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
