The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Thu, 13 Mar 2025

Do you struggle with taking the Lord’s name in vain or with cussing? Are you trying to avoid cussi...

Thu, 06 Mar 2025

Should you give things up for Lent, or take new things on? Is it better to pray more, or to give mor...

Thu, 27 Feb 2025

If you're Catholic, you're probably aware that not every wedding is the same in the eyes of the Chur...

Thu, 20 Feb 2025

“My God, my God why have you abandoned me?” Psalm 22:1 Are you praying everyday but still suffer...

Thu, 13 Feb 2025

Are you afraid to approach God? Jesus says, "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love...

Thu, 06 Feb 2025

Loyalty is a powerful virtue—but can it become dangerous? Loyalty is seen as a sought-after virtue...

Thu, 30 Jan 2025

Spoiler: Fr. Mike thinks the music is great. But other than that... there are some major problems he...

Thu, 23 Jan 2025

"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the S...

Thu, 16 Jan 2025

What does true humility really look like? Some may believe that a humble person must diminish themse...

Thu, 09 Jan 2025

Stoicism has its roots in Ancient Greece and Rome (300 BC) but it's seen a resurgence on social medi...

Thu, 02 Jan 2025

If you've tried and tried but you keep falling down and you're tired of starting over... this video ...

Thu, 26 Dec 2024

Just because it's "the most wonderful time of the year" doesn't mean that everything is working out ...

Thu, 19 Dec 2024

"Does God take us when he feels like our time here is over?" Fr. Mike tackles this question and exam...

Thu, 12 Dec 2024

The apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary that came to be known as Our Lady of Guadalupe was a mirac...

Thu, 05 Dec 2024

Grief is natural, and sadness at the death of a loved one is to be expected. But what about people w...

Thu, 28 Nov 2024

In this 3-part series filmed backstage at the 2024 Good News Conference, Fr. Mike sits down with 3 s...

Thu, 21 Nov 2024

Did you know that superstitions are a sin? In this video, Fr. Mike dives into the topic of Friday th...

Thu, 14 Nov 2024

Should we wear our best to Mass? Fr. Mike explores the balance between 'coming as you are' and 'putt...

Thu, 07 Nov 2024

Some people brush off intrusive thoughts. But others are haunted by them. If you're having serious i...

Thu, 31 Oct 2024

Did you know there’s a simple approach to discerning your vocation? Fr. Mike shares the most commo...

Thu, 24 Oct 2024

Do you pray the rosary? If you do, you might find it difficult at times, or experience dryness in pr...

Thu, 17 Oct 2024

"In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many ...

Thu, 10 Oct 2024

Fr. Mike had the pleasure of interviewing David Henrie about his reversion to Catholicism, his life ...

Thu, 03 Oct 2024

Jesus gave us the prayer we often call "the Our Father". But where do the other prayers of the Holy ...

Thu, 26 Sep 2024

Did you know Christians have a radical view of the body? While society often swings between two extr...

Thu, 19 Sep 2024

You’ve definitely either said—or met someone who’s said—“I go to Mass, but I just don’t ...

Thu, 12 Sep 2024

Fr. Mike offers insights on how to combat despair. If you feel like you've tried everything, see no ...

Thu, 05 Sep 2024

How can you discern if the voice you're hearing is genuinely God's? How can you be sure it isn't jus...

Thu, 29 Aug 2024

Have you ever faced a major loss, whether it's a relationship, your status, or even your health? In ...

Thu, 22 Aug 2024

When we encounter excellence, what prompts us to critique rather than admire? Fr. Mike suggests tha...

Thu, 15 Aug 2024

Do you feel the call to engage more deeply in the spiritual battle raging around you? Do you want to...

Fri, 09 Aug 2024

Perhaps you've heard about the blasphemous debacle that occurred during the Olympics opening ceremon...

Thu, 01 Aug 2024

Sometimes life brings us down. Difficult situations cause us to become discouraged. This is natural ...

Thu, 25 Jul 2024

Calling all Moms and Dads! You might feel discouraged or frustrated as you parent and seek to keep y...

Thu, 18 Jul 2024

Maybe you've heard the phrase before, "the middleman is a lie." Or maybe you've found yourself wonde...

Thu, 11 Jul 2024

The Bible is the Word of God. It is a foundation of our faith. And it tells the story of the human r...

Thu, 04 Jul 2024

If you have a family member, friend, or loved one who is far from God, you're not alone. You're in g...

Thu, 27 Jun 2024

Does a passing blue jay remind you of a deceased loved one? Does a specific number or color call the...

Thu, 20 Jun 2024

We've got a "Marriage Pop-Quiz" for you! Would you ditch your spouse to catch a flight? Imagine you'...

Thu, 13 Jun 2024

Momma always said, "Son, you don't like something? Well, offer it up!" Today, Fr. Mike explores the...

Thu, 06 Jun 2024

The sacraments that Christ gave his church are powerful. They are life changing. But... they are not...

Thu, 30 May 2024

If you're truly open-minded, you can find some truth in most religions. You can find plenty of goodn...

Thu, 23 May 2024

When considering the people of the Old Testament before Jesus's coming, we might ask ourselves: "Are...

Thu, 16 May 2024

Pope John Paul II said that what modern man needs—and is missing—is an "adequate anthropology", ...

Thu, 09 May 2024

Have you been confirmed? Have you received the Sacrament of Confirmation yet? Does this mean you're ...

Thu, 02 May 2024

Is there any hope for unity in the United States of America? Fr. Mike gives a resounding "yes". But ...

Thu, 25 Apr 2024

A question to anyone who is thinking about rejecting Jesus (or has accepted him for that matter): ha...

Fri, 19 Apr 2024

Have you ever had dark, disturbing dreams? If you did, did you feel guilty when you woke up? Did you...

Thu, 11 Apr 2024

Does good prayer feel out of reach for you? Do distractions plague you unceasingly? Are you wonderin...

Thu, 04 Apr 2024

Who is orchestrating your life? If it's God—and not you—what will you say to him? Fr. Mike sugge...

Thu, 28 Mar 2024

Do you have FOMO? Are you always worried about what you might miss out on? Today, Fr. Mike explores...

Thu, 21 Mar 2024

Everyone bears burdens and faces unseen challenges. Leading a life filled with love is often the sim...

Thu, 14 Mar 2024

Fr. Mike Schmitz delves deeply into the profound significance of the leper's words to Jesus: 'If you...

Thu, 07 Mar 2024

Do you know the true story of America's first canonized saint? "Cabrini," a movie from Angel Studi...

Thu, 29 Feb 2024

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, becaus...

Thu, 22 Feb 2024

St. Francis De Sales, often referred to as the "Saint-maker," liked to say, "Be who you are, and be ...

Thu, 15 Feb 2024

"Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!" Okay maybe not everything, but probably more than you thought. ...

