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.

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!

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 because He has something different, and perhaps even better, in store for you.

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.

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 to us.