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

Episode: Day 335: Jesus Teaches Us to Pray (2025)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Date: December 1, 2025
Readings: CCC 2607–2615

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through Catechism paragraphs 2607–2615, exploring how Jesus teaches us to pray. The focus is on both the example of Jesus’ prayer life and his explicit teachings about prayer, examining the attitudes, faith, and boldness with which Christians are encouraged to approach God. Through commentary, Fr. Mike underlines the core themes of trust, conversion of heart, perseverance, humility, and the certitude we have in praying “in Jesus’ name.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jesus’ Prayer as Teaching (00:50–03:30)

• Watching Jesus Pray: Merely observing Jesus in prayer teaches us how to approach God the Father ourselves. “The Son approaches the Father. We have our map, right? That’s our template for how we can approach the Father as well.” (Fr. Mike, 01:09)
• Explicit Teachings: Beyond his example, Christ explicitly instructs on prayer, leading people step-by-step, “like a wise teacher…leading us progressively toward the Father.” (Paraphrase, 01:30–01:50)

2. The Character of Christ’s Teaching on Prayer (03:30–06:30)

• Builds on Old Covenant Tradition: Jesus addresses people familiar with Jewish prayer, but he opens new horizons — especially about the Father and the Holy Spirit.
• Parables and Newness: The “newness” of Christian prayer is unfolded through parables and later, more direct discourse with his disciples.

3. The Call to Interior Conversion (06:30–09:00)

• From the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus insists on conversion of heart: “Our prayer, our pious acts, our liturgy… have to match up with this conversion of heart. This interior ‘I belong to the Lord,’ right?” (Fr. Mike, 07:00)
• Key Aspects of Conversion:
  • Reconciliation with others before offering sacrifice.
  • Love of enemies and praying for persecutors.
  • Praying in secret without empty phrases.
  • Forgiveness from the depths of the heart.
  • Striving for purity and seeking the Kingdom of God first.

Notable Quote

“We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If my heart…is far from God, then how…would I imagine that my heart would be close to God when I’m praying?”
Fr. Mike, 08:00–08:30

4. The Necessity of Faith in Prayer (09:10–11:00)

• Definition of Faith:
  "Faith is a filial adherence to God beyond what we feel and understand." (Fr. Mike, quoting the Catechism, 09:30)
• Praying with Trust: The more we understand God’s nature as Father, the bolder and more trusting our prayer becomes.

  “Because of that, we know that we have the heart of a good father who is just, who cares about us, who knows your name… Therefore, because of that, we get to have this filial boldness…”
  Fr. Mike, 10:10

5. Prayer Flows Into Life & Action (11:00–12:30)

• Authenticity Matters: Calling out “Lord, Lord” isn’t enough; prayer calls us to do the will of the Father.
  “Is it really faith…or is it just kind of a vague feeling or a vague wish?” (Fr. Mike, 11:50)

6. Watchfulness in Prayer (12:30–14:00)

• Dual Meaning:
  Watchfulness means remaining attentive both to Christ’s second coming and to God’s presence in this moment.
  “As you’re listening to these words, God is here, God is with you, and God is attentive to you in this moment.” (Fr. Mike, 13:30)

7. Three Parables from Luke on Prayer (14:00–16:00)

• Importunate Friend (Luke 11): Urgent, persistent prayer — “keep on knocking and the door will be opened.”
• Importunate Widow (Luke 18): Perseverance in prayer, especially with “the patience of faith.”
• Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18): Prayer must be humble: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
  Fr. Mike connects this directly to the “Kyrie eleison” in the Mass.

Notable Quote

“This persevering prayer, this prayer that is made with patience, and also this prayer that’s made in humility — we just say, ‘Lord, I know you are God and you’re good, and I am a sinner and I need your mercy.’”
Fr. Mike, 15:40

8. Praying in Jesus' Name (16:00–18:00)

• A New Access: Jesus teaches, “Ask in my name.” Faith in Christ gives us knowledge of the Father and access to the Spirit.
• Certitude in Prayer:
  “In this new covenant, the certitude that our petitions will be heard is founded on the prayer of Jesus.” (Fr. Mike, 17:10)
• Union with God:
  “As the Father’s adopted sons and daughters, we get to take our place with the Son…when we keep the words and commandments of Jesus, we get to abide with Jesus in the Father…” (Fr. Mike, 17:40)

9. God’s Love: The Foundation of All Prayer (18:00–End)

• Always Loved and Heard:
  “The Father loves you. And that’s how we approach God. Yes, he is good. Yes, he is holy…And yet he loves you and me in our weakness and in our shadow, in our shade. He loves us in the midst of our sin. And so we can approach him with confidence, that filial boldness, but also humility, knowing that God loves you as you are. He just loves you too much to let you stay that way.”
  (Fr. Mike, 18:27–18:55)

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:09 | Fr. Mike | “The Son approaches the Father. We have our map, right? That’s our template for how we can approach the Father as well.” | | 07:00 | Fr. Mike | “Our prayer…have to match up with this conversion of heart. This interior ‘I belong to the Lord,’ right?” | | 08:00 | Fr. Mike | “We pray as we live, because we live as we pray…” | | 09:30 | Fr. Mike | "Faith is a filial adherence to God beyond what we feel and understand." | | 10:10 | Fr. Mike | “Because of that [knowing God], we get to have this filial boldness…” | | 13:30 | Fr. Mike | “God is here, God is with you, and God is attentive to you in this moment.” | | 15:40 | Fr. Mike | “This persevering prayer…with patience…made in humility — we just say, ‘Lord, I know you are God… and I need your mercy.’” | | 17:10 | Fr. Mike | “In this new covenant, the certitude that our petitions will be heard is founded on the prayer of Jesus.” | | 18:27–18:55| Fr. Mike | “…He loves you as you are. He just loves you too much to let you stay that way. You ever heard that? Well, it’s true.” |

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Jesus’ Example as a Template: 01:00–03:30
• Jesus’ Explicit Teachings/Parables: 03:30–06:30, 14:00–16:00
• Interior Conversion and Faith: 06:30–11:00
• Authenticity and Watchfulness: 11:00–14:00
• Summary on “Praying in Jesus’ Name” and Certitude: 16:00–18:30
• Closing Reflection on God’s Love: 18:30–end

Summary – Key Points to Remember

• Jesus both models and explicitly teaches prayer, inviting us into a relationship with the Father marked by trust, boldness, and humility.
• Conversion of heart is foundational: Prayer, worship, and daily life must be deeply united.
• Faith means trusting beyond feelings or understanding — with the bold love of a child to the Father.
• Authentic prayer moves into action; it’s not mere words, but living the will of God.
• Perseverance, patience, and humility are essential — as illustrated in Christ’s parables.
• We pray in Jesus’ name, which gives our prayer a new dimension of certainty and unity with God.
• No matter our weakness or sin, we approach God as beloved children, confident in his unchanging love.

Fr. Mike closes by reminding listeners to pray for one another and to rest in the assurance that God hears every prayer and loves us deeply, even as he draws us toward transformation.