Podcast Summary:
The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Day 328 – How We Pray (Part 4 Intro w/ Sr. Miriam James Heidland)
Date: November 24, 2025
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode introduces "Pillar Four"—the final pillar of the Catechism of the Catholic Church—which focuses on prayer. Father Mike Schmitz is joined by Sister Miriam James Heidland to explore the meaning of prayer in the Catholic tradition, how it shapes Christian identity, the universal call to union with God, and the transformative role of relationship at its heart. This foundational conversation sets the tone for the final stretch of the podcast, guiding listeners from doctrinal and moral teaching into lived, relational communion with God.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Sister Miriam’s Faith Journey and Relationship with the Catechism
- Background: Sister Miriam describes growing up Catholic but not truly falling in love with Jesus until college. Her encounter with a priest who visibly loved Christ changed her heart and vocational path.
“I learned some of maybe the rules of Catholicism, but I didn’t learn about the heart” (02:47, Sr. Miriam).
- Encountering the Catechism: As a graduate student, extended reading of the Catechism evoked deep emotion; she found herself “weeping” over its beauty and profound truth.
“This is so beautiful...I love you, Jesus. This is so beautiful—heart, mind, body, and soul” (05:06, Sr. Miriam).
2. Transition from Life in Christ to Life of Prayer in the Catechism
- Pillar Three Review and Hope in Pillar Four: The shift from living according to Christ's commands to deepening one’s heart through prayer; from conviction to consolation.
"You're not done if you still struggle...the life of grace is theirs. And we move forward by developing this relationship, deepening this" (06:20, Fr. Mike).
- Prayer as Transformation, Not Just Information:
"Not merely that we know more, but that we love more...not merely that we have more information, but that we allow...transformation in you." (07:02, Fr. Mike).
3. Nature and Centrality of Prayer in the Christian Life
- Prayer as Relationship, Not Task: Prayer is “not something we do. It's a relationship. It's who we are with the Lord” (05:44, Sr. Miriam).
- Catholic Spiritual Tradition is Rich and Often Overlooked: Many look elsewhere for prayer methods, unaware of the Church's own robust tradition.
“We as Catholics don’t even know that our own tradition of prayer...just seeing all the beautiful reiterations of the ways we pray” (08:49, Sr. Miriam).
4. Prayer as Response to God’s Initiative
- God Always Initiates; We Respond:
"Any desire that we have for prayer...comes from God. So we don't have to...do the heavy lifting" (10:03, Sr. Miriam).
“If God is initiating always, we never have to fight for his attention” (13:20, Fr. Mike). - The Relationship Identity Mission (RIM) Model:
“We are adopted sons and daughters...relationship gives us our identity...the mission can change, but the relationship is the source” (14:57, Fr. Mike).
5. The Heart of Prayer
- Catechism 2563—The Heart as the Place of Encounter:
“The heart is the dwelling place...the place to which I withdraw...only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully...the place of encounter...a place of covenant” (15:38, Sr. Miriam).
- Challenge of Living from the Heart: The temptation to stay at the surface or allow devotions (rosary, prayer cards) to become an end—rather than a path—to heart-level encounter.
6. Barriers and Obstacles to Prayer
- Common Obstacles:
- Feeling prayer “is not for them” or that holiness isn’t for them (24:20, Sr. Miriam).
- Shame, fear of vulnerability, feeling unworthy or afraid to expose one's heart.
“‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself’...I don’t want you to see me” (26:41, Fr. Mike).
- Practical Steps: Name these feelings and bring them into God’s light. Go to confession for objective assurance of forgiveness and healing.
“If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable...naming allows the Lord to come in with his light” (27:06, Sr. Miriam).
- Universal Call: “To be the person God wants you to be, we have to pray at some point regularly” (25:03, Fr. Mike).
7. Jesus’ Example: Belovedness and Freedom
- Jesus Prays as the Beloved Son: In all circumstances, Jesus lives from His relationship with the Father; that is the model for Christian prayer and identity.
"He’s the same when they're hailing him...as when they're crucifying him...never seen that revelation" (34:27, Sr. Miriam).
- Not Image Management, But Authenticity: Many experience dryness or emptiness because “there’s a whole world you’re not letting him have access to” (36:46, Fr. Mike).
8. Forms and Depth of Prayer
- Growth from “Saying Prayers” to “Being People of Prayer”:
“We’re taught to say our prayers, not how to pray” (13:00, Fr. Mike quoting Mike Gormley).
