Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America’s Heartland

Ep. 2. 44: Vatican I and the Storm of Infallibility

This episode follows the dramatic unfolding of the First Vatican Council as bishops from around the world gather in Rome under Pope Pius IX. Monsignor and Teresa explore the sharp divisions between the majority and minority factions, the intense debates surrounding papal infallibility, and the personalities that shaped the Council—from Cardinal Manning to Archbishop Ketteler and Bishop Dupanloup. The discussion traces the passage of Dei Filius and Pastor Aeternus, clarifying that the Council did not create papal infallibility but formally defined and recognized it within the Church’s tradition. Set against the backdrop of war, the fall of the Papal States, and Pius IX’s imprisonment in the Vatican, the episode reveals both the gravity of the moment and the Pope’s remarkable resilience and wit in the face of historic change.

Ep. 2. 43: The Syllabus of Errors and the Call to Council

This episode continues the “View from Rome” series by examining Pope Pius IX’s critique of modern society and the controversy surrounding the Syllabus of Errors. Monsignor and Teresa unpack how Quanta Cura and its attached propositions were widely misunderstood outside Italy, where terms like “progress,” “liberalism,” and “modern civilization” carried vastly different meanings than they did in England or the United States. The conversation traces Pius IX’s deeper concern for a weakened Church facing revolutionary ideologies, half‑hearted faith, and mounting political hostility. The episode concludes with the Pope’s long‑deliberated decision to convene the First Vatican Council, setting the stage for the bishops’ arrival in Rome and the dramatic debates to come.

Ep. 2. 42: Revolution and Response

This episode examines the escalating anti-Catholic measures in northern Italy and Pope Pius IX’s bold strategy to defend the Church. Monsignor and Teresa recount the sweeping reforms of Sardinia-Piedmont under Count Cavour, including the Law of the Convents that expelled most religious orders and seized Church property, and the growing revolutionary unrest that destabilized the Papal States. As Garibaldi’s red shirts invade Sicily and European powers turn their backs, Pius IX responds with prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and a plan to rally the universal Church through major events—the canonization of the Japanese martyrs, the commemoration of Saints Peter and Paul, and ultimately the First Vatican Council. The episode also explores the origins of the Immaculate Conception dogma and the controversial Syllabus of Errors, setting the stage for one of the most pivotal councils in Church history.

Ep. 2. 41 - View from Rome

This episode shifts the focus to Pope Pius IX and the turbulent events that shaped his papacy, setting the stage for the First Vatican Council. Monsignor and Teresa recount Pius IX’s early reputation as a liberal reformer—introducing gas lighting, railroads, and even dismantling the Jewish ghetto gates—before revolutionary uprisings in 1848 turned his world upside down. The discussion follows the shocking assassination of Count Rossi, the Pope’s harrowing escape from Rome disguised in a cassock, and his year-long exile in Gaeta as radical forces seized control of the Papal States. Returning to Rome under French protection, Pius IX rebuilt his government, modernized infrastructure, and championed archaeological discoveries, all while preparing the Church for an era of unprecedented challenges.

Ep. 2. 40: Archbishop Kenrick Begins

This episode explores the extraordinary 51-year tenure of Archbishop Peter Kenrick, one of the longest-serving bishops in American Catholic history. Monsignor and Teresa recount Kenrick’s controversial role at the 1866 Baltimore Council, where his final sermon emphasized the bishops’ collective responsibility to preach the Gospel—sparking tension with Archbishop Spalding and the Vatican over papal authority. The discussion follows Kenrick’s financial struggles, including disputes over the bishop’s bank and his surprising introduction of pew taxes, which drew criticism from Rome. Finally, the episode sets the stage for growing mistrust between Kenrick and the Curia as the Church braces for the First Vatican Council amid global challenges and papal efforts to unify Catholicism.

