Podcast Summary: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Day 341: The Theological Virtues (2025)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Date: December 7, 2025
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2656–2662
Episode Overview
In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the role of the theological virtues—faith, hope, and love—as essential sources or "wellsprings" of prayer in the Christian life. Drawing from specific paragraphs of the Catechism, Fr. Mike explains how these virtues not only enable authentic prayer but also connect us to God in the present moment. He emphasizes living in the grace of today, highlights the distinction between the theological and cardinal virtues, and closes with the moving prayer of St. John Vianney.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Four Wellsprings of Prayer – A Recap
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Previously Discussed:
- Word of God (Sacred Scripture)
- Liturgy of the Church
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Today’s Focus:
- Theological Virtues—Faith, Hope, Charity (Love)
- The Present Moment as a source of meeting God
“Yesterday was the Word of God, so Sacred Scripture, and also the Liturgy of the Church... Today we’re talking about the theological virtues, so faith, hope and love—today is another one of those wellsprings.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [02:06]
2. Entering Prayer by Faith
- Entry into prayer mirrors entry into liturgy: “by the narrow gate of faith.”
- God’s action and presence are real, but it takes faith to truly receive His graces.
- Lack of faith is compared to wearing a raincoat in the shower—grace is present, but blocked.
“If we don’t have faith, we don’t have that trust, that surrender to the Lord, then it’s like getting into that shower with a raincoat on. Yet the graces are there, the water is there. It’s not going to do much to us.”
— Fr. Mike [07:18]
- Practical Reassurance: Showing up in trust is already an act of faith.
“If you are showing up because you want God to act... that's an act of faith. That's an act of surrender, that's an act of obedience, that's an act of trust.”
— Fr. Mike [08:42]
3. Praying with Hope
- The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray in eager expectation for Christ’s return—a future-oriented hope.
- Prayer (especially in the Psalms) nourishes this hope.
“The Holy Spirit... teaches us to pray in hope. And so we not only know that God is present... but also we recognize that God, there is a future. There is a future that you desire for me, and there’s a future that you desire for the whole world.”
— Fr. Mike [09:40]
4. Love as the Source and Summit of Prayer
- Through prayer, we’re drawn into the love by which Christ loves us.
- Love is the starting point—the source—of authentic prayer.
- Our response in prayer is rooted in His love for us, not in the perfection of our love for Him.
“Love is the source of prayer. Whoever draws from it reaches the summit of prayer...”
— Quoting Catechism/Curé of Ars, [10:11]
“We’re not hoping, we’re not trusting in our love. We are hoping and we are trusting in his love... I don’t love him the way he deserves... But I’m loved by him, and you are loved by Him. And that love enables us to love in return. That love enables us to have hope. That love enables us to walk in faith.”
— Fr. Mike [10:51]
5. The Present Moment as a Wellspring of Prayer
- God is encountered in the “here and now,” never just in the past or future.
- We often live with regret for the past or anxiety about the future; prayer roots us in the present.
“It is in the present that we encounter God not yesterday, nor tomorrow, but today.”
— Quoting Catechism [11:55]
- We learn to pray in special moments (liturgical, hearing the Word), but the Holy Spirit is offered to us “at all times in the events of each day.”
“If I can learn to find God in this moment, I can find God in every moment. But if I can’t learn to find God in this moment, I will never be able to find God in any moment.”
— Fr. Mike [12:46]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Faith:
“If you are showing up because you want God to act... that's an act of faith. That's an act of surrender, that's an act of obedience, that's an act of trust.”
— Fr. Mike [08:42]
On God’s Love:
“I don’t love him the way I should... but I'm loved by him, and you are loved by Him. And that love enables us to love in return.”
— Fr. Mike [10:51]
On the Present Moment:
“It is in the present that we encounter God not yesterday, nor tomorrow, but today.”
— Catechism, quoted by Fr. Mike [11:55]
St. John Vianney’s Prayer (Love):
“I love you, O my God, and my only desire is to love you until the last breath of my life. I love you, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving you than live without loving you. I love you, Lord, and the only grace I ask is to love you eternally, my God. If my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love you, I want my heart to repeat it to you as often as I draw breath.”
— St. John Vianney, quoted by Fr. Mike [13:15]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [02:06] – Introduction to today’s wells of prayer: theological virtues and the “today” moment
- [03:33] – Catechism reading: paragraphs on theological virtues as sources of prayer
- [07:18] – Fr. Mike on faith as the “narrow gate” into prayer and liturgy
- [09:40] – Hope as a forward-looking virtue in prayer
- [10:11] – Love as the source of prayer; St. John Vianney’s words
- [11:55] – Importance of the present moment in prayer; avoiding fixation on past/future
- [12:46] – Living and praying in the “now”
- [13:15] – St. John Vianney’s prayer as a model for loving God
Tone & Application
Fr. Mike’s tone is warm, encouraging, and direct; he gently challenges listeners to move beyond abstract understanding and put these teachings into personal practice—especially to pray today, in the present. He reassures those who struggle with feeling faith or love that showing up itself is an act of grace-filled virtue and that God’s love precedes and encompasses all our efforts.
Practical Takeaways & Invitation
- Recognize faith, hope, and love as fonts that enable prayer and deepen relationship with God.
- Seek to meet God today, in this very moment—not just in special times or church events.
- Trust not in the strength of your own virtue, but in the love “by which you are loved” in Christ.
- Let St. John Vianney’s prayer be both inspiration and practical prayer after this episode.
“This information needs to be put into application... My invitation right after this is to pray.”
— Fr. Mike [13:37]
End of summary.