Catholic on The Techno Scholar Chronicles

Book Review: Who Am I to Judge?: Responding to Relativism with Logic and Love

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:45:00 -0500

“Don’t be so judgmental!” is a phrase one might hear when talking to someone about morality, right and wrong, or good and evil. Dr. Edward Sri writes Who Am I to Judge? to address the problem of moral relativism and how we can respond to it with logic and love.

In a relativistic society, each person can have his or her own truth. Relativism denies that there is an objective truth, but there are many problems with this view. For example, relativism can become very self-centered, leading to a modern notion of freedom as doing whatever a person wants, even if it hurts relationships. In contrast, true freedom is the freedom to love. Through ethics and the moral law, man can fulfill his telos, his end goal, which is friendship with God and neighbor.

Book Review: Making Sense Out of Suffering

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:00 -0500

Making Sense Out of Suffering is a book by Peter Kreeft, a Catholic philosopher at Boston College. He writes very well, and this book is no exception. Part of what makes his writing style so effective is that it is very accessible. He is clearly a philosopher and knows the subject deeply, but there is a distinction between knowing philosophy and being able to communicate it. That is what Peter Kreeft does so well: he makes philosophy accessible to a general audience.

Book Review: Of Angels and Men: A Thought-Provoking Look at Angelic Action in Human History

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:00:00 -0500

Throughout salvation history, there is an unseen action of angelic beings intimately involved in human activity. This is taught theologically, and we encounter angels periodically in Scripture. Fr. Giesler reflects on events in salvation history from the angels’ perspective and highlights the “struggle between the good and the bad angels, and between good and not-so-good human beings.” He engages in a form of theological meditation, starting from what the Church teaches and thoughtfully developing what can be understood about the perspectives and activities of angels. It is beautifully done and makes for a good book for spiritual reading.

Book Review: Come Rack, Come Rope

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0500

Come Rack, Come Rope is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a time when practicing Catholicism could bring danger or even death. This historical fiction novel weaves real historical details into a gripping fictional story, following Catholic characters, mainly Robin and Marjorie, in how they respond to persecution and remain faithful to their beliefs.

The book contains rich elements of steadfastness in faith and the temptation to yield to the demands of the state. It explores the tension between religious and civic duties and the secret practice of the faith. The story also highlights hiding places for priests, navigating dangerous circumstances, and the varied responses of Catholics, with some engaging in conspiratorial resistance and others showing principled fidelity.

Book Review: The Documents of Vatican II

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:23:00 -0600

Growing up, I often heard about the many changes in the Catholic Church that followed Vatican II. It was a spiritually challenging time for many Catholics and for the broader culture. Many parishes experienced dramatic shifts in liturgy and practice, resulting in diminished reverence and understanding of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. I wasn’t there to witness it firsthand, but we still experience its effects in the Church and the wider culture.

Book Review: Passion Flowers in Bloom

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:04:00 -0500

Passion Flowers in Bloom is a beautiful collection of art and poetry centered on the Gospels and the Christian spiritual life. The book contains 51 poems, each well-suited for contemplation and prayer. The poems serve as meditations—focused on the truths and mysteries of the faith—and reflections on creation, personal struggles, or the simple beauty of life. Many are written from the perspective of a Passionist nun, yet they remain accessible to both lay and religious readers. The rhyming nature of the poems helps draw the reader into each mystery or reflection.

Book Review: Diary of an American Exorcist: Demons, Possession, and the Modern-Day Battle against Ancient Evil

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

This is an excellent spiritual read! Msgr. Rossetti, an exorcist, and his prayer team regularly perform exorcisms to drive out demons from people and places. Nothing is done by his own power but only through Jesus, the sacraments, and the intercession of the saints. An exorcist has a special authority given to him to command demons to leave. It is essential that the exorcist is obedient and faithful.

I had wanted to read this book since hearing Msgr. Rossetti speak at a Marian conference. As with spiritual warfare-type books, temptations can always arise. As a precaution, I always pray before reading from the book.

Book Review: Lord of the World: A Novel

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Lord of the World was written by Robert Hugh Benson, a Catholic priest, and published in 1907. Benson himself was a convert to the Catholic faith. He wrote this novel about a dystopian society centered around an anti-Christ figure, Julian Felsenburgh. This is a very packed and well-written novel! It shows one way that the Book of Revelations in the Bible and the loss of Christian faith could happen. The central theme is a growing belief in Humanism while denying Christianity and belief in God.

Book Review: The Power and the Glory

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This book was fascinating and mysterious, and it kept me wondering what would happen next. It is a fictional novel about a priest in Mexico during a time of anti-Catholicism when Catholicism was outlawed. This priest had been on the run for years, and the police had been unable to catch him. We start in the story by being introduced to different people, and it is unclear what is happening. However, as we progress through the pages, the story starts to focus on the priest, known as the whisky priest. We learn he has many moral struggles and is pulled between certain vices or sins and his higher calling.

Book Review: How Christ Saves Souls―with Us: The Mystery of Co-Redemption

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0600

This book was well done! I have not read a book on co-redemption before and it is not a topic I typically hear about. But, it is a topic that is easy to relate to!

The mystery of co-redemption is the free participation of Christ’s followers in the redemption of their fellow men and women. Becoming closer to God, participating in the sacraments, certain decisions we make for living out our faith, in how we work, play, and love one another, all participate in co-redemption.

Book Review: THE KAI: The Adventures of a Mystic Martial Arts Maintenance Man

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This is an honest memoir of Jamey Toner’s life with all the ups and downs, and the wanderings of his life. Constant throughout his life have been the martial arts (Kai) and his Catholic faith. There are many times he has gone from place to place and sometimes without money or a place to live.

As I read along, I was glad to see him get more stability in his life and to turn away from that old life of wandering. He relates wisdom from his Catholic faith throughout this memoir which edifies his story. It was edifying to me, for example, to see that he chose to be chaste (faithful in his faith) rather than to sin in a dating relationship.