Slowing Down to Dig Deeper: Reflections on Day 282 of the Catechism in a Year by Ascension Press

 

A Different Kind of Pace

Not long ago, I shared my journey of completing the Bible in a Year podcast. I flew through those 365 sessions in about 280 days, driven by a rapid, burning hunger to see the grand arc of Salvation History.

But as I find myself on Day 282 of the Catechism in a Year, I have realized that the Holy Spirit has set a completely different rhythm for this season of my life.

Because of daily bandwidth and limited time, I have not been doubling or tripling up on sessions. I have been taking this journey strictly one day at a time. At first, I wondered if I was lagging behind. But now, I see the providential blessing in the delay: slowing down has forced me to dig deeper.

The Catholic School Paradox

Here is an honest confession: I attended Catholic school for 10 years.

You would think that a decade of formal Catholic education would leave someone with a watertight, masterful grasp of the faith. But the truth is, while those years laid a vital foundation, they did not automatically translate to a mature, adult understanding of the Church's teachings. Back then, it was about passing tests, memorizing definitions, and absorbing things at a surface level. Thanks to my parish priest Fr. Fitzpatrick I remained a Catholic. Thanks to him I sought out people like Fr. Mike Schmitz.  

It has taken sitting down with the Catechism as an adult, one day at a time, to finally start gaining a true, comprehensive understanding of the faith. I have realized there is a vast difference between knowing about the Catholic Church and actually digesting the depth of her wisdom.

The Gift of Rumination

When you read the Catechism at this slower pace, you do not just consume the words; you ruminate on them.

Taking in just one day of content gives the teachings room to breathe. Instead of moving quickly to the next topic, a single paragraph or definition anchors my thoughts throughout the day. This slow drip of truth has also sparked a new hunger in me, naturally opening the door to more spiritual reading as I find myself wanting to sit longer with the truths of the Church and the writings of the saints.

The Weight of Conviction: The Third Commandment

Of course, when you give truth room to breathe, it also acts as a mirror. And sometimes, looking in that mirror is incredibly difficult.

Lately, the journey has brought me to the Ten Commandments. I am only on the Third Commandment (Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day), and I have already felt deeply convicted. Despite all my years in Catholic classrooms, studying the Church's actual guidance on this commandment has shown me exactly where I have been falling short in my daily life:

• The Challenge of Resting: Our modern world is obsessed with busyness, treating constant productivity as a badge of honor. Sitting with the Catechism has forced me to ask: Am I actually resting on Sundays, or am I just catching up on chores and work? God commanded rest not because He was tired, but because we need to remember that our identity is found in Him, not in our daily task lists.

• The Challenge of Holy Days: Let’s be honest: making it to Mass on a Sunday is one thing, but rearranging a busy work week to attend Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation that falls on a Tuesday or Thursday is a struggle. It requires deliberate effort, planning, and a willingness to say "no" to the world so we can say "yes" to God.

Seeing how far short I fall from the Church's beautiful, protective guidance on these two fronts has been a humbling pill to swallow.

"On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body." (From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 2185)

A Fruitful Struggle

Even though this conviction feels heavy, it has been immensely fruitful.

Sustained spiritual growth does not happen when we are comfortable; it happens in the struggle. Acknowledging where we fall short is not meant to bring discouragement, but to drive us straight to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the foot of the Cross, where grace abounds.

If you are on a spiritual journey right now, whether you are reading Scripture, studying the Catechism, or trying to build a consistent prayer life, and you feel like you are moving too slow or constantly stumbling, take heart. God does not measure our faith by our speed, nor does He expect us to be perfect on day one. He looks for a willing, humble heart.

Keep hitting play. Keep turning the page. One day, one paragraph, and one prayer at a time.

God Bless you all,

Marty

365 Days, 280 Sunsets: A Journey Through Salvation History

They call it a Journey

They call it a "Bible in a Year" journey, but as I’ve learned over the last several months, faith doesn't always follow a standard calendar. I recently hit play on the final session of the podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins. Looking back at my progress, I realized I finished all 365 sessions in about 280 days. While the timeline was shorter than a year, the depth of the experience felt like a lifetime of wisdom packed into a few focused months.

