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Ascension

Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.

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."

God’s Not Asking You to Be Successful (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

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.

Maybe I Should Have Said Something…

There have been numerous fake videos of Fr. Mike circulating online: clips of him supposedly asking for money for Lourdes, delivering sermons he never gave, and appearing on accounts that aren’t actually his.
These are all scams — and a concerning reminder of how easy it is to be deceived by AI-generated content.
Fr. Mike addresses these scams, shares tips for spotting fake content, and offers his perspective on artificial intelligence.
If you come across any AI profiles or questionable videos, please send the link(s) to support@ascensionpress.com so our team can work on getting them removed. Thank you for helping us protect Fr. Mike's name, image, and likeness!

Addressing the FAKE Videos of Me (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Can your feelings be sinful?
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that "sin and virtue do not reside in the emotions, they reside in the will." Our emotions, whether positive or negative, don’t make us good or bad; what matters is how we respond to them. Use your emotions to choose and pursue the good!

Sin, Emotions and Virtue Explained (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment* on himself." - 1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Fr. Mike explains that receiving Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin, is itself a mortal sin. However, he also advises that if you’re genuinely uncertain about whether you’re in a state of mortal sin, you should go ahead and receive Communion. The reason is that true mortal sin requires three conditions:
Grave matter
Full knowledge
Deliberate consent
If you’re honestly unsure, the third condition isn’t fully met — meaning it can’t be a mortal sin.

Do NOT Receive Communion Until You’ve Seen This (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

As we discover the lives of the saints, it seems they endured quite a bit of suffering before receiving their eternal reward. It begs the question, is it worth it?
Fr. Mike reminds us that in this life, we will have suffering. The question is not, can you avoid suffering by avoiding Jesus? The question is, can your suffering be transformed by embracing Jesus?

How Being a Christian Will Affect Your Life (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

You may have close friends in your life, but do you have virtuous friendships?
Fr. Mike Schmitz shares three kinds of friendship and explains that while it's important to have good friends, you need to have this special kind of friendship with at least one person in your life: virtuous friendship. 
Tickets are on sale now for Fr. Mike Schmitz's Parables Tour at https://www.AscensionPress.com/FrMikeTour
October 20 - Detroit, MI [SOLD OUT]
October 21 - Sugar Land, TX
October 22 - Cedar Park, TX
October 23 - Fort Worth, TX
Join Fr. Mike live for an unforgettable event as he unpacks the parables of Jesus. This is your chance to experience his powerful message in person!

How to Get Better Friends

Big news! Ascension was selected by the USCCB to publish the long-awaited Second Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours!
You may have heard of the Liturgy of the Hours, but not quite like this. Fr. Mike Schmitz shares why this ancient prayer holds such a special place in his heart and how praying it can transform your relationship with God.
For updates and preorder opportunities, sign up at https://www.AscensionPress.com/LOTH

The Liturgy of the Hours Explained (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Fr. Mike Schmitz is back, reacting to powerful scenes from The Chosen. Find out which moments brought him to tears, which ones he wrestled with, and hear his honest perspective on how the series portrays the life of Christ.

Fr. Mike Schmitz Reacts to The Chosen

📖 Listen to Fr. Mike’s full recording of "The Imitation of Christ" with commentary, available now on the Ascension App! 
Or check out: https://ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
Fr. Mike Schmitz introduces Thomas à Kempis’ classic, The Imitation of Christ and unpacks its central theme of detachment. He explains how Christian detachment differs from Buddhist detachment. 
Christian detachment is not indifference or rejection of the world, but rightly ordering our hearts. True detachment means recognizing every gift as belonging to God and being free to use them generously and in love.

Should Catholics Practice This Buddhist Principle? (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

What if there were no God? What does that idea look like if you follow it to its logical conclusion? It ain't pretty.
Today, Fr. Mike shows us that meaning, dignity, and purpose come from the one who created everything. And the good news is that he made you on purpose, for a reason. And you matter.

What If God Doesn’t Exist?

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