Thu, 08 Feb 2024

When you clean and organize a room, you have to ask one very important question first: what is this ...

Thu, 01 Feb 2024

We were all born sick. The sickness is Sin. It's not a tendency to sin that we brought upon ourselve...

Thu, 25 Jan 2024

Don't let anyone trick you into thinking life isn't hard. Experience tells us all that life is truly...

Thu, 18 Jan 2024

What if there were no God? What does that idea look like if you follow it to its logical conclusion?...

Thu, 11 Jan 2024

God commands his beloved people all throughout scripture: "Remember." And this command continues to ...

Thu, 04 Jan 2024

Some of your favorite Bible characters were... terrible sometimes. Abraham lied and said Sarah wasn'...

Thu, 28 Dec 2023

The angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her all about how she’d conceive and bear God’s son Jesu...

Thu, 21 Dec 2023

Have you ever heard the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"? Have you listened to the lyrics c...

Thu, 14 Dec 2023

This is not the first video on Ascension Presents about how to overcome an addiction to pornography,...

Thu, 07 Dec 2023

If it feels like God isn't answering your prayers, that can be disheartening. But it can also be dev...

Thu, 30 Nov 2023

Are angels real? Why did God make them? What do guardian angels do? Do I have one? Does it have a na...

Thu, 23 Nov 2023

"I don't... think... I'm prideful...?" Great! If you examine your actions and intentions and you don...

Thu, 16 Nov 2023

If you've ever planned to become so holy that you don't need God's help anymore, then this video is ...

Thu, 09 Nov 2023

Free will is an incredible gift from God that we often underestimate. We truly get to make a choice ...

Thu, 02 Nov 2023

Do you commit the same sins over and over again? Does it feel like a bad movie that you’re stuck w...

Thu, 26 Oct 2023

Some people pour through comic books like they're devotional works, following the lives of superhero...

Thu, 19 Oct 2023

Today, Ascension is pulling one out of the vault, and Fr. Mike tells you why your parish priest need...

Thu, 12 Oct 2023

When we read the lives of the saints it can appear like prayer comes so easily to them; almost as if...

Thu, 05 Oct 2023

When you're first growing in prayer and developing your relationship with Jesus, it is worth the eff...

Thu, 28 Sep 2023

They say that perfection is the enemy of the good. But what is true goodness in a pursuit? What does...

Thu, 21 Sep 2023

How do you know you've had an encounter with God? Sometimes it's hard to tell, especially if you wer...

Thu, 14 Sep 2023

Grief is a human emotion and and affects each of us at one time or another. The Catholic Church in ...

Thu, 07 Sep 2023

Everyone you know and love is going to die someday. You will too, but... the thought of losing every...

Thu, 31 Aug 2023

Do aliens from outer space really exist? Did God create them? Are they intelligent? What does that m...

Fri, 25 Aug 2023

What if no one ever told you about Jesus? Your life probably wouldn't have so many rules. You wouldn...

Thu, 17 Aug 2023

When things don't go the way we expect, it's hard not to be frustrated and disappointed. How do we m...

Thu, 10 Aug 2023

When you go to a concert for your favorite band, and that band has been around for a while, what son...

Thu, 03 Aug 2023

There is an age old question often debated among between Catholics and Protestant. Are we saved by f...

Thu, 27 Jul 2023

We must place our faith in Christ in order to allow him to save us. But what does it actually mean t...

Thu, 20 Jul 2023

In our world today, there are millions trapped in slavery and sex trafficking. The most horrific and...

Thu, 13 Jul 2023

If you profess to be a Christian, that means that you profess to follow Jesus Christ. But, of course...

Thu, 06 Jul 2023

You probably don't outright lie on a regular basis. But, do you exaggerate? Do you give half truths ...

Thu, 29 Jun 2023

Whether you're cultivating a life of prayer with Jesus for the first time or you're trying to reigni...

Thu, 22 Jun 2023

"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22) Woah! Come again? On the list...

Thu, 15 Jun 2023

We know this: when we go to the sacrament of reconciliation with a truly contrite heart and receive ...

Thu, 08 Jun 2023

"If no one gets hurt is it still a sin?" "It was just an accident." How can we know if our actions...

Thu, 01 Jun 2023

How much prayer is too much prayer? Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we ...

Thu, 25 May 2023

The call to holiness can feel like an overwhelming challenge. In fact it can seem downright impossib...

Thu, 18 May 2023

The question of evil, suffering and brokenness in our world can be a hard one to grapple with. Somet...

Thu, 11 May 2023

It’s an age old question; “Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?” Today Fr. Mike enco...

Thu, 04 May 2023

Jesus is a miracle worker. He worked incredible “signs and wonders” during his 33 years on earth...

Thu, 27 Apr 2023

Today, Fr. Mike drops some truth bombs. God does not merely tolerate you. He loves you with a feroci...

Thu, 20 Apr 2023

In an increasingly digital age, we do more and more things virtually. And while we can use technolog...

Thu, 13 Apr 2023

Today, Fr. Mike tells us about the story of the patron saint of confessors, St. John Nepomucene, who...

Thu, 06 Apr 2023

Find out how the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from Duluth pray during Holy Week, and maybe di...

Thu, 30 Mar 2023

Reading the Old Testament can be so frustrating. We hear the stories of God’s chosen people formin...

Thu, 23 Mar 2023

Why do we "have" to love God? It seems very self-centered of God to demand our love. But is it? Tod...

Thu, 16 Mar 2023

“Is God calling me somewhere else?” Sometimes in our discernment—especially over major life ch...

Thu, 09 Mar 2023

Have you ever heard someone state, " I believe in God, but I don't believe in prayer?" Is it logical...

Thu, 02 Mar 2023

Each day of our lives we make countless decisions. Many of them have small consequences, good or bad...

Thu, 23 Feb 2023

When you make a Lenten commitment, you're probably not thinking of all of the special circumstances ...

Thu, 16 Feb 2023

What are alms? Why must we give them? Am I supposed to go broke for Jesus? Fr. Mike Schmitz encourag...

Thu, 09 Feb 2023

For the past 50 years the institution of marriage has been under attack. More and more couples are c...

Thu, 02 Feb 2023

When we’re baptized, we become adopted sons or daughters of God. We become “children of God”. ...

Thu, 26 Jan 2023

Why does the Catholic Church baptize babies rather than wait until they are older and capable of cho...

Thu, 19 Jan 2023

Need more advice on prayer? Fr. Mike has you covered.

Thu, 12 Jan 2023

Stories matter. We tell them to help us understand the world around us. But what if the stories we t...

Thu, 05 Jan 2023

"If not everyone is going to heaven, then I don't want to be there." Is this sentiment honorable? Or...

Thu, 29 Dec 2022

What do I want to be true about me at the end of this year that is not currently true? At the beginn...

Thu, 22 Dec 2022

How do we give God everything? It's obvious from the stories throughout the Scriptures that God is a...

