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

Episode: Day 85 — The Trial of Christ
Reading: Catechism Paragraphs 595–598
Date: March 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the Catechism’s teaching on the trial of Jesus, focusing specifically on how responsibility for Jesus’ death has been understood throughout history. He clarifies the Church’s position regarding the involvement of Jewish leaders at the time of Christ and refutes the notion of collective Jewish guilt. The central theme is the universality of blame: all sinners are ultimately responsible for Christ's Passion. Fr. Mike frames this discussion within the context of the Church’s call to reconciliation, responsibility, and deeper conversion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Divisions Among Jewish Authorities (595)

• Catechism Reference: Not all Jews or their authorities were united against Jesus; many, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, believed in Him.
• Fr. Mike’s Emphasis:
  • "The religious authorities in Jerusalem were not unanimous about what stance to take toward Jesus." (03:05)
  • Points out that even after Jesus’ resurrection, many Jewish leaders became followers.
  • Quote: "There were also divisions among the Jewish authorities. There were people like Joseph of Arimathea or the Pharisee Nicodemus...many Pharisees professed faith in Jesus Christ." (03:55)

2. The Actions of the Sanhedrin and Roman Authorities (596)

• Some Jewish leaders conspired for Jesus’ death, but not as a collective group.
• Violence against Jesus was a complex interaction of personal sin, political maneuvering, and misunderstanding among individuals and authorities.
• Quote: "The Sanhedrin, having declared Jesus deserving of death as a blasphemer...hands him over to the Romans, accusing him of political revolt..." (05:00)

3. Refuting Collective Jewish Responsibility (597)

• Catechism Reference: It is theologically and historically incorrect to blame all Jews, either then or now, for Jesus’ death.
• Church explicitly condemns the idea that Jews are rejected or cursed as a result of Christ’s Passion.
• Quote (from Vatican II and Fr. Mike): “Neither all Jews indiscriminately at that time nor Jews today can be charged with the crimes committed during His Passion... The Jews should not be spoken of as rejected or accursed, as if this followed from Holy Scripture.” (08:30)

4. Universal Responsibility — All Sinners are Authors of Christ’s Passion (598)

• The Catechism and Church Tradition (including the Roman Catechism and St. Francis of Assisi) teach that every sinner bears responsibility.
• Fr. Mike highlights that Christians in particular must own this blame, as their professed knowledge of Christ heightens their culpability.
• Quote: "Our sins made the Lord Christ suffer the torment of the cross. Those who plunged themselves into disorders and crimes crucify the Son of God anew in their hearts... our crime in this case is greater in us than in the Jews." (14:02)
• Notable St. Francis of Assisi Quote: “Nor did demons crucify Him; it is you who have crucified Him and crucify Him still, when you delight in your vices and sins.” (15:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fr. Mike’s Personal Story: Encounter at Yad Vashem

  • Describes a conversation with a Jewish man in Israel, emphasizing the emotional weight of historical Christian-Jewish tension.
  • Quote: "You say you're a Christian, right?... You Christians believe that we Jews crucified Jesus... How can we be blamed for this, the greatest thing that ever happened?" (16:50)
  • Fr. Mike’s Response: “As Catholics, we do not believe that the Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus... We blame ourselves. We recognize, I recognize that it was my sins that crucified Jesus.” (18:30)

• Parallel to Joseph in Genesis

  • Fr. Mike explains how God brings good from evil, referencing Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers (Old Testament parallel).
  • Quote: “What you meant for evil, God turned… meant for good.” (20:50)
  • “That’s what happened. My sins crucified Jesus. That was the worst thing that ever happened. But God used it to bring about the greatest thing that’s ever happened — our salvation.” (21:40)

• Responsibility of Christians

  • “We, however, profess to know Him. And when we deny him by our deeds, we in some way seem to lay violent hands on Him.” (22:50)
  • “It is you, it is I, it is me who have crucified him and crucify him still when we delight in our vices and in our sins.” (23:25)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening and Recap of Previous Episode — 00:05–02:30
• Today’s Theme and Problem Statement — 02:30–05:00
• Explaining Catechism Paragraph 595 — 05:00–06:40
• Outline of Internal Divisions and Sanhedrin’s Role — 06:40–08:15
• Refuting Collective Jewish Guilt, Vatican II — 08:15–09:45
• All Sinners Responsible, Roman Catechism and St. Francis — 09:45–15:10
• Personal Encounter at Yad Vashem, Historical/Modern Tensions — 15:10–20:10
• Biblical Parallels (Joseph & Evil for Good) — 20:10–21:40
• Emphasizing Christian Responsibility and Call to Conversion — 21:40–24:30

Tone and Language

• Fr. Mike is direct, pastoral, and sensitive, adopting a tone of reconciliation and humility.
• He emphasizes understanding, healing of historical wounds, and taking personal responsibility for sin.

Takeaways

• The Catholic Church firmly rejects the idea of collective Jewish responsibility for Jesus’ death.
• All sinners bear responsibility for the Passion of Christ, making this not only a historical reflection but a deeply personal examination.
• Christians have a particular responsibility never to project blame and always to seek reconciliation and truth.
• God’s ability to bring good out of evil does not remove personal responsibility but invites sincere conversion.

Final Reflection

Fr. Mike invites listeners to meditate on their own role in Christ’s Passion—not as a source of condemnation, but as a call to deeper trust, responsibility, and gratitude for God’s redeeming love.

“If my part in Christ's passion is not real, then my share in his resurrection is not real. If he did not lay down his life out of love for me, then he can't share the resurrection out of love for me.” (23:50)

Praying for reconciliation and mutual understanding, Fr. Mike encourages listeners to internalize these teachings as both challenge and consolation, anchoring responsibility in humility and hope.