- Different Forms: Vocal, meditative, contemplative—each a path to the heart; tools, not ends in themselves.
9. Contemplative Prayer: Close Sharing with God
- Definition (2709):
“Contemplative prayer...is nothing else than a close sharing between friends. It means taking time frequently to be alone with him whom we know loves us” (39:31, Sr. Miriam quoting St. Teresa of Avila).
- Pray for the Desire to Pray: Even desiring the desire to pray is already the beginning of love (41:56, Fr. Mike referencing 2709).
10. The Battle of Prayer (2725)
- Effort and Struggle are Normal:
“Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part...It always presupposes effort” (47:59, Fr. Mike reading 2725).
- Dryness, Distraction, and Difficulty are Not Failures: They are occasions for love to grow beyond mere feelings into deep union.
- Manipulation or Superstition in Prayer: The temptation to treat God as a vending machine or bypass relationship in times of distress.
“Do we love the gifts or the giver?” (49:40, Sr. Miriam).
11. God’s Image and Our Motivation in Prayer
- Catechism 2735: Calls out our desire to “see results,” warns against treating God as an instrument, asks: Is God our Father or merely a tool?
"What is the image of God that motivates our prayer? Is he an instrument to be used? Or is he the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?" (52:52, Fr. Mike).
- True Prayer Is Relational and Transformative
12. Prayer as Both Consolation and Challenge
- High Standards, Never Downplayed:
"The church has never condescended...never talks down to us. Even in the section on prayer, the church is saying, 'No, actually, you’re made for the heights'" (33:27, Fr. Mike).
13. Personal Testimonies: Healing, Repair, and Intimacy
- Stories of marriage, confession, and overcoming shame illustrate how mature prayer grows in the context of wounds healed and love renewed.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On relationship:
“Prayer is not something we do. It's a relationship. It's who we are with the Lord.” (05:44, Sr. Miriam)
- On God’s initiative:
“Any desire that we have for prayer...comes from God. So we don't have to...do the heavy lifting” (10:03, Sr. Miriam)
- On the human heart:
“The heart is the dwelling place...only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully...the place of encounter” (15:38, Sr. Miriam).
- On vulnerability:
“I don’t know if I want to get that close to the Lord...I have shame” (26:35, Fr. Mike)
- On contemplative prayer:
“Contemplative prayer...is nothing else than a close sharing between friends. It means taking time frequently to be alone with him whom we know loves us” (39:31, Sr. Miriam quoting St. Teresa of Avila).
- On struggle in prayer:
“Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response...it always presupposes effort” (47:59, Fr. Mike).
- On returning after failure:
“If I should fall a thousand times a day, a thousand times a day, I will begin again. I’ll trust in the Lord’s mercy and begin again. Now I begin” (38:33, Fr. Mike summarizing Venerable Bruno Lanteri).
- On God’s love:
“We don’t believe God loves us, we believe God tolerates us” (56:49, Fr. Mike).
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Sister Miriam’s faith journey & Catechism’s role – 02:47–05:46
- Transition to Pillar Four & prayer as relationship – 05:46–09:44
- God’s initiative; prayer as response – 10:00–13:20
- The heart as the center of prayer – 15:29–17:02
- Tools/devotions vs. relational prayer – 17:02–19:54
- Obstacles to prayer, especially shame & unworthiness – 24:05–28:41
- Naming obstacles, bringing them to God – 27:06–28:41
- Jesus as model for praying as beloved – 34:27–37:32
- Contemplative prayer & desire for prayer – 39:31–42:26
- The battle of prayer (dryness, distraction, effort) – 47:59–48:55
Takeaway Messages
- Prayer is Relationship: Prayer is union and communication with God, rooted in mutual love, not mere recitation or obligation.
- God Initiates Everything: Every desire to pray is itself God’s invitation; we need only respond.
- The Heart is the Encounter Point: Move beyond surface-level devotion; allow God into the deepest reality of your soul.
- Obstacles are Common and Surmountable: Shame, fear, and dryness are chances for deeper trust, not reasons to give up.
- Be Honest and Begin Again: God knows all and wants your heart as it truly is; always begin again after failure, trusting in his mercy.
- Prayer is a Gift and a Battle: Grace and effort go together, and struggles are expected parts of the journey.
- Let God Love You: The core hope of this pillar and these episodes is not just an intellectual understanding of prayer, but a transformative encounter with love itself.
This episode, filled with personal witness, catechetical depth, and invitations to vulnerability, provides listeners with both theological clarity and practical encouragement as they begin the Church’s sustained exploration of prayer.