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

Episode: Day 3: What We Believe (Part 1 Introduction with Jeff Cavins)
Date: January 3, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Guest: Jeff Cavins
Podcast by: Ascension

Episode Overview

In this third episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz and special guest Jeff Cavins introduce listeners to the first "pillar" of the Catechism of the Catholic Church—the Creed: What We Believe. They explore how the Catechism organizes Catholic teaching, the intent behind its structure, and how the foundational beliefs (the Creed) shape every other aspect of faith, worship, life, and prayer. The conversation is rich with encouragement for approaching Catholic doctrine as a relationship and journey rather than a set of dry facts. The episode also provides practical advice on reading and engaging with the Catechism, making it accessible and transformational for all listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Four Pillars of the Catechism (02:31–04:28)

• The Catechism is structured into four "pillars" for clarity and teaching:
  • What We Believe (Creed)
  • How We Worship (Sacraments and Liturgy)
  • How We Live (Moral Life in Christ)
  • How We Pray (Christian Prayer)
• Ascension’s Catechism edition uses a color-coded system to visually organize these pillars, helping readers remember and understand the flow of Catholic doctrine.

Notable Quote:
“The beautiful thing about the catechism is that it presents our faith in four pillars. And you might remember that great quote of Frank Sheed: kids go from kindergarten all the way to high school and they've got a big pile of Catholicism, and they're not quite sure what to do with it.”
—Jeff Cavins [02:31]

2. The Creed: More Than Information, It's Relationship (05:14–06:08)

• The Catechism isn’t an encyclopedia but a teaching tool. Its structure is itself catechetical.
• The Creed encapsulates God's “plan of sheer goodness”—not just listing facts, but drawing believers into a relationship, a covenant with God.

Notable Quote:
“He doesn't just reveal it so we can check that box of what I know. But it's because he wants to share his own divine life, and he wants us to participate in that life.”
—Fr. Mike Schmitz [05:14]

3. The Human Search for God and Divine Revelation (06:08–09:58)

• All humans have a “capacity for God” and can know God through:
  • Creation
  • The human person
  • Reason
• However, human reason hits a wall; at that point, God must reveal Himself—this is the essence of divine revelation.

Memorable Analogy:
Jeff compares the journey to the film "The Truman Show," where Truman searches for truth and finally hears the voice of the creator:
“At some point, you know, God speaks through his creation, but at some point, he speaks to man. How does it say in the catechism? It says God's divine condescension. He speaks to us as a father, to his children.”
—Fr. Mike Schmitz & Jeff Cavins [08:44]

4. Practical Challenges in Reading the Catechism (11:02–12:32)

• Many are intimidated by unfamiliar terms or the depth of the Catechism.
• Jeff encourages patience and eagerness: treat reading as a journey with a loving Father, not as mastering a technical manual.

Notable Quote:
“You have to be a little patient with it and realize you're not going to get everything the first time. But you listen with the heart of a son, the heart of a daughter who wants to know more about their father.”
—Jeff Cavins [11:40]

5. Faith is More Than Intellectual Assent (20:35–22:47)

• The "obedience of faith" means more than believing facts; it involves entrusting oneself to God and His truth in action.
• Faith has two movements: intellectual assent (“I believe it”) and personal trust (“I entrust myself to it”).

Analogy & Notable Quote:
The “Blondin and the wheelbarrow” story:
“We can stand up and say, I believe all these things, but do you entrust yourself? And it's the entrusting of yourself that is going to make the biggest difference in your life.”
—Jeff Cavins [27:17]

6. The Gift of Sacred Tradition and Apostolic Succession (15:50–19:11)

• God's revelation is passed on through both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
• Apostolic succession ensures the authentic transmission of faith across generations; what Jesus gave the apostles is still given to us.
• The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit, akin to a skilled orchestra guided by an invisible director.

Memorable Analogy:
“The director is the Holy Spirit. And that's why we're confident.”
—Jeff Cavins [18:44]

7. How to Read and Interpret Scripture Faithfully (29:01–32:26)

• The Catechism gives guidelines to read and interpret Scripture:
  • Consider the unity of all Scripture
  • Read it within the living Tradition of the Church
  • Be attentive to the analogy of faith (coherence of truth)
• The literal and spiritual senses of Scripture help “squeeze all the juice out” of God’s word, including allegorical (relating to Christ), moral (relating to us), and anagogical (relating to the future).

8. The Living Character of the Faith & Tradition (33:01–36:37)

• Professions of faith and Church Councils (like Nicaea, Ephesus) often arose in response to errors and deepened the understanding of doctrine.
• Tradition grows organically throughout history, guided by the Spirit and council deliberations.
• The Catechism includes a timeline of major Church writers (see Catechism p. 735), showing the continuity and living nature of tradition.

Notable Quote:
“It's a visual of the continuity of the faith from the beginning all the way till now.”
—Jeff Cavins [36:55]

9. Transformation, Not Just Information (27:42–28:09; 39:21–41:53)

• The aim of the Catechism is not just knowledge but true transformation—a conversion of heart.
• The Catechism acts as a “trail guide” or an “inheritance” that reveals how to live in the life of the Trinity.

Notable Quote:
“It's not information transfer, but about transformation… we don't just want to pass on data, it's about conversion of heart.”
—Fr. Mike Schmitz [27:42]

10. Encouragement and Final Thoughts (44:57–46:57)

• The Creed is the foundation; every other pillar of the faith (liturgy, moral life, prayer) springs from it.
• Trust the process; some days will be profound, others quieter, but always worthwhile.
• Listeners are reminded to persevere, stay patient, pray for one another, and entrust themselves to God throughout the journey.

Memorable Quote:
“Some days are going to be like, oh, my gosh, that was amazing. And some days it’s just like, okay, that was good. And it’s just that dew.”
—Fr. Mike Schmitz [46:57]

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 02:31: The four pillars and Frank Sheed's "pile of Catholicism" analogy
• 05:14: Why the Catechism is more than just a list of beliefs
• 08:44: Divine condescension and the analogy of "The Truman Show"
• 11:12: Tips for beginners and importance of patience and eagerness
• 18:44: Sacred Tradition, Apostolic Succession, and the “director is the Holy Spirit”
• 21:30: Obedience of faith: intellectual assent and entrustment
• 27:17: “Blondin and the wheelbarrow” analogy for faith
• 29:01: How to read the Bible within the Church's guidelines
• 33:18: Councils, creeds, and the living tradition of the Church
• 36:55: The impact of seeing tradition as a continuous, living line
• 41:19: The Catechism as a trail guide and inheritance
• 44:57: Final encouragements and advice for the journey

Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is warm, approachable, and often enthusiastic. Both Fr. Mike and Jeff Cavins weave in stories, analogies, and personal insights to demystify the Catechism and invite listeners into an encounter with God’s living truth, always emphasizing the relational heart of faith.

Bottom Line for New Listeners

• The Catechism is structured around the Creed as the foundation ("what we believe"), which feeds into every other area of Catholic life.
• Faith involves both intellectual belief and personal surrender—a trusting entrustment of your whole life.
• God reveals Himself through creation, Scripture, tradition, and invites participation, not passive observation.
• The Catechism is meant to shape and transform, not just inform.
• Don’t get discouraged—patience, community, and humility are key.
• The entire journey is aimed at empowering us to share in God’s life and love, now and forever.

For anyone starting this journey:
“God is calling us to intimacy. He wants you to know Him, and you don’t have to have all the answers at once—just keep showing up!”