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

Episode Title: Day 333: The Psalms (2025)
Release Date: November 29, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2590–2597

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the pivotal role of the Psalms in Catholic prayer, revisiting and expanding upon the previous day's Catechism readings. The focus is on understanding the Psalms not just as ancient scripture but as living prayers that articulate the full spectrum of human emotion and faith. Fr. Mike reflects personally on praying the Psalms, underlining their place as the “masterwork” of Old Testament prayer, and discusses how they form the foundation of both Jewish and Christian liturgical tradition. Listeners are encouraged to embrace the Psalms personally, communally, and as a continual source for deepening their relationship with God.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Nature of Prayer and Its Place in Salvation History

• Prayer Defined:
  “Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God, or the requesting of good things from God…It unfolds throughout the whole history of salvation as a reciprocal call between God and man.” (Fr. Mike, 03:30)

• Old Testament Prayer Traditions:
  The prayers of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and the Prophets represent different ways humanity has reached toward God, marked by faithfulness, perseverance, intercession, and a desire for conversion of heart.

  • Example: Moses’ prayer foreshadows the intercession of Christ.
  • The Prophets, especially Elijah, model zeal for God and intercession for the people. (04:50)

The Psalms: The Masterwork of Prayer

• Personal and Communal Qualities:
  The Psalms – or the Psalter – are presented as the “masterwork” of Old Testament prayer, integrating both personal and communal dimensions. They “extend to all dimensions of history…looking for the coming of the Messiah.”
  (05:40-06:50)

• Psalms as Living Prayer:
  The development of the Psalms reveals a deepening in both prayer for oneself and intercession for others. The Psalms both nourish and express the faith of the people; they serve as a template to teach us how to pray, while at the same time giving voice to the deepest parts of our hearts.

  “These prayers are your gift to us so our hearts have a way of expressing the truth in the depths of our hearts, but also reaching the truth and the heights that is you.”
  (Fr. Mike, 01:00)

The Psalms Across Time: Past, Present, and Future

• Recalling God’s Faithfulness:
  The Psalms are rich with reminders of God’s actions in history. This repetitiveness serves to assure us that God’s faithfulness is ongoing – He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever.”
  (08:35-09:15)

• Christ Fulfills and Prays the Psalms:
  Jesus himself prayed and fulfilled the Psalms, which remain “an ever present and ever powerful way to pray.” The Psalms’ value endures for both Jews and Christians – the Old Testament is not obsolete.
  (09:20-09:50)

Personal Testimony: Fr. Mike’s Experience with the Psalms

• From Obligation to Personal Encounter:
  Fr. Mike recalls his promise as a priest to pray the Psalms daily (Liturgy of the Hours), and how, at first, they felt dry and uninspiring. Over time, through consistent repetition, he discovered the Psalms becoming the true prayers of his heart.

  “The more and more I prayed the Psalms, the more and more they became my prayer… The Psalter is the book in which the Word of God becomes man’s prayer.”
  (Fr. Mike, 10:10–12:45)

• A Memorable Moment:
  During a silent winter retreat, feeling unable to express his needs and thoughts in his own words, Fr. Mike found himself spontaneously reciting a Psalm. That Psalm, committed to memory through years of repetition, captured the depth of his soul “more than I could have captured the depths of my heart.”
  (Fr. Mike, 12:15-13:15)

The Diversity and Universality of the Psalms

• Many Forms of Prayer:
  The Psalms are not limited to praise but include hymns, laments, thanksgiving, wisdom, communal psalms, royal chants, and songs of pilgrimage.

  “All those different kinds of prayers…they all can meet us in any given season in our life.”
  (14:20)

• Direct Simplicity and Timelessness:
  Even when rooted in historical events, the Psalms transcend time, providing words for people throughout all ages and circumstances.
  (14:45)

The Essential Characteristics of the Psalms

• Constant Themes:
  Fr. Mike highlights recurring characteristics in the Psalms:

  • Simplicity: Honest, straightforward expressions.
  • Spontaneity: Even written prayers become “spontaneous” for those who pray them.
  • Desire for God: The Psalms express longing for God Himself, love of His creation, and hope for His action.

• A Central Thread:
  The core message in the Psalms, echoed in every believer’s heart:

  “The distraught situation of the believer who, in his preferential love for the Lord, is exposed to a host of enemies and temptations. But it waits upon what the faithful God will do in the certitude of his love and in submission to his will.”
  (16:00-16:40)

  Fr. Mike urges listeners to underline this truth in their lives, as it encapsulates the humility, trust, and confidence that all Christian prayer should possess.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Why the Psalms Matter:

  “The Psalms, the Psalter is your gift to us so that we can praise you the way you deserve.”
  (Fr. Mike, 00:55)

• On Praying Through Dryness:

  “I would pray them, I would read through them…and I would say, okay, this is the prayer. But I remember not being very inspired by them…But the more and more I prayed the Psalms, the more and more they became my prayer.”
  (11:10–12:35)

• On the Power of Repetition:

  “I discovered that Psalm actually captured the depths of my heart more than I could have captured the depths of my heart.”
  (13:00)

• On the Universal Relevance of the Psalms:

  “A given Psalm may reflect an event of the past, it still possesses such direct simplicity that it can be prayed in truth by men of all times and conditions.”
  (15:00)

• On Waiting in Faith:

  “But to wait upon what the faithful God will do in the certitude of his love and in submission to his will…that is the line to be underlined today.”
  (16:15–16:40)

• Encouragement in Prayer:

  “I know the God who led me to this moment will lead me through this moment.”
  (18:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:55–02:30: Opening prayer on the gift of the Psalms
• 03:30–06:50: Catechism “in brief” summary; structure and history of prayer
• 07:00–09:50: Overview of the Psalms, their history and place in Old & New Testament prayer
• 10:10–13:15: Fr. Mike’s personal journey with the Psalms; discovery of their power
• 14:00–15:00: The diversity and enduring relatability of the Psalms
• 16:00–16:40: The “golden thread”—trust, humility, and waiting on God
• 18:00–end: Final encouragement to connect with God through the Psalms

Conclusion & Takeaway

Fr. Mike concludes by highlighting the necessity of humility and trust in all prayer, especially as modeled in the Psalms. Whether in joy or distress, those who pray the Psalms join with generations of believers—including Jesus himself—in honest dialogue with God.
He encourages listeners:

“Hold onto this in our prayer. This constant characteristic of simplicity, humility, trust and confidence that even in the darkest of days…God is still with us.” (18:15)

He closes with his trademark, heartfelt request:

“I’m praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.”

Summary in a Sentence

Day 333 of The Catechism in a Year offers a profound meditation on the Psalms as the living heart of Old Testament prayer, inviting Catholics to embrace their simplicity, honesty, and capacity to shape both our words and our very hearts in communion with God.