Historical Jesus

The feast day of Saint John Paul II is celebrated annually on October 22, marking the anniversary of his papal inauguration mass in 1978. He was canonized on April 27, 2014, by Pope Francis, and made the patron saint of World Youth Day, young Catholics, families, and Poland. In honor of Pope John Paul the Second’s annual Feast Day celebration, let’s answer the question: Where do popes...

Found in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20, Luke 8:4–15). The sower is often interpreted as Jesus, and the seed as the word of God, showing the varied ways people respond to the gospel. E244. Gospel of Matthew available at https://amzn.to/3LEeP8F Gospel of Mark available at https://amzn.to/3X3m9Ba Gospel of Luke available at https://amzn.to/3M6sTId ENJOY Ad...

Feast of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-90) is October 16 (in Canada: October 20). She was a French Visitation nun and mystic who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She is the patron saint of Devotees of the Sacred Heart, those who have lost a parent at a young age, and people suffering from polio. The Feast of the Sacred Heart is celebrated on the third Friday after Pentecost, fo...

Feast of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-90) is October 16 (in Canada: October 20). She was a French Visitation nun and mystic who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She is the patron saint of Devotees of the Sacred Heart, those who have lost a parent at a young age, and people suffering from polio. The Feast of the Sacred Heart is celebrated on the third Friday after Pentecost, fo...

October 19 is the annual feast day of the North American Martyrs. In the United States, this feast day is celebrated on October 19 where the group is officially referred to as St. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions, but they are commonly known as the North American Martyrs. The date of October 19 was selected because it closely follows the martyrdom date of St. Isaac Jogues, who...

October 18, 2026 is a day set aside by the Church throughout the world to publicly renew its commitment to the missionary movements through prayer and donations. World Mission Sunday is celebrated by the Catholic Church around the world every year on the second-to-last Sunday of October. Saint Therese of Lisieux is the co-patron saint of missionaries due to her prayers for missions. My Uncle Rober...

October 18 annually celebrates the feast day of Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist in the Western (Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant) traditions. He was a first-century physician from Antioch, a companion of St. Paul on his missionary journeys, and a Gentile convert to Christianity. He is the patron saint of physicians, surgeons, artists, bachelors, and butchers. He is typically rep...

World Mission Sunday is a day set aside by the Catholic Church throughout the world to publicly renew its commitment to the missionary movements through prayer and donations. It is celebrated by the Church around the world every year on the second-to-last Sunday of October. The Company of Jesus (to indicate its military spirit) also called "The Society of Jesus", were linguists, explorers and ethn...

October 17 is observed annually to raise global awareness about the struggle to end poverty, honor those who experience it, and amplify the voices and participation of people living in poverty. The inspirational story of Francis of Assisi brings awareness to The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. 5 Minutes in Church History podcast at https://amzn.to/3BoedCq The Saints podcast avail...

October 17 is the feast day of Saint Ignatius of Antioch in Western Christianity (including the Catholic Church, Church of England, and Protestant Lutheran Churches), and December 20 in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Ignatius of Antioch books at  https://link.amazon/B0bwOSbeU Books about Polycarp available at  https://amzn.to/3OxaNDO   ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra...

October 17 is observed annually to raise global awareness about the struggle to end poverty, honor those who experience it, and amplify the voices and participation of people living in poverty. The inspirational story of Mother Teresa brings awareness to The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Catholic Saints podcast available at https://amzn.to/3Tf28Zp    Books by Mark Gis...

Born in Varennes, New France (Quebec), Saint Marguerite d’Youville (1701-71) was marked early by loss and poverty, trapped in an unhappy marriage, then widowed young and left with debt and children to raise, including the heartbreak of losing four of them. Instead of turning bitter, she turns outward. Her radical trust in divine providence becomes practical charity, and that charity grows in...

October 15 is the annual Feast Day of Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-82) — a Carmelite nun, prominent Spanish mystic and spiritual reformer. Active during the Counter-Reformation, Teresa became the central figure of a movement of spiritual and monastic renewal, reforming the Carmelite orders of both women and men. Her reforms met with determined opposition and interest from the Spanish Inquisit...