Thu, 15 Dec 2022

When we are struggling spiritually or experiencing some physical suffering we can find ourselves ask...

Thu, 08 Dec 2022

"God will never ask you to do more than Mary did." And what did Mary do? She said "yes". Today, on t...

Thu, 01 Dec 2022

If you or someone you know has benefited from Ascension's free media, would you consider giving a gi...

Thu, 24 Nov 2022

If you or someone you know has benefited from Ascension's free media, would you consider giving a gi...

Thu, 17 Nov 2022

Let's talk about exercise! Today Fr. Mike challenges us to re-evaluate the way we treat and view ou...

Thu, 10 Nov 2022

"Honor thy Father and thy Mother." We know from our youth that we are called to obey our parents as...

Thu, 03 Nov 2022

You've probably heard the phrase "cancel culture"—the phenomenon where public figures get "cancell...

Thu, 27 Oct 2022

We believe as Catholics that at every Mass the simple bread and wine are transformed by the power of...

Thu, 20 Oct 2022

Today Fr. Mike shares with us how to approach praying a novena, whether it be a traditional nine day...

Thu, 13 Oct 2022

You're with a group of friends and they start gossiping about another friend; what do you say? You'r...

Thu, 06 Oct 2022

Sometimes when we look at the lives of the Saints we can be tempted to think that God singled them o...

Thu, 29 Sep 2022

(Today's video/podcast is an excerpt from, "The 99, A New System for Evangelization." To learn more ...

Thu, 22 Sep 2022

(Today's video/podcast is an excerpt from "Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God." To learn more a...

Thu, 15 Sep 2022

We all want to be saints, but the struggle against sin and selfishness can feel overwhelming. There ...

Thu, 08 Sep 2022

(Today's video/podcast is an excerpt from "The 99, A New System for Evangelization." To learn more a...

Thu, 01 Sep 2022

(Today's video/podcast is an excerpt from "Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God." To learn more a...

Thu, 25 Aug 2022

Can I be cremated? Is it okay to donate my body to science? What about the relics of Saints, they ar...

Thu, 18 Aug 2022

What is a human being? What happens when we die? Why do we visit cemeteries? And why do Catholics bu...

Thu, 11 Aug 2022

You may have heard that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, but have you really heard those words? Yo...

Thu, 04 Aug 2022

Change is always hard. Transitions in life are difficult. Goodbyes are never easy. Endings are rarel...

Thu, 28 Jul 2022

It's easy to fall into a routine and lose sight of the little miracles all around us. Unfortunately,...

Thu, 21 Jul 2022

Do you take yourself too seriously? Are you unwilling to acknowledge your faults and weaknesses to o...

Thu, 14 Jul 2022

Learn more about Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Josh Johnson's Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconcilia...

Thu, 07 Jul 2022

As Americans we are known for our celebration of liberty and our focus on "our rights." We even have...

Thu, 30 Jun 2022

In response to countless requests, Ascension is launching The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Sch...

Thu, 23 Jun 2022

Jesus tells in the Gospels, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But what if you struggle to love yours...

Thu, 16 Jun 2022

Why do less than 30% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence? It seems like many have forgotten th...

Thu, 09 Jun 2022

Is Judas in Hell? The overwhelming consensus over time is that he must be. But has the Church procla...

Thu, 02 Jun 2022

Are there things in my life that are incompatible with holiness? We all wish to be saints—God's p...

Thu, 26 May 2022

Have you heard the phrase, "Ora et Labora" before? What about the maxim, "Pray as if everything depe...

Thu, 19 May 2022

"Love your neighbor as yourself." We all know the drill. Jesus calls us to love even our enemies. Bu...

Thu, 12 May 2022

Are you feeling tired and spiritually exhausted? Do you feel like throwing in the towel on everythin...

Thu, 05 May 2022

Most of us are familiar with the 5 Love Languages; gift-giving acts of service, physical touch, word...

Thu, 28 Apr 2022

What happened? Did Fr. Mike change his mind on tattoos? Today Fr. Mike reveals his recent tattoo, wh...

Thu, 21 Apr 2022

Today Fr. Mike unpacks the three Transcendentals; Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, and why and how our h...

Fri, 15 Apr 2022

Today Fr. Mike had the chance to interview Mark Wahlberg about his amazing new movie, "Father Stu," ...

Thu, 07 Apr 2022

If you're Catholic, you know the drill: we sin, we break our relationship with God, and then he offe...

Thu, 31 Mar 2022

Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. Vladimir Putin and Russia invading Ukraine. COVID ripping through th...

Thu, 24 Mar 2022

When we receive criticism from someone it's easy to think that we can either put up our fists and fi...

Thu, 17 Mar 2022

Sometimes they're things we don't want to do... but we have to do them anyway. Sometimes you make it...

Thu, 10 Mar 2022

Want to know what the #1 goal of Lent is? Believe it or not, we don't have to feel the joy of the se...

Thu, 03 Mar 2022

Lent has begun and with it our season of penance and fasting. What are you planning on giving up or ...

Thu, 24 Feb 2022

"It’s time to stop watching and start worshiping." - Fr. Mike Today, Fr. Mike continues part two o...

Thu, 17 Feb 2022

What does God want from us? What does God deserve from us given that he's our creator? Today, Fr. Mi...

Thu, 10 Feb 2022

Why should you consider getting married, if as Jesus states in Matthew 22:30; "at the resurrection, ...

Thu, 03 Feb 2022

Today, Fr. Mike delves into this age old question.

Thu, 27 Jan 2022

As we know, an essential part of the Sacrament of Marriage is entering into the sexual embrace. And ...

Thu, 20 Jan 2022

For probably the first time in human history, the common perception of children as a gift has been u...

Thu, 13 Jan 2022

You said an unkind word or reacted rashly. You feel terrible because it was directed at someone you ...

Thu, 06 Jan 2022

Have you ever heard the expression, ‘To err is human; to forgive, divine?’ Surprisingly this wel...

Thu, 30 Dec 2021

Can you believe it's almost a new year!? Are you reflecting on both the suffering and gifts of the p...

Thu, 23 Dec 2021

Have you ever gone to a carnival or fair and had a caricature drawn of yourself? Did it seem to high...

Thu, 16 Dec 2021

In this throwback talk from the 2015 World Meeting of Families, Fr. Mike introduces us to the Theolo...

Thu, 09 Dec 2021

Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary! But wait... what is the Imm...

Thu, 02 Dec 2021

As St. Thomas Aquinas writes: "As often as a husband and wife enter into the sexual embrace in a sta...

Thu, 25 Nov 2021

Do you know how to receive a gift? It's not as easy as it sounds. It might sound like gift-giving is...

Fri, 19 Nov 2021

You might have heard that Sunday, as the Sabbath, is a "day of rest." But is that just, like, an hon...

