# 04/12/26 The Next...: The Next Confession

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176/04-12-26-the-next-the-next-confession.md
Podcast: [Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz](https://stenobird.com/podcast/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176)
Published: 2026-04-11T16:45:00+00:00
Episode link: https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/20260412
Audio file: https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1b1273a3-3711-4e9f-b187-36a4f8791359/79306c27-5fca-4fe0-8249-51d93d3cbdf9.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176/episodes/04-12-26-the-next-the-next-confession
Duration seconds: 1563

## Resource

Spiritual growth is not a one-time event but a continuous cycle of returning to Christ. The Christian life depends on the regular practice of confession to prevent spiritual apathy and rekindle devotion.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Spiritual vitality is maintained through frequent reconciliation rather than relying on past milestones
- Failure mode: The greatest danger is not sin itself, but the discouragement that prevents us from returning to God
- Practical takeaway: Use regular confession as a way to take an honest inventory of your soul, much like tracking finances or screen time
- Main idea: Faith is an active verb and a continuous decision to submit to Christ's lordship
- Practical takeaway: Approach confession with your actual self, not the idealized version of who you wish you were

## Topics

Confession, Divine Mercy, Spiritual Growth, Catholicism, Forgiveness, Repentance, Faith, Easter

## Chapters
- 1:00 — The Power of Forgiveness: Reflecting on the Gospel of John, focusing on the authority given to the Apostles to forgive sins.
- 3:00 — Celebrating New Faith: A look at the recent growth in the diocese and the joy of new baptisms and professions of faith.
- 5:00 — The Danger of a Cold Heart: Discussing how spiritual excitement can fade into lukewarmness and the role of Divine Mercy in restoration.
- 10:00 — The Necessity of the Next Confession: An invitation to regular confession as a vital exercise for the soul's health.
- 14:00 — Taking Spiritual Inventory: Comparing the need for spiritual awareness to the way we track modern subscriptions and screen time.
- 18:00 — Bringing Your Actual Self to God: The importance of honesty in confession and recognizing Christ's dominion over our lives.
- 23:00 — Heaven Can Begin Now: A testimony of reconciliation and the transformative power of returning to God's mercy.

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## Transcript

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