Written by: Todd Kinker

Published: 15 November 2023

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Reflections from Lecturer Todd Kinker
Excerpted from Saints Article by Michael R. Heinlein writing for Simply Catholic

The Italian teenager Blessed Carlo Acutis has captivated Catholics young and old in recent years, especially since his 2020 beatification. Although only 15 when he died of leukemia, Carlo was resolved to prioritize his life around the Eucharist. Each day found him attending Mass and spending time in prayer before the Eucharistic Lord. He believed, as he put it, “the Eucharist is my highway to heaven.” And he endeavored to share this reality with others, with a focus on Eucharistic miracles, through his virtual and online apostleship.

Born in London to wealthy Italian parents, Carlo returned to his family’s native Italy not long after his birth. Although his family was not very active in the practice of the Faith, Carlo was fascinated by it. He found in his Polish babysitter a helpful guide to his growing interest in Catholicism. As a boy, Carlo’s recently deceased grandfather appeared to him in a dream asking for prayers on his behalf. After receiving his first holy Communion at age 7, Carlo made it a point to spend time in contemplation before the tabernacle. Carlo’s guides in the spiritual life, among others, included St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic Savio and St. Bernadette Soubirous. And he reflected their respective love for the poor, virtuous living and piety.

“I’m happy to die because I’ve lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God.”

 Although he might have been somewhat unusual in his youthful zeal for the Faith, Carlo was also very much interested in things of his peers, such as his love for video games and films. He was by all accounts a “computer geek” who studied college textbooks on the subject as early as age 9. But Carlo recognized that his talents and interests in the field must be used for good. He set limits to his use of media for personal enjoyment. Carlo’s mother has said: “Carlo was the light answer to the dark side of the web. My son’s life can show how the internet can be used for good — to spread good things.”

This meant Carlo was resolved to make use of his tech-savviness for the good of others. From age 9, he was reading college texts on computer coding. He developed websites for his high school and nearby parishes. He also created a website that cataloged all the major Eucharistic miracles ever recorded.

Carlo’s generous spirit also could be seen in how he offered up his last suffering from leukemia for others, telling doctors that he knew others were suffering more than he. He said, “I offer to the Lord the sufferings that I will have to undergo for the pope and for the Church.” Although he wanted to make a pilgrimage to the sites of the Eucharistic miracles he helped others come to learn about, his declining health made it an impossibility. But, having loved to make pilgrimages to Assisi, Carlo’s body made one last pilgrimage there for burial after his death on Oct. 12, 2006.

Many began calling for his canonization not long after his death. On the fourth anniversary of his death, Carlo’s mother delivered twin babies at age 44, and she believed Carlo was interceding for her. She also claimed Carlo appeared to her in a dream and informed his mother of his upcoming beatification and that he would be canonized soon thereafter.

Just before his death at 15, Carlo said, “I’m happy to die, because I’ve lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God.” Although he died at a young age, Carlo’s personal holiness and discipleship left a lasting legacy. And his renown continues to grow. “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan,” he was known to say. Now, through his witness, he inspires old and young alike to do the same.

Michael R. Heinlein is editor of OSV’s Simply Catholic. He writes from Indiana. Taken from the “Inspired by the Eucharist” saint booklet.

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Written by: Todd Kinker

Published: 15 September 2023

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Reflections from Lecturer Todd Kinker

Author Unknown[ref]Note: Every effort has been made to determine the author of “Two Horses.”

Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it.

From a distance, both horses appear to be like any other horses. But if you walk closer, you will notice something quite amazing; one of the horses is blind. However, the owner has chosen not to put down the blind horse but has made a good home for both horses.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell attached to the halter of the sighted horse. The bell is used to lead the blind horse. You will notice something amazing; the sighted horse regularly checks to see if the blind horse is hearing the bell, is following the sighted horse’s lead, and is continuing to trust that he will not be led astray.

Each evening, the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn, occasionally looking back to make sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind.

Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or just because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes, we are like the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those whom God has placed in our lives to help us. At other times, we are like the horse with the bell, helping others to find their way.

Good friends are like that . . . you may not always see them, but you know they are there.

Please listen for my bell, and I’ll listen for yours.

And remember . . .

Be kinder than necessary—

Everyone you meet is fighting

Some kind of battle.

