Podcast Summary: The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Day 66: True God and True Man (2025)
Release Date: March 7, 2025
I. Introduction
In Day 66 of The Catechism in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and brought to you by Ascension, listeners delve into the profound mystery of Jesus Christ being both true God and true man. This episode, based on Catechism paragraphs 464 to 469, explores the historical and theological foundations that affirm the dual nature of Christ, addressing significant heresies and the Church’s responses through ecumenical councils.
II. Overview of Today's Reading
Fr. Mike Schmitz begins by outlining the focus of the day: understanding what it means for Jesus Christ to be both true God and true man. He references paragraphs 464 to 469 of the Catechism, emphasizing the importance of grasping this doctrine to comprehend the essence of Catholic faith and its implications for salvation.
Notable Quote:
“Today we the church, gosh, it's one thing to say Jesus Christ is truly God. You know, Jesus Christ is Lord... But then the question comes up, well, what do you mean? What do you mean that Jesus Christ is true God and true man?”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:02:15]
III. The Doctrine of Jesus as True God and True Man
A. Understanding the Hypostatic Union
Fr. Mike explains the concept of the hypostatic union—the union of Jesus' divine and human natures in one person (hypostasis). He clarifies that Jesus is not part God and part man, nor a confused mixture of both, but fully and truly both God and man.
Key Points:
- One Person, Two Natures: Jesus Christ possesses two distinct natures—divine and human—in one person.
- Coexistence Without Confusion: The divine and human coexist without merging, changing, or dividing each other.
Notable Quote:
“Jesus Christ is true God and true man... He became truly man while remaining truly God.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:05:30]
B. Historical Heresies Challenging the Doctrine
Fr. Mike delves into several heresies that historically challenged the Church’s understanding of Christ’s dual nature:
-
Gnostic Docetism:
- Belief: Denied Jesus’ true humanity, suggesting He only appeared to be human.
- Impact: Rejected the reality of Jesus experiencing human needs and suffering.
-
Nestorianism:
- Belief: Viewed Jesus as two separate persons—one divine and one human.
- Response: Emphasized the unity of Christ’s person, not separate entities.
-
Monophysitism:
- Belief: Asserted that Jesus had only one nature, predominantly divine, leading to the disappearance of His humanity.
- Impact: Threatened the reality of Jesus’ human experiences and actions.
-
Arianism:
- Belief: Contended that the Son of God was created by the Father and not of the same substance, thus not co-eternal.
- Impact: Denied the full divinity of Jesus.
Notable Quote:
“The first heresies denied not so much Christ's divinity as his true humanity, such as Gnostic Docetism.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:08:45]
C. Church Councils' Declarations
To combat these heresies, the early Church convened several ecumenical councils that clarified and affirmed the doctrine of Christ’s dual nature:
-
First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 AD):
- Focus: Affirmed that the Son is begotten, not made, and consubstantial (homoousios) with the Father.
- Response to Arianism: Rejected the notion that the Son was a created being.
Notable Quote:
“The Council of Nicaea in 325 confessed in its creed that the Son of God is begotten, not made consubstantial, i.e., homoousious with the Father...”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:12:10] -
Council of Ephesus (431 AD):
- Focus: Declared Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God), affirming that Jesus is one person with both divine and human natures.
- Response to Nestorianism: Emphasized the unity of Christ’s person.
Notable Quote:
“The First Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431 proclaimed that Mary truly became the Mother of God by the human conception of the Son of God in her womb.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:17:35] -
Council of Chalcedon (451 AD):
- Focus: Further clarified the hypostatic union, ensuring that both natures coexist without confusion.
- Response to Monophysitism: Affirmed that Jesus is fully divine and fully human, without the diminution of either nature.
Notable Quote:
“The Council of Chalcedon in 451 confessed that Jesus is the same perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, the same truly God and truly man...”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:25:50] -
Fifth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (553 AD):
- Focus: Reiterated the unity of Christ’s person, ensuring that all aspects of His humanity and divinity are attributed to His single person.
- Response to Continued Misunderstandings: Emphasized that everything in Christ’s human nature is inseparable from His divine person.
Notable Quote:
“The Fifth Ecumenical Council at Constantinople in 553 confessed that there is but one hypostasis or person, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the Trinity.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:30:20]
D. Significance of Jesus Being Fully God and Fully Man
Fr. Mike underscores the critical importance of Jesus’ dual nature for Christian faith and salvation:
- Redemption: Only someone who is both fully divine and fully human could bridge the gap between God and humanity, offering a perfect sacrifice for sin.
- Relationship with God: Jesus’ humanity allows believers to relate to Him as a brother while His divinity affirms His authority and ability to save.
Notable Quote:
“If he wasn’t fully God, we couldn’t be redeemed. It also matters that Jesus is fully human, because if he wasn’t fully human, we couldn’t be redeemed.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:35:45]
IV. Liturgical Affirmations
Fr. Mike highlights how the liturgy reflects and affirms the doctrine of Christ’s dual nature:
-
Roman Liturgy:
“What he was, he remained, and what he was not, he assumed.” -
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:
“Only begotten Son and Word of God, immortal being... you who without change became man and were crucified, O Christ, our God...”
These prayers encapsulate the mystery of the hypostatic union, celebrating Jesus’ eternal divinity and His genuine human experiences.
Notable Quote:
“The Roman liturgy says, what he was, he remained, meaning he was God. What he was, he remained. And what he was not, he assumed...”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:38:30]
V. Practical Implications for Believers
Understanding Jesus as both true God and true man has profound implications for believers:
- Deepening Faith: Recognizing Jesus’ full divinity and humanity enhances trust in His capacity to save.
- Model of Holiness: Jesus serves as the perfect example of living a life fully aligned with God’s will.
- Personal Relationship: Believers can relate to Jesus’ human experiences, fostering a closer, more personal relationship with Him.
Fr. Mike encourages listeners to internalize this doctrine to better love and explain their faith to others, including conversations with non-Christians and friends of different faiths.
Notable Quote:
“Jesus is our Brother so that we could become sons and daughters of God.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:40:10]
VI. Conclusion and Encouragement
Fr. Mike concludes the episode by reaffirming the significance of understanding Christ’s dual nature. He acknowledges the complexity of the topic but emphasizes its essential role in the life of a believer. Encouraging listeners to continue their journey through the Catechism, he underscores the transformative power of knowing who Jesus truly is.
Notable Quote:
“Hang in there, guys. I'm so sorry this is so long, but hang in there. This is worth it. It is worth doing the work because we need to know who Jesus is.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:45:00]
Fr. Mike closes with a heartfelt prayer, expressing his hope that listeners have gained a deeper understanding of the incarnation and its impact on their lives, and looking forward to exploring further aspects of Christ’s humanity and divinity in the next episode.
Final Thought:
Day 66 of The Catechism in a Year provides a comprehensive exploration of the essential Catholic belief in Jesus Christ as both true God and true man. Through historical context, theological clarification, and practical application, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners to a deeper appreciation of this foundational doctrine, encouraging them to embrace and live out their faith with greater understanding and devotion.