My journey was built in quiet hours. I did most readings at night, letting the Word be my last thought before sleep. On weekends, I often finished more than one day's worth of reading at a time. This pace wasn't about rushing; it came from my hunger for Truth.

The Architecture of Salvation

What makes this journey so transformative isn't just the reading; it’s the framework provided by the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. Before this, I often viewed the Bible as a daunting library of 73 separate books, some easier to read than others. However, by following this specific study plan, I began to see that the Bible is a single, unified narrative of Salvation History. It isn't just a collection of moral stories; it is the record of God's relentless pursuit of His people.

By focusing on the 14 narrative books, the timeline helps you navigate through the 12 distinct time periods from the Early World and the Patriarchs to the Messianic Fulfillment and the Church. For the first time, I could see how the "supplemental" books, such as the Prophets and the Wisdom literature, fit into the actual history of the Israelites. Understanding the context of the Covenants from Adam to Noah, Abraham to Moses, and David to Jesus turns the Bible from a complex puzzle into a breathtaking family story where we finally see our own place in the lineage.

Spiritual Growth and Deep Roots

Walking through the scriptures at this pace has fundamentally changed how I view my own faith. It wasn't just about gaining "head knowledge" or memorizing facts; it was a profound heart transformation. Immersing myself in the Word allowed me to see the incredible consistency of God’s love even when His people were unfaithful. It provided a mirror to my own life, showing me that God is just as present in my "wilderness" moments as He was for the Israelites.

I learned that Scripture isn't a dead text from the past, but a living, breathing guide that speaks directly into our modern struggles. My prayer life has become more grounded because I am now praying with the very language of the Bible. When I sit in the pews at Mass, the liturgy feels different; I can hear the echoes of the Old Testament in the New, and my trust in the Church’s teachings has deepened as I see their roots firmly planted in the biblical narrative. It has given me a "biblical lens" through which I now view the entire world.

The Trial of Temptation

However, this journey wasn't without its shadows. I found that as I drew closer to the Truth, the level of spiritual resistance intensified. There were moments when I felt a distinct "drive" from the enemy to cause me to doubt whispers of skepticism, a sudden heaviness when it was time to read, and an urge to question the validity of what I was learning. It was as if the more I committed to the Word, the harder Satan worked to sow seeds of confusion and distraction to pull me away from the light.

I realized that these moments of doubt were actually a sign of the journey's importance. The enemy doesn't bother those who are standing still; he targets those who are making progress. Through intentional perseverance and constant prayer, I recognized these temptations for what they were. I learned to lean on the Holy Spirit during those dry or difficult sessions. Each time I chose to hit "play" despite the mental or spiritual resistance, my faith grew stronger and more resilient, proving that the Word of God is indeed a shield against the darkness.

The Math of Faith

Fr. Mike says: It might take 365 days, less, or much more. The timeframe doesn't matter. Each time you hit "play," you move closer to finishing the Bible. Whether it’s one session or four, you are growing closer to the Creator.

This math of faith reminds us that God is outside of time. He’s not using a stopwatch; He’s seeking a willing heart. Whether you finish in 280 days or three years, the grace is the same. Perseverance is refusing to quit the race.

Conclusion: Your Turn to Hit Play

If you’ve felt a nudge to deepen your faith or perhaps a bit of intimidation at the size of the Bible, here’s your encouragement: take the first step today. Don’t worry about the "Year", focus instead on beginning your adventure. Decide that your soul is worth 20 minutes a day, and let that decision be your start.

Start today, not because it’s easy, but because it’s truly rewarding. You will face challenges and temptations to doubt, but perseverance will bring you a clarity of faith that no one can take away. God is ready to meet you through His Word. Take the step, listen, and let your journey begin.

• Listen to the Podcast: The Bible in a Year on Apple Podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe to get notifications and updates. 

• Get the Resources: You can find the Great Adventure Catholic Bible and official reading plan at Ascension Press to help you follow the timeline visually.