Ep. 2. 39: 1866: The Mind of the Lion

This episode transitions from the Civil War era to the postwar challenges facing the Catholic Church in America, focusing on Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick’s growing influence and his complex personality. Monsignor and Teresa explore Kenrick’s curmudgeonly independence, his resistance to Roman interference, and his early clashes with Archbishop Martin Spalding as plans for the 1866 Plenary Council of Baltimore unfold. They highlight Kenrick’s proposals for local input in selecting bishops, diocesan property management, and missionary stability—many of which were sidelined—while noting his sharp objections to centralization and Roman control. The episode closes with tensions between American bishops over collegiality, Kenrick’s insistence on procedural integrity, and the stage being set for his dramatic role at the First Vatican Council.

Ep. 2. 38: Catholics after the Civil War

This episode examines Missouri’s turbulent Reconstruction era and the radical measures imposed after the Civil War. Monsignor and Teresa describe the sweeping Republican victory in 1864, the rise of the “Charcoals,” and their zeal to punish former Confederates while abolishing slavery. They explore the controversial Drake Constitution, its loyalty test oath, and efforts to disenfranchise African Americans through literacy requirements, as well as the growing backlash from Germans, Jews, and moderates against racial and religious bigotry. The narrative highlights Archbishop Kenrick’s steadfast defense of religious liberty, Governor Fletcher’s aggressive ousting ordinance, and dramatic courtroom battles that culminated in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the test oath. Through vivid anecdotes—like Father Hogan’s humorous arrest and Father Cummings’ historic case—the episode closes with Kenrick’s triumph and his enduring motto: Noli Irritare Leonem (“Don’t irritate the lion”).

Ep. 2. 37: Hospitals and Prisons

This episode reflects on the closing chapters of the Civil War and its impact on St. Louis through the contrasting lives of Father John Bannon and Franz Sigel. Monsignor and Teresa revisit Bannon’s motivations for siding with the Confederacy—rooted in fears of Northern nativism and anti-Catholic sentiment—and contrast them with Sigel’s radical democratic ideals and commitment to abolition. They explore Archbishop Kenrick’s “prudent silence,” his efforts to shield outspoken priests, and the challenges faced by Catholic institutions like Christian Brothers College, which was seized and converted into a military prison. The episode also highlights the humanitarian role of Sisters of Charity and Mercy in caring for wounded soldiers, Father Patrick Ryan’s ministry to Confederate prisoners, and Father Hogan’s struggles on Missouri’s western frontier. It concludes with the contentious postwar issues of slavery’s abolition and loyalty oaths, setting the stage for Missouri’s constitutional convention and the fight for religious liberty.

Ep. 2. 36: Bannon and Sigel after the War

This episode brings Father John Bannon’s Civil War story to its dramatic conclusion, highlighting his courage during the siege of Vicksburg and his extraordinary ministry to the dying. Monsignor and Teresa share a moving account from Father Farity’s biography, where Bannon baptizes a mortally wounded soldier and converts his brother amid the chaos of battle. After Vicksburg’s surrender on July 4, 1863, Bannon is paroled and summoned to Richmond, where President Jefferson Davis assigns him a covert mission to Ireland to counter Union recruitment schemes. The episode follows Bannon’s journey through the Union blockade, his efforts to rally Irish priests against Northern propaganda, and his historic audience with Pope Pius IX—complete with a memorable exchange about his imposing beard. Ultimately, Bannon enters the Jesuit novitiate and spends 50 years serving in Dublin, closing a remarkable chapter in St. Louis and Civil War history.

Ep. 2. 35: A Confederate Chaplain at Vicksburg

This episode delves deeper into the human cost of the Civil War and the struggle to provide care for thousands of wounded soldiers. Monsignor and Teresa recount the conflict between Dr. Simon Pollack—a Jewish ophthalmologist turned wartime surgeon—and William Greenleaf Elliott, founder of Washington University, over the involvement of Catholic sisters in military hospitals. Despite Elliott’s anti-Catholic prejudice, Pollack championed the Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of Charity as the only professional nurses available, highlighting their indispensable role in saving lives. The episode also follows Father Bannon’s journey to Vicksburg, his ministry to Confederate soldiers, and his acts of courage during relentless Union assaults, setting the stage for the bloodiest year of the war and the decisive battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg.