American Catholic History

Discover the fascinating life of Maria von Trapp, from her challenging childhood and journey to Catholicism to her role as a stepmother and singer. Uncover the realities of the Trapp family's escape from the Nazis, which starkly contrast Hollywood's portrayal. Explore their rise as performers in the U.S. and the lasting impact of their music. The podcast also touches on Maria's later years, including her missionary work and legacy, showcasing how love, faith, and community shaped their family's story.

In 1621, the Calvinist Puritan Pilgrims shared a harvest meal with the largely pagan Native Americans whom they befriended on the coast of New England. This first Thanksgiving meal was only possible because of the actions of Franciscan friars in Spain, and the Patuxet brave Squanto whom they had saved from slavery, educated in the Catholic faith, baptized, and set on his way to return to the New World. Squanto returned to his native village only to find his entire tribe wiped out by an epidemic. The very next year, the Pilgrims landed nearby, found the empty village, and selected that site to establish the Plymouth Colony. Squanto, at the prompting of another native who had some mastery of English, named Samoset, made contact with the Pilgrims. Squanto's knowledge of English and of European ways made him indispensable to the Pilgrims that first year. The Pilgrims had lost nearly half their numbers due to illness when they were forced to remain on the Mayflower for the entire winter of 1620-21. When they came ashore they faced stiff odds, especially since the seeds they brought with them from northern Europe didn't grow well in the soil and climate of New England. Also, not all Native tribes were eager to welcome these settlers. Without Squanto's intervention in negotiating peace, plus some lessons in local farming and how to tread eels, the Pilgrims may not have survived that first year. And Squanto would not have been in a position to help in this way without the intervention of the anti-slavery Catholic Franciscans of Spain. 

Discover the fascinating story of Adele Brise, a Belgian immigrant inspired by the Blessed Mother to teach children in 19th-century Wisconsin. Explore her struggles against church authorities as she establishes a community devoted to faith and education. Learn about the miraculous survival of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help during the catastrophic Peshtigo Fire in 1871. The journey of recognition for this apparition unfolds, culminating in its official acknowledgement by the Church, highlighting faith's enduring power amidst adversity.

In January 1634, the ships Ark and Dove landed in Maryland, marking the establishment of a safe haven for Catholics in America. George Calvert's vision for a colony turned into reality under his son Cecil's leadership, despite challenges at sea. The settlers formed initial bonds with Native American tribes, particularly the Yolkamako, fostering goodwill. The founding of St. Mary City became a pivotal moment, and the narrative reflects on the unique influences that shaped Maryland's identity and its Catholic heritage.

Discover how the Knights of Columbus transformed the lives of soldiers during World War I. Through their morale-boosting huts, they provided essential supplies and a comforting escape from the battlefield. Learn about their impressive $14 million fundraising campaign and the impact of their relentless support for troops. Their dedication even led to a legacy that shaped future military support organizations. Featuring key figures and touching stories, this narrative highlights their profound sacrifices and contributions during turbulent times.

Fr. Francis Sampson was the “paratrooper padre.” He parachuted into Normandy, behind enemy lines, on D-Day, June 6, 1944, along with more than 13,000 other Allied paratroopers. He also was directly involved in the episode that inspired Steven Spielberg’s epic war drama Saving Private Ryan. He hadn’t planned on being a paratrooper when he joined the Army chaplain corps and the Archdiocese for Military Services, but his naiveté about what he had signed up for was a good thing for his men. He was dedicated to their well-being, spiritually and physically. On D-Day, he stayed behind at an aid station in a French village when the rest of the paratroopers he was with moved along to rendezvous with the larger unit. The aid station had 14 men who couldn’t be moved. When the Germans came he was put up against a wall and nearly shot, but a German sergeant recognized he was a priest and his life was spared. Once the Americans retook the village, he and the survivors were evacuated. Eventually he was captured and spent the last few months as a prisoner of war in Germany. After World War II ended, he served in Korea, and then stateside as a chaplain, and eventually the chief of all Army chaplains, before retiring in 1971.

Discover the inspiring life of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American saint, who rose from fragile beginnings in Italy to significantly impact the lives of Italian immigrants in America. Despite facing health issues and resistance from local clergy, she founded 67 schools, hospitals, and orphanages. The podcast delves into the struggles of 19th-century Italian immigrants and Cabrini's unwavering faith and tenacity as she fought for their rights and dignity. Her legacy of service continues to inspire future generations.

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most important early American wrters. He is known for horror, the macabre, suspense, and other dark themes. Poe was important in the development of science fiction and he invented the detective novel. But what is less well-known is his interesting knowledge of and interest in Catholicism. In an age where typical Protestants either wouldn’t have an idea of what Catholics actually believe, or wouldn’t be interested in presenting Catholicism in an honest light, Poe did both. And in one short story he even wrote a rather lovely poem that amounts to a prayer to the Blessed Mother. The poem, known as “Hymn,” invokes the aid of the Blessed Mother and has strong intercessory language. Later in his life, Poe lived in a cottage near the campus of St. John College at Fordham (known today as Fordham University) where he came to know and spend much time with the Jesuits who ran that school. He died in unfortunate and mysterious circumstances in 1849 at just 40 years old.

Election Day, August 6, 1855, is known as Bloody Monday in Louisville, Kentucky. The Know Nothings used violence to try to keep Catholics from voting, and the violence turned into riots. By the end of the day 22 were confirmed dead, though the number of dead was likely over 100. Learn more about this awful day in Louisville, which played a role in Louisville falling behind other cities along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, like Cincinnati and St. Louis, in terms of population and economic importance.

Jack Kerouac was born in 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts to Catholic parents. When he was four his saintly elder brother, Gerard, died tragically. His mother became more devout, but his father abandoned the faith and drank heavily. This childhood trauma affected the rest of his life, and he stopped going to Mass in his teens. After dropping out of college he began to write while in the military. In the late 1940s he and his friends, through their artistic and literary output, began the Beat Generation, signifying how their generation felt “beaten down” by the world. In 1951, Kerouac wrote his most important work, On the Road, but it wasn’t published until 1957. But through it all, what he was looking for was God. In the 1960s he returned, in stages, to the Catholicism of his youth, fully returning to the faith by the end of the decade. He died in 1969 as a result of a lifetime of heavy drinking.