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly . . .

And leave the rest to God!

For we walk by faith and not by sight!

Todd Kinker
Lecturer, KofC Council #11666
September 12, 2023

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Written by: Todd Kinker

Published: 04 September 2023

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Brothers good evening, I’ve been thinking a lot about prayer lately, even before Father DiTomo’s timely homily on prayer at the July 30th 9:00am mass. If you haven’t heard it or perhaps attended a different mass that day, I would strongly encourage you to go back and give it a listen on YouTube.

So, the question I have been asking myself and one I would like to pose to all of you is, do we learn to pray or is prayer innate?
Innate- Existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth, Native, Inborn.

Reflecting on my experience as a child, my memories of prayer consist of; 1) Observing my grandmother who prayed the rosary and attended mass daily, 2) Saying prayers as a family at meal and bedtime and learning prayers from attending mass and CCD.

I’m sure like most of us as kids, we prayed for real important things like, not getting caught for something we shouldn’t have been doing in the first place. Getting a good grade on a math test, and my favorite, hoping the pretty girl in home room would eventually give in and agree to go out with you.

What does the catechism of the Catholic Church say about prayer?
The catechism clearly defines prayer as a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God (CCC no.2558), a covenant relationship between God, Man, and Christ (CCC no. 2564).

My favorite definition of prayer is by St. Therese of Lisieux who states, “for me, prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy” (CCC no. 2558).

Recognizing the fact that there are many of you in this room this evening that are more qualified than me in the matter of prayer, I have come to the conclusion that prayer for me, is more innate than learned however it is a combination of both. I say this because I have many family members and friends that pray even though they have not been exposed to any formalized religion or faith. My prayers started by asking for things and now, the focus has shifted from myself-centeredness to humility, being thankful and praying for others. Also in my case, when I found myself in the deepest darkest depths of my alcohol addiction, I never stopped praying.

Although all our prayer lives may look different from each other, I was gifted a book by Matthew Kelly from a TMIY friend entitled “Amazing Possibilities-365 Days of Inspiration which is part of my daily morning ritual and I would like to share some thought-provoking insight related to prayer.

Excerpts March 23, and July 12.
PRAYERLESSNESS is one of the great torments of modern times. For decades the time we spend in focused prayer has been diminishing as our lives have become busier and busier. We have fallen into the tyranny of the urgent, which demands that we rush from one urgent thing to the next. The problems with this is that the most important things are hardly ever urgent. This can leave us always doing urgent things but never important things. It is these most important things that we never get around to in this cycle. Prayer is one of these important things, and among the highest priority. Prayer helps us to identify what matters most and strengthens our hearts and minds to give priority to those things in our daily lives. What could be most important than prayer?

“PRAY CONSTANTLY” was St. Paul’s invitation, and it is a beautiful principle of the spiritual life. But is most have not been taught to pray and establish a habit of daily prayers in their lives, you can be certain they have not been taught how to transform the ordinary moments of their days into prayer. Every honest human activity can be transformed into prayer. Learning to transform daily activities into prayer was one of the greatest spiritual lessons of my life. And it is so simple. Offer the next hour of your work for a friend who is sick. Offer the task you are at least looking forward to today to God as a prayer for the person you know who is suffering most today, and do that task with great love, better than you have ever done it. Offer each task, one at a time, to God as a prayer for a specific intention, and do so with love. Pray for others as they come to mind throughout the day. This is how we are able to keep the epic conversation going, this never-ending conversation of a lifetime of conversation. It’s ongoing and constant. And what is more important than this conversation?

Brothers if you haven’t done so lately, take a look at your prayer life, are you checking off boxes, going through the motions, or can we do better?
As Pope John Paul II said, “prayer can truly change your life, for it turns your attention away from yourself and directs your mind and heart towards the Lord”.
Amen!

Todd Kinker
Lecturer, KofC Council #11666
August 6, 2023

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Written by: Todd Kinker

Published: 14 August 2023

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Good evening, Brothers. I am truly humbled to be the lecturer for the upcoming year and whether he realizes it or not, I’d like to thank Dave, Babicz and also all my fellow Knights for inspiring me to step into this role. Dave, you left me some huge shoes to fill but I’m definitely confident that the holy spirit will work through me in my goal is to leave each and every one of you with a message of faith to take with you as we leave our monthly fellowship.

