• Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) as Jesus’s personal address to you.
• Let yourself be convicted—not to discouragement, but to deeper reliance on grace.
• Remember, living out the New Law is possible only through receiving and depending on the grace given through the Holy Spirit, especially in the sacraments.

“I'm going to pray that the Holy Spirit and our Lord convicts my heart and say, okay, God, here's the great call not to discouragement…but to once again rely on God's grace.” (17:35)

Final Words:
Fr. Mike signs off reminding listeners he’s praying for them, and asking for their prayers in return.