Catholic History Trek

Is returning the Jews to the Holy Land and rebuilding the temple a divine mandate for Christians, or is it working against the will of God? I can’t answer that question. But I can take a historical look into the 4th century when the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate set out to rebuild the temple, and the divine intervention which followed that endeavor. To help Catholic History Trek, please consid...

Despite its humble beginning, Mission San Antonio de Valero was the nucleus of one of Texas’s largest cities and would become one of the nation’s most famous battlegrounds. Kevin traces the tumultuous history of the Alamo.  (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 23, Texas) To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your su...

Attributed to a couple men named Bernard, but written by neither, Scott looks at the history of the Memorare prayer. (“Catholic Prayers” series, no. 13, Memorare)

In Episode 132 Scott and Kevin trekked thru the history of priestly vestments. In this episode they follow up with a historical tour of clerical clothing - cassocks, collars, and everything else in your comprehensive guide to clerical clothing. 

Even after Constantine's victory at Milvian Bridge, the Roman Empire was not free of Christian persecutions. Seven years later, a persecution in the eastern half of the empire would create the 40 martyrs of Sebaste.   On this episode, Scott treks thru their fate, their attempt to keep their number at 40, and Rome’s famous Lightning Legion.   ("Martyrs" series no. 1, 40 Martyrs of Seb...

The “new” Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston dates to the 1870s. President John Adams was among the benefactors who enabled the construction of its predecessor, the city's first Catholic church. (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 22, Massachusetts)

Was there a time when eating horse meat merited a penance comparable to committing murder? Find out in this episode, as Scott treks thru the history of the Catholic Church and her ban on consuming horses.

The Catholic Church owns a lot of property. How did that happen? Who actually owns the property? Can laypeople control Church property? Scott and Kevin answer these questions—and a lot of others you didn’t know you had—as they explore the complicated and contentious history of Church property.

Death is not a comfortable topic for many but is a reality for all. In this episode Scott looks at the history of the Ars Moriendi, a popular Medieval text written to prepare one to die well.

Jesuit missionaries founded St. Mary’s Mission in the Bitterroot Valley, the first church in what would become the state of Montana. (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 21, Montana)

Throughout the 19th century, and into the early 20th century, a popular temperance movement swept across America and Western Europe which sought to end the consumption of alcohol.   In America, this movement peaked with the passage of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. In this episode Scott covers the Catholic Temperance movement and Fr Theob...

Liturgical vestments are the distinctive articles of clothing worn by the Catholic clergy - primarily at the holy sacrifice of the mass. In this episode, Kevin and Scott take a look look at the purpose and history of each of these liturgical vestments.

According to the Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen.” But who was Wenceslaus, and what is the feast of Stephen? Scott treks thru the history of these two Catholic saints, and the carol that connects them.

William Gaston, the composer of North Carolina’s anthem, “The Old North State,” was also instrumental in building the state’s first Catholic church, St. Paul’s in New Bern. (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 20, North Carolina)

In the era of Vikings, King Olaf is said to have gone from a raider and pillager, to champion of Christianity and worker of miracles. Along the way, Scott treks thru the Heimskringla and the possible origin of the nursery rhyme, "London Bridge Is Falling Down".

Kevin and Scott describe a dozen historic practices that have, to one degree or another, been forgotten in much of the Catholic world. Join them in rediscovering the holy uses of chalk, salt, and tying knots.

Scott looks at the military leaders specially recognized by the popes as “Champions of Christ” for their victories over the enemies of the Church. These 4 men boldly held to both their God and their guns

The parish of St. Peter in Mendota Heights has two church buildings, and the older is known as “The Historic Church” for good reason. Among its nineteenth-century pastors was Auguste Ravoux, who was deeply involved in one of the largest executions in American history. (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 19, Minnesota)

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom this podcast commits me here? Scott explores the history of this popular Catholic prayer which seeks the aid and protection of one’s guardian angel. ("Catholic Prayers" series, no. 12, Angel of God)

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is commonly thought to be the result of a plot hatched by Confederate sympathizers upset by the outcome of the Civil War. But some Americans also detected a religious dimension: a sinister conspiracy orchestrated by the Catholic Church. Were Catholics involved in Lincoln’s death? Kevin and Scott investigate.

Scott covers the history of the Knights Templar – their rise, their fall, and their connection to the Jedi from Star Wars.

An Italian Jesuit founded the San Xavier del Bac Mission near what is now Tucson in 1692. The mission’s charming adobe church still serves the area’s Catholics, including those of the Tohono O’odham Nation on whose land the mission stands. (“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 18, Arizona)

Scott and his wife talk about the history of Catholic home schooling in America. At the end of the episode, we get to hear from some home school students at the Red Barn co-op in west central Ohio.

Kevin and Scott tackle the twelve (or thirteen...) monumental figures at the genesis of Church history, the men who put the “apostle” in “apostolic.” They sort out the Simons, Jameses, and Judes, outlining what we know from Scripture and peering into apocryphal accounts of their post-Pentecostal peregrinations.

In the 1860’s Pope Pius IX acquired nearly 16,000 of the best military firearms of their day – the Remington rolling block rifle. In this episode Scott treks thru the history of these firearms, the Catholics who made them, and why the pope wanted them.