What You Have NOT Been Told About Baptism - The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: "What You Have NOT Been Told About Baptism"

Podcast Information:

Title: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Host/Author: Ascension
Description: Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.
Episode: What You Have NOT Been Told About Baptism
Release Date: March 27, 2025

Introduction to the Episode

In the episode titled "What You Have NOT Been Told About Baptism," Father Mike Schmitz delves deep into the sacrament of baptism, exploring its profound spiritual implications and its role in a Christian's life. Drawing from personal experiences, scriptural references, and historical context, Fr. Mike seeks to illuminate aspects of baptism that are often overlooked or misunderstood.

Significance of Baptism in Declaring "Jesus is Lord"

Fr. Mike begins by referencing St. Paul's letters, highlighting a pivotal statement: "No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." He challenges listeners to comprehend the depth of this assertion beyond the mere verbal proclamation.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [05:15]: "You can only say those three words, 'Jesus is Lord,' and have it be true if you have the Holy Spirit."

He emphasizes that baptism isn't just a ceremonial act but a transformative sacrament that empowers believers to genuinely declare Jesus as the sovereign Lord of both the universe and their personal lives. This transformation is contingent upon receiving the Holy Spirit through baptism.

The Kingdom of Darkness vs. The Kingdom of Light

Delving into theological concepts, Fr. Mike contrasts the dominion under which individuals are born with the liberating effect of baptism.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [12:30]: "We're born under the reign of the kingdom of darkness... living under the dominion of the devil."

He explains that baptism transfers individuals from the "kingdom of darkness" to the "kingdom of light," marking a shift from spiritual bondage to divine liberty. This shift is not just metaphorical but represents a tangible change in one's spiritual allegiance and authority.

Historical Context of Exorcisms and the Gospel

Fr. Mike recounts insights from a conversation with an exorcist who holds the distinction of being the first to earn a PhD in exorcism. They discuss the historical relationship between the spread of the Gospel and the practice of exorcisms.

Exorcist [20:45]: "Wherever the Gospel was brought, it was always accompanied by exorcisms."

This correlation underscores the inherent conflict between the forces of good and evil. As missionaries spread the Christian faith to new regions, they often encountered opposition from demonic forces, necessitating exorcistic rites to liberate the oppressed and establish the presence of Christ's kingdom.

The Rise of Exorcisms in the Post-Christian World

Addressing contemporary trends, Fr. Mike observes a resurgence in exorcisms, attributing it to a broader societal shift away from Christian norms.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [28:10]: "Exorcisms are on the rise because we live in a post-Christian world... people are not baptizing their children."

He posits that the decline in baptismal practices diminishes the protective grace bestowed by the Holy Spirit, leaving individuals more susceptible to spiritual oppression. This vulnerability fosters environments where exorcisms become more frequent as battles between good and evil intensify.

Call to Renew Baptismal Promises and Baptize Future Generations

Concluding his discourse, Fr. Mike issues a heartfelt appeal to his listeners. He urges baptized individuals to reaffirm their baptismal vows, thereby reinforcing their commitment to Christ and invoking the Holy Spirit's continued guidance.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [35:55]: "We renew our baptismal promises and ask the Holy Spirit to once again reign in our lives so Jesus Christ... can reign over our lives."

Moreover, he emphasizes the importance of baptizing children to safeguard future generations from spiritual bondage. For those unable to baptize their children directly, he encourages persistent prayer for the faithfulness of parents and the openness of hearts to embrace baptism.

Fr. Mike Schmitz [38:20]: "Do not deprive your children, do not deprive your grandchildren of this incredible gift of freedom, liberty, and new life."

Notable Quotes

Fr. Mike Schmitz [05:15]: "You can only say those three words, 'Jesus is Lord,' and have it be true if you have the Holy Spirit."
Fr. Mike Schmitz [12:30]: "We're born under the reign of the kingdom of darkness... living under the dominion of the devil."
Exorcist [20:45]: "Wherever the Gospel was brought, it was always accompanied by exorcisms."
Fr. Mike Schmitz [28:10]: "Exorcisms are on the rise because we live in a post-Christian world... people are not baptizing their children."
Fr. Mike Schmitz [35:55]: "We renew our baptismal promises and ask the Holy Spirit to once again reign in our lives so Jesus Christ... can reign over our lives."
Fr. Mike Schmitz [38:20]: "Do not deprive your children, do not deprive your grandchildren of this incredible gift of freedom, liberty, and new life."

Conclusion

In "What You Have NOT Been Told About Baptism," Father Mike Schmitz provides a compelling exploration of baptism's true essence and its critical role in the spiritual journey of believers. By intertwining scripture, historical accounts, and contemporary observations, he illustrates how baptism serves as a gateway from darkness to light, empowering Christians to authentically declare and live out their faith in Jesus Christ. His exhortation to renew baptismal promises and ensure the baptism of future generations serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring significance of this sacrament.

From all of us here at Ascension Presents, Father Mike extends his blessings and encourages listeners to embrace the transformative power of baptism in their lives.

