The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) – Day 273: Him Only Shall You Serve

Date: September 30, 2025
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2095–2103
Main Theme: Understanding the First Commandment through Adoration, Prayer, Sacrifice, Promises, and Vows

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the second half of the First Commandment, focusing on the meaning of "Him only shall you serve." Delving into Catechism paragraphs 2095–2103, he covers the theological and practical aspects of adoration, prayer, sacrifice, and the significance of promises and vows in the Catholic faith. Fr. Mike highlights how these practices constitute serving God and living a life of authentic worship rooted in justice, love, and self-giving.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The First Commandment Beyond Worship

Timestamps: 01:15–03:00

• Yesterday’s reading covered "You shall worship the Lord your God," while today focuses on "Him only shall you serve."
• Fr. Mike summarizes: Theological virtues (faith, hope, charity) give life to the moral virtues, particularly leading us to render what we owe to God—central to the virtue of religion.
• “[Charity] leads us to render to God what we as creatures owe him in all justice.” (02:54)

2. Adoration: The Heart of Religious Virtue

Timestamps: 03:15–08:15

• Adoration is the first act of the virtue of religion—acknowledging God as Creator, Savior, and infinite love.
• Quoting the Catechism:

  "To adore God is to acknowledge in respect and absolute submission the nothingness of the creature who would not exist but for God." (04:44)

• Fr. Mike clarifies humility:

  “Humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is thinking of yourself less.” (06:24)

• Worship and adoration liberate us from "turning in on ourselves," the slavery of sin, and idolatry.

3. Prayer: The Essential Relationship

Timestamps: 08:16–11:05

• Prayer is where the acts of faith, hope, and charity are lived out.
• Prayer is an “indispensable condition for being able to obey God’s commandments.” (09:11)
• Memorable quote, via Mark Hart (as shared by Fr. Mike):

  “Prayer doesn’t help your relationship with God. Prayer is your relationship with God.” (10:05)

4. Sacrifice: The Genuine Offering

Timestamps: 11:06–15:20

• Sacrifice, as adoration, gratitude, supplication, and communion, must be internal and spiritual, not just external.
• St. Augustine’s quote:

  “Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness and thus achieve blessedness is a true sacrifice.” (12:06)

• Outward sacrifices only have merit when expressing an inward spiritual sacrifice.

  “The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered on the cross… By uniting ourselves with his sacrifice, we can make our lives a sacrifice to God.” (14:25)

5. Promises and Vows: Commitment in Faith

Timestamps: 15:21–21:00

• Christians often make promises (e.g., at baptism, confirmation, matrimony, holy orders).
• Faithfully keeping promises shows love and respect to God:

  “Fidelity to promises made to God is a sign of… love for a faithful God.” (16:10)

• Stories:
  • St. Francis de Sales: Made a daily promise to pray the Rosary; Fr. Mike recounts his advice against making binding promises lightly, emphasizing discernment and spiritual freedom. (17:22–18:46)
  • On Making Vows: A vow is more serious—“a deliberate and free promise made to God concerning a possible and better good.” Examples: poverty, chastity, obedience (the evangelical counsels).
  • On Religious Life: Benedictine monks/nuns take vows of obedience to a superior, modeling Jesus’s submission for the sake of God (Lumen gentium reference). (19:45)
• The Church can, for good reason, dispense someone from a vow or promise (20:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Charity or love leads us to render to God what we as creatures owe him in all justice. The virtue of religion disposes us to have this attitude.” (02:54, Fr. Mike reading CCC 2095)
• “To adore God is to acknowledge him as God, as the Creator and Savior, the Lord and Master of everything that exists as infinite and merciful Love.” (04:26, Fr. Mike reading CCC 2096)
• “Worship…sets us free from turning in on ourselves, from the slavery of sin, and the idolatry of the world.” (07:40, Fr. Mike)
• “Prayer is an indispensable condition for being able to obey God’s commandments.” (09:10, Fr. Mike citing CCC 2098)
• “Prayer doesn’t help your relationship with God. Prayer IS your relationship with God.” (10:04, quoting Mark Hart)
• “Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness and thus achieve blessedness is a true sacrifice.” (12:14, Fr. Mike citing St. Augustine)
• “The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered on the cross as a total offering to the Father’s love and for our salvation. By uniting ourselves with his sacrifice, we can make our lives a sacrifice to God.” (14:25, CCC 2100)
• “Fidelity to promises made to God is a sign of the respect owed to the Divine Majesty and of love for a faithful God.” (16:10, CCC 2101)
• “A vow is a deliberate and free promise made to God concerning a possible and better good which must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion.” (19:06, reading CCC 2102)
• “The limitation [of a promise] is actually freedom.” (18:33, Fr. Mike)

Structure of Virtue and Justice

Timestamps: 03:20–05:00

• Justice is one of the cardinal virtues—giving to each their due.
• The virtue of religion: Giving to God what we owe (adoration is the first act).
• “The first thing that we owe to God is to acknowledge that God is God and I’m not.” (03:53)

Practical Applications & Encouragement

• Adoration should be a regular part of the day: acknowledge God’s greatness and our dependence on Him.
• Prayer is foundational—no authentic relationship with God exists without it.
• Sacrifice can be every action offered to God, united with Christ’s perfect offering.
• Promises and vows are serious and bring freedom through self-limitation; discernment, sometimes with a spiritual adviser, is wise before making them.

Preview for Tomorrow

Fr. Mike teases the next episode’s topic: the social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom, noting the Catechism’s emphasis on freedom that predates civil constitutions.

Closing

• Fr. Mike ends with encouragement:

  “Today though, guess what? I’m praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” (21:00)