Yes, There is a War on Christianity In the September 4 letters to the editor one reader declared concern over a supposed war on religion. There is a secular nature of many current issues BUT, the flaunting of practices that run afoul of the natural law and Church teaching including trying to pass laws, useContinue reading “Letter to Editor, Catholic Virginian, September 18, 2023”
Author Archives: tklocek2
The Call: A conversion story
(For those who don’t think Jesus “speaks” to them during adoration.) (While meditating on the Eucharist during Adoration, 9/8/2023) Emptiness, loss, feeling of abandonment, Seeking solace, Church, the mass, Surrounded by strangers. Movement of Heart, a calling, Planning to sin, asking God’s grace, The answer: God intercedes. He sends people to call me back. Reconciliation.Continue reading “The Call: A conversion story”
World Youth Day 2023
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted the reaction by Maria Seybert, 19, of Littletown, Colo., [who] was attending her first World Youth Day and seemed inspired by Francis’ exhortations to spread the faith. “Yeah, I know that our church is very broken; we have a lot of sinners and broken people,” Ms. Seybert said. “I desire to hear somethingContinue reading “World Youth Day 2023”
God’s Message Has Not Changed
The Great Commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. … And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:36-39, cf. Dt 6:5, Lev 19:18) Dr. Peter Kreeft, in his book Because God is Real, notes,Continue reading “God’s Message Has Not Changed”
Where Are the Nathans, Ambroses, Catherines of Sienna, and Gregory the Greats of Today?
What happened to us and to the Church? Where is our sense of fearlessly standing up to injustice, relying on the Lord? We are deeply engaged in spiritual warfare and our leadership is colluding with the enemy. And many of those leaders who are not on the other side seem to be blissfully unaware ofContinue reading “Where Are the Nathans, Ambroses, Catherines of Sienna, and Gregory the Greats of Today?”
Democrats Again Try to Claim Religious Faithfulness
“When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Once again, in a brazen attempt to convince themselves and others, a group of thirty self-professed pro-choice Catholic Democrat representatives have written a letter claiming to be “making real the basic principles atContinue reading “Democrats Again Try to Claim Religious Faithfulness”
What Do You See When You Look at the Eucharist?
“The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” (1 Cor 11:23-24 RSV-CE) On June 12th, 2023, the Feast of Corpus Christi, the body of Christ, weContinue reading “What Do You See When You Look at the Eucharist?”
Awaiting Pentecost
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (Jn 14:26) The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enterContinue reading “Awaiting Pentecost”
Fraternity
A group of persons associated by … ties of brotherhood. An organization of laymen for religious or charitable purpose; sodality. In 2016 Bishop Olmsted, of the Phoenix Diocese, wrote an Apostolic exhortation to the Catholic men of his diocese. He talks of the war on the Church by the forces of Satan, reminiscent of PopeContinue reading “Fraternity”
Jesus and His Cross
The beginning of Holy Week and anticipation of Easter is a time to reflect on our Lord’s passion, suffering and death on the cross. I think about those non-Catholic Christians and wondered what they did in preparation and how they reflected on the events leading up to Our Lord’s glorious resurrection on Easter morning. OneContinue reading “Jesus and His Cross”
A Time for Reflection
Christians around the world are embarking on the solemn season of Lent. This is a period for reflection, prayer, fasting, and repentance. For Catholics it is part of the liturgical year, the cycle of feasts and celebrations, much like the cycle of feasts God instructed the Israelites to observe after He brought them out ofContinue reading “A Time for Reflection”
Death: Are You Ready?
I fell in my driveway yesterday, landing on my shoulder and banging my head right above the eye hard on the concrete. My wife insisted on taking me to the emergency room. Anyone who has been to the E.R. for anything knows what that is like – perkatory. Perkatory is that agonizingly endless interval enduredContinue reading “Death: Are You Ready?”
UNITY
While written for my local Knights of Columbus Council Newsletter, the issue of unity is an important one for our Church. It is also important for our country. I am afraid that we have forgotten our national unity as well as our need for oneness with God and each other as part of His family.Continue reading “UNITY”
A New Beginning
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is 9:2) Christmas is right on top of us. Twenty to thirty years ago the television networks would have multiple showings of “A Christmas Carol” (several versions), “Miracle on 34th Street,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” “The Bishop’s Wife,” and several others. A quickContinue reading “A New Beginning”
True Marriage and Christian Love
[Jesus said] “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’? So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God hasContinue reading “True Marriage and Christian Love”
Babes in Arms and Toddlers at Mass
I love to see the little ones at mass. I know they can be disruptive at times, but they are really such a joy to watch. I love it when I am a Eucharistic Minister, and someone comes to communion with a child in their arms – I get to touch heaven when I touchContinue reading “Babes in Arms and Toddlers at Mass”
Somewhere There’s a Bottom – We Hope
“People who are happy or breathing easier because of the outcome of this election now own its consequences. Inflation, high gas and food prices, and an open border are likely to continue. … Maybe another two years of suffering will do it, assuming the country survives.” —Cal Thomas How low can we go? We haveContinue reading “Somewhere There’s a Bottom – We Hope”
Love (Charity) is at the Heart of Catholic Social Doctrine
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:35) “A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself.” (Catechism 1803) Simply put, Catholic social doctrine supportsContinue reading “Love (Charity) is at the Heart of Catholic Social Doctrine”
Catholic Vote
Dear Editor: I have a response to Maria Mastromarino (Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29: Catholics should not be single-issue voters). Our issues are the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church. Here are some guidelines for how I think Catholics should vote. Ask yourself the following questions: New York has an opportunity this yearContinue reading “Catholic Vote”
Transparency: What are They Trying to Hide?
“For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (Jn 3:19) Who is really running things? Why do all of the Democrats refuse to debate? What are they hiding? Why did the government send all of those immigrants around the country at night, withoutContinue reading “Transparency: What are They Trying to Hide?”
Elections Coming: Check your conscience
(This is the full version of my essay on checking one’s conscience for the coming election. The previous election post, “2022 Elections Coming: Is your conscience ready,” was condensed from this so it could be submitted for publication in the Richmond Diocesan Newspaper, The Catholic Virginian, and was published on September 19, here.) Pope St.Continue reading “Elections Coming: Check your conscience”
The Left Quotes Scripture
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Quoting Sacred Scripture to try to support abortion, the latest tactic by the left, is almost as laughable as VP Harris declaring “the border is secure” while watching hundreds of illegalContinue reading “The Left Quotes Scripture”
2022 Midterm Elections: Is Your Conscience Ready?
“In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law … always summoning him to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience [which] speaks to his heart…” Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes The midterm elections are less than 100 days away. Now is time to review our duties and responsibilities as Catholics in theContinue reading “2022 Midterm Elections: Is Your Conscience Ready?”
Feeling Lost? Try God
I think it was The Muppet Movie where some character told Kermit he felt lost and Kermit asked, “Have you tried Hare Krishna?” Lots of people feel lost today and many more are lost but don’t realize it. Our world has rejected God causing anxiety and discomfort across all levels of society. In a recentContinue reading “Feeling Lost? Try God”
Be Not Afraid
Published on the Patriot Post July 1, 2022. Below is the unedited version. “We need to tell our story of salvation in a new way. With charity and confidence, without fear.” Archbishop Gomez of LA, Address, Madrid Spain, November 4, 2021 “The liberty of love, therefore, is not license. Freedom implies not just a mereContinue reading “Be Not Afraid”
ActuallyCatholic 