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PODCAST

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

Covenant Network

Msgr. Michael John Witt was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis in 1990. Before that, he served the Church for twenty-two years as a Christian Brother teaching in Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee. He holds a Ph.D. in Modern European History from Saint Louis University and a Masters in Divinity from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He has served the archdiocese as associate pastor, pastor, Director of Continuing Formation for Priests, and Director of the Permanent Diaconate. Following his

history

All Episodes

23:57

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

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/19

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

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23:36

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

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/19

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

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23:42

Ep. 2. 42: Revolution and Response

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/19

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,

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21:57

Ep. 2. 41 - View from Rome

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/19

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

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24:13

Ep. 2. 40: Archbishop Kenrick Begins

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/12

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

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23:09

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

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/12

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,

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24:41

Ep. 2. 38: Catholics after the Civil War

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/12

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

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23:12

Ep. 2. 37: Hospitals and Prisons

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/12

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

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22:43

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

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/12

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

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22:22

Ep. 2. 35: A Confederate Chaplain at Vicksburg

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/05

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

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23:15

Ep. 2. 34: Nuns on the Field

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/05

This episode reflects on the aftermath of the Battle of Pea Ridge and Father John Bannon’s heroic role ministering to the wounded and dying amid the Confederate retreat. Monsignor and Teresa share vivid tributes from veterans praising Bannon’s courage, compassion, and presence on the battlefield, contrasting his mission of mercy with the chaos of war. They explore the staggering human cost of Pea Ridge and connect it to larger Civil War carnage, including Shiloh’s unprecedented bloodshed. The

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22:54

Ep. 2. 33: The Battle of Wilson's Creek Closes

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/05

This episode delivers a gripping account of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, August 1861, where Union forces under General Lyon and Franz Sigel faced overwhelming Confederate numbers. Monsignor and Teresa describe Lyon’s desperate final charge, his death—the first Union general killed in the Civil War—and the chaotic retreat that left Springfield in Confederate hands. They explore the Confederates’ failure to capitalize on victory due to leadership disputes and logistical blunders, while introducing

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25:13

Ep. 2. 32. The Battle of Wilson's Creek Opens

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/05

This episode continues the Civil War narrative through the contrasting lives of Franz Sigel and Father John Bannon. Monsignor and Teresa recount Bannon’s dramatic decision to leave his parish and join the Confederate cause as chaplain, despite warnings that he was sacrificing a promising ecclesiastical career. They explore his motivations—rooted in cultural identity, anti-Catholic hostility from German radicals, and fears of federal overreach—while contrasting them with Sigel’s rise as a Union

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23:55

Ep. 2. 31. Bannon and Sigel Sign Up

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2026/01/05

This episode shifts focus to two pivotal figures whose lives intersected at Camp Jackson: Franz Sigel and Father John Bannon. Monsignor and Teresa trace Sigel’s journey from revolutionary Germany to St. Louis, highlighting his rise as an educator, public school superintendent, and ardent Republican before becoming a Union officer. In contrast, they explore Father Bannon’s Irish roots, his pastoral work in St. Louis, and his role as chaplain to Irish militia units—an experience that shaped his

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23:37

Ep. 2. 30: First Civil War Shots in St. Louis

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2025/12/22

This episode recounts the dramatic events of May 10, 1861—the Camp Jackson Affair—when tensions in St. Louis erupted into bloodshed. Monsignor and Teresa describe how Captain Nathaniel Lyon, backed by Frank Blair and thousands of German volunteers, surrounded the Missouri state militia camp near present-day St. Louis University. What began as a peaceful surrender turned violent when shots rang out, leaving 27 civilians dead and deepening divisions in the city. The episode explores the political

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25:34

Ep. 2. 29: The Civil War Comes to St. Louis

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2025/12/22

This episode captures the mounting tension in St. Louis as the Civil War erupts, contrasting the calm leadership of General Harney and Archbishop Kenrick with the growing militancy on both sides. Monsignor and Teresa discuss Kenrick’s pastoral letter urging peace and obedience, Lincoln’s controversial troop requisition, and Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson’s fiery rejection of federal demands. They trace the rise of paramilitary groups—the Unionist White Awakes and pro-Confederate

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22:59

Ep. 2. 28: Rivalries Form and Solidify

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2025/12/22

This episode dives into the volatile atmosphere in St. Louis as the Civil War looms, focusing on the rise of paramilitary groups and political factions. Monsignor and Teresa describe the White Awakes—Republican-aligned German immigrants—and their clashes with pro-Southern Minutemen, highlighting the deep cultural and ideological divides within the city. They explore the strategic importance of the St. Louis Arsenal, the Committee of Safety’s influence, and the growing tension between federal and

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24:21

Ep. 2.27: The Election of 1860

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2025/12/22

This episode opens with a gripping story of Father John Hogan’s perilous overnight journey by handcar across Missouri to ensure Mass for his scattered flock—a testament to his courage and pastoral zeal during wartime. Monsignor and Teresa then pivot to the national stage, examining the fractured political landscape leading to the election of 1860. They detail the rise of Abraham Lincoln, the splintering of the Democratic Party into Douglas, Breckinridge, and Bell factions, and the sectional tensions

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24:27

Ep. 2. 26: Father John Hogan

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2025/12/22

This episode explores the aftermath of the Dred Scott decision and its explosive impact on the nation. Monsignor and Teresa detail how the ruling dismantled the Missouri Compromise and fueled violent clashes in Kansas under the guise of “popular sovereignty.” They introduce key figures like David Rice Atchison, Claiborne Fox Jackson, and James Lane, whose actions deepened sectional tensions and set the stage for guerrilla warfare along the Missouri-Kansas border. The episode closes with the

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22:18

Ep. 2. 25: Scott v. Sandford

Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of... ·

2025/12/15

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