Catholic History Trek
By Scott Schulze & Kevin Schmiesing
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Catholic History TrekJul 24, 2022
150. The Illinois Missions
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)
149. The Comedian who “Killed it” - Literally
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)
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148. Reconciliation in Retrospect
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)
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147. Rogation Days
What’s more Catholic than fasting and long, barefooted processions? Scott revisits the history and convergence of the Church’s long-forgotten Rogation Days.
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146. Hartford’s Holy Trinity
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)
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145. Martyrs of Gorkum
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.
("Martyrs" series no. 2, Martyrs of Gorkum)
To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (CatholicHistoryTrek@gmail.com)
Thank you for your support!
144. The Items of the Altar
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!
143. Julian the Apostate’s 3rd Temple of Jerusalem
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 consider donating via PayPal (CatholicHistoryTrek@gmail.com)
Thank you for your support!
142. Remembering the Alamo
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 support!
141. Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary
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)
140. Why Does a Priest Wear That? Part 2
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.
139. Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
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 Sebaste)
138. The Good Old Cathedral of the Holy Cross
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)
137. The Grave Sin of Eating Horses?
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.
136. The Properties of the Church
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.
135. How To Die Like a Catholic
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.
134. Mary’s Montana Mission
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)
133. Catholics Against Alcohol?
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 Theobald Matthew, the “Apostle of Temperance”.
132. Why Does a Priest Wear That?
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.
131. Good King Wenceslas
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.
130. Carolina's Old North Church
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)
129. St Olaf
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".
128. Rails, Veils, and Other Lost Catholic Traditions
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.
127. Athleta Christi
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
126. The Historic Church of Minnesota
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)
125. Guardian Angel Prayer
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)
124. Did Catholics Kill the President?
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.
123. Jedi Knights Templar
Scott covers the history of the Knights Templar – their rise, their fall, and their connection to the Jedi from Star Wars.
122. The White Dove of the Desert
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)
121. Catholic Home Schooling
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.
120. The Twelve Apostles
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.
119. Rifles for Pope Pius IX
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.
118. The Church of Charles Town
Still standing in the heart of historic Charleston, St. Mary of the Annunciation Church was the birthplace of Catholicism in the Carolinas.
(“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 17, South Carolina)
117. Heretics, Pagans, and Schismatics, oh my!
Scott covers the historical differences between Heretics, Pagans, Schismatics, and other non-Catholics.
116. Legendary Saints 2.0
Exploding torture wheels. Flying friars. Angelic interventions.
Scott and Kevin travel across twenty centuries of Church history to collect and assess some of the most spectacular stories associated with the saints.
(This episode has been republished to edit some audio issues that arose during the creation of the MP3 file)
115. H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks
What the Hell? In this episode Scott explores the history of Hell.
114. Honolulu’s Our Lady of Peace
Hawaii may be the last of the fifty states, but its cathedral is one of the nation’s oldest. Kevin dives into the rich Catholic history of the Aloha state.
(“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 16, Hawaii)
113. Altar Boys
Not sure what the difference is between the biretta, boat, chalice, ciborium, corporal, cruet, pall, paten or purificator? Ask an altar boy.
For centuries, well-trained altar boys have assisted the priest in celebrating the sacrifice of the holy mass.
In this episode Scott treks thru the history of these young men, and their duties.
112. The Assumption: Jerusalem or Ephesus?
Where did the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life on earth come to an end?
Scott and Kevin examine the historical cases for the major contenders, finding testimony in the lives and writings of the apostle John, the Greek theologian pseudo-Dionysius, and the German mystic Anne Catherine Emmerich.
111. 40 Hours Devotion
How did the number 40 become a Catholic devotional practice known as the 40 Hours Devotion (when the Eucharist is exposed for adoration over a period of 40 consecutive hours), and why did Catholic priests in Philadelphia oppose implementing this devotion at their parishes?
Find out in this episode of Catholic History Trek, which will cover 40 hours in a mere 11 minutes.
110. Green Mountain Catholicism
Another New England state, another pair of “cradles.” As with Maine, Kevin finds in Vermont two Catholic churches whose stories are entwined with the early history of the state: the Chapel of St. Anne on La Motte Island; and the Church of St. Mary in Burlington.
(“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 15, Vermont)
109. The Pope and the Comet
Did Pope Callixtus III excommunicate Halley’s comet and order the ringing of bells to chase it away?
That is what many believe, based on the words of the author of a best-selling Medieval cookbook. But is it accurate?
In this episode Scott treks thru the real history of Pope Callixtus III and the comet.
108. Catholics in the Civil War
Inject some Catholicism into your Civil War buffery! Scott and Kevin survey a few of the bishops, chaplains, nurses, and officers - North and South - who participated in various ways in the war that split the country.
107. Fatima Prayer
For the past century Catholics have included the Fatima Prayer in their praying of the Rosary. But this prayer was only one of several given by the Blessed Virgin to the three shepherd children at Fatima.
Episode 11 in Scott's series on the history of various Catholic prayers.
106. Catholicism Comes to Kansas
In the 1830s, Kansas was Indian Territory. At the mission of St. Mary’s at Sugar Creek, Catholic Potawatomis and the priests and sisters who ministered to them laid the foundation on which the Church in Kansas was built.
(“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 14, Kansas)
105. Receiving Holy Communion
Communion in the hand or on the tongue? What about with a straw or on the eyes?
In this episode, Scott takes an unexpected journey thru the 2,000-year long history of how Catholics have received the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion.
104. Popes in the Dock of History
Kevin and Scott investigate several sensational papal controversies, including the “cadaver synod,” and “Hitler’s pope.” They examine the historical testimony, weigh the evidence, and issue verdicts: Guilty or Not Guilty?
103. Glory Be!
Discover the origin of the prayer which is both a doxology and a stand against heresy.
(“Catholic Prayers” series, no. 10, Glory Be)
102. Ground Zero for Catholic New York
From Ven. Pierre Toussaint to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to Cardinal John McCloskey, some of US Catholicism’s most illustrious figures have passed through the doors of St. Peter's Church in Manhattan. Kevin takes a tour of this historic structure, including its role as a shelter in the midst of disaster on September 11, 2001.
(“Cradles of Catholicism” series, no. 13, New York)
101: Roberto Clemente & Gil Hodges
With baseball season upon us, Scott looks at a pair of Catholic hall of fame players who are known not only for their baseball success, but also for how they lived their Catholic faith both on, and off, the field.