Podcast Summary: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) – Day 345: Animated by Prayer

Podcast: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Day 345: Animated by Prayer
Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Readings: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2691–2699

Overview of the Episode

In this milestone episode, Fr. Mike guides listeners through a pivotal transition in the Catechism: moving from a section on practical guides for prayer into the heart of Chapter Three, “The Life of Prayer.” Today’s episode unpacks the importance of choosing spaces conducive to prayer, emphasizes prayer as the very life of the Christian, and introduces the three classic expressions of prayer that the Catechism explores in depth. Both practical and deeply inspiring, this episode aims to reinforce not just how or where to pray, but to kindle a new appreciation for relentless remembrance of God.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Transition between Sections (00:05–04:02)

• Fr. Mike highlights the unusual step of moving from one chapter to another within a single episode (“...we're going from one section to another section, one chapter to another chapter...” – 01:20).
• Today’s reading will tie up “Guides for Prayer” and introduce “The Life of Prayer,” showing both the tangible and spiritual dimensions of Catholic prayer life.

2. Places Favorable for Prayer (04:02–05:44, expanded at 07:21–12:45)

• Liturgical Prayer:
  • The Church (house of God) is identified as the “proper place for the liturgical prayer of the parish community” and “the privileged place for adoration of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.”
  • “The church itself, right, the House of God, that's the proper place for the liturgical prayer of the parish community... the best place, the most fitting place, the proper place for the Mass is inside the church.” (07:43)
• Personal Prayer:
  • Personal or family prayer can be enriched by having a dedicated “prayer corner” at home, equipped with sacred scriptures and icons—“a little oratory” that encourages prayer in common within families.
  • “Is there a space in your own home that could be your, you know, 'prayer corner'? ... having your sacred scriptures really present there, maybe having some images that would help you and assist you in prayer can be so incredible. It calls it a little, kind of little oratory, and that fosters prayer in common.” (08:22)
• Monasteries:
  • Serve to deepen participation in the Liturgy of the Hours, providing “solitude for more intense personal prayer” and often allowing the wider faithful to join at specific prayer times.
• Pilgrimages and Shrines:
  • Highlighted as “very special occasions for renewal in prayer,” providing a “microcosm of the life of your—of your life” through both joys and trials.
  • “Everything that happens in your life happens on a pilgrimage. So you get tired, you get cranky, you have highs, you have lows... and that's why it says here that they evoke our earthly journey toward heaven...” (10:00)

3. The Life of Prayer: The Heart of Christian Living (05:44–14:16)

• Prayer as Life:

  • Prayer is described as “the life of the new heart”—foundational and animating for the Christian’s spiritual life.
  • “Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment, but that's not how it works, right? Why? Because we tend to forget him who is our life and our all.” (12:12)

• The Need for Remembrance:

  • Emphasis on how easily Christians forget God amidst daily routines and distractions. Fr. Mike urges listeners to plan, especially as the podcast journey nears completion, how they’ll sustain daily prayer habits.
  • “We need to be reminded. What's it say here? We tend to forget him who is our life and our all. In 21 days, you'll be done with this. And then what will take this space of this time that you've dedicated to the Lord...?” (12:50)

• Quoting the Saints:

  • St. Gregory of Nazianzus: “‘We must remember God more often than we draw breath.’” (01:50, 13:20)
    Fr. Mike marvels at the demand and beauty of this call.
  • Catechism Wisdom: “We cannot pray at all times if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it.” (13:34)
    • This leads to the key balance: ongoing awareness of God, rooted in intentional moments set aside for prayer.

• The Three Expressions of Prayer:

  • Christian prayer traditionally unfolds in three forms: vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer.
  • “They have one basic trait in composure of heart. This vigilance in keeping the word and dwelling in the presence of God makes these three expressions intense times in the life of prayer.” (13:54)
  • Fr. Mike previews the focus on these forms in the coming episodes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Prayer’s Place in Daily Life:
  • “Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment, but we tend to forget him who is our life and our all.” — Fr. Mike, quoting CCC 2697 (01:45, 12:12)
• On Remembering God:
  • “We must remember God more often than we draw breath.” — St. Gregory of Nazianzus, quoted by Fr. Mike (01:50, 13:20)
• On Intentionality in Prayer:
  • “We cannot pray at all times if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it.” — Catechism, emphasized by Fr. Mike (13:34)
• On Pilgrimage:
  • “Everything that happens in your life happens on a pilgrimage ... you have these moments of intense joy and moments of sometimes moments of intense grief ... that's why it says here that they evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal and prayer.” (10:00)
• On the End of the Podcast Journey:
  • “In 20 days from now, what will I do so that I can remember you? And don't forget you amidst the busyness of life.” (14:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05 – Introduction and episode structure
• 04:02 – Reading the Catechism: places favorable for prayer
• 05:44 – Reading on the life of prayer and prayer’s centrality
• 07:21 – Practical unpacking: churches, oratories, monasteries, pilgrimages
• 12:12 – Why we need reminders: forgetting God and sustaining a habit of prayer
• 13:20 – St. Gregory’s challenge: remembering God constantly
• 13:34 – The necessity of set prayer times
• 13:54 – Introduction of three classic forms of prayer
• 14:16 – Closing encouragement: plan for prayer beyond this podcast

Structure and Flow

The episode moves from the practical ("where should we pray") to the profound ("how does prayer animate Christian life"), alternating direct quotations from the Catechism with Fr. Mike’s heartfelt reflections and accessible analogies. His style remains inviting, fatherly, occasionally humorous, always direct. The momentum builds towards not just understanding but committing to a richer life of prayer that endures past the podcast’s final episode.

Closing Thought

Fr. Mike ends by urging listeners to plan now how they will continue to make space for God once the structured days of “Catechism in a Year” are done, echoing the episode’s core insight: we are called to remember God more often than we draw breath, setting aside real time and real spaces—both physical and interior—to let prayer become the life of our hearts.

“Please take this time right now... to say, okay, God, I've just heard your call to pray...help me to remember you now and always.” (14:05)