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

Episode: Day 318: Love for the Poor (2025)
Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding love for the poor, as presented in Catechism paragraphs 2443–2449. Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the theological, spiritual, and practical dimensions of Christian concern for the poor, drawing from both scriptural foundations and the living tradition of the Church. The message is both challenging and encouraging, urging listeners to reorient their hearts and lives toward the needs of the most vulnerable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. God’s Particular Love for the Poor

• [00:40]–[02:10]
  Fr. Mike sets the stage by highlighting that God views the world through a lens of preferential love for the poor.

“God has a lens... he has a particular love for the poor. And this is going to be convicting.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz [01:00]

2. Scriptural and Traditional Foundations

• [02:11]–[05:45]
  Key readings from the Catechism echo throughout Scripture and tradition:
  • God blesses helpers of the poor, rebukes those who ignore them.
  • Jesus identifies with the poor (cf. Matthew 25).
  • Old and New Testament measures and laws protect the poor: jubilee years, prohibition of exploitative loans, payment of laborers, etc.
• Church tradition insists love for the poor is “part of her constant tradition.”

“God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them.” — Catechism/Fr. Mike [03:10] “The Church’s love for the poor is part of her constant tradition. This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus and of His concern for the poor.” — Catechism/Fr. Mike [03:46]

3. The Works of Mercy

• [05:50]–[06:55]
  Fr. Mike reviews the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, emphasizing their centrality in Christian life:
  • Spiritual: instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, forgiving, bearing wrongs.
  • Corporal: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick/imprisoned, burying the dead, giving alms.

“Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity. It is also a work of justice pleasing to God.” — Catechism/Fr. Mike [06:40]

4. Notable Quotes & Church Fathers

• [06:56]–[11:20]
  • St. James: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you... The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.”
  • St. John Chrysostom: “Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.”
  • St. Gregory the Great: “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours... we are paying a debt of justice.”

“More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice.” — St. Gregory the Great/Fr. Mike [08:40]

5. The Striking Story of St. Lawrence

• [11:21]–[14:00]
  Fr. Mike recounts the third-century martyr St. Lawrence, who, when ordered by the emperor to turn over the ‘treasures’ of the Church, distributed the wealth to the poor and presented them as the Church’s true riches. Lawrence’s subsequent martyrdom—grilled alive, joking to his executioners—is evoked as an example of Christlike understanding.

“These are the true treasures of the church.” — St. Lawrence story, retold by Fr. Mike [12:50] “Who among us really, really truly believes that...the true riches of the church are the poor, the hurting, the blind, the lame, the suffering?” — Fr. Mike [13:30]

6. Justice versus Charity

• [14:01]–[17:00]
  Fr. Mike underscores the Church’s strong stance: caring for the poor is a matter of justice, not just charity. What we have in excess is owed to those in need.

“To take care of the poor is what we owe them.” — Fr. Mike [15:40]

• Mercy is “the love we need the most and deserve the least” — an attribute of God to which Christians are called.

7. Extended Reflection: St. John Chrysostom’s Homily

• [17:01]–[22:40]
  A lengthy, powerful quote from St. John Chrysostom is read and unpacked:
  • Do not prioritize adorning the church building while neglecting Christ in the poor.
  • Christ is honored most by having His needs met in the suffering.
  • No one is condemned for not providing gold for the altar, but neglecting their brother brings severe judgment.

“For God does not want golden vessels, but golden hearts... What use is it to weigh down Christ’s table with golden cups when He Himself is dying of hunger?... Do not, therefore, adorn the church and ignore your afflicted brother, for he is the most precious temple of all.” — St. John Chrysostom, as read by Fr. Mike [19:25–21:54]

8. A Modern Application

• [22:41]–[24:50]
  Fr. Mike reflects on his own experience raising funds to build a church in Duluth. However, he cautions that “beautiful liturgy, beautiful churches” should never eclipse caring for Christ “in the distressing disguise of the poor.”

“Don’t forget to clothe Jesus when you're interested... Here I am, interested in adorning his altar for the sacrifice of the mass. Remember...the same Lord...also said he saw me hungry and did not feed me.” — Fr. Mike [23:45]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:40] Theme Introduction: Love for the Poor
• [02:11] Scriptural and Catechism Foundations
• [05:50] Explanation of Works of Mercy
• [06:56] Notable Quotes from Scripture and Church Fathers
• [11:21] Story of St. Lawrence and the True Treasures
• [14:01] Justice vs. Charity Discussion
• [17:01] Extended Reading: St. John Chrysostom’s Homily
• [22:41] Personal Reflection and Modern Application

Memorable Quotes

• “God has a lens... he has a particular love for the poor.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz [01:00]
• “Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.” — St. John Chrysostom, via Fr. Mike [08:36]
• “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice.” — St. Gregory the Great, via Fr. Mike [08:40]
• “To take care of the poor is what we owe them.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz [15:40]
• "For God does not want golden vessels, but golden hearts." — St. John Chrysostom [19:30]
• “Don’t forget to clothe Jesus when you’re interested... in adorning his altar for the sacrifice of the mass.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz [23:45]

Final Reflection

Fr. Mike closes by reiterating the profound challenge posed by the Gospel and Church teaching: true Christian faith is measured not by how beautifully we adorn our churches, but by how wholeheartedly we serve and love Christ present in the poor.

“We can't... forget the fact that God has called all of us to take care of him in the distressing disguise of the poor.”

Listeners are encouraged to pray for a heart like Christ’s—a heart that truly sees, loves, and serves those in need.

Note: This summary omits advertisements, introductions, and outros, focusing exclusively on content related to the theology and practice of love for the poor as presented in this episode.