I’m 63 years old and chose motherhood and the workforce over college, this speech has inspired me! Thank you father Mike. You are such a blessing to this new generation. A true voice of faith and hope. You are certainly bush whacking through the desert before the promised land, leading us home❤
We were so honored to have Fr. Mike Schmitz from Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year here for graduation. So inspiring and feeling ready to go into the wilderness!
May God’s blessings overflow for all of this year’s Ave Maria University graduates.... with full gratitude to the good and holy Fr. Mike Schmitz. 🤍🔥🙏🏻 I am praying for you all right now.
I’m always in awe of how Father Mike ties in everything so perfectly when there seems to be no connection. I never tire of listening to him and learning from him. ♥️🙏🏽
Fr Mike, I am your avid listener. In my 69 years , i just realized truly how good the Father is leaving me in wilderness to do bushwacking. Your speech made me see clearly what a tremendous beyond words how good is our Father. You are his instrument to make me see that. Thank you.
BEST commencement speech!! And I have listened to a bunch now! I have been married for almost 17 years, and am a mother of 8 kids. I needed to hear this! Thank you, Fr. Mike and thank you Ave Maria for inviting him to give this speech!
As I listen to this commencement speech, my mom has just been admitted to Hospice at Home care and I am left with hope that after she goes home to God, I will able to attend Ave Maria University to work toward a Masters in Theology.
@@priscillaconlon3385 When my sister was dying, a Chaplet of the Divine Mercy was spoken at her bedside just hours before she passed away peacefully. I believe this will help your mother to pass peacefully into the Nearer Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Praying for you now.
@@dorotheaivanovna9457 Thank you so much for your prayers, they truly help. I have been saying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy since 2020 when I first encountered it, but now I say it with the intention of my mom's peaceful passing. The Doctors have said she may be in this twilight stage for a month or even a year so we are at home where she is most comfortable.
Best commencement speech ever. What a great message. I was there. My grandson graduated and is entering seminary. Thank you Fr. Mike. I’ve shared this with many friends.
I'm way past college graduation yet this speech was just what I needed in my life right now. I realize now why God is challenging me... and I must have courage. Thank you Oh Lord for the inspiring words through Fr. Mike. Thank you Ave Maria for choosing Fr. Mike.
Father Mike, I have been following you for about 2 years now. I did the BIAY, the Cathechism in year once and am now doing it again. I have heard your wonderful homilies, masses, speaches and have just listened to the commencement speech. It brought me to tears, especially speaking about your mom. You have been so strong through her illness and her ultimate death. God bless you and keep you going strong in your ministry. I will listen to you until I can no longer do so. I must remember "one day at a time".
I've been listening to Father Mike everyday on the Bible in a year podcast, he has helped me get closer to Jesus than ever and closer to my guardian angel. God bless him. He is brilliant.
Yes indeed, this is so far the best of Commencement Addresses! Shows real scholarship! This bushwhacking continues till the end of life. This graduates are very very blessed!
What a commencement speech. My wife and I established a nursing scholarship in my daughters name at Ave Maria. The lyrics of song Ave Maria: "Ave Maria, full of thanksgiving Maria, full of thanksgiving Maria, full of thanksgiving, Ave Ave God, Your God" Amen
Father Mike, that was outstanding. The bit about your mom’s cooking really touched my heart to the point of tears. Thank you for such a beautiful reminder that God wants more for us than we want for ourselves and hardship only makes us more resilient and allows us to grow closer to our heavenly Father
My mom a stay at home, hated cooking and her food was dry and bland too. But…she constantly complained about it. So the fact you felt love through that was a gift.
I just watched an awesome commencement speech! Amen father you said what every one of those students needed to hear. I pray that they understand what a blessing these words will be. Congratulations to Ave from Texas
I certainly know exactly what he is describing when he talks about post-college life being a "wilderness." Being surrounded by people who are not even trying to serve God before themselves, particularly in the workplace, is just about the spiritual equivalent of Survivor, Naked and Afraid, etc. 🙏
Not a fan of this, but I see is a sloppy beard. It just kind of looks like he didn’t shave for a couple of days I expected since he was at a graduation speaking that he would be clean-shaven. But to each their own, I actually like his full beard during the winter. But I think he takes better care of it. I have no idea I’m not a fly on the wall just a guess thank God it doesn’t affect the way he speaks, or when he smiles because it just lights up the room even though I know they were outside.
It's normal that your standing there and the things aren't there because your standing there, Like, I know to don't stand there for example, This heaven your chasing is this more in your mind, that you can't see you've destroyed it?
