The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Fr. Mike Schmitz reviews The Odyssey and Spider-Man!

Find out what Father liked, what he didn’t, and what he thinks could have made The Odyssey even better!

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

There are four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. Yet how often do we think about these, let alone practice them?

Fr. Mike Schmitz shares why fortitude is his favorite virtue, how great saints like Maximillian Kolbe exercised fortitude in his daily life and how we can practice it in our everyday lives. If you want to dive deeper into virtue, Fr. Mike's book, Unshakeable, is the perfect place to start!

Order your copy of Fr. Mike's book, Unshakeable, today! https://ascensionpress.com/products/unshakeable-building-a-life-of-virtue-in-a-world-of-chaos

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast<...

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to forget our dignity and worth. However, Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that every person is worth more than the entire universe. Yet at every Mass, we still pray, "Lord, I am not worthy."

How can both be true?

Fr. Mike unpacks this beautiful paradox of the Catholic faith. Our worth is immeasurable, but in the Eucharist, even the smallest fragment of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, is the greatest reality on earth. When we say, "Lord, I am not worthy," we're not denying our...

"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Luke 12:51-53

Fr. Mike Schmitz shares how applicable these Bible verses are to us today. While addressing the controversy around his interview wi...

Why can't Catholics scatter ashes? Why does the Church ask us to bury the dead?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the Catholic understanding of honoring the dead, explains why scattering ashes isn't permitted, and reveals what these practices teach us about the dignity of the human person and the promise of eternal life.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Become a saint by saying "yes" to God, starting with the Mass.

Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why the Eucharist is God's greatest gift and why the saints made it the center of their lives. If we want to become holy, we can't ignore the place where Jesus gives Himself completely to us.

Don't settle for what's easy, discover why faithful participation in the Mass is essential on the path to sainthood.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

What does Jesus mean when he tells us to “bear fruit”?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explains that bearing fruit isn’t simply about being productive or avoiding laziness, it’s about who we are becoming and allowing God to transform our lives.

How can you bear fruit today?

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

What does "Give us this day our daily bread" really mean?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explores why Jesus teaches us to ask for "daily bread" and how this simple prayer invites us to trust God one day at a time.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Are men and women really that different? And if so, what do those differences reveal about how we relate to one another?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explores how the differences between men and women are not reasons for division, but reminders of our need for one another. Rather than pitting the sexes against each other, our unique strengths and perspectives can help us pursue truth, navigate difficult decisions, and flourish together.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

What's the difference between criticism and correction, and does it really matter?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explains how to offer correction in a way that is both loving and effective. Instead of assuming motives, resorting to name-calling, or making personal attacks, he encourages us to focus on the facts. And when we're unsure of someone's intentions, choose trust over suspicion.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Are headlines, podcasts, and politics consuming your attention?

Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us to step away from the constant noise of news, politics, and our phones and turn instead to Scripture. In the Bible, we encounter the wisdom, truth, and peace that no news cycle can provide.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

What do you say to someone when they're at their last moment of life?

Fr. Mike Schmitz shares what he would tell someone who's dying and it might be different than what you think.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Fr. Mike wants everyone to be Catholic, but why? Isn't Catholicism just a list of rules?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why the Catholic faith is about far more than simply “following rules.” Instead, it’s about encountering the goodness of God and experiencing the beauty of life with Him through the Catholic faith.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that our actions carry weight. He cautions us to remember that someone is always watching, and that we represent something greater than ourselves. Are our actions and behaviors leading others closer to God or closer to sin?

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

If you're a Christian and you follow Theo Von at all, you've probably heard about his reaction to an audience member calling in and getting vulnerable about his struggles. Theo Von responds by opening up about his ongoing spiritual journey and his struggles in vice and prayer.

But Fr. Mike didn't choose to highlight this moment just because of Theo Von and his journey. Theo Von's vulnerability, honesty, and frankness reveal a lot about the fickleness of the human heart—and the incredible nature of God's mercy.

