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Catechism in a Year Companion, Volume II
272 pages
Published April 5, 2024
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About the author
Michael Schmitz
31 books229 followersOrdained for the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota in 2003, Fr. Michael Schmitz is currently the Director of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese. Fr. Michael is known nationally for his inspiring homilies, his presentations and talks to university students, and his tremendous sense of humor. (IgnatiusPress.com)
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 31, 2024
I completed the Catechism in a Year in 2023, now in 2024 I am working through it a second time with these companions. I loved the three volumes of the The Bible in a Year Companion, Volume I, Volume II, Volume III and have greatly appreciated the first two volumes in this series.
The description of this volume states:
“Get even more out of The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)!
The Catechism in a Year Companion takes Catholics through the chart-topping podcast The Catechism in a Year™ (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) (CIY) with daily summaries, transcripts of Fr. Mike’s daily prayers, and extra content for each episode.
It’s the perfect way to remember what you’re hearing and to learn even more about each section of the Catechism!
The Companion presents daily content for each episode of the podcast, including:
The Companion presents daily content for each episode of the podcast, including:
• The proprietary Catechism in a Year Reading Plan
• “Reflect on the Faith,” where readers will find a summary of the key points and highlights of Fr. Mike’s commentary on the daily passages
• “Take It to Prayer,” where Catholics will be able to pray the daily prayer alongside Fr. Mike and the rest of the CIY community
• “Dive Deeper,” which features unique content related to each day’s readings, from images and Q&As to prayer prompts and ways to live out the teachings of the Church in the day-to-day
In addition to the daily content, each volume of the Companion will provide an introduction and review for the sections of the Catechism it covers. Written by Dr. Petroc Willey, professor of theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville, these introductions and reviews will help Catholics know what to look for in the days ahead and recall what has happened in the days completed.
Volume I of The Catechism in a Year Companion covers days 1–120 of The Catechism in a Year podcast.
This sought-after guide to the #1-hitting podcast The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) is coming to you thanks to many collaborators, including
• Fr. Mike Schmitz
• Dr. Petroc Willey
• Matthew Doeing
• Ann Koshute
• and more!”
And father Mike states at the end of the introduction:
“In every season and in every circumstance of our lives, every moment for the Christian can become an act of sacrifice. Therefore, every moment for the Christian can be an act of worship. The sacraments make this possible. We live out this relationship through the sacraments because they touch all of the big moments of our lives—from birth and life transitions to illness and death, and all of the normal, ordinary moments between.
The sacraments are God’s work in our world, and this is something worth reflecting on. When we participate in the sacraments, when we celebrate the sacraments, we’re partners in God’s work. The sacraments become the People of God doing the work of God in this world in such a way that the Father is glorified and the world is sanctified.
The first pillar revealed how God wants us to know him, and this second pillar reveals how God wants us to live in relationship with him and to love him.”
Each day contains the same three sections:
Reflect on the Faith
Take It to Prayer
Dive Deeper
But they very greatly in length. Reflect on the Faith is a summary of Fr. Mike’s commentary for the day. Take It to Prayer, you will pray along with Fr. Mike every day. The Dive deeper section varies greatly sometimes it includes and image , some a prayer prompt, some a challenge to live out. Each section also contains and introduction and overview by Dr. Petroc Willey, it includes teacheings on the significance of the colour coding, key teachings and breakdown of sections and chapters. Also Dr. Willey offers a review at the end of each section
A sample day is:
“DAY 133: Devotion to Mary
Reflect on the Faith
•“The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship” (CCC 971).
•Honoring Mary is different from the way we adore Jesus and the Trinity, but being devoted to Mary leads us to adore God.
•Liturgical feasts and prayers such as the Rosary show love for Mary and honor her.
•Mary is a sign of the Church’s journey toward heaven and its future perfection in heaven.
•Mary, assumed into heaven, participates in Jesus’ glorious resurrection and is still a mother to all of us in the Church.
