Episode Summary:
The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Day 59: Summary of The Fall (2026)
Date: February 28, 2026
Theme: “Nugget Day”—A summary of the Church’s teaching on Original Sin and The Fall, focusing on Catechism paragraphs 413-421.
Overview:
On Day 59, Fr. Mike Schmitz provides a comprehensive, high-level summary—or “nuggets”—of everything covered about The Fall and Original Sin. He reviews the Church’s foundational teachings about humanity’s relationship with God, the entry of sin into the world, the reality of human brokenness, and, ultimately, the hope held out in Christ. The episode closes the Creed’s section on God the Father and prepares listeners to dive into “I believe in Jesus Christ” starting tomorrow.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Structure and Purpose of “Nugget Day”
- Fr. Mike explains “Nugget Day" as a time to review and condense big ideas into concise summaries.
- He reiterates the journey so far, emphasizing the importance of knowledge—not just as information, but as a means to grow in love and trust for God.
- “I want to know you better in order to love you better. I want to know you better in order to be able to trust you better and follow you more closely.” (03:20)
- Today’s text (CCC 413-421) is described as an “incredible 50,000 foot overview” of the last week of catechism readings.
2. God Did Not Create Death
- Wisdom 2:24 is highlighted to emphasize that “God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living. It was through the devil’s envy that death entered the world.” (06:10)
- Fr. Mike underscores the biblical and doctrinal teaching that God only creates good; evil and death are distortions, not creations.
- “God is love. So he cannot be envious, right? He cannot create evil... The only thing that comes off the sun is light and heat, because that’s all it is. Well, God is love. God is life. God is goodness itself.” (07:10)
3. The Fallen Angels and Their Permanent Choice
- The devil and other demons are “fallen angels who have freely refused to serve God and his plan.” Their choice is definitive; according to the catechism, there’s no going back (06:50).
- Fr. Mike uses a vivid analogy:
- “It’s the difference between a thief and a vandal… a thief wants to have what he steals, a vandal doesn’t want anyone to have it... The devil, in this strange, strange way, is both: he steals, kills, destroys, but also tries to vandalize.” (10:00)
4. Human Participation in the Fall
- Drawing from Gaudium et Spes and the Catechism, Fr. Mike explains that Adam, “enticed by the evil one, abused his freedom… he lifted himself up against God and sought to attain his goal apart from him.” (07:45)
- Original justice and holiness were lost not just for Adam and Eve, but for all humanity. This is the core of the doctrine of Original Sin.
5. The Nature and Transmission of Original Sin
- Original Sin means that all of humanity now inherits a nature “wounded by that first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice.” (08:20)
- “Original sin is transmitted with human nature by propagation, not by imitation,” citing the Council of Trent (08:40).
- As a result, “human nature is weakened in its powers, subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death, and inclined to sin. This inclination is called concupiscence.” (10:30)
- “Just because I want something doesn’t mean that it’s good for me, doesn’t mean that I should choose it. Just because I’ve always been a certain way doesn’t mean that that’s actually good… Every human being is good, but also every human being is broken.” (11:00)
6. Hope in Christ’s Victory
- Despite original sin, the “victory Christ won over sin has given us greater blessings than those that sin has taken away from us” (12:30).
- Fr. Mike references St. Paul, St. Leo the Great, and St. Thomas Aquinas:
- “Greater blessings, better blessings. The gifts that God gives because of sin are greater than the gifts that he gave without the sin.” (13:00)
- Romans 5:20: “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”
7. The Ongoing Battle and Unending Hope
- Fr. Mike draws attention to the battle every Christian faces: the world, the flesh, and the devil (09:30). He encourages perseverance and faith, even in periods of “distress.”
- “You might find yourself in a place of distress, but you will never find yourself abandoned.” (04:40)
- Concludes with a summary from Gaudium et Spes (CCC 421): The world “has been established and kept in being by the Creator’s love, has fallen into slavery to sin, but has been set free by Christ, crucified and risen to break the power of the evil one.” (13:55)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
“Just because I want something doesn’t mean that it’s good for me, doesn’t mean that I should choose it. Just because I’ve always been a certain way doesn’t mean that that’s actually good… Every human being is good, but also every human being is broken.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz, (11:00)
“You might find yourself in a place of distress, but you will never find yourself abandoned.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz, (04:40)
“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”
— Quoting Romans 5:20, (13:20)
“The gifts that God gives because of sin are greater than the gifts that he gave without the sin.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz, referencing Aquinas & Leo the Great (13:00)
Important Timestamps
- 00:05-03:00 — Introduction, “Nugget Day” explanation, episode context
- 03:20-04:45 — Purpose of knowledge: love, trust, and hope in life’s battles
- 06:10-07:10 — God did not make death; the devil’s envy in Wisdom 2:24
- 08:20-09:00 — How original sin is transmitted—“by propagation, not by imitation”
- 10:30-11:00 — Nature of concupiscence; struggle with human brokenness
- 12:30-13:20 — Christ’s victory brings blessings greater than humanity lost
- 13:55-14:30 — Gaudium et Spes and hope in redemption
- 14:30-end — Appreciation for community, encouragement for listeners
Tone and Language
- Fr. Mike maintains an encouraging, relatable, and honest tone; he speaks directly to the listener’s experience and struggles.
- The message is both pastoral (“We have hope, even in the battle”) and catechetical (clear explanation of doctrine).
Conclusion
Fr. Mike’s Day 59 episode draws together the threads of the Catechism’s teaching on The Fall, offering both a doctrinal summary and practical encouragement. The reality of sin, suffering, and brokenness is not the whole story; because of Christ, grace is always greater, and hope is real and present. Tomorrow, the podcast will pivot to consider the person of Jesus, marking a new phase in the year-long journey.
End of summary