With tonight being the midway point of the baseball season and the all-star game, the theme for this evening for this evening is Faith and Baseball.

I grew up in Central Ohio and as a result, similar to Illinois, where you're either a Sox or a Cubs fan, in Ohio, you're either a Cleveland Indians fan or a Cincinnati Reds fan. I am a Cincinnati Reds fan. I was fortunate enough to be part of what was arguably one of the best eras in baseball and that was the Big Red Machine of ‘74, ‘75 and ‘77.

I have two very fond memories as a nine-year-old boy. The first was my dad coming home from work. Uh, on a school night and taking me to the auto dealership called Spitzer Dodge. We waited in line for two hours to get a signed, autographed picture with Pete Rose.

The second was our annual ritual in June of driving 90 miles south to Riverfront Stadium. We sat in a very last row of the upper deck to watch the game. My family didn't have a lot of money and mom would pack sandwiches that we brought from home because of the price of the concessions at the stadium.

But to this day, I look back on those times as a truly special part of my childhood.

So tonight, I want to share with you a recent episode from Relevant Radio. Which is actually the deathbed confessional of George Herman, Babe Ruth.

Bad boy ruth. That was me.

Don't get the idea that I'm proud of my harem-scarem youth. I'm not. I simply had a rotten start in life, and it took me a long time to get my bearings.

Looking back at my youth. I honestly didn't think i knew the difference between right and wrong. I spent much of my early boyhood living over my father's saloon, in Baltimore - and when I wasn't living over it, I was in it soaking up the atmosphere, i hardly knew my parents.

Saint Mary's Industrial School in Baltimore, where i was finally taken, had been called an orphanage and a reform school. It was in fact a training school for orphans, incorrigibles, delinquents and runaways picked up on the streets of the city.

I was listed as an incorrigible. I guess I was. Perhaps I would always have been but for Brother Mathias, the greatest man I had ever known and for the religious training I received which has since been so important to me.

I doubt if any of appeal could have straightened me out except a Power over and above man - the appeal of God. Iron-rod discipline couldn't have done it. Nor all the punishment and reward systems that could have been devised. God had an eye out for me, just as he has for you, and he was pulling for me to make the grade.

As I look back now, I realize that knowledge of God was a big crossroads with me. I got one thing straight (and I wish all kids did) - that God was Boss. He was not only my Boss, but Boss of all my bosses.

Up until then, like all bad kids, I hated most of the people who had control over me and could punish me. I began to see that i had a higher Person to reckon with who never changed, whereas my early authorities changed from year to year.

Those who bossed me had the same self-battles – they, like me, had to account to God. I also realized that God was not only just, but merciful, He knew we were weak and that we all found it easier to be stinkers than good sons of God, not only as kids but all through our lives.

That clear picture, I’m sure, would be important to any kid who hates a teacher, or resents a person in charge. This picture of my relationship to man and God was what helped relieve me of bitterness in rancor and a desire to get even.

I've seen a great number of “he-men” in my baseball career, but never one equal to Bother Matthias. He stood six feet six and weighed 250 pounds. It was all muscle. He could have been successful at anything he wanted to in life - and he chose the church.

It was he who introduced me to baseball. Very early he noticed that I had some natural talent for throwing and catching. He used to back me in a corner of the big yard at Saint Mary's and bunt a ball to me by the hour, correcting the mistakes I made with my hands and feet.

I never forgot the first time i saw him hit a ball. The baseball in 1902 was a lump of mush. But brother Matthias would stand at the end of the yard, throw the ball up with his left hand, and give it a terrific belt with the bat he held in his right hand.

The ball would carry 350 feet, a tremendous knock in those days. I would watch him, bug-eyed.

 Thanks to Brother Matthias I was able to leave Saint Mary’s in 1914 and begin my professional career with the famous Baltimore Orioles. Out on my own…free from the rigid rules of a religious school…boy, did that go to my head. I began really to cut capers.

I strayed from the church, but don't think I forgot my religious training. I just overlooked it. I prayed often and hard, but like many irrepressible young fellows, the swift tempo of living shoved religion into the background.