•Devotion to Mary does not replace worship of God but enhances it by deepening love for Christ through recognizing Mary’s role.
•Mary’s “yes” to God exemplifies the Church’s call to be fully conformed to Christ and transformed by his love.
•Mary “is mother wherever … [Jesus] is Savior and head of the Mystical Body,” extending her motherhood to all believers (CCC 973).
•Mary’s role as Mother of God and Mother of the Church is a source of hope and inspiration for the faithful.
•Recognizing Mary’s unique role in salvation history helps believers understand their own journey and the potential for transformation in Christ.
•Mary’s motherhood accompanies and supports the salvific work of Christ, and believers can embrace her as their spiritual mother wherever Jesus is present as Savior.
Take It to Prayer
Father in heaven, we give you praise, and we thank you so much. We thank you for giving us your Spirit. We thank you for giving us your Son. Because you so love the world that you gave your only-begotten Son, that all who believe in him would not perish, but would have eternal life. We thank you so much. We thank you for bringing us into your Church. And we ask that you please help us to live in your Church as faithful disciples, as beloved disciples. Help us to constantly say yes to your will, Father. Help us to constantly conform our hearts to yours, Jesus Christ. Help us to always live in the power of the Holy Spirit. And help us always do what Mary did, which is not only point to Jesus, her son, but say yes to the Father’s plan. Father, we ask you please help us this day and every day to be your beloved children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Dive Deeper
THE CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN BY DIEGO VELAZQUEZ
The Blessed Virgin Mary, represented here in her heavenly coronation, shows us what awaits the Church in glory (see CCC 972).
Key reading: CCC 94, 170–175”
Taken from the Catechism Paragraphs 971–975. I hope that sample chapters gives you a feel for each of this days in this companion.
This is an excellent resource from Father Mike and Ascension. Most days I have listened to the pod cast in the morning. And then on my first coffee break at work, I read through the day. I love praying the pray that Father Mike prayed that day, and I love the going deeper sections. I believe this is a must have resource to support your Catechism in a Year journey. This is my second time through the podcast and I see it being a frequent journey going forward. If you are listening to the CIAY pick this up as a supplement to that journey. And pick up volumes I and III as well!
(Note there was a delay in the release of the eBook but I went back and read the days it was missing. And fortunately book 3 is already available digitally.)
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
The description of this volume states:
“Get even more out of The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)!
The Catechism in a Year Companion takes Catholics through the chart-topping podcast The Catechism in a Year™ (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) (CIY) with daily summaries, transcripts of Fr. Mike’s daily prayers, and extra content for each episode.
It’s the perfect way to remember what you’re hearing and to learn even more about each section of the Catechism!
The Companion presents daily content for each episode of the podcast, including:
The Companion presents daily content for each episode of the podcast, including:
• The proprietary Catechism in a Year Reading Plan
• “Reflect on the Faith,” where readers will find a summary of the key points and highlights of Fr. Mike’s commentary on the daily passages
• “Take It to Prayer,” where Catholics will be able to pray the daily prayer alongside Fr. Mike and the rest of the CIY community
• “Dive Deeper,” which features unique content related to each day’s readings, from images and Q&As to prayer prompts and ways to live out the teachings of the Church in the day-to-day
In addition to the daily content, each volume of the Companion will provide an introduction and review for the sections of the Catechism it covers. Written by Dr. Petroc Willey, professor of theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville, these introductions and reviews will help Catholics know what to look for in the days ahead and recall what has happened in the days completed.
Volume I of The Catechism in a Year Companion covers days 1–120 of The Catechism in a Year podcast.
This sought-after guide to the #1-hitting podcast The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) is coming to you thanks to many collaborators, including
• Fr. Mike Schmitz
• Dr. Petroc Willey
• Matthew Doeing
• Ann Koshute
• and more!”
And father Mike states at the end of the introduction:
“In every season and in every circumstance of our lives, every moment for the Christian can become an act of sacrifice. Therefore, every moment for the Christian can be an act of worship. The sacraments make this possible. We live out this relationship through the sacraments because they touch all of the big moments of our lives—from birth and life transitions to illness and death, and all of the normal, ordinary moments between.
