Although he all but abandoned social media during Lent – or, at least, made a valiant effort to limit his use by deleting the app from his phone – social media sensation Father Mike Schmitz wants people to know he sees him a tremendous value.
“How amazing is it that we live in a time where we have this tool… in the sense of just being able to say, 'Oh my gosh, I can help people who would never know me.'” [in person]”the Catholic priest and host of Ascension Press' 'Bible in a Year' podcast, who began in the digital space in 2007 recording homilies, told Fox News Digital.
“That's a big push behind this. There's something to say and good news to share,” he added Thursday, after the start of this Lenten season.
The priest, who serves as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries in the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, went on to tell the story of a young woman who, as a high school student at the height of the pandemic, rediscovered the Bible.
No, not in the church; on TikTok of all places.
“What appeared on her TikTok For You page was scriptures and people praying, and she just… started praying and reading the Bible, because it appeared on her TikTok. And [her faith] It just got stronger and deeper,” he explained. “She was raised Catholic and she kind of prayed, she kind of did what she did, sure… But that's when TikTok started saying, 'okay, you can pray like that,'” “You can read the Bible like this, here's a message from the Lord for you in this TikTok… it gave him this strength and it gave him this faith that he never had in the middle of COVID.”
“I started praying because TikTok told me so,” was the young woman's message to Father Mike Schmitz.
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As faith-driven content continues to flood “For You” pages everywhere, she's certainly not the only person feeling inspired by social media.
'Gen Z Bible Stories', for example, has gone viral for its unique interpretations of the Holy Scriptures that many would call “slapstick.”
The TikTok page, which cleverly uses popular phrases of Generation Z to make ancient texts more palatable to young people, he is attracting the attention of people around the world with his viral videos, and even his favorable reaction videos.
In explaining “The Annunciation,” for example—a momentous occasion that Christians universally recognize as the announcement that Mary would conceive and bear God's son— The most viewed TikTok video of Generation Z Bible Stories describes it saying: “Mary was a girl who chose me for God and was 'simply' for him in prayer when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and said: 'You have passed God's vibration test and he wants you to be the mother of the main character, the son of top G.”
The video garnered 4.4 million views and more than half a million likes, while many commenters praised the vision of the creator, who goes on to interpret Luke 1:26-38 by saying: “She [Mary] He said, 'How can this be when I promised him that my body count would always be 0?' He said, “This is not about cuffing season, because the Holy Spirit will live in you rent-free.” Then she said “bet” and Gabriel left her to read. And he let the Holy Spirit do the cooking.”
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“This has brought me back to church,” read one comment.
And there are many more similar.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Father Mike Schmitz acknowledged how validating social media can be for many, and while it can equally be destructive, it has the potential to send a unifying message. “[For someone] being able to hear that I'm not alone… there's something about that, about having the opportunity to listen to people who maybe are like you – but maybe very, very different from you too – and yet they're saying 'I think This is also true.'”
“You don't want to have an echo chamber, but at the same time it's good to know you're not the only one,” the priest said on social media.
His own social media presence knows no bounds, as his podcast “The Bible in a Year” has topped the Apple Podcasts charts since its debut in 2021. And with millions of views – and thousands of people sharing and re-sharing his words on social media platforms of all kinds – the pervasiveness of the priest's influence seems limitless.
The popular podcast host even offered his commentary on a page like “Bible Stories from Generation Z,” referring to the videos as “hilarious.”
“I came across it several times and laughed every time I shared it,” he said. “There's something about being able to laugh. I mean, we've always had Bible translations. We've always had translations that are accurate and translations that are inaccurate. I don't think anyone takes Generation Z's Bible translation. Stories seriously, in the sense of listening to them as the sole authority of the Bible, instead of saying, 'this is an interesting retelling of a Bible story.' And I think that's great.”
“I don't think he's blasphemous at heart, not even in his actions. Because he knows what he's doing in the sense that he's not trying to get ahead,” he added.
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Father Mike Schmitz also spoke with Fox News Digital about Lent, including his own Lenten sacrifice:
“Lent, historically, is a season of purification and enlightenment. That's the technical term. So, it's for those who are preparing to be baptized, preparing to be received into the church. And we can take that journey… toward a purification, illumination. [It’s asking] God, where in my heart, in my life, do I need to be changed? And also, where do I need to be enlightened? Where do I need to approach you?” she began to explain.
“And then prayer and fasting and almsgiving are all about that. It should be about, 'Okay, what in my life is keeping me from you, God? What needs to change and how can I grow in it?' my relationship with you?' 'How can I have that enlightenment and know you more closely?'” the priest postulated.
He went on to explain that a Lenten sacrifice should ultimately help minimize or even eliminate a daily distraction in an effort to give us the time and space to draw closer to God.
And for Father Mike Schmitz this Lenten season, that distraction appears to be social media.
“Many times during Lent I try to choose something that I need to eliminate from my life because it has become an obstacle. For example, the distraction of social media on my phone… If that has become an obstacle, then I want “I have to prune that, because it keeps me distracted. If I know this is going to help me get closer to the Lord, I want to start doing it. So it's not extrinsic, but I see it as something intrinsic that comes from within.”
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But it's not just about offering ourselves more time for God; According to the priest, it is also about offering a part of ourselves to God.
“Maybe I'm doing it because I realized that… I have a feeling that I need it too. But I'm also saying with this action: 'I hope you see this God, and I trust that this really matters to you.'” ,' which is a huge leap of faith.”
He went on to explain that the elusive “mystery of faith” perhaps lies in the understanding that God cares about all of our nuances, equally and completely:
“That's why it's a leap of faith to say, 'This little stupid thing I'm doing. I hope God sees it and I have faith that He cares.' And ultimately, the love is there too. Because it's like it's just there.” doing this because they asked me to. I have been praying, fasting and giving alms during Lent, because they asked me to. And then it is an act of love. Then you have all three. [faith, hope, and love] there. And I think if it's just self-improvement stuff, hey, I hope we get better, that's great, but it could also be more. And I think it's neither one nor the other. I think it's both.”
Father Mike Schmitz has teamed up with actors Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie for “Pray 40,” a daily Lenten challenge inviting all Hallow app users to participate. His inspiring homilies will be published every Sunday during Lent.
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