Thu, 11 Nov 2021

Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said, "We cannot all do great things. But we can do small things with ...

Thu, 04 Nov 2021

As Catholics, we believe in the forgiveness of our sins through the graces of the Sacrament of Recon...

Thu, 28 Oct 2021

Why do we go to Mass every Sunday? Is it because of what we “get out of it”? Is it the way it ma...

Thu, 21 Oct 2021

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday? Have you asked yourself, what does Je...

Thu, 14 Oct 2021

Have you heard the phrase, "never doubt in the darkness what you knew was true in the light?" Do you...

Thu, 07 Oct 2021

How is it that a young French girl who entered the convent at 15 years old and died at only 24 years...

Thu, 30 Sep 2021

Do you find that you give others too much influence over your mood and emotions? Do you find yoursel...

Thu, 23 Sep 2021

Sometimes the smallest things annoy us the most. Minor inconveniences can easily make us forget to b...

Thu, 16 Sep 2021

What does God really want from us? When you look at every religion, Christian or otherwise, you’ll...

Thu, 09 Sep 2021

Sometimes saying sorry just isn’t enough. Chances are that you can remember a time you hurt someon...

Thu, 02 Sep 2021

It’s not unusual to experience discouragement on the road to holiness, especially when we live in ...

Thu, 26 Aug 2021

Last week, we talked about Holy Communion being a gift and not a right owed to us by God. This may s...

Thu, 19 Aug 2021

Sometimes we can be tricked into thinking that the Holy Communion we receive at Mass every Sunday is...

Thu, 12 Aug 2021

Many of us have been in situations where we’ve risked losing. It usually happens during childhood,...

Thu, 29 Jul 2021

God is quick to forgive, and he’s given us the gift of confession so we can return to a relationsh...

Thu, 22 Jul 2021

At a glance, you may look at friendship and say it’s not necessary for day-to-day life. It’s jus...

Thu, 15 Jul 2021

An interruption is anything that takes our attention away from our primary task. We may think our da...

Thu, 08 Jul 2021

We can be 100% confident that when we confess our sins, we receive complete and total forgiveness fr...

Thu, 01 Jul 2021

St. Paul tells us, “Do everything without grumbling,” but even the best-intentioned Christians c...

Thu, 24 Jun 2021

“It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God, and with fit...

Thu, 17 Jun 2021

How should a Christian react to “cancel culture”? Chances are that if you’ve been on social me...

Thu, 10 Jun 2021

Learn more about the Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. J...

Thu, 03 Jun 2021

Why do we keep critics in our lives? You probably have someone in your life that seems to be on the ...

Thu, 27 May 2021

What is truth? On this channel, we speak a lot about the teachings of the Church and how our society...

Thu, 20 May 2021

What does it mean to say that Jesus is the Lord of your life? We hear this phrase a lot in the Churc...

Thu, 13 May 2021

Should we really talk to God about everything? There are a lot of different kinds of prayers (liturg...

Thu, 06 May 2021

The Ten Commandments tell us to “honor thy mother and father”, but what does that really look li...

Thu, 29 Apr 2021

“You are not an extra in someone else’s vocation story.” We all know breakups are tough, and m...

Thu, 22 Apr 2021

The Catholic Church loves questions, but are we asking them for the right reasons? One of our Doctor...

Thu, 15 Apr 2021

The key to a happy death is not a long and fulfilled life—it’s a life of gratitude for the time ...

Thu, 08 Apr 2021

The Wednesday of Holy Week is known to many as “Spy Wednesday”, but it’s also known as the “...

Thu, 01 Apr 2021

During Holy Week, as we contemplate the last hours of Jesus’ life, we get an intimate look at how ...

Thu, 25 Mar 2021

When was the last time you said “yes” to God? In improv, there’s a practice where participants...

Thu, 18 Mar 2021

“Blame keeps us stuck...Taking responsibility gives us the opportunity to move forward.” In our ...

Thu, 11 Mar 2021

Every Christmas we celebrate the fact that Jesus took on our humanity and became one of us. But have...

Thu, 04 Mar 2021

God is an infinite, perfect, communion of persons, responsible for the intentional creation of every...

Thu, 25 Feb 2021

We often receive the behavior we are willing to tolerate, but what does that mean for our daily inte...

Thu, 18 Feb 2021

What if we were to make all our decisions solely based on how we felt in the moment? You may be fa...

Thu, 11 Feb 2021

What’s the difference between a victim and a martyr? A victim is always described as dying “of”...

Thu, 04 Feb 2021

Sometimes the things that we own end up owning us. Detachment prevents this from happening. You may ...

Thu, 28 Jan 2021

Why is it easier to fuel our faith at retreats and conferences? Can we have this same fire at home? ...

Thu, 21 Jan 2021

Are you called to be a missionary? You may be one already! Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Therese of...

Thu, 14 Jan 2021

If you begin to sin but don’t follow all the way through… is it still a sin? It depends. We’re...

Thu, 07 Jan 2021

What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “Love the sinner, hate the sin”? To some, maybe i...

Thu, 31 Dec 2020

It may sound counterintuitive, but choosing the harder path may make our life easier. Here’s why: ...

Fri, 25 Dec 2020

We might have had different plans for this year, but were they really supposed to happen? We all won...

Thu, 17 Dec 2020

It’s those last five minutes of conversation with someone that makes them feel like a number or li...

Thu, 10 Dec 2020

Truly loving Mary will never lessen our faith in God, or take attention away from Christ. Here’s w...

Thu, 03 Dec 2020

Oftentimes in Christian media we see what Fr. Mike dubs a “Hallmark” version of following Christ...

Thu, 26 Nov 2020

When was the last time you told God “thank you”? We live in an extremely hectic world, full of d...

Thu, 19 Nov 2020

Have you ever felt like God really wanted you to do something, but you just weren’t ready for it? ...

Fri, 13 Nov 2020

We all see the world through our own lens. The media we partake of—the news we read, the podcasts ...

Thu, 05 Nov 2020

Fr. Mike introduces us to the virtue that makes other virtues excellent: magnanimity. If someone ask...

Thu, 29 Oct 2020

Fr. Mike talks about how to regret things we’ve done without staying stuck in the past. Have you e...

Thu, 22 Oct 2020

Do you have any “expectations” when you think about marriage? A lot of us probably think of marr...

Thu, 15 Oct 2020

Have you ever been shaken by a scandal in the Church? It’s hard not to have been, especially amids...

Thu, 08 Oct 2020

Is it just us, or does the world seem a bit divided right now? Human beings were not only created wi...

Thu, 01 Oct 2020

“What if I don’t have time to pray both The Rosary and The Divine Mercy Chaplet?” Deciding how...

Thu, 24 Sep 2020

You may have seen the movie Rudy. Its eponymous protagonist is a not-so-athletic college football pl...

Thu, 10 Sep 2020

Playing a video game called Injustice helps Fr. Mike explain the real answer to why God allows suffe...