The sacraments are God’s work in our world, and this is something worth reflecting on. When we participate in the sacraments, when we celebrate the sacraments, we’re partners in God’s work. The sacraments become the People of God doing the work of God in this world in such a way that the Father is glorified and the world is sanctified.
The first pillar revealed how God wants us to know him, and this second pillar reveals how God wants us to live in relationship with him and to love him.”
Each day contains the same three sections:
Reflect on the Faith
Take It to Prayer
Dive Deeper
But they very greatly in length. Reflect on the Faith is a summary of Fr. Mike’s commentary for the day. Take It to Prayer, you will pray along with Fr. Mike every day. The Dive deeper section varies greatly sometimes it includes and image , some a prayer prompt, some a challenge to live out. Each section also contains and introduction and overview by Dr. Petroc Willey, it includes teacheings on the significance of the colour coding, key teachings and breakdown of sections and chapters. Also Dr. Willey offers a review at the end of each section
A sample day is:
“DAY 133: Devotion to Mary
Reflect on the Faith
•“The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship” (CCC 971).
•Honoring Mary is different from the way we adore Jesus and the Trinity, but being devoted to Mary leads us to adore God.
•Liturgical feasts and prayers such as the Rosary show love for Mary and honor her.
•Mary is a sign of the Church’s journey toward heaven and its future perfection in heaven.
•Mary, assumed into heaven, participates in Jesus’ glorious resurrection and is still a mother to all of us in the Church.
•Devotion to Mary does not replace worship of God but enhances it by deepening love for Christ through recognizing Mary’s role.
•Mary’s “yes” to God exemplifies the Church’s call to be fully conformed to Christ and transformed by his love.
•Mary “is mother wherever … [Jesus] is Savior and head of the Mystical Body,” extending her motherhood to all believers (CCC 973).
•Mary’s role as Mother of God and Mother of the Church is a source of hope and inspiration for the faithful.
•Recognizing Mary’s unique role in salvation history helps believers understand their own journey and the potential for transformation in Christ.
•Mary’s motherhood accompanies and supports the salvific work of Christ, and believers can embrace her as their spiritual mother wherever Jesus is present as Savior.
Take It to Prayer
Father in heaven, we give you praise, and we thank you so much. We thank you for giving us your Spirit. We thank you for giving us your Son. Because you so love the world that you gave your only-begotten Son, that all who believe in him would not perish, but would have eternal life. We thank you so much. We thank you for bringing us into your Church. And we ask that you please help us to live in your Church as faithful disciples, as beloved disciples. Help us to constantly say yes to your will, Father. Help us to constantly conform our hearts to yours, Jesus Christ. Help us to always live in the power of the Holy Spirit. And help us always do what Mary did, which is not only point to Jesus, her son, but say yes to the Father’s plan. Father, we ask you please help us this day and every day to be your beloved children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Dive Deeper
THE CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN BY DIEGO VELAZQUEZ
The Blessed Virgin Mary, represented here in her heavenly coronation, shows us what awaits the Church in glory (see CCC 972).
Key reading: CCC 94, 170–175”
Taken from the Catechism Paragraphs 971–975. I hope that sample chapters gives you a feel for each of this days in this companion.
This is an excellent resource from Father Mike and Ascension. Most days I have listened to the pod cast in the morning. And then on my first coffee break at work, I read through the day. I love praying the pray that Father Mike prayed that day, and I love the going deeper sections. I believe this is a must have resource to support your Catechism in a Year journey. This is my second time through the podcast and I see it being a frequent journey going forward. If you are listening to the CIAY pick this up as a supplement to that journey. And pick up volumes I and III as well!
(Note there was a delay in the release of the eBook but I went back and read the days it was missing. And fortunately book 3 is already available digitally.)
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
September 10, 2025
Wealth of wonderful information to support the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Will be using this book as a reference book and know it will be used quite often.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews