Amen: On the trail with Father Beshoner

Almost every time I go running along the Red Run Stream Valley Trail in Owings Mills, Father Seraphim Beshoner accompanies me. The Third Order Regular Franciscan isn’t there physically, but with me every step of the way through the magic of podcasting.

I first started listening to Father Beshoner on runs several years ago when he launched “Catholic Under the Hood,” a podcast dedicated to Catholic history.

It was so much fun breathing in fresh air while dashing past chipmunks, deer and other wildlife – all while learning about an astonishing diversity of topics from Father Beshoner.

On one of his podcasts, the 47-year-old priest talked about how anti-Catholics smashed a marble stone donated in 1853 by Pope Pius IX for the construction of the Washington Monument. Other podcasts have touched on how the future Pope John Paul I wrote letters to characters such as Pinocchio, how cocaine began influencing society and what Catholics have believed about werewolves.

After a long hiatus, Father Beshoner recently relaunched Catholic Under the Hood with a seemingly monumental mission: telling the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church from apostolic times to the present.

Now several months into an effort he estimates will take four years, Father Beshoner has already provided an overview of the Greek, Roman and Jewish influences on the early church, a summary of early heresies and a discussion of early anti-Christian violence. He’s up to about the year 250.

Father Beshoner, who teaches church history at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., and serves as the formation director for his religious community, relies on research from his classes for many of his productions.

During a recent telephone conversation, Father Beshoner told me he’s not trying to relate “the” history of the Catholic Church, but “a” history.

Although each broadcast already has about 2,000 listener downloads, Father Beshoner is concerned less with how many people listen to him, and more with inspiring others to become more interested in church history. On his website, he publishes the sources for his research, book recommendations and additional resources related to the topics of his podcasts.

“I hope listeners come to an understanding of how broad the church is,” he said. “I want them to hear how people understand and practice the Catholic faith, not just in Europe or the United States, but in other lands.”

Even in historical eras when things seem to be going the worst, Father Beshoner said, “there are always people who really do try to live their faith and are good examples – whether they be St. Francis of Assisi in one age or Thomas à Kempis in another.”

Father Beshoner, whose podcast is affiliated with the Star Quest Production Network, hopes more believers avail themselves of modern technological tools. All it takes to do a podcast is a microphone, a laptop and a passion for some subject matter, he said, whether that be religious life, family life, history or theology.

“The church has to be involved with new technologies,” he said. “It’s a challenge because the technology is always changing. The church always has to be ready to preach the Gospel in whatever way necessary to get it out.”

See you – rather, hear you – on the trail, Father Beshoner.

Visit catholicunderthehood.com for more information.

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