Thu, 03 Sep 2020

Many people ask Fr. Mike, “How do you become a Catholic speaker?” The quick answer is “Get bap...

Thu, 27 Aug 2020

How many real friends do you have? Honestly, many people we call friends would probably better quali...

Thu, 20 Aug 2020

If you’re not feeling loved by someone you love, take courage in the story of Leah in Genesis. Jac...

Thu, 13 Aug 2020

Wearing masks, not wearing masks, and all the mixed emotions that have come with the coronavirus rev...

Thu, 06 Aug 2020

It may sound foolish to believe in a God who allows evil, tragedy, suffering, and disasters. But God...

Thu, 30 Jul 2020

We all have pet peeves. We all get annoyed by things that really don’t matter much, whether it’s...

Thu, 23 Jul 2020

Is your faith certain enough to stand up against the doubts and different ideas out there? Fr. Mike ...

Thu, 16 Jul 2020

Fr. Mike recalls the speed math tests he took in second and third grade. He finished them in decent ...

Thu, 09 Jul 2020

If you want to know how to share the gospel, it’s important to have the love and courage to not ju...

Thu, 02 Jul 2020

In the spiritual life, it’s difficult to know whether striving to do God’s will or just abiding ...

Thu, 25 Jun 2020

Rigidity and laxity are difficult obstacles to avoid when trying to find balance in your faith life....

Thu, 18 Jun 2020

Making small sacrifices is not just for Lent, because sacrifices and penance are necessary. As Chris...

Thu, 11 Jun 2020

Fr. Mike explains how being at home with our family is one of God’s favorite ways to make us holy—...

Thu, 04 Jun 2020

In today’s special podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Fr. Josh Johnson to discuss racial div...

Thu, 28 May 2020

Throughout the Gospels Jesus says, “Remain in me” or “abide in me,” which—in simplified te...

Thu, 21 May 2020

When someone says something hurtful to you, it is wise to give them the benefit of the doubt. What d...

Thu, 14 May 2020

You know you should be praying. But do you ever wish someone would show you how? Fr. Mike starts by ...

Thu, 07 May 2020

Vanity is not what many people think it is. It can come in many forms, and is not necessarily an inf...

Thu, 30 Apr 2020

In a previous episode, Fr. Mike said that all Catholics grow in the same “soil” together, but th...

Thu, 23 Apr 2020

Fr. Mike talks about how to navigate discussions with your partner about sexual sin—whether it’s...

Thu, 16 Apr 2020

Fr. Mike makes the case that, before you claim a certain “style” in practicing the faith, you ha...

Thu, 09 Apr 2020

Fr. Mike explains how even partial healing from the wound of sin is still worth the effort. Don’t ...

Thu, 02 Apr 2020

When we pray “lead us not into temptation”, it may seem like God has the capacity to tempt us. B...

Thu, 26 Mar 2020

Fr. Mike describes exactly how God works with us, even though God’s ways are not our ways. It’s ...

Thu, 19 Mar 2020

Fr. Mike gives us some advice about how we should respond to the coronavirus pandemic. He begins wit...

Thu, 12 Mar 2020

A great way to make this Lent even better spiritually is to offer up not only something you chose, b...

Thu, 05 Mar 2020

Starting strong is easy, but staying strong—perseverance—is a mark of holiness. It’s easy to b...

Thu, 27 Feb 2020

Lent is about transformation, but that transformation will be incomplete if we make it about ourselv...

Thu, 20 Feb 2020

Why is Ash Wednesday not a holy day of obligation? A holy day is a day that has been consecrated for...

Thu, 13 Feb 2020

Just because you desire something deeply doesn’t mean it’s God’s plans for you. Sometimes our ...

Thu, 06 Feb 2020

Fr. Mike follows up on his episode “Answering the Internet’s Most Asked Questions about Priests”...

Tue, 04 Feb 2020

Fr. Mike speaks about evangelization, new media, and telling the story of God’s love at St. Charl...

Thu, 30 Jan 2020

Fr. Mike is at the library of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, and he’s answering th...

Thu, 23 Jan 2020

Fr. Mike comments on whether swearing, as in using vulgar language, is a sin. He gives three times w...

Thu, 16 Jan 2020

There is a beauty in the fact that God shares his very name with us. He gives us his name so that we...

Thu, 09 Jan 2020

There’s justice and prudence and temperance and fortitude, faith, and hope, and love. But do you r...

Thu, 02 Jan 2020

With each new year come new hopes, new plans, and new opportunities. Fr. Mike points out that this o...

Thu, 26 Dec 2019

The only things we can be certain about are the things that have already happened to us in the past,...

Thu, 19 Dec 2019

If you’re wondering about the difference between jealousy and envy, Fr. Mike clears up the confusi...

Thu, 12 Dec 2019

Sometimes we have to do stuff when we don’t feel like it, but finding the motivation to do those t...

Thu, 05 Dec 2019

What is the best way to prepare for the season of Advent? You’re free to do what you know will hel...

Thu, 28 Nov 2019

Which is better, being an owner or a steward? Fr. Mike reminds us of the Parable of the Talents (Mat...

Thu, 21 Nov 2019

Last week Fr. Mike Schmitz talked about why prayer is so hard in his battle of prayer video, and thi...

Thu, 14 Nov 2019

Growing up Fr. Mike thought prayer should be like soaking in a hot tub. He didn’t understand why i...

Thu, 07 Nov 2019

Fr. Mike comments on Kanye West’s conversion. He celebrates Kanye’s conversion, but hesitates to...

Thu, 31 Oct 2019

Fr. Mike uses the life of St. Maximillian Kolbe as an example of how God is going to interrupt us if...

Thu, 24 Oct 2019

God may want you to be spontaneous, but he also wants you to be disciplined. How does that work? Wel...

Thu, 17 Oct 2019

We may be too hard on ourselves when considering how we use the word “should.” Of course, we sho...

Thu, 10 Oct 2019

Knowledge is always good, but St. Thomas Aquinas said curiosity—or the fickle pursuit of unnecessa...

Thu, 03 Oct 2019

If you’re in any kind of situation in your life where you feel you are limited in what you can con...

Thu, 26 Sep 2019

Fr. Mike says the key to making decisions together is distinguishing between preferences and princip...

Thu, 19 Sep 2019

Fr. Mike offers the antidote of common sense for the anxiety that often comes after making a big dec...

Thu, 12 Sep 2019

After reading a book on will power, Fr. Mike discovered an important lesson when it comes to how we ...

Thu, 05 Sep 2019

Fr. Mike responds to last week’s episode, “Expressing Your Opinions”, where he said when we sp...

Thu, 29 Aug 2019

Fr. Mike says there are four things you should ask yourself before expressing your opinion: why, wha...

Thu, 22 Aug 2019

Catholics use Scripture and Tradition because Scripture tells us to use both. St. Paul wrote to the ...

