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

Episode: Day 360: Hallowing God’s Name (2025)

Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2807–2815

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the very first petition of the Lord’s Prayer—“Hallowed be Thy Name.” He explains the true meaning behind hallowing God’s name, how it’s deeply connected to our lives and actions, and why this prayer is foundational for both understanding God’s holiness and our call to reflect it in the world. Drawing from the Catechism and the writings of saints, Fr. Mike reveals the personal and communal significance of this petition, inspiring listeners to live in such a way that God’s name is honored and glorified.

Main Theme and Purpose

• Central Focus: The episode centers on the meaning of “hallowed be thy name” as proclaimed in the Lord’s Prayer, examining what it means to honor and recognize God’s holiness.
• Goal: To deepen listeners’ understanding of the petition, clarify misunderstandings, and challenge them to embody the holiness of God’s name through their own lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Does It Mean to “Hallow” God’s Name?

• Not causative, but evaluative: We do not make God’s name holy (only God hallows), but we are called to recognize and treat it as holy.
  • “The term to hallow is to be understood here, not primarily in its causative sense...but above all in an evaluative sense, to recognize as holy, to treat in a holy way.” (Fr. Mike reading CCC, [03:10])
• Prayer as recognition: In saying “hallowed be thy name,” we are asking that God’s name be known, glorified, and loved—by ourselves and by all people.

2. God Reveals His Name Through Deeds

• The gradual revelation of God’s name in salvation history—particularly through Abraham, Moses, and most fully in Jesus.
  • “When we reflect on the name of God, we know the name of God because of what he's done. Incredible.” (Fr. Mike, [11:15])
• God’s name and actions are inseparably linked; His actions make His name known.

3. The Depth of the First Petition

• This first petition draws us into the deepest mystery of God—His holiness—and involves both God and humanity.
  • “We are immersed in the innermost mystery of His Godhead and the drama of the salvation of our humanity.” (Fr. Mike, paraphrasing CCC, [07:30])
• Praying that God's name be hallowed is participation in God’s loving plan for all of creation.

4. Our Daily Call to Holiness

• Saintly wisdom: Quotes from St. Cyprian, St. Peter Chrysologus, and Tertullian emphasize the daily need for sanctification.
  • “We need sanctification daily, so that we who fail daily may cleanse away our sins by being sanctified continually.” (St. Cyprian, CCC 2813, read by Fr. Mike, [15:05])
• Living and praying well: The reputation of God’s name among the world is inseparable from how believers live and pray.
  • “God's name is either known or not known, depending on how we live and depending on how we pray. Here’s the reality of it...Jesus name is known or not known, depending on how you live and depending on how you pray.” (Fr. Mike, [16:10])

5. The Holy Name and Our Witness

• To bless or blaspheme: Our conduct has the power to bless God’s name—or to blaspheme it—before others.
  • “For God’s name is blessed when we live well, but is blasphemed when we live wickedly.” (St. Peter Chrysologus, CCC 2814, read by Fr. Mike, [17:25])
• Universal petition: We pray that God’s name be hallowed in all, loving even our enemies.
  • “That is why we do not say expressly, hallowed be Thy name in us, for we ask that it be so in all men.” (Tertullian, CCC 2814, [18:15])

6. A Message of Encouragement and Challenge

• Broken yet loved: Acknowledge our failures, and let God’s mercy sanctify us daily.
  • “Of course we’re broken. Of course. I mean, we know this, right? This is the news flash. We’re broken. ...and yet we’re loved. Broken and blessed. We’ve wandered away and yet we’re wanted. We are lost and yet we're loved.” (Fr. Mike, [19:10])
• Ongoing journey: As the year and podcast draw to a close, Fr. Mike invites listeners to reflect on their next steps in living out this petition each day.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re not making it holy by saying ‘hallowed be your name.’ It’s not a causative sense, but in an evaluative sense—to recognize as holy. God, may your name be glorified, may your name be known, may your name be loved.” (Fr. Mike, [02:20])
• “God reveals Himself through His words and through his works. We’re meant to reveal him through our words and works, and yet, man, we just crash and burn more often than not, right?” (Fr. Mike, [15:50])
• “Let yourself be caught. If you’ve wandered away, let the divine hunter hunt you down. If you strayed away...let the Good Shepherd seek after you and find you. I know I need to let him find me...I know I need to let him rescue me one more time. Many, many, many, many more times.” (Fr. Mike, [20:30])
• “Pray always, always, always, that God’s name is known. That God’s name is loved and glorified. Hallowed. But it’s only going to be hallowed if we live well and pray well.” (Fr. Mike, [19:40])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:20] — What it means to “hallow” God’s name (Evaluative vs. causative)
• [07:30] — The first petition draws us into God’s innermost mystery
• [11:15] — God’s name revealed in Scripture through His deeds
• [15:05] — St. Cyprian on daily sanctification and prayer for perseverance
• [16:10] — Our witness: How living and praying affect God’s name in the world
• [17:25] — St. Peter Chrysologus on blessing or blaspheming God’s name by our actions
• [19:10] — We are broken yet loved; the ongoing journey of returning to God
• [20:30] — Allowing God to find and rescue us repeatedly

Summary

This episode is a focused meditation on the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer (“Hallowed be Thy Name”), inviting listeners to a deeper understanding that this prayer is not about making God holy but treating and honoring Him as holy—both in our prayer and in our daily lives. Fr. Mike draws from the Catechism and the wisdom of the saints to reinforce that the sanctification of God’s name is realized through our actions and our witness to the world. The episode concludes with both encouragement and challenge: embrace God’s continual mercy, and strive each day to live and pray in a way that hallowed His holy name.

Fr. Mike’s closing message:
"I want God’s name to be known by how I live and by how I pray. I want that to be the case for you. Because of that, I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless." ([21:20])