Podcast Summary: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Episode: You’re Going to Die—What to Do in the Meantime

Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Presented By: Ascension

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles one of life’s most undeniable truths: death. Drawing from Dr. Peter Kreeft’s book Love is Stronger Than Death, Fr. Mike explores Christian perspectives on mortality, emphasizes the importance of longing for heaven, and challenges listeners to reflect on how their attitude toward death shapes the way they live. With depth and candor, he reframes death not simply as an enemy or threshold, but as the doorway to a much-desired union with Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Four Views of Death (00:00–04:04)

• Death as an Enemy

  • Fr. Mike recalls being raised to see death as the enemy, citing Christian tradition and scripture:

    "Scripture says death is the enemy, but the final enemy to be destroyed is death. I've always been raised with the truth that Jesus has conquered death." (00:00)

  • He clarifies why death is viewed as evil: it separates the body and soul, tearing apart what is meant to be united in humanity.
  • Death evokes fear and avoidance, explaining cultural attitudes such as the U.S. reluctance to discuss or sing about death.
  • Example:

    "In Brazil, our music is...not just about love. It's also about death. But you guys never sing about death." (01:35)

• Death as a Doorway

  • Many adopt a sober, realistic take, accepting death as an inevitable passage everyone must face.

    "The harsh reality. It's the door we have to walk through. What's on the other side, nobody knows." (02:55)

• Death as Birth

  • Christian hope reframes death as a new birth into life with Christ, though often approached without enthusiasm:

    "I have the awareness that if I die in Christ, I live in Christ...But I'm not excited about it." (03:20)

• Limitations of These Views

  • Fr. Mike notes that all three views—enemy, doorway, and birth—fall short of the fullness the Christian faith offers.

2. Death as a Lover—Longing for Heaven (04:04–07:21)

• Peter Kreeft’s Ultimate Insight

  • The most profound Christian view is to see death as a "lover":

    "For the Christian, Kreeft will highlight this... death is actually like a lover." (04:04)

  • Not a lover in the sense of desiring death itself, but as longing for the one (God) who awaits us beyond it.
  • Fr. Mike points to the Saints, especially St. Paul, who expressed a tension between serving in this life and longing to be with Christ:

    "It's not longing for death specifically. It's longing for the one who we get on the other side of death." (04:52)

• Distinguishing True Longing

  • Fr. Mike emphasizes this is not escapism or a wish to "end it all," but a heartfelt yearning to unite with God.

    "I'm not talking about...running away from something, but it's running towards someone." (05:19)

• Application to Our Lives

  • Reflects on whether most Christians genuinely long for heaven:

    "Is your heart or is my heart lonely for heaven?...I can't wait to be in your presence...Do we long for heaven? I don't think we do." (05:40–06:14)

  • Suggests longing for heaven would make us less fearful, more courageous, and more loving.

• Implications for Life

  • This longing would drive deeper prayer and engagement with God:

    "God, I just want to spend more time in your presence. God, I just want to spend more time in your word. God, I just want to spend more time with you because you are the one that my heart longs for." (06:30)

3. Synthesis and Challenge (06:58–07:21)

• Fr. Mike summarizes, weaving the various views together:

  "Death is the enemy, but Christ has overcome the enemy. Death is that door. But we know what's on the other side of that door. Death gives new birth. But death as a lover...means that we live in this life. But our heart belongs to the one we will meet in an unmitigated and unmediated way after this life." (06:58–07:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Death is the obscenity because it takes something good, a human person, body and soul, and rips apart these two integral parts of what makes us human beings, which I think is very fascinating." (00:53)
• "If we really longed for heaven, longed for Jesus, that would bring us to prayer more often." (06:30)
• "Are our hearts broken for heaven?" (05:40)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction: Death as enemy, doorway, birth
• 01:10 – Cultural avoidance of death
• 02:55 – Sober realism: Death as harsh inevitability
• 03:20 – Christian hope: Death as birth in Christ
• 04:04 – Kreeft’s insight: Death as a lover
• 05:19 – Distinguishing longing for God vs. escapism
• 06:14 – What happens if we truly long for heaven
• 06:58 – Bringing it together: Living with our hearts pointed to God

Tone and Language

Fr. Mike’s delivery is warm, honest, and gently challenging. He balances theological depth with relatable anecdotes and pastoral care, encouraging listeners to move beyond fear and indifference toward an active, courageous love and longing for God.

Summary Takeaway:
Fr. Mike invites listeners to reconsider how they view death—not merely as the enemy or an unavoidable crossing, nor even just a new birth, but as the hopeful, love-driven journey toward union with God. This longing for heaven, he argues, should animate the way Christians live, making us more prayerful, loving, and courageous as we await the fullness of life beyond death.