The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz): Day 263 – Responding to Grace (2025)

Podcast: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Episode: Day 263: Responding to Grace
Release date: September 20, 2025
Primary Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2002–2005

Episode Overview

Fr. Mike Schmitz leads listeners through Catechism paragraphs 2002–2005, focusing on the Catholic understanding of grace, free will, and the varied ways these gifts manifest in individual lives. He unpacks the mystery of cooperation between God’s initiative and human response, dives into types of grace (sanctifying, sacramental, and special "charism" graces), and addresses the pitfalls of relying on feelings or personal achievements as evidence of salvation. Throughout, Fr. Mike offers approachable explanations, memorable examples, and spiritual encouragement for listeners seeking to recognize and respond to God's grace in their own lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Paradox of Grace and Free Will

• Tension, Not Opposition: The Church teaches a "both/and" rather than an "either/or" regarding grace and free will. We depend entirely on God’s grace to move us toward holiness, but must freely say “yes” (00:45).

• Fr. Mike's Summary:

  “Is it grace or is it free will? And the Church says yes. It's the Catholic both/and. ... Grace gives our free will the ability to be truly free.” (01:04)

• Sin and Freedom: The effects of sin (concupiscence) compromise our freedom. God’s grace enables us to overcome this and genuinely choose love (01:55).

2. Types of Grace & Their Purposes

• Sanctifying Grace: Stable, habitual grace that "justifies and sanctifies us" (03:20).

• Actual Grace: The extra help God gives at specific moments to do good.

• Prevenient Grace: Prepares the soul to say yes to God, always respecting human freedom (00:55).

• Sacramental Graces: Connected to each sacrament; for example, reconciliation brings the grace of forgiveness (10:37).

• Special Graces (Charisms):

  • Defined as “favor, gratuitous gift, benefit”—gifts sometimes extraordinary (miracles, tongues, healing) but always meant for the good of the Church and not for personal holiness alone (02:58, 11:12).

  “They’re meant to build up the body. If you ever have the gift of tongues, the gift of healing … those aren’t for us to become holier … They’re given so the Church may be built up…” (02:54)

• Graces of State: Particular to one's role or responsibility in the Church, as described by St. Paul (03:49, 07:46).

3. Experiencing Grace: Mystery Beyond Feelings

• Supernatural Order:
  Grace "escapes our experience and cannot be known except by faith"—it’s not something we can reliably feel, see, or measure (CTA 2005, 13:45).

• We can’t conclude our salvation by feelings or works:

  “We cannot therefore rely on our feelings or our works to conclude that we are justified and saved.” (13:52)

• Fruits as Evidence:
  Still, Jesus teaches, “By their fruits you shall know them.” Regular reflection on blessings and spiritual fruit can help us notice grace at work, especially in the lives of the saints and ourselves (13:58).

4. Individual Differences: Grace Looks Different on Everyone

• Personality & Fruit:
  The fruits of grace—joy, peace, etc.—are shaped by temperament and circumstance.

  “Sin looks the same on everybody, but grace looks different on everyone.” (17:36)

• Encouragement for the Suffering:
  It’s possible to possess supernatural joy or peace and still struggle with anxiety, depression, or temperamental gloominess (16:01).

  “You might have supernatural peace and supernatural joy … and still suffer from anxiety and depression.” (16:17)

• Comparisons to Winnie the Pooh:
  Some are “Tiggers” (full of outward spirit), others are “Eeyores” (naturally reserved), but both can manifest authentic fruits of the Spirit (17:23).

5. Notable Saints & Wisdom

• St. Augustine on Desire:
  Fr. Mike highlights Augustine's insight on our longing for truth & goodness:

  “Late have I loved you, Beauty so old and so new…You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness… I tasted you and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.” (St. Augustine Confessions, 05:43)
  Augustine's restless search shows how only God can fulfill the deepest longing of the human heart.

• St. Joan of Arc’s Trust:
  When asked, "Are you in a state of grace?" Joan answered:

  “If I am not, may it please God to put me in it. If I am, may it please God to keep me there.” (14:56)

  Fr. Mike underscores how this humble trust should be our response to uncertainty over our salvation.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On free will and love:

  “We cannot love unless we're free. We cannot say yes and have that really be a free yes without the power to be able to say no.” (04:44)

• On grace’s subtlety:

  “Those charisms, those graces, come down like dew on a meadow … sometimes extraordinary, sometimes almost unnoticeable. That's really, really remarkable.” (11:45)

• Disclaimer about “fruit”:

  “Sometimes the fruit is not what you and I want in our lives… You might have supernatural peace and supernatural joy and still suffer from anxiety and depression.” (16:10)

• Final encouragement:

  “Grace is—to be corny—amazing… God’s supernatural life dwells inside you right now. And in that power … all the graces.” (19:18)

Important Timestamps

• 00:45: The balance and paradox of grace and free will
• 02:54: Charisms explained—purpose for the Church
• 05:43: St. Augustine quotation on desire for God
• 11:12: Extraordinary and ordinary nature of charisms
• 13:45: Supernatural order—grace escapes experience
• 14:56: St. Joan of Arc’s response about being in God’s grace
• 16:01: How temperament and suffering relate to spiritual fruits
• 19:18: Final summary and spiritual encouragement

Conclusion & Takeaways

Fr. Mike Schmitz’s episode guides listeners to a deeper appreciation of grace as both essential for and respectful of human freedom. He affirms that God takes the first step, but also desires our full, free cooperation. The fruits of grace may look different in each person’s life, and aren’t always detectable by feelings. Instead, a humble trust in God—modeled by the saints—grounds our walk of faith. Fr. Mike concludes with hope and encouragement: God’s supernatural life is at work within us, and that is truly amazing.

Listening to this episode offers anyone—Catholic or curious—a lively and thoughtful exploration of one of the most central, yet mysterious, teachings of the Church.