Puritan Pastor in Revolutionary America Becomes Catholic: The Conversion of John Thayer | Ep. 69

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM

In our first episode since Easter Sunday, and in light of the extraordinary number of new Catholic converts this year, we cover the amazing (and very familiar sounding!) conversion account of the first early American Puritan Pastor to the Catholic Faith. His name was John Thayer. He was known to Benjamin Franklin, and even challenged John Adams on Luther and Calvin. He converted in 1783, the same year the United States won its independence from Great Britain, and later became a priest dedicated to evangelizing his beloved America.

Christ is King! Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

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CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

03:58 - Roadmap

05:16 - Historical Context

11:58 - Conversion: Intro

13:32 - Family Background

15:18 - Traveling to Rome, Prejudice Against Catholics Melting

17:35 - Inspiring Thought at the Pantheon

19:59 - Desiring to Learn the Catholic Faith to Shed Prejudice

25:05 - Catholic Unity of Faith + Diversity of Opinions

28:17 - The Instability of Protestantism

30:38 - Inquiring into the Catholic Faith + Respecting Guardian Angel

32:38 - The Miracles of St. Benedict Joseph Labre

35:50 - Surrounded by Catholic Truth, But Still Unwilling to Convert

37:23 - Discovering "Manifesto of a Christian Knight Converted to the Catholic Religion"

40:40 - Deciding to Become Catholic

41:50 - Final Obstacle: Veneration of Mary and the Saints

45:23 - Greatly Changed Upon Becoming Catholic

48:52 - Conclusion of the Conversion Story

49:42 - Concluding Reflections

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