What was Pontiff John Paul the Second’s connection to the Third Secret of Fatima revealed by the Virgin Mary to three Portuguese shepherd children in 1917? Part 6/6. Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World podcast at  https://amzn.to/3YJpTqZ Books by Jimmy Akin available at  https://amzn.to/3shLkD8   Fatima items available at  https://amzn.to/4ueJzly   Books about Fatima at ht...

On October 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary made her sixth and final scheduled appearance to the three shepherd children in Fatima, where the Blessed Mother had previously given them three secrets and promised to perform a great miracle on the thirteenth day of the tenth month. Part 5/6. Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World podcast at  https://amzn.to/3YJpTqZ Books by Jimmy Akin available at  https://...

In 1917, a small town in Portugal came to prominence when three young shepherds claimed that the Virgin Mary had appeared to them with prophecies. But were these apparitions real or a hoax? Part 4 of 5. E312. Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World podcast at  https://amzn.to/3YJpTqZ Books by Jimmy Akin available at  https://amzn.to/3shLkD8   Fatima items available at  https://amzn.to/4u...

STORY of AMERICA 🇺🇸 Join me on an exciting historical journey to the tropical Island Paradise of The Bahamas, where Christopher Columbus first landed in 1492. Enjoy this encore HISTORICAL JESUS Extra to mark Columbus Day. Check out the YouTube versions of this episode which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams, at: https://youtu.be/alomkrb...

STORY of AMERICA 🇺🇸 Let’s turn back the clock to 1492 and examine the fascinating life and deeds of Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus who sailed the ocean blue, during the exciting Age of Exploration. Enjoy this encore HISTORICAL JESUS Extra to mark Columbus Day. Check out the YouTube versions of this episode which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illus...

Join me on one of my social media platforms to comment, discuss, and analyze this controversial episode, issued to mark Columbus Day Weekend. E243. Michael Knowles podcast available at https://amzn.to/3KR1eO6     Morning Wire podcast at https://amzn.to/46ZaAPm   Michael Knowles books available at https://amzn.to/3WzWwqB   Christopher Columbus movies available at https://amzn.to...

STORY of AMERICA 🇺🇸 Mike Corradi of ‘A History of Italy’ podcast joins Mark to discuss Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Enjoy this encore presentation of HISTORICAL JESUS Extra to mark Columbus Day Weekend. Check out the YouTube versions of this episode which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams, at: https://youtu...

STORY of AMERICA 🇺🇸 Genoa’s favorite son Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of America. Enjoy this HISTORICAL JESUS Extra to mark Columbus Day Weekend. Check out the YouTube versions of t...

Fatima came to prominence in 1917 when three young shepherds claimed that the Virgin Mary had appeared to them and made the Sun dance. Part 3/5. HJe307. Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World podcast at  https://amzn.to/3YJpTqZ Books by Jimmy Akin available at  https://amzn.to/3shLkD8   Fatima items available at  https://amzn.to/4ueJzly   Books about Fatima at https://amzn.to/4wgpt...

Born in 1907 to landowning peasants on the outskirts of Fatima, Portugal,  Lúcia (who died in 2005 at 97) came to prominence in 1917 as the oldest of the three child seers of the Our Lady of Fátima Marian apparitions, involving her and her two cousins, Francisco (1908-19) and Jacinta Marto (1910-1920). Part 2/5. HJe306.  Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World podcast at  https://amz...

October 7 celebrates every year The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and the power of the Rosary prayer. In each of her six appearances to the three shepherd children (Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta) between May and October 1917, Mary asked them to pray the Rosary every day. In her July 1917 apparition, Mary taught the children a short prayer to be recited after the...

A philosophical explanation for the existence of God, based on observations and facts about the universe, particularly its origins and causal structure — known as the cosmological argument. Books by William Lane Craig available at https://amzn.to/3Vk3kaW ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet  SUPPOR...