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

Episode: Day 42: The Work of Creation (2026)
Date: February 11, 2026
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 290–298

Overview: The Main Theme

This episode explores the Church’s teachings on the work of creation, focusing on what it means that God created the world, how He did it, and why. Fr. Mike unpacks the Catechism’s teaching on God as Creator, the role of the Trinity in creation, the meaning of "creation ex nihilo" (out of nothing), and the reason the world exists: for the glory of God. The episode also discusses how understanding creation is foundational for understanding our own purpose, dignity, and hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Eternal God as Creator (00:46–04:32)

• The episode centers on the deep question: Who made you, and why did God make you?
• Fr. Mike references the Baltimore Catechism:
  • "Who made you? God made me."
  • "Why did God make you? God made me to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this life so as to be happy with him forever."
• The Catechism (para. 290) sees the very first line of Genesis as affirming:
  • God (the eternal one) gave a beginning to everything outside Himself.
  • God alone is Creator—creation is always attributed to God.
  • Everything that exists depends for its being on God.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [02:02]: "It is incredible— that's the first line of the entire Bible and it tells us these three clear and distinct things."

2. Creation as the Work of the Trinity (04:35–06:20)

• Creation is not just the work of "God the Father" alone—it's the common work of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • The Catechism references Genesis 1, Prologue of John, St. Paul's letters, and the Church Fathers.
  • God the Father creates by the Word (the Son) and by Wisdom (the Spirit), described poetically as God's "hands" (St. Irenaeus).
• This makes creation an act of love, reflecting God’s own nature as a loving communion.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [12:39]: "The entire creation was not just the work of the Father; it's the work of the Holy Trinity—which is love. Who is love. All of creation is the work of love."

3. The Purpose of Creation: The Glory of God (06:21–08:30)

• Why did God create the world? Not because He needed anything—not to increase His own glory—but to show it forth and communicate it.
  • The Catechism quotes St. Bonaventure: God creates "not to increase his glory, but to show it forth and to communicate it."
  • St. Thomas Aquinas: "Creatures came into existence when the Key of Love opened his hand."
  • Vatican I affirms: God creates with absolute freedom—not out of need, but out of love.
• The ultimate purpose is for God to be "all in all," sharing His own beatitude with us.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [13:26]: "God gains nothing from our worship. The only thing He gains is He gets to share His glory, His divine life with us."

4. Out of Nothing: Creation ex Nihilo (08:31–10:10)

• God did not create the world from pre-existing stuff, nor is creation an "emanation" from the divine substance (contrary to other ancient myths).
• The unique Jewish-Christian claim: God creates ex nihilo—out of nothing, by His word.
  • St. Theophilus: Even human artisans need materials; God needs nothing.
• This truth is a promise and a hope—He who created from nothing can recreate hearts and raise the dead.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [16:20]: "God who can make everything out of nothing... He can raise up your dry bones and my dry bones. He can raise up dust from the earth. He can bring us back to life. And He will, because He promises to bring us back to life."

5. Practical Implications: Creation and Spiritual Hope (10:11–End)

• The creative power of God isn’t just a past event—it’s an ongoing reality.
• God can create "a pure heart" in sinners; He can bring bodily life to the dead (resurrection).
• Fr. Mike urges listeners to pray—especially for those who don’t have the light of faith, for God can create faith as easily as He created light.
• Encouragement: Even if we struggle with faith, God’s goodness means He will supply what we lack.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Purpose:
  "God made me to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this life so as to be happy with him forever." — Baltimore Catechism [01:07]

• On the Trinity and Creation:
  "The work of creation is the work of the Holy Trinity. ... The entire creation was not just the work of the Father; it's the work of the Holy Trinity, which is love." — Fr. Mike Schmitz [12:35]

• On God’s Motivation:
  "God didn't need anything. He didn't do it to increase his own glory, but to show it forth and communicate it." — Fr. Mike Schmitz [02:24]

• On Worship and Divine Love:
  "God gains nothing from our worship. God gains nothing from revealing his glory to us. The only thing He gains is He gets to share His glory. He gets to share His divine life with us." — Fr. Mike Schmitz [13:26]

• On Creation’s Relevance:
  "Creation is not a thing of the past. Creation and recreation is a thing that's happening right now ... He can raise up your dry bones and my dry bones. He can raise up dust from the earth." — Fr. Mike Schmitz [16:20]

• On Hope for the Faithless:
  "God can give the light of faith to those who do not yet know Him... because we know this, we can still struggle with faith... and so we need God's help. But the crazy thing is, we have God's help." — Fr. Mike Schmitz [18:05]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:46–04:32 — Who made you? Why did God create the world? (Baltimore Catechism; Genesis 1; Catechism paragraph 290)
• 04:35–06:20 — The Trinity and creation; biblical and patristic references
• 06:21–08:30 — Creation for the glory of God; God communicates rather than increases glory
• 08:31–10:10 — Creation ex nihilo, its philosophical and theological significance
• 10:11–13:19 — Practical implications: creation as ongoing, hope for new creation and faith, encouragement to pray

Final Takeaways

• Creation is a deliberate, loving act of the Trinity, not a necessity or accident.
• Everything exists to communicate and share in God’s glory—not to supply any lack in God.
• God’s creative power offers hope: God who made the world can recreate our hearts and resurrect our bodies.
• Our prayer and faith rest in the assurance that God’s love and creative power are for us, now and always.

“God is so good. He can bestow the light of faith even on those who have hardened their hearts… and we have God's help.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [18:21]