Today, Fr. Mike wants you to meditate on th...

We can fall into two traps when it comes to the body: believing the body is nothing, or believing the body is everything. Both are distortions of the truth.

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that we are both body and soul. Your body is part of who you are, and your soul is part of who you are, so caring for both matter.

At the same time, St. Pope John Paul II warned against the “cult of the body”, the idea that our value is determined by appearance, fitness, or physical perfection.

Your wort...

Struggling to pray?

Fr. Mike Schmitz shows how Ignatian prayer makes prayer simple again by using Scripture and your imagination to enter into the Gospel. Begin by asking the Holy Spirit for help, choosing a short Gospel passage, and slowly immersing yourself in it one sense at a time.

Rather than replacing other prayers, Ignatian prayer deepens them, helping you grow in trust and a more personal relationship with Christ.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Pray the Luminous Mysteries with Fr. Mike Schmitz!

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Struggling to understand the Bible?

Fr. Mike Schmitz shares how the Great Adventure Bible Timeline helped him finally connect the story of salvation. Now fully refreshed, with on-location filming and expert insights, this powerful series brings Scripture to life like never before.

Whether you're new or experienced, see the big picture of God’s plan and your place in it!

Understand the Bible like never before: ascensionpress.com/bibletimeline
Check out the free preview of the Bible Timeline: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/bible-timeline-free-preview-refresh

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Happy Easter! In this joyful season, as we celebrate the beauty of our faith, we’re also reminded of our human brokenness, and how at times, that brokenness can reflect poorly on the Church.

Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us not to get discouraged nor walk away, whether we’re new to the Church or have been Catholic our whole lives, but instead to refocus on what makes our faith truly unique, Jesus Christ, fully present in the Eucharist: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Throughout Lent, and really throughout the entire Christian life, we keep Christ crucified before our eyes as a reminder of how deeply we are loved. But it also confronts us with a question: Do I want to be associated with that?

Fr. Mike Schmitz challenges us, especially during Holy Week but also every day, to answer honestly: Do I want to be associated with Jesus, even if it means suffering?

Our hope is that the answer becomes “yes,” day after day. Because no matter the trials or sacrifices, nothing compares to the joy of being with...

Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Michael Iskander, best known for his role as King David in House of David, for a powerful conversation on faith, vocation, and the journey toward God.

They reflect on David as a flawed man after God’s own heart, exploring what it means to live faithfully, trust God’s mercy, and simply do the “next right thing.”

Michael also shares his journey to Catholicism, including his experience growing up in Egypt amid persecution and the moments that led him to a deeper relationship with God.

Michael also shares h...

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Will only Catholics go to Heaven? Is there any hope for those outside the Catholic Church?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the doctrine, "Outside the Church there is no salvation," to help us understand God's plan for redemption and His intention to save all, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Our lives are so full of noise, distractions, constant activity. But we weren’t made to be filled with these things.

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that fasting isn’t just about food. It’s about emptying ourselves so God can fill us. Lent isn’t only about saying no, it’s about saying yes to Someone greater.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

So often we focus our Lent on discipline, willpower, and perfection. But the goal isn’t perfection. The goal is union.

Fr. Mike Schmitz shares that the most powerful thing he ever did for Lent wasn’t adding more prayers, books, or practices, instead it was choosing silence.

See how this simple step can transform your Lent and bring you closer to the Lord than ever before!

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

When someone gets chosen instead of you, how should you respond?

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that God has a unique plan for each and every one of us. When others are blessed by being chosen, there is often a hidden burden that comes with it. We tend to see the blessing, but we forget the weight that accompanies it.

Instead of giving in to jealousy or self-pity, remember this: everyone has their own story. If God didn’t choose you for what you were hoping for, it’s not because you were overlooked, it’s beca...

Falling into the same sin again and again? Don't let the devil fool you, there is hope!