Thu, 15 Aug 2019

If we can’t use the Lord’s name in vain, can we joke about God? Fr. Mike makes the case that the...

Thu, 08 Aug 2019

Fr. Mike points out five things the Church can learn from one of the latest fitness crazes, Crossfit...

Thu, 01 Aug 2019

Not every protagonist in the Bible makes the morally good choice. The Bible is not a collection of s...

Thu, 25 Jul 2019

Fr. Mike answers that God does not make us with flaws, but we are all born with the unfortunate effe...

Thu, 18 Jul 2019

Fr. Mike offers a follow-up to his video on Dr. John Gottman’s “four horsemen of the apocalypse”...

Thu, 11 Jul 2019

Fr. Mike goes all the way back to Genesis to explain why Catholics have a pope. God established the ...

Thu, 04 Jul 2019

We hear the phrase “in the world but not of it” quite often. But how do we live that out in our ...

Thu, 27 Jun 2019

When it comes to trying to control God and keep him at a distance in our lives, there are at least t...

Thu, 20 Jun 2019

Fr. Mike is honest about why it’s so hard for us to make friends. A necessity for friendship is ti...

Thu, 13 Jun 2019

Fr. Mike asks if the bad things you think you don’t have the capacity to do are actually just thin...

Thu, 06 Jun 2019

How we spend our time is one of the most valuable decisions we make, because time is one thing we ca...

Thu, 30 May 2019

For many people, the Catholic Church’s teaching on in vitro fertilization and contraception is a h...

Thu, 23 May 2019

Perhaps you’ve felt the temptation to be a cookie-cutter Catholic, one who does all the Catholic t...

Thu, 16 May 2019

What good does feeling sorry for yourself do? Fr. Mike points out a hard truth in saying—while you...

Thu, 09 May 2019

Many people say God acted much differently in the Old Testament than he did in the New Testament. Th...

Thu, 02 May 2019

God wants you to be holy, so he is going to set you on a path of purification if you choose to do hi...

Thu, 25 Apr 2019

Jesus asked the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to be well?” It seems like an...

Thu, 18 Apr 2019

There are many great ways to describe hope, but Fr. Mike defines it as “trust in another extended ...

Thu, 11 Apr 2019

Fr. Mike’s words on taking up our crosses may come as a relief to many of us. He rejects the “ha...

Thu, 04 Apr 2019

Jiminy Cricket said “Always let your conscience be your guide,” but how do I know if I have a go...

Thu, 28 Mar 2019

When Catholics call Mary their mother, it may seem like they are taking away some of the respect due...

Thu, 21 Mar 2019

Fr. Mike discusses four signs that your relationship is in danger of falling apart, especially when ...

Thu, 14 Mar 2019

Fr. Mike is asked a lot about what to do when your life is thrown off course by a breakup. In a pre...

Thu, 07 Mar 2019

What does the Israelites’ forty years in the desert tell us about the purpose of Lent? Sure, they ...

Thu, 28 Feb 2019

Fr. Mike knows the tricks we can play on ourselves when it comes to picking something for Lent. So h...

Thu, 21 Feb 2019

The value of a new parishioner introducing him or herself to parish life and just asking the priest,...

Thu, 14 Feb 2019

Fr. Mike breaks down the real definition of love, which is willing the good of the other for the oth...

Thu, 07 Feb 2019

Fr. Mike explains how God restores our brokenness, especially when it comes to our bodies. So often,...

Thu, 31 Jan 2019

Yes, you are a burden. We are all burdens, including Fr. Mike, but we are burdens worth carrying. Ma...

Thu, 24 Jan 2019

It may seem too difficult, or even unrealistic, to be a saint today. The reality is though, a saint ...

Thu, 17 Jan 2019

God has his commandments and everything, but aren’t there times when there are exceptions to God’...

Thu, 10 Jan 2019

Why is skipping mass a mortal sin? And when we do go to mass, why do we need to receive communion in...

Thu, 03 Jan 2019

Who would have thought algebra and data could be the key to discernment? Fr. Mike explains that the...

Thu, 27 Dec 2018

Fr. Mike explains why "It's a Wonderful Life" is his favorite Christmas movie and how it can help us...

Thu, 20 Dec 2018

Good people go to heaven when they die, right? Well, according to the Gospels, not exactly. Fr. Mike...

Thu, 13 Dec 2018

You may have heard the phrase memento mori (remember your death)—especially if you hang out with t...

Thu, 06 Dec 2018

To be blessed means to holy, and to be holy means to be set apart for God. Fr. Mike reminds us of ou...

Thu, 29 Nov 2018

A sin is not simply breaking the rules. It’s when we say in our hearts, “God, I know what you wa...

Thu, 22 Nov 2018

Fr. Mike says giving thanks is not only good and polite. It’s not just a thoughtful gesture. Givin...

Thu, 15 Nov 2018

Fr. Mike answers some hard questions from his #askfrmike inquirers, starting with a question about t...

Thu, 08 Nov 2018

We all have those people in our lives whom we love, but just ask too much of us. Establishing limita...

Thu, 01 Nov 2018

We use the term “friend” loosely, introducing casual acquaintances as “My friends Lucy and Joh...

Thu, 25 Oct 2018

Father Mike Schmitz forgot to say one thing in his video “We’re Not Just Cosmic Accidents” –...

Thu, 18 Oct 2018

Fr. Mike shares three things that will help you build healthy relationships. If a couple wants to ge...

Thu, 11 Oct 2018

Blessed Father Stanley Rother was a farmer, priest, and martyr from Oklahoma who found a way to give...

Thu, 04 Oct 2018

Without our dignity that comes from God, we are just cosmic accidents. This is a humbling realizatio...

Thu, 27 Sep 2018

Happiness is circumstantial. In fact, the word has the same root as the word “happenstance”. And...

Thu, 20 Sep 2018

The Karate Kid didn’t know waxing a car would teach him karate, but Miyagi knew. In a similar way ...

Fri, 14 Sep 2018

Sometimes it can be hard to respect the character of a person you really don’t like. That’s no p...

Thu, 06 Sep 2018

Sure, there are times when it’s just hard to believe what the Catholic Faith tells us, but when so...

Thu, 30 Aug 2018

Anyone can and should condemn the sins of the priests and cardinals that have been all over the news...

Thu, 23 Aug 2018

Thu, 16 Aug 2018

Thu, 09 Aug 2018

Thu, 02 Aug 2018

Fri, 27 Jul 2018

Thu, 19 Jul 2018

Thu, 12 Jul 2018

The wisdom he shares here is akin to that of many successful, insightful writers such as Cal Newport...