So what good was all the hard work and ceaseless interest of the Brothers, people would argue? You can't make kids religious, they say, because it just won't take. Send kids to Sunday School and they too often end up hating it in the church.

Don't you believe it. As far as I'm concerned, and I think as far as most kids go, once religion sinks in, it stays there - deep down. The labs who get religious training, get it where it counts - in the roots. They may fail it, but it never fails them.

When the score is against them, or they get a bump pitch, that unfailing Something inside will be there to draw on.

I've seen it with kids. I know from the letters they write me.

The more I think of it the more important i feel it is to give kids “the works” as far as religion is concerned. They'll never want to be holy – they’ll act like tough monkeys in contrast, but somewhere inside will be a solid little chapel.

It may get dusty from the neglect, but the time will come when the door will be opened with much relief. But the kids can't take it if we don't give it to them.

I've been criticized as often as I've been praised for my activities with kids on the grounds that what I did was for publicity. Well, criticism doesn't matter. I never forgot where I came from. Every dirty-faced kid I see is another useful citizen.

No one knew better than I what it meant not to have your own home, a backyard, your own kitchen and ice box. That's why all through the years even when the big money was rolling in, I'd never forget Saint Mary's, Brother Matthias and the boys I left behind. I kept going back.

As I look back those moments when I left the, when I let the kids down - they were my worst. I guess I was so anxious to enjoy life to the fullest that I forgot the rules or ignored them. Once in a while you can get away with it, but not for long. When i broke training, the effects were felt by myself and by the ball team - and even by the fans,.

While I drifted away from church, I did have my own “altar”, a big window of my New York apartment overlooking the city lights. Often I would kneel before that window and say my prayers.

I would feel quite humble then. I'd ask God to help me not make such a big fool of myself and pray that I'd measure up to what he expected of me.

In December 1946, I was in French Hospital, New York, facing a serious operation. Paul Carey, one of my oldest and closest friends was by my bed one night.

“They're going to operate in the morning, Babe”, Paul said. Don't you think you ought to put your house in order?

I didn't dodge the long, challenging look in his eyes. I knew what he meant. For the first time I realized that death might strike me out. I nodded, and Paul got up, called in a Chaplain, and I made a full confession.

“I'll return in the morning and give you a holy communion,” the chaplain said, “But you don't have to fast..”

“I’ll fast,” I said. I didn't have even a drop of water.

As I lay in bed that evening I thought to myself what a comforting feeling to be free from fear and worries. I now could simply turn them over to God. Later on, my wife brought in a letter from a little kid in Jersey City.

“Dear Babe”, he wrote, “Everybody in the seventh-grade class is pulling and praying for you. I am enclosing a medal which if you wear will make you better. Your pal - Mike Quinlan.

P.S. I know this will be your 61st homer. You'll hit it.”

I asked them to pin the Miraculous Medal to my pajama coat. I've worn the medal constantly ever since. I'll wear it to my grave.

So, what I took away from this is the importance of the Foundation of Faith. Planting that seed; and although we all have loved ones and family members that have strayed or left the Church, through Prayer and our examples of how we live our life, there is always Hope that they will come back.

I want to leave you with Matthew Chapter 7, Verse 24-25.

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock, and the rain fell and the floods came and the winds beat upon that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on the rock. Thank you.

Todd Kinker
Lecturer, KofC Council #11666
July 11, 2023

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Written by: David Babicz

Published: 20 June 2023

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I’ve been contemplating the mystery of the Trinity a lot lately, of the triune nature of God. I was planning to talk about God the Father this month when, coincidentally, I was listening to Fr. DiTomo’s homily from this last Sunday, “The Trinity for Dummies” in which he talked about ‘how do we speak about the Trinity in a way we aren’t committing heresy?’ So in the interest of not committing heresy, I’ll just share some of my own perspectives on how I’m understanding God the Father, and why maybe it matters here with Father’s Day just around the corner.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I have lately found myself in church, or alone in prayer, trying to decide which aspect of God to pray to: the Father? The Son? The Holy Spirit? Does it depend on what I’m praying about, what I’m asking for, what I want to talk about? Like “for intercession, press 1. For examination of conscience, press 2. For information on planning, press 3.”

That’s kind of goofy, isn’t it?