Fr. Mike Schmitz warns us of the lies of the devil and encourages us to go immediately to confession when we sin. Don't get discouraged, but have the humility to confess your sins and the hope that Christ can transform you!

If in weakness you sin, in freedom, claim the Lord.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

What's in our heart that refuses to celebrate when good things happen to someone else?

Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the story of the man healed on the Sabbath. Many focus on the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath, though technically allowed, but Fr. Mike invites us to look deeper.

The real issue isn’t the law. It’s the heart. More than Jesus performing the miracle, what this story exposes is that sometimes we fail to value the suffering of others, or even the joy of others, because they simply don’t matter enough...

Did Judas think he was actually helping Jesus fulfill His mission by betraying Him? Was Judas pre-destined to become the traitor of the Lord?

Fr. Mike Schmitz asks these bold questions and unpacks what Scripture says about the person of Judas Iscariot. By evaluating his motivations and his lack of cooperation with the grace given to him, Fr. Mike details what a tragedy it is that he never became St. Judas.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Why do Catholics baptize their babies? Is it even biblical?

At first glance, infant baptism can seem unbiblical. But Fr. Mike points to several instances in Scripture that support the practice and reveal God’s desire to bring children into His covenant family from the very beginning.

Baptizing a child doesn’t replace their freedom — it begins their life of faith. As they grow, they will one day choose Jesus for themselves and personally embrace the grace they first received as a gift.

For those baptized as adults, baptism becomes a conscious, public declar...

"'Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?' He (Jesus) said to him, 'You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22: 36-39

Fr. Mike Schmitz warns us of the dangers of making our lives too full, even with good things. He reminds us of the beautiful quote from St. John of the Cross, "In the twilight of our lives, we will...

Fr. Mike jumps into the mystery of Knives Out, not to solve the murder but to understand the truest mission of the priesthood.

In the midst of Hollywood's fascination with Catholicism, they've often had trouble capturing an honest representation of Catholics. However, Fr. Mike explores the success of Rian Johnson's appropriate casting and display of a priest in the midst of impossible odds.

Find out what Fr. Mike loved about the film and why he thinks, this time, Hollywood got it right!

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

2026 marks the 5th anniversary of Bible in a Year! Over the past five years, the Lord has taken this podcast to extraordinary places -- reaching listeners in more than 150 countries, becoming the #1 podcast in the U.S., and remaining the #1 religious podcast in the world, even five years later.

Through Bible in a Year, God has transformed hearts and minds, and we are deeply grateful to every listener who has made this journey possible. As we continue creating new videos, podcasts, books, and articles each day, we invite you to press play once again on Bible in...

Merry Christmas from Fr. Mike Schmitz and all of us here at Ascension! While we celebrate the birth of Christ, the true reason for this season, we also reflect on the many blessings and joys with the ones we love!

Come celebrate with us as Fr. Mike reacts to Christmas movies and shares how each movie reveals a deeply Christian message to all of us!

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Fr. Mike shares his favorite — and least favorite — Christmas songs 🎄

Find out which ones he loves enough to sing all year, which he calls manipulative, and which he flat-out labels a pile of trash!

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

You may have heard the phrase, "Memento Mori" when it comes to reflecting on death, but how should Christians really view death?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explains three common views we may hold about death:

However, Fr. Mike explains that all three fall short; death is actually a lover. Our goal should not be a longing for death, but a longing for the One on the other side. How can you long for Heaven...

Do you trust God's timing?

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that God is never late (and never early). We can trust whole heartedly that His timing is always perfect!

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

"God does not ask us to be successful, He asks us to be faithful." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on this quote along with the way St. Mother Teresa lived her life. So often we measure our lives by worldly success, however God wants your faithfulness, not your success.

Let us always say, "God let me honor you with my effort."

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

When you miss an opportunity to share the faith, what's the next step?

Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the question, "When should I say something?" We'll never have every answer, but if we take everything to the Lord, He will show us the way.

Support The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast