One of the marvelous things of studying history is the possibility of new discoveries. Archaeology always brings treasures to the surface, by definition, such as the find of a first-century Jewish home in ancient Nazareth. Presumably this will silence some internet critics who claim Nazareth never existed at all and it’s all a Christian fairy tale. Well, here’s a house with its cistern, living proof in solid stones that people lived at Nazareth just as the Bible says. Once again, science and religion support one another.
A new mystery came to me today in the Catholic Historical Review, on page 186 of the first volume for 2010. It’s a brief notice about a book called Mystery of the Irish Wilderness: Land and Legend of Father John Joseph Hogan’s Lost Irish Colony in the Ozarks. Isn’t that a great title? Makes you want to look it up and get a copy if you have any interest in Irish-Americana, Catholic American history, or just a good yarn. Here is a You Tube Video link with lovely footage of the Ozark mountains and forests in which the Irish farmers disappeared during our Civil War: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G_5hclht0.
Now, if you watch the video, you’ll want to get the book even more, eh? Happy reading.
Father Christopher Zugger 
Hi Father Chris – Thanks for sharing information on our book! Sorting out the story of “Mystery of the Irish Wilderness” was a challenging piece of ‘history detective’ work for us – several years of research went into it. Fascinating regional history – Civil War, land use, Irish immigration….
Also wanted to let you know that we’ve just published a second volume: “On the Mission in Missouri & Fifty Years Ago: A Memoir” – the two personal memoirs of adventurous missionary / revered bishop John Joseph Hogan. He recounts his growing up in County Limerick and coming to America in “Fifty Years Ago”; “On the Mission” covers eleven years (1857-1868) of ministering to Catholics before, during and shortly after the Civil War in remote, frontier areas of Missouri. Now everyone can read these accounts in Bishop Hogan’s own words – and he’s an engaging, articulate writer describing exciting, dangerous historic times. Bishop Emeritus Boland (Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph) has written the introduction. We’ve added several chapters covering Bishop Hogan’s life and times before and beyond these two memoirs. Thanks again for your interest ….
Crystal Payton,
Editor/Publisher, Lens & Pen Press
By: Crystal Payton on January 17, 2010
at 10:56 am