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

Episode: Day 67: The Humanity and Divinity of Christ (Paragraphs 470–474)
Date: March 8, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
This episode delves into the profound mystery of Jesus Christ as both true God and true man, focusing on what it means for Christ to have a fully human nature—including a rational soul, intellect, and will—and how His divinity and humanity coexist in one Person. Fr. Mike explains foundational Church teachings on Christ’s human knowledge and will, dispels historical heresies, and invites listeners into deeper spiritual reflection on the Incarnation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mystery of the Incarnation: True God and True Man

• Assumed, Not Absorbed:
  Fr. Mike emphasizes the Church’s teaching that in the Incarnation, Christ assumed human nature rather than absorbing or obliterating it. His divinity did not overwrite his humanity.

  “Human nature was assumed, not absorbed... Jesus had a human soul, with all of its operations of intellect and will and of his human body.” (02:18)

• Belonging to the Divine Person:
  Every action and aspect of Christ’s human nature derives from Him being one of the Trinity. His human will and intellect belong fully to the Divine Person of the Son.

• Personal Mode of Existence:
  Christ communicates to His humanity “his own personal mode of existence in the Trinity,” meaning His identity as the Son of the Father colors even His human experience.

2. Christ’s Human Soul and Knowledge

• Against Heresy (Apollinarianism):
  Apollinarius of Laodicea falsely taught that Jesus’ divinity replaced His human soul. The Church rejects this, affirming Christ has a truly human rational soul.

  “The one heresy we’re really focusing on is Apollinarius... who asserted that in Christ the divine word had replaced the soul or spirit, right? So that Jesus didn't have a human soul.” (19:10)

• True Human Knowledge:
  Jesus’ human knowledge was real and limited by space and time. He learned and asked questions as a normal human does.

  “This human soul that the Son of God assumed is endowed with a true human knowledge. As such, this knowledge could not in itself be unlimited.” (21:52)

• Development & Learning:
  Jesus did not come into the world with all worldly knowledge. “He wasn’t born speaking every language; He had to learn Aramaic… had to ask questions He wouldn’t know the answer to.” (23:08)

• Kenosis – The Self-Emptying:
  This limitation is a result of Christ’s “voluntary emptying of Himself, taking the form of a slave.” (24:04)

3. Unity with the Divine Word

• Divine Life Expressed in Humanity:
  Jesus’ human knowledge, in union with his divinity, demonstrated the fullness of God’s plan and God’s nature.

  “The human nature of God's Son, not by itself, but by its union with the Word, knew and showed forth in itself everything that pertains to God.” – (Saint Maximus the Confessor, quoted at 25:15)

• Intimate Knowledge of the Father:
  Christ’s human knowledge included an immediate and intimate relationship with the Father, relating to his divine Person.

• Fullness of Eternal Plans:
  Jesus knew, through the union of human and divine knowledge, the eternal plans He had come to reveal.

  “Christ enjoyed in his human knowledge the fullness of understanding of the eternal plans he had come to reveal.” (26:50)

• Conscious Embrace of Suffering:
  Jesus fully understood the suffering He would endure and embraced it knowingly.

  “Here is God who embraced suffering, knowing fully what would happen to Him... He knew that the people you were giving your heart to would be the people who would pierce your heart.” (28:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fr. Mike on the Depth of the Mystery:

  “The Son of God therefore communicates to his humanity his own personal mode of existence in the Trinity. In his soul as in his body, Christ thus expresses humanly the divine ways of the Trinity.” (06:58)

• On Christ’s Humility:

  “It is shocking that God would love us so much that he would empty himself and take on... a limited human intellect, limited human will, limited human power in a body that actually could suffer and die.” (24:51)

• On Redemption of All Humanity:

  “There’s not one aspect of humanity, not one aspect of the human reality, but that Jesus has not entered into and has therefore redeemed.” (22:16)

• Personal Reflection:

  “It can actually break your heart if you pray about it… knowing more and more about His intellect and his will, knowing more and more that he had to grow, but at the same time... had the fullness of understanding of the eternal plans he had come to reveal.” (29:08)

Key Timestamps

• 00:05 – 06:30: Introduction, overview of the Incarnation, importance of assuming—not absorbing—humanity.
• 06:31 – 09:00: Christ’s personal existence in the Trinity, communication of divine life into His humanity.
• 09:01 – 13:37: Explanation of Christ’s human soul, intellect, and will; anticipation of discussion on learning and growth.
• 19:10 – 21:51: Discussion of Apollinarius’ heresy and necessity for Christ to have a real human soul.
• 21:52 – 24:03: Jesus’ true human knowledge, limitations, and capacity for learning.
• 24:04 – 25:15: The mystery of union between human knowledge and divine wisdom.
• 25:16 – 28:07: Christ’s knowledge of the eternal plans, conscious embrace of suffering, and personal reflection by Fr. Mike.
• 28:08 – End: Transformation over information—invitation to deeper prayer and relationship with Christ.

Conclusion & Reflection

Fr. Mike brings this exploration of Christ’s humanity and divinity into an invitation for transformation, not just knowledge:

“It’s not just about information transfer, but it’s about transformation. It’s about falling in love with this God.” (29:50)

With thoughtful commentary and catechetical wisdom, this episode helps listeners marvel at the Incarnation: God truly became one of us, knows our experience, and redeems every part of human life.

For next episode: Stay tuned for a deeper dive into Christ’s human will and true body.