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

Episode: Day 37: The Divine Economy (2026)
Date: February 6, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 257–260

Main Theme

Day 37 explores the Divine Economy and the Trinitarian Missions—how God, as Trinity, acts in creation, salvation, and sanctification, and invites humanity into the perfect unity of Divine life. Fr. Mike guides listeners through the beauty and mystery of the Trinity’s unified but distinct work throughout salvation history, focusing on the Catechism’s teaching that all divine action is the shared work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding the Divine Economy

• Fr. Mike explains the term "economy" in its original sense, oikonomia, meaning "management of the house," or God's management of salvation history ([01:00]):

  • The Divine Economy refers to "the common work of the three Divine Persons"—all of God's actions in time and in our salvation are undertaken by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together.

• Quote:

  “When the Father was creating, the Son is present and the Holy Spirit are active. Right? That when the Son is redeeming the world, the Holy Spirit and the Father are present and active. And that as the Holy Spirit continues to sanctify this world, the Father and the Son are present and active.”
  —Fr. Mike ([02:02])

2. Unity and Distinction Within the Trinity

• While the Divine Persons are distinct, their work is never divided. Each Person acts "according to his unique personal property," but always in inseparable unity ([03:45]):

• Quote:

  “Whoever glorifies the Father does so through the Son in the Holy Spirit, right? So whoever follows Christ does so because the Father draws him and the Spirit moves him.”
  —Fr. Mike ([03:58])

3. Purpose and End of the Divine Economy

• The Divine Economy isn’t an end in itself. Its purpose is our entry into the "perfect life of the Trinity"—that is, communion with God for eternity ([05:14]):

• Quote:

  “The ultimate end of the whole divine economy is the entry of God's creatures into the perfect life of the Trinity. So the whole point of God revealing himself ... is that you and I can be brought into the perfect unity of the Blessed Trinity.”
  —Fr. Mike ([05:27])

4. Catechism Reading Highlights

• Paragraph 257:
  • God is eternal blessedness, undying life, unfading light.
  • God freely wills to communicate the glory of his blessed life (“Such is the plan of his loving kindness... destined us in love to be his sons... conformed to the image of His Son through the Spirit of sonship.”)
  • The plan unfolds in creation, salvation history after the Fall, and the missions of the Son and Spirit, continued in the Church ([07:00]).
• Paragraph 258:
  • The Trinity has one and the same nature, and therefore one and the same operation: “The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three principles of creation, but one principle.”
  • Quote from Second Council of Constantinople:

    "One God and Father from whom all things are, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom all things are, and one Holy Spirit in whom all things are." ([10:20])

• Paragraph 259:
  • Christian life is a communion with each Divine Person, never separating them.
  • Everyone who glorifies the Father does so through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.
  • Everyone who follows Christ does so because the Father draws him and the Spirit moves him.
• Paragraph 260:
  • The ultimate end: Entry into the perfect unity of the Blessed Trinity.
  • Even now, we are called to be a dwelling for the Most Holy Trinity.
  • Jesus:

    "If a man loves me ... we will come to him and make our home with him."

5. Spiritual Application—“Eternity is in You”

• Fr. Mike emphasizes that by baptism, Christians "have been brought into the life of the Trinity"—“Eternity is in you” ([16:07]).
• He clarifies:

  “What I mean is, in the mystery of the Trinity ... God dwells inside of us. And God. God is infinite, right? God is without time. God's outside of time, and yet he comes to us in time.”
  —Fr. Mike ([16:23])

6. The Prayer of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

• Fr. Mike concludes with the famous prayer, inviting listeners to forget themselves and become a dwelling place for God:

  > “O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me forget myself entirely so to establish myself in you, unmovable and peaceful, as if my soul were already in eternity ... Grant my soul peace, make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling and the place of your rest ... wholly given over to your creative action.”  
  > —Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity ([13:24])
  

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Mystery:

  "God in Himself is more than we can express, more than we can capture, more than we can imagine or dream of."
  —Fr. Mike ([03:17])

• On the Trinity’s inseparability:

  “Whenever one of them is present and active, all of them are present and active.”
  —Fr. Mike ([12:50])

• On the experience of reading the Catechism:

  "I'm telling you, isn't—I don’t know if you have this experience, but every day is better. ... It’s poetry. It is incredible."
  —Fr. Mike ([13:20])

• Consolation for Listeners:

  "I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless."
  —Fr. Mike ([18:40])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:00: Introduction to Divine Economy and Trinitarian Missions
• 03:17: The Trinity—Unity in Distinction
• 05:27: The Purpose—Our Entry into the Trinity
• 07:00: Reading and breakdown of CCC para. 257
• 10:20: Unity of divine action in the Trinity (CCC para. 258)
• 12:50: All Persons always present and active
• 13:20: “It’s poetry. It is incredible.”
• 13:24: Prayer of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
• 16:07: “Eternity is in you”—the indwelling life of the Trinity
• 18:40: Fr. Mike’s blessing and closing prayer

Takeaways

• The Divine Economy is the complete story and reality of how God reveals and shares his Trinitarian life in creation, redemption, and sanctification.
• Every act of God involves all three Divine Persons, each acting according to who they are, but never in separation.
• The ultimate goal is for us to become completely united with God in the life of the Trinity—not just later, but beginning now.
• We are invited to surrender ourselves, make our souls a home for God, and be transformed in divine love.

For New Listeners:
This episode serves both as a theological overview of how Christians understand the activity of the Triune God and as an invitation to live consciously as participants in the life of the Holy Trinity, inspired by the beauty and depth of Catholic teaching and prayer.