Catholic History Trek

Scott and Kevin probe the history of a controversial Catholic group - the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X - and its equally controversial founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.  To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

Depending on the source, the invention of the electric motor is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, Hans Christian Ørsted, Michael Faraday, William Sturgeon, or Thomas Davenport. But the work of a Benedictine monk from Scotland, Andrew Gordon, predates them all.   In this episode Scott treks thru the history of the forgotten Benedictine inventors of the electric motor – Andrew Gordon & Jedl...

Two parishes trace their roots to the early days of the Church in Nevada: St. Teresa of Avila in Carson City and St. Mary's of the Mountains in Virginia City. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 29, Nevada)

Two of the most popular missals for the Latin mass are the missals by Fr Lasance and Baronious Press. In this episode Scott treks thru the history of the men whose names grace these missals – Francis Lasance and Cesare Baronious. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

Scott and Kevin take you on a tour of the interior of a Catholic church, identifying common features such as altars, tabernacles, and ambos—and a few uncommon ones such as papal umbrellas. Please consider supporting this podcast by contributing through PayPal (KevinSchmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek)

From the greatest of sinners to the greatest of saints, the life of St Mary of Egypt is one of true repentance and God's gift of mercy. Please consider supporting this podcast by contributing through PayPal (KevinSchmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek)

St. Joseph's in West Milford and St. John the Baptist (now Sacred Heart) in Trenton nurtured the faith in its infancy in New Jersey. Among their parishioners were ironworkers, a ferryman, and a noodle maker. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 28, New Jersey)

The Church has a long history of declaring certain men and women as saints.   In this episode Scott treks thru the history of how the Church has determined who was worthy of elevating to the status of “saint”, and the differences between them, and the Blesseds, Venerables, and Servants of God. Please consider supporting this podcast by contributing through PayPal (KevinSchmiesing@CatholicHistoryTr...

Scott and Kevin tell the story of Catholicism on the Western frontier: Indians, outlaws, shootouts, … and, of course, missionaries and nuns. Please consider supporting this podcast by contributing through PayPal (KevinSchmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek)

From Pope Pontian to Pope Benedict XVI, only a handful of St Peter's successors have resigned from the papacy. And the evidence is suspect that half of these possible resignations actually happened. In this episode Scott treks back thru these 11 possible papal resignations. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for y...

Several Pierres appear in the story of the historic Church of Saint-Pierre—St. Peter's Church in Jefferson, South Dakota. (Cradles of Catholicism series, no. 27, South Dakota) Please consider supporting this podcast by contributing through PayPal (KevinSchmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek)

In this episode Scott treks thru the story of the saintly knight Galgano and his sword in the stone, which may have served as the inspiration for the legend of King Arthur and his own sword in a stone. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

Christianity came to China no later than the 600s, but, from Confucian sages to Communist despots, its growth has faced strong headwinds ever since. Kevin and Scott recount the stories of a few of the exceptional figures in this history, including Franciscan missionaries, Jesuit scholars, and the “three pillars of Chinese Catholicism." To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating v...

St Leonard of Port Maurice was arguably the greatest missionary of the 18th century. In this episode Scott treks thru the life of St Leonard and his famous sermon on the little number of those who are saved. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

Mobile's current Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception traces its roots all the way back to 1703. (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 26, Alabama) Please consider supporting this podcast by contributing through PayPal (KevinSchmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek)

In 1966 the Dutch bishops released a new catechism with much excitement, as the first one to be published after the 2nd Vatican Council. But when the spirit of the age trumped the doctrines of the Church, problems arose.   In this episode Scott treks thru the background, history, and response to this infamous catechism. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schm...

Agnus Dei is a name for Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and is a prayer said during mass. But Agnus Dei was also the name for a highly prized papal sacramental. In this episode Scott treks thru the holy, and political, history of the sacramental Agnus Dei. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

Scott and Kevin venture beyond the city walls to explore the history of Catholicism and agriculture. From peasants to plantations, from hermits to homesteaders, from breeding to beekeeping, faith and farming have been companions through the centuries. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

Marking the halfway point in his trek across all fifty states, Kevin explores the historic churches of southwestern Illinois, especially Immaculate Conception in Kaskaskia and Holy Family in Cahokia. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 25, Illinois)

Genesius set out to please the Roman emperor Diocletian with an anti-Christian comedy act. But then things took an unexpected turn. Find out what happened in this episode of Catholic History Trek. ("Martyrs" series no. 3, Martyrdom of St Genesius) To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (CatholicHistoryTrek@gmail.com) Thank you for your support!

In hopes of atoning for at least some of their sins, Scott and Kevin humbly offer this episode on the history of the Sacrament of Penance, aka Confession, aka Reconciliation. Is listening to it a penance or a guilty pleasure? You decide.  To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

What’s more Catholic than fasting and long, barefooted processions? Scott revisits the history and convergence of the Church’s long-forgotten Rogation Days. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (CatholicHistoryTrek@gmail.com) Thank you for your support!

Connecticut’s earliest Catholics worshiped in homes, barns, a Masonic hall, and finally, an Episcopalian hand-me-down, the state’s first Catholic church. (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 24, Connecticut) To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

In the 16th century, Dutch Calvinists made the Netherlands a very inhospitable place for Catholics. Not only were churches, altars, and statues attacked, but 19 Franciscans and other Catholic priests were tortured & murdered for holding firm in their belief in the Real Presence. In this episode, Scott treks thru their story, and the background for the anti-Catholic hatred in the Netherlands. (...

There are a lot of items involved in the celebration of a Catholic liturgy, and each of them has a name and a history. In this gold-plated episode, Scott and Kevin provide a rundown of the chalices, patens, and things you may not even know the name for. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (KevinSchmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!