In an increasingly digital age, we do more and more things virtually. And while we can use technology to help us listen to the Bible in a Year or connect with likeminded Catholics, why is it we must receive the sacraments in person?
Today, Fr. Mike reminds us that we are a body and that the Lord uses our physical humanity to do the work of healing and restoration like we receive in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Meet Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
He is a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents. He is also the host of the Ascension podcasts The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year.
I did BIY twice but stopped to do CIY which I am also enjoying. I will go back to BIY again so that it really sinks in. Father Mike is fantastic on Ascension and Hallow. Thank you God for these wonderful programs Father Mike shares with us. God bless you all. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
It’s hard to believe that people would think they could possibly receive sacraments using technology.
I don’t know if they think it’s less embarrassing, because the priest can still see you on the screen. Unfortunately I think a lot of people think confession today is just like confessions they had as children. Priests today are much more understanding and less judgmental then they were when I was a kid. They will talk to you like a therapist. It’s amazing how much better I feel after I go to confession. I will admit I only go to churches for confession that still use confessionals, so I guess I do have some hang ups about the sacrament🤷♀️
Father Mike, I am hard of hearing since birth, and have practiced my Catholic faith to the best of my ability my entire 63 years. Years ago between 30’s-50’s I stopped attending mass because I could never make out what was being said and felt I was getting nothing out of it. At 50 I was married in the church and asked to go to confession face to face in order to communicate and understand what the priest had to say. It was a positive experience for me. I now attend mass about 25% in person and usually daily over my phone or tv which goes straight into my hearing aids so i don’t miss a word. Confession via zoom or facetime would be extremely beneficial to someone like me. I now reside in a rural community and we have 1 weekly mass at a community center and the priest is shared between 4 locations and honestly I feel no connection to him and would not be comfortable with face to face confession with him as I can barely understand him and his strong accent.