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Transcript1 lines

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I remember reading that as a kid in St. Paul's letters, no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit and thinking, okay, are you sure, Paul? He was saying, you can only say those three words, jesus is Lord, and have it be true if you have the Holy Spirit. Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz, and this is Ascension presents. We had OCIA class the other, I don't know, week or something. It's the Order of Christian Initiation for adults. It's for those people who are coming into the church, maybe getting baptized. Maybe they already are Catholic, but they're getting confirmed. You know, people want to learn more about the Catholic Church. And we were talking about baptism. And one of the consequences, one of the effects of baptism is we are able to say Jesus is Lord. I remember reading that as a kid in St. Paul's letters, like, no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit and thinking, okay, are you sure, Paul? Because I'm pretty sure you could train anybody, you could probably train a parrot to say the words, Jesus is Lord. Okay, obviously that's. That's the case. But what Paul is making the case is, is not that you can only say the three words, Jesus is Lord if you have the Holy Spirit. He was saying, you can only say those three words, jesus is Lord, and have it be true if you have the Holy Spirit. Because what are we saying when we say Jesus is Lord? What we're saying is, here is Jesus, and he has. Not only does he have dominion over all creation, not only does he have dominion over the universe, right? Jesus Christ, King of the universe, Lord of the universe. But I'm also saying that Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. And I can only say that if I've been baptized, if I can only say that if I receive the Holy Spirit. Why? Because here's the bad news, right? We always, as Christians, we love the good news. The good news is amazing. The good news is great. But the bad news is this. The bad news is we are all born under someone's dominion. We are all born into a certain kingdom. Every human being that's born into this world is a beloved creature of God. But we're born under the reign of the kingdom of darkness. Scripture tells us this, that we're born under the dominion of Satan, the evil one. That's how we're brought into this world, because of the brokenness of original sin, that we live under the dominion of the devil. And it's only in baptism, when we receive the Holy Spirit, that we're transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. We're transferred from the kingdom of the evil one to God's kingdom, to Christ's kingdom. And all over the world, Jesus. Jesus is Lord. So St. Paul is saying, like, no, you only say Jesus is Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. When you've been transferred from that kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Now you might be thinking, I have never heard of that. I have never heard that we were born under the kingdom of darkness, under the dominion of the devil. And yet it's true. Not only is it true scripturally, it's also true in the history of the church. I remember reading a book years and years ago about a man who was. He's an exorcist. In fact, I think his story was this. He was the world's first person who got a PhD in exorcism. And so he had read virtually everything that's ever been written about exorcisms. And at one point in this interview, the interviewer said, father, it seems like exorcisms are on the rise. Is that true? Or is that just kind of like something we're just noticing more? And he said this. He said, in the history of the church, wherever the gospel was being brought, that always was accompanied by exorcisms. So here's Jesus who comes on the scene, right? Jesus as the son of God, as God himself, what happens? He encounters people who are oppressed by the evil one, they're oppressed by the devil, and he has to do what he has to set them free from that oppression. And the priest said, yeah. And whenever Christians went out and brought the gospel to places where the gospel wasn't, it was always accompanied by needing to drive out demons, needing to have exorcisms, essentially. And then he said, for a long time, when most of the modern world or known world was Christianized, right? So you get baptized when you're a baby. Exorcisms plummeted. Now they still remained exorcisms the whole time, remained in mission fields. When the gospel kept meeting new people, it always had to come in contact conflict, right? The kingdom of Jesus with the kingdom of the evil one. And more recently, exorcisms are on the rise. His theory was exorcisms are on the rise. Why? Because we live in a post Christian world. And in this post Christian world, people are not baptizing their children, they're not baptizing infants, people not only born under the dominion of the evil one, but then they're living under. Under the dominion of the evil one. And that power that's given to us in baptism, the Holy Spirit, by which we can say Jesus is Lord, is being deprived of our sons and daughters, our grandsons and granddaughters. It's a testimony to the power of God working through the sacrament of baptism that has set generations free from slavery to the devil. So what's. What do we do? Well, what we do is make sure that if you've been baptized, we renew our faith in Jesus Christ. We renew the baptismal promises. Maybe they're made by your parents and godparents for you, but now, today, to be able to say no, today I renew my baptismal promises, and I ask the Holy Spirit to once again reign in my life so Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Universe, can reign over my life. But also to pray for your nieces and nephews who aren't yet baptized, to pray for. If you're a parent, you haven't yet baptized your children to get those children baptized. If you're a grandparent and your grandchildren have not yet been baptized, to ask your children, please baptize your kids. And if not, if they say no, to pray, to pray for the Lord to change their hearts and change their minds. Because the truth of the matter is yes, no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the power of the Holy Spirit. But that's because we were transferred from that place of slavery to a place of freedom. So do not deprive the people around you, do not deprive your children, do not deprive your grandchildren of this incredible, incredible gift. Freedom, liberty, new life, and being a member of the kingdom of God. Jesus is the Lord of the universe. He's the Lord of my life, and I pray that he's also the Lord of your life. From all of us here at Ascension, presents. From all of us here at Ascension presents. My name is Father Mike. God bless.