Thu, 05 Jul 2018

Thu, 28 Jun 2018

Thu, 21 Jun 2018

Thu, 14 Jun 2018

Thu, 07 Jun 2018

Thu, 31 May 2018

Fri, 25 May 2018

Fri, 18 May 2018

Mon, 14 May 2018

Wed, 09 May 2018

Fri, 27 Apr 2018

Fri, 20 Apr 2018

Fr. Mike offers a message that may be hard to accept for some of us, but his intention is to help us...

Fri, 13 Apr 2018

Every generation has its own code words for things that are taboo, but when watching TV and relaxing...

Fri, 06 Apr 2018

Have you ever left Mass feeling like the homily just wasn't satisfactory? In this episode, Father Mi...

Thu, 29 Mar 2018

This episode is not a new autobiography by F​r.​ Mike Schmitz. It’s about everyone’s autobio...

Fri, 23 Mar 2018

It's easy to think of courage as something we only need when facing our greatest fears, but in this ...

Fri, 16 Mar 2018

We fast during Lent for many reasons. Whether those reasons are good or not is hard to tell sometime...

Wed, 07 Mar 2018

Fr. Mike discusses why confessing the same sins over and over isn’t entirely a bad thing. He also ...

Mon, 05 Mar 2018

If you’ve ever been in a conversation where you had to defend the Catholic Faith, people have prob...

Mon, 26 Feb 2018

One of the most common Bible verses people use to try and debunk Catholic teaching is Matthew 23:9, ...

Fri, 16 Feb 2018

Envy and jealousy sneakily gain control of our minds. They don’t feel like other sins that give at...

Fri, 09 Feb 2018

When we are discerning God’s will in our lives, we often get overwhelmed by the anxiety of making ...

Thu, 01 Feb 2018

You may have heard priests or devout Catholics say something like, “If only people knew what was h...

Thu, 25 Jan 2018

God made the world—and you—on purpose. What is that purpose? Well, that’s what St. John Paul I...

Thu, 18 Jan 2018

St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “In all things give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In this...

Thu, 11 Jan 2018

If we want to be holy, the Virgin Mary should have an integral role in our spiritual life; but somet...

Thu, 04 Jan 2018

So you felt a strong wave of inspiration and became determined to make a New Year’s resolution. Gr...

Thu, 28 Dec 2017

While many of us may become stressed out before Christmas and depressed afterwards—working hard to...

Thu, 21 Dec 2017

Do you want to learn how to love like the Bible teaches? Bible-based love, indeed any Bible-based re...

Wed, 13 Dec 2017

It’s all too common for us to think of our work as either the thing that gives us our identity, or...

Thu, 07 Dec 2017

In this episode, Fr. Mike delivers a crackdown on habitual criticism. He discusses how easy it is to...

Thu, 30 Nov 2017

The phrase “dark night of the soul” is thrown around quite a bit in Catholic circles, but what d...

Thu, 23 Nov 2017

Finding the right words to pray can be difficult, and the rote prayers we were taught as children ar...

Thu, 16 Nov 2017

Death, judgment, heaven, and hell—the four last things—are popular enough topics among Christian...

Thu, 09 Nov 2017

Fr. Mike gives help when it comes to making decisions.

Thu, 02 Nov 2017

Drawing from the wisdom of the saints, Fr. Mike explains why prayer should be in the center of our l...

Wed, 25 Oct 2017

J.R.R. Tolkien’s short story "Leaf by Niggle", reveals that minutia matters: even the little thing...

Thu, 19 Oct 2017

What is it that makes a hero? In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers a definition we can all live ...

Thu, 12 Oct 2017

Never before was there and never again will there be a moment quite like the present, yet so often w...

Thu, 05 Oct 2017

Football has recently become a forum to look at where patriotism and protest intersect. The last thi...

Thu, 28 Sep 2017

Balance in life is something many of us strive for while not having much insight on how to achieve i...

Thu, 21 Sep 2017

Hope, in the Christian sense, is often misunderstood. It is not the same as optimism or presumption....

Thu, 14 Sep 2017

Did you know we have the ability to write our own stories? So often we consider ourselves victims of...

Thu, 07 Sep 2017

Jesus commanded us not to judge… but not to judge what? If we look at the words of Jesus, we find ...

Thu, 31 Aug 2017

How do you carry your burdens in life? In this episode, Father Mike discusses a tendency to make ou...

Thu, 24 Aug 2017

Common wisdom tells us we become the people we spend the most time with, so choose your friends wise...

Thu, 17 Aug 2017

Inspired by the diligence of professional athletes and St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians,...

Thu, 03 Aug 2017

Fr. Mike explains why hope is the best remedy for suicidal thoughts. If you know someone struggling ...

Thu, 27 Jul 2017

You may be familiar with the expression, “Hate the sin, not the sinner.” Fr. Mike would agree, e...

Thu, 20 Jul 2017

Fr. Mike addresses some of the disagreements his audience expressed regarding last week’s video on...

Thu, 13 Jul 2017

Sometimes the forms of entertainment we choose to watch raise important moral questions. In this epi...

Thu, 06 Jul 2017

In Matthew 17:20,​ Jesus tells us if we have faith as small as a mustard seed we could move mounta...

Thu, 29 Jun 2017

The Book of Eli (Denzel Washington) and The Road (Viggo Mortensen) provide powerful illustrations fo...

Thu, 22 Jun 2017

Fr. Mike Schmitz wants to straighten out some confusion regarding Catholics’ veneration of saints....

Thu, 15 Jun 2017

Leaving our coffee cups outside - there are a few reasons for this. Fr. Mike reminds us that we all ...

Thu, 08 Jun 2017

There are many similarities and differences between the Catholic Church and the Protestant churches....

Thu, 01 Jun 2017

Father Mike uses the classic myths involving the Sirens to explain some ways to avoid temptation. He...

Fri, 26 May 2017

Fr. Mike uses a memory from the seminary to discuss a lesson about self-identity. He asks us what we...

Wed, 17 May 2017

Some people reject the idea of purgatory because they misunderstand its purpose. In this episode, Fr...

Thu, 11 May 2017

Does your life revolve around your relationship with God, or is your relationship with him just a si...

Thu, 04 May 2017

What do we need to do as Catholic Christians to convey that the message of our religion is one of pu...

Thu, 27 Apr 2017

Many of us have learned the hard way that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. In this episo...

Thu, 20 Apr 2017

When we’re going through hard times, it’s easy to think we deserve better from God. In this epis...

Thu, 13 Apr 2017

Many people wonder, and even become angry, about God’s ways. In this episode for Good Friday, Fr. ...

Thu, 06 Apr 2017

It’s a question that arises whenever someone challenges the beliefs of Christianity: If God is all...

Thu, 30 Mar 2017

Just about any question you might have about Lent is answered in this episode. Fr. Mike explains whe...

Thu, 23 Mar 2017

Thu, 16 Mar 2017

Books upon books have been written about the problem of suffering. Fr. Mike isn’t about to reinven...

Thu, 09 Mar 2017

Fr. Mike talks about the real reasons Christ tells us to fast. It isn’t just about strengthening o...

