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

Episode: Day 44: The Scandal of Evil (2026)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Date: February 13, 2026
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 309–314

Episode Overview

In Day 44 of “The Catechism in a Year,” Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles one of the most profound and emotionally charged questions of human existence: If God is all-good and all-powerful, why does evil exist? This episode walks listeners through the Catechism’s teaching on evil, suffering, and God’s providence, emphasizing that there is no simple answer. Instead, Fr. Mike explains that the entirety of the Christian faith responds to this mystery. The episode draws deeply from scripture, Church tradition, and the witness of saints to encourage trust in God’s goodness, even amid real suffering.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Central Question: Why Does Evil Exist?

(Starts at 01:50)

• Fr. Mike frames the heart of today’s Catechism reading with the question:

“If God the Father Almighty, the Creator of the ordered and good world, cares for all his creatures, why does evil exist?”

• He notes this is not only a philosophical puzzle but a deeply lived problem, present in every human experience of pain, suffering, or injustice.

2. No Quick Answers—Only the Fullness of the Christian Faith

(03:10)

• Fr. Mike quotes the Catechism:

“There is not a single aspect of the Christian message that is not in part an answer to the question of evil.” (CCC 309)

• He emphasizes:

“God’s answer to evil is not to take it away… God’s answer is Himself. He enters into the evil. He allows it to overwhelm Him. He conquers it. He transforms it, doesn’t take it away, but He transforms it. He doesn’t remove it, but He redeems it.” — Fr. Mike (04:05)

3. Free Will: The Cost of Love

(05:45)

• God could have created a world without the possibility of evil, but He chose to create creatures (angels and humans) with free will, so they could love.
• Free will means there is also the possibility to choose not to love—thus, the risk of evil.

4. Physical Evil vs. Moral Evil

(07:15)

• Physical evil (like natural disasters or suffering from gravity) is part of the world’s “state of journeying” toward its ultimate perfection.
• Moral evil enters because intelligent, free creatures can misuse their freedom.
• Key point:

“Moral evil, which, as the catechism highlights, is incommensurably more harmful than physical evil, entered the world…” — Fr. Mike (08:52)

• God is in no way the cause of moral evil; He permits it out of respect for our freedom, and because He can ultimately bring a greater good from it.

5. Biblical and Historical Examples

(10:20)

• Joseph’s story: His brothers meant evil, but God brought good from it.
• Most powerful example: The crucifixion of Jesus Christ—the greatest moral evil committed (the killing of God) became the source of the greatest good (our redemption).

6. God’s Providence and Mystery

(12:50)

• God is the master of the world and its history. His ways are often unknown to us.
• “Only at the end… will we fully know the ways by which, even through the dramas of evil and sin, God has guided his creation…” — Fr. Mike quoting CCC 314 (13:02)
• Faith involves trusting in this goodness now, even without complete understanding.

7. The Saints on Suffering and Providence

(14:15)

• The Catechism ends this section with striking testimonies:
  • St. Catherine of Siena:

    “Everything comes from love. All is ordained for the salvation of man. God does nothing without this goal in mind.”

  • St. Thomas More:

    “Nothing can come but that that God wills. And I make me very sure that whatsoever that be seemeth never so bad in sight, it shall indeed be the best.”

  • Dame Julian of Norwich:

    “All manner of things shall be well.”

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Fr. Mike Schmitz (03:53):

  “There is no quick answer. There’s no simple answer. In fact, the only answer is the entirety of the Christian faith.”

• Fr. Mike Schmitz (04:20):

  “God’s answer to evil is not to give us a reason. His answer is himself. He enters into the evil. He allows it to overwhelm him. He conquers it. He transforms it. He doesn’t remove it, but he redeems it.”

• Catechism/Fr. Mike (11:45):

  “God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of moral evil. He permits it…because he respects the freedom of his creatures and mysteriously knows how to derive good from it.”

• Julian of Norwich (15:35, quoted by Fr. Mike):

  “All will be well, and all manner of things will be well.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:50 — Stating the central question of evil in God’s creation
• 03:10 — The Catechism’s summary: No single aspect of the faith is not an answer
• 04:05 — God’s approach: entering, transforming, redeeming evil
• 05:45 — Free will: the risk and cost of love
• 07:15 — Distinction between physical and moral evil
• 10:20 — Joseph’s story & the Cross: Good from evil
• 12:50 — The limits of our understanding and the need for trust
• 14:15 — Quotes from St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thomas More, Julian of Norwich

Tone and Style

Fr. Mike’s presentation is earnest, compassionate, and hopeful, with a sense of awe before the mystery of suffering and God’s providence. He speaks directly to listeners’ personal struggles with evil and suffering, offering spiritual encouragement rooted in the deep wells of Catholic tradition.

Takeaways for Listeners

• There is no simple theological answer to why evil exists; only the fullness of the Christian faith addresses it in all its complexity.
• God does not cause evil but allows it through the gift of freedom, always intending to draw forth good—even from the worst situations.
• The journey through suffering and evil invites trust in God’s ultimate goodness and purpose, even when it is hidden.
• The wisdom and faith of the saints offers hope: In God’s providence, all can and will be well.

Final Blessing:
Fr. Mike closes in prayer, asking God to help us trust in His providence, especially within our own experiences of the “valley of the shadow of death.” He urges listeners to look to God, to the cross, and to the Church for hope that, in Christ, all suffering finds its answer.