A few years before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock, San Miguel Chapel was built in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its adobe walls have withstood centuries of war and wear. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 38, New Mexico)

For the past 800 years, various men and women (mostly women) have mystically bore the wounds of Christ on their bodies. In this episode Scott treks thru the history of the phenomenon known as the stigmata. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

History’s best pope? Worst pope? How will historians look back on the Church today? Scott and Kevin mark this milestone in CHT’s history by venturing into reflection, opinion, and speculation, lobbing questions at each other and reacting to the sometimes predictable, sometimes surprising answers.

In the world of 1980's cartoons, G.I. Joe was a "real American hero". But in the world of Catholicism, a little-known Catholic tradition could make one a hero for the poor souls in Purgatory. In this episode Scott treks thru the historic practice of making the Heroic Act of Charity in Favor of the Souls in Purgatory.

A family of converts played a big role in the early years of New Hampshire's first Catholic church, St. Mary's in Claremont. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 37, New Hampshire)

In this episode Scott treks back to the early origin of Catholic apologetics.

¡Viva Cristo Rey! With a special focus on Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quas Primas, Scott and Kevin unpack some of the theology and history behind one of the Church's major feasts, Christ the King.

This episode is sort of a continuation of Episode 7, the Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches. It highlights the same geographical area and the same time frame, but with a new cast of characters. This episode treks thru Cincinnati race riots, a bad seminary, and Bishop Joseph Dwenger’s lasting contribution to Catholic education.

Catholics from Maryland migrated to Georgia in the 1790s, creating the settlement of Locust Grove and the state's first parish, Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 36, Georgia) Contribute to Catholic History Trek at Paypal (Kevin Schmiesing at Catholic History Trek) The Purification Heritage Center

From the land of Mother Teresa, a world class cricket team, and 4-hour long Bollywood movies, comes St Devasahayam Pillai. This episode treks thru his life and martyrdom, with a historical look at Catholicism in India. ("Martyrs" series no. 5, St Devasahayam Pillai)

Universitas magistrorum et scholarium. The modern university's very name derives from its medieval Catholic antecedent. Scott and Kevin tour the long, fruitful, and sometimes contentious relationship between the Church and universities.

Arthur Simon Flegenheimer, a.k.a. Dutch Schultz, was an infamous prohibition era mobster known for bootlegging, running breweries, speakeasies, and illegal gambling rings, and engaging in gang wars. After the National Crime Syndicate put a hit on him, this Jewish-born criminal sought redemption thru the Catholic Church while on his deathbed. Find out about his conversion, and lost treasure, on this episode of Catholic History Trek. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

Salt Lake City's splendid Cathedral of the Madeleine reflects the history of Catholicism in the land of the Latter-Day Saints. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 35, Utah)

From out of the depths Scott explores the history of the De Profundis prayer, which is also Psalm 129. (“Catholic Prayers” series, no. 14, De Profundis)

Scott and Kevin outline the historical connections between the Church and athletic games, highlighting a few of the many remarkable Catholic athletes and teams that have excelled in the field of competitive sports. Support CHT by donating through PayPal to Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek

Is the Catholic Church an enemy of scientific progress? For those who answer "yes", the often point to the trial of Galileo. But what is the real history between the Church and Galileo? Find out in this episode as Scott treks thru geocentrism, epicycles, heliocentrism, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Galileo.

Ven. Samuel Mazzuchelli and Bishop Matthias Loras are among the figures who played major roles in the story of the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque. ("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 34, Iowa)

Next week the blessing of throats for the feast day of St Blaise will take place in many Catholic churches. But who was St Blaise, and why do we commemorate his feast day by blessing throats? Scott treks thru the answers to those questions in this episode. ("Martyrs" series no. 4, Martyrdom of St Blaise)

Kevin interviews Clayton State University history professor David Gilbert about his new book, The End of Catholic Mexico: Causes and Consequences of the Mexican Reforma (1855-1861).

A century and a half ago Pope Gregory XVI declared war against an insidious heresy to later be named Modernism. This war was carried by on Popes Pius IX and Pius X, who issued a Syllabus of Errors, and required an Oath Against Modernism. In this episode, Scott treks thru the history, and the current state, of this conflict. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!