Thu, 02 Mar 2017

Fr. Mike offers a refreshing reason for fasting​ on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting shouldn...

Thu, 23 Feb 2017

The more we live in the truth, the harder it will be for others to offend us, because false statemen...

Sat, 04 Feb 2017

In this video, Fr. Mike explains how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three pillars of a spir...

Thu, 02 Feb 2017

Even though mortal sins are more deadly than venial sins, that doesn’t mean venial sins are harmle...

Tue, 31 Jan 2017

First Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray constantly,” but how do we do that? In this video, Fr. Mi...

Fri, 27 Jan 2017

Wed, 25 Jan 2017

In this episode, Fr. Mike lays out not just what sin is but also what it is not. He also explains th...

Wed, 25 Jan 2017

It may be difficult to tell a non-practicing Catholic that he or she can’t receive ​C​ommunion...

Wed, 25 Jan 2017

The question addressed in this episode runs much deeper than the cartoon classic All Dogs Go to Heav...

Tue, 24 Jan 2017

Are you expecting to find that special someone someday, and are you hoping you’ll live happily eve...

Tue, 24 Jan 2017

Prayer isn’t just another good thing to do; it’s absolutely necessary if we want to know God’s...

Thu, 19 Jan 2017

Whether it’s our reputation as the smartest person in the class or office or a signature beard tha...

Thu, 12 Jan 2017

Thu, 05 Jan 2017

In this video, Fr. Mike advises us to dwell in the present and bring into this moment what we learne...

Sun, 01 Jan 2017

Fr. Mike’s popular Ascension Presents video series in audio form.

Thu, 22 Dec 2016

The Church in its great wisdom has designed the liturgical calendar with the human spirit in mind. I...

Sun, 18 Dec 2016

Did you know that Mary actually knew her child would save the world? In fact, she was saved around f...

Thu, 15 Dec 2016

Sometimes when God tells us to wait he wants us to actively receive his grace for that moment. This ...

Thu, 01 Dec 2016

What does Advent mean to you? A time to put the lights up, gift shop, and eat chocolate? Or is it so...

Tue, 29 Nov 2016

G.K. Chesterton said “thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled b...

Sat, 05 Nov 2016

Fr. Mike Schmitz shines light on the blind spots in our spiritual life and points out that sometimes...

Thu, 03 Nov 2016

Fr. Mike lays down the reasons we should pray and gives a few spot-on examples of how real life refl...

Sat, 22 Oct 2016

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us to appreciate our blessings while we have them, rather than complaining ...

Thu, 15 Sep 2016

Fr. Mike’s answer to this question may make you think differently about God’s love. He helps to ...

Thu, 07 Jul 2016

With the way our culture disregards life sometimes, it is easy for the question “Is life worth liv...

Thu, 09 Jun 2016

When life throws challenge after challenge at us, it is easy to just give in and think we are helple...

Thu, 21 Apr 2016

The mere thought of ghosts can give us goose bumps sometimes, but there are still moments when we th...

Thu, 18 Feb 2016

Wed, 10 Feb 2016

They may just be ashes, but Fr. Mike points out that what they represent goes far beyond mere dust o...

Thu, 28 Jan 2016

Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles several tough questions from his listeners, like “Who became the new ligh...

Thu, 21 Jan 2016

When we inconvenience someone, we may feel like we are in their debt. If so, Fr. Mike Schmitz encour...

Thu, 14 Jan 2016

Maybe you used to read the Bible for inspiration, for its great stories, or for answers to the big q...

Thu, 07 Jan 2016

When we think of indulgences, many of us think of an outdated and unfair Church practice that aliena...

Tue, 29 Dec 2015

Fr. Mike Schmitz offers a relieving truth about God's paradoxical love for us, how he loves us: not ...

Wed, 16 Dec 2015

Everyone has influence over someone. If we are striving to be great saints, then the people we influ...

Thu, 10 Dec 2015

If you have ever wondered how to make a good confession, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers four powerful ways...

Thu, 03 Dec 2015

What if today's attempts to be productive deprive us of the sleep we need to function tomorrow? Fr. ...

Wed, 25 Nov 2015

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers different perspectives on the story of...

Mon, 16 Nov 2015

Fr. Mike Schmitz offers resources for those who want spiritual direction but can’t find a spiritua...

Thu, 12 Nov 2015

Have you ever thought you might like a spiritual director, but you don't actually know where to begi...

Thu, 29 Oct 2015

What does a triathlon have to do with the Communion of Saints? Fr. Mike Schmitz draws parallels betw...

Thu, 15 Oct 2015

When Christ comes again, will it be a great surprise, or will it be more like an unwelcome Halloween...

Thu, 08 Oct 2015

Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why Christians are called to follow some laws of the Old Testament and not...

Thu, 01 Oct 2015

What is the true sign of sainthood? Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why it’s not the stigmata or the abi...

Thu, 17 Sep 2015

Father Mike Schmitz tells us what you can do when you’re overwhelmed. Sharing the advice of engine...

Thu, 10 Sep 2015

Ascension Presents’ Father Mike Schmitz breaks down the strong emotions behind the Ashley Madison ...

Thu, 03 Sep 2015

Father Mike Schmitz explains why God focuses on justice in the Old Testament and then shows his merc...

Thu, 27 Aug 2015

Father Mike Schmitz directs us to the story of Israel’s desert wanderings in the Old Testament and...

Thu, 20 Aug 2015

Why Captain America is a true Christian superhero.

Sat, 15 Aug 2015

Father Mike Schmitz discusses the personal renewal that can come from accepting the hardships, trage...

Fri, 07 Aug 2015

Father Mike discusses why our culture is addicted to "mature" content on television. This addiction ...

Thu, 23 Jul 2015

What if Judas chose to share his true intentions with one of the other apostles? Instead, he kept hi...

Wed, 15 Jul 2015

If getting to heaven were anything like getting into the Olympics, no one would make it. None of us ...

Thu, 09 Jul 2015

Father Mike Schmitz teaches us that forgiveness is rooted in justice. It doesn’t forget or ignore ...

Thu, 02 Jul 2015

In this episode, Father Mike Schmitz gives some direction that can lead to an answer for ourselves o...

Thu, 25 Jun 2015

Today, we tend to bring down our heroes to a more ordinary, human level, and make them less worthy o...

Thu, 18 Jun 2015

Father Mike Schmitz points out how oftentimes the issue is not whether we have time to pray but whet...

Thu, 11 Jun 2015

Commenting on the recent Bruce Jenner “gender reassignment” issue, Father Mike Schmitz discusses...

Thu, 21 May 2015

Father Mike discusses how unwanted thoughts and temptations come and go, like a bear that intrudes u...

Thu, 14 May 2015

Father Mike offers a reflection on Avengers: Age of Ultron. Totalitarian governments tried to protec...