Podcast Summary: "Sin, Emotions and Virtue Explained"

The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Host: Ascension
Guest: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Original Air Date: November 6, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz unpacks the relationship between sin, emotions, and virtue, challenging common misconceptions about the moral weight of our feelings. Using examples from music, C.S. Lewis, and everyday life, Fr. Mike clarifies how virtue and sin are rooted not in what we feel, but in how we choose to act. He aims to encourage listeners who may feel guilty about unwanted emotions, emphasizing the freedom and responsibility of the human will.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Role of Emotions in Moral Life

• Opening Analogy: Fr. Mike references the classic song “Feelings” to introduce how much emphasis people place on their feelings ([00:00]).

• Childhood reflection: Even as a child, Fr. Mike found it fascinating how much attention was paid to feelings.

• Core point: People often judge their goodness or sinfulness by the presence of certain feelings or desires.

  “We judge ourselves off our emotions...when I have an emotion or attraction or a desire towards something bad, we think, ‘oh my gosh, I’ve sinned.’ Or...towards something good...‘I’m a good person.’ Neither of those are entirely true.”
  — Fr. Mike [01:01]

2. Emotions vs. Will: Where Sin Resides

• The Nature of Emotions: Emotions don’t always correspond to reality; you can know the truth and still feel fear, anger, or desire ([01:40]).

• C.S. Lewis Example: Even with rational certainty, one might feel terror about “ghosts”—showing the separation between knowledge and emotion.

• Emotions are neutral: Neither inherently good nor bad; “the fact that I have a particular desire is neither virtuous or vicious. It just is.” ([02:15])

• Sin’s true location:

  “Sin does not reside in the emotions...It resides in the will.”
  — Fr. Mike [02:43]

• It’s about what you choose to do with your feelings, not the feelings themselves.

3. Self-Examination and Emotions

• Anger, lust, envy: Experiencing these feelings doesn’t make you sinful; what matters is your response ([03:05]).

• Emotions as indicators: They can be helpful signs (“Maybe I need some help”), but not definitive judgments of your soul.

• Righteous vs. Self-righteous anger: Discern if an emotion points to something just ([03:38]).

  "I can examine that emotion and say, wow, I’m really angry towards this. Is that just, or is it unjust? Is it righteous anger or is it self righteous anger?”
  — Fr. Mike [03:30]

4. The Will is Where Morality Lies

• Repeated encouragement: Listeners are reassured that guilt over having a feeling is misplaced ([04:28]).

• C.S. Lewis on Instinct: Not all instincts towards aggression are always wrong, nor is motherly love always right; context and the will matter ([05:00]).

  “There are times where the instinct towards aggression...no, that’s the right thing to do. If someone’s attacking your family...Also, mother love is not always right. There are times when a mother would have to say, no, there is a bigger thing at play.”
  — Fr. Mike [05:06]

5. Virtue Doesn’t Reside in Emotions Either

• Common misconception: Feeling compassion or sorrow at suffering doesn’t make you a good person—it’s what you do that counts ([06:50]).

• Parallel Structure: If sin doesn’t abide in the emotions, neither does virtue. Both “reside, come from the will” ([07:13]).

• Examples: Attraction to justice, concern for others, desire to pray—all commendable, but only action constitutes virtue.

  “It’s not enough for us. Just like an attraction to a sin...is not sin. An attraction towards compassion...is not virtue. It’s what we do with it.”
  — Fr. Mike [07:37]

6. Moving from Feeling to Action

• Don’t condemn or praise yourself for feelings alone: Both negative and positive emotions are not the core of moral status ([08:08]).

• Action as the key: Taking concrete steps—acting with compassion, choosing right over wrong—is where virtue is developed ([08:40]).

• Practical advice: When moved by love for God, don’t just feel—pray, act ([09:15]).

• Heroes and Saints: It’s their choices—not their feelings—that define them ([09:43]).

  “Villains are made not in their emotions, they’re made in their choices. And heroes or saints are not made because they have the right feelings...Saints are made with each small choice.”
  — Fr. Mike [09:43]

• The role of grace: All virtue and victory over sin are done “with the grace that comes to us through the great cross of our great Lord Jesus Christ.” ([10:07])

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Sin does not lie in your emotions...Sin resides in our will and what we actually choose to do with that thing.” — Fr. Mike [03:11]
• “Virtue also does not abide in the emotions. Just like sin... virtue comes from, abides in the will.” — Fr. Mike [07:14]
• “We can neither condemn ourselves for feeling a certain way, nor can we ever praise ourselves for feeling a certain way.” — Fr. Mike [08:10]
• “Villains are made not in their emotions, they’re made in their choices. And heroes or saints are not made because they have the right feelings...Saints are made with each small choice.” — Fr. Mike [09:43]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | The role of feelings in self-judgment | | 01:40 | Difference between knowledge and emotion | | 02:43 | Sin and emotions: where sin "resides" | | 03:05 | Anger, lust, envy: feelings versus choices | | 05:00 | C.S. Lewis on instincts and context | | 06:50 | Why compassion doesn’t equal virtue | | 07:13 | Both sin and virtue reside in the will | | 08:40 | Action as the realization of virtue | | 09:43 | Saints and villains: choices, not emotions | | 10:07 | The role of grace in pursuing virtue |

Final Takeaways

Fr. Mike Schmitz’s message throughout the episode: Don’t be discouraged or prideful based on your feelings. Instead, recognize that both sin and virtue are rooted in your choices, empowered by grace.
Your task is to take responsibility for your will—what you choose to do next—regardless of your internal feelings. This path is where saints are made and the Christian life is truly lived.