I can always just pray to God in general, cover my bases, right? I could, but I figure our faith brings us acknowledgement of the triune
God for a reason. I mean, it must matter, right? So then I find it fascinating to contemplate.

So, then…how best to understand God the Father? I guess I gained great insight on that as I reflected on my own journey of fatherhood. You may or may not be a father, but if you are, much of this will sound familiar, I suspect. Probably even if you aren’t, but you reflect back on your own dad, or fathers you know, this will resonate with you.

So how might we think about an earthly father to understand God the Father?

• A good father loves His children no matter what. He may get mad at them, he may have to punish them, but it always comes from love.
• A good father tries His best to teach his children right from wrong. He knows they won’t always get it right, but he wants to make sure they have the tools to tell right from wrong, so they have a better chance of making good choices.
• A good father conceives of a plan for each of His children for success in life. He bases it on who they uniquely are, because He
knows every one of His children is different (regardless of if you raise them the same, they just come out different, don’t they?). He knows, from His experience and wisdom, what will be more likely to set them up for success than not, and he tries to guide them into making the choices that align with His plan, BUT…
• A good Father also gives His children the opportunity to make their own choices. He could force them into following His plan to the letter, but His children are each their own person, and if he doesn’t give them that freedom, then the successes they might experience would be hollow. It would be Him living vicariously through them, not them living their life. AND
• A good father always forgives His children when they mess up. He knows it’s inevitable that they’ll make mistakes, but all he asks is that they be honest with Him, tell Him the truth, and be sorry, and all is forgiven. He forgives them, forgets their mistakes, rejoices with them, and sends them on their way again.
• A good father always takes care of his children, and answers their requests, but not necessarily by giving the children what they ask for. He knows what’s best for them, and as long as
they’re trying to be good children, he’ll tip the scales in their favor (in ways the children may or may not ever realize!).
• A good Father will stay in the background, letting His children take the spotlight. He’ll do all the thankless work behind the scenes, but he won’t step in front of them, because at the end of the day, seeing His children persevere and succeed will bring Him more joy than His own successes ever could.
• Finally, a good Father is always a call away. Even if He’s not with His children in person, He’s always willing to answer a call, at any hour of the day or night. Whether it’s just to listen, or to offer advice, or maybe to suggest a corrective course of action…He will ALWAYS pick up the line when one of His children calls…and He loves when they call.

• So, give your heavenly Father a Happy Father’s Day this year by maybe doing the following:

o Give Him a ring!
o Thank Him for making a plan for you, but trusting you with the freedom to make your own choices
o Thank Him for teaching you what you need to know about right and wrong
o Thank Him for the times when maybe He’s been a little tough on you, but for your own good
o Tell Him you love Him
o Thank Him for loving you, because He does
o Thank Him for never giving up on you, no matter what…because He never will.

Finally, I want to share a brief poem with you this Father’s Day week. It was written by my sister-in-law in 1995, when my dad passed away just a month before Father’s Day. I wanted to share it with you both as a reminder of the legacy a good father can leave for his family, and maybe as an inspiration for us fathers to strive even harder to do just that, or to appreciate our own fathers just a little bit more.

THE CHAIR
It sits alone, quietly yet prominently placed in the center of the hustle and bustle of the family room.
The aristocratic sheen of the burgundy leather has given way to dull wrinkles worn with comfort, worry and love.
The sunken cushions sweetly echo verses of humorous old tunes; they lumpily heave with tales of comrades lost in the war, and they are deeply creased with sage advice from a man of good intentions.
The understated, smooth arms of the chair remain strong and dignified - symbols of the humble man they supported in good and bad days gone by.
The smooth, tarnished brass rivets remain secure and intact. Abiding protectors of heartfelt family traditions, witty anecdotes and untold sorrows.
Tho its master has passed, the chair remains a constant reminder of a simple man who loved people. A man who believed the worth of a person came from the inside - giving no regard to titles, social standing, or wealth.
Like a candle in the darkness, the chair beckons us to come forth, sit, and think a while.
As its soft leather embrace warms our skin, the chair sadly yet lovingly imparts the wit and wisdom of a man we called "Dad."
For this, we thank you, old chair.


David Babicz
Lecturer, KofC Council #11666
June 14, 2022

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