Defenders of the Catholic Faith: Recent Episodes
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I suspect you’ve heard this short poem by Rudyard Kipling before, but it is good to sing-song your way through it again every once in a while.Once on a bus in Israel a man stood up on a long ride and recited it verbatim. Quite moved and impressed.*******It is entitle IF*If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
The post “IF” – An excellent short poem by Rudyard Kipling, and “you’ll be a man my son” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Breakfast aboard the ship then celebrated Mass at Matthias Church. Explored the beautiful city of Budapest with a tour of the Buda Castle Hill, and the Fisherman’s Bastion and views of the Danube and Pest, crossed the bridge and passed by St. Stephen’s Basilica and Hungary’s ornate Parliament building. Strolled through Central Market Hall before lunch on the ship.
Visited the artists’ local village of Szentendre, home to many generations of Hungarian artists before the imposing ruined fortress of Visegrad. Visited Esztergom, the former residence of the Hungarian kings and seat of the Archbishop, and the domed basilica, built in the early 19th century
Returned to the ship in Esztergom for dinner.
The post 2 Danube: Budapest, Szentendre, Fortress of Visegrad & Esztergom appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
POPE FRANCIS APPOINTS CONTROVERSIAL PREACHER
(CatholicVote) “Vatican analyst Luisella Scrosati has raised concerns over Pope Francis’ appointment of Capuchin Friar Roberto Pasolini as the new Preacher of the Papal Household.
“Fr. Pasolini has suggested that certain Biblical relationships — such as those between Jonathan and David or the Roman centurion and his servant — could be interpreted as homosexual.” On CatholicVote here: READ
The previous papal preacher was Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa who was appointed by Pope John Paul II. He retires, deservedly so, at 90 years of age this year.
He was the papal preacher for about 44 years. Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis respectively confirmed his position, and Pope Francis gave him the red hat in 2020. As he retires, I wonder what he thinks of the new preacher’s position on sexuality and characters in the Bible.
The post New Papal Preacher – Really! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Janet and I are currently in Rome and saw this memorial again. Always sad to see this memorial to an average guy killed on the side of the road. I think about this poor guy often.
I probably happened something like this….
It was just a normal morning — alarm clock, shower, espresso, dress and a saunter down the sidewalk to work. For Paul, it was another day with a whole lifetime ahead of him. But today was different.
Someone else got up this morning too. They had their coffee dressed and jumped in the car. They tried to catch up on their phone calls along the way and didn’t notice the car stopped in front of them. He swerved and his car jumped the sidewalk.
Paul didn’t even have time to blink. The car slammed into him as he walked to work and he was dead. It was over. No time to think. No time to call out to God. He was dead in an instant.
Was he ready? Where is he now? I don’t know.
A while ago in Rome, I was just out for a run along the same sidewalk. I saw the memorial bolted into the wall with flowers and prayers. Paul’s family hopes he is in heaven. They still bring flowers, light candles and pray at the place he was instantly killed.
I stopped. I pondered the memorial — Paul’s picture. He was a young man; looks like about 30 years old, handsome and full of life. Did he leave a wife and kids behind? Was he a church-goer or had he dropped out for more important things?
Flowers, candles, prayers, tears, longing, hope, sorrow, loneliness, regret. All of this was obvious from the remembrance placed on the sidewalk.
I crossed myself, said a prayer for Paul though I have no idea who he was — or is, I should say because life does not end at death but goes on in heaven or hell.
I suspect he didn’t know his life would end at 8:46 AM that morning. Nor did anyone else. Makes one wonder if his life was in order. Had he gone to confession? Did he harbor grudges against family or friends?
As I prayed and meditated a bit on the sidewalk, I thought of my own life and once again realized how fragile we are and how crucial it is to be right with God and the world at all times. We never know when a cell phone call or an absent-minded driver might snuff out our life.
It’s a good time to take a quick evaluation of your life. Are you ready to die?
For my story, The Last Nightmare: the Story of a Soul, click here.
The post Was He Ready to Die? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A while ago a Lutheran attended Mass with me. To prepare him in advance for what he was going to experience, I put together this short “Primer on the Mass.” I hope you find it helpful and useful. Pleases share if with family and friends if you think it could help them to understand.
Click below on the image for the full article
The post Short Primer on the Mass appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
In April 2025 we are taking a group of pilgrims to Poland for Divine Mercy Sunday to celebrate Divine Mercy and the Divine Mercy Shrine with the Sisters of Maria Faustina!!
So, I thought I would share this meditation on the Divine Mercy of God.
Mary knew mercy. Mary saw mercy. The mercy was so real and visible and close it may have splashed on her face. Sister Faustina’s Divine Mercy shows the blood and water springing from the side of Christ, the fountain of mercy. Mary stood at the foot of the Cross where the blood and water flowed from her Son’s side.
Mercy became flesh in Mary’s womb in Nazareth; Mary gave birth to Mercy in Bethlehem; she raised her Son and lived with Mercy for thirty years before sending him out to be and show mercy for three years.
Then she saw the ultimate Mercy demonstrated in such a divine and human manner— the Son of God, her own son, hanging on the Cross to make mercy available to all people.
John 19:34 “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.”
Imagine standing in all these places in the Holy Land when we go and celebrating it here with the nuns at the bones of St. Maria Faustina where we will pray the Divine Mercy with the sisters today. Imagine eating the Body and Blood of Our Lord — mercy itself — in the very places he showed us what mercy was. Join us Poland for Divine Mercy Sunday in Poland with the Sister of Maria Faustina in April 2025.
The post Mary Saw Mercy… so real and visible and close it may have splashed on her face. appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A while ago we went to Mass with two Protestants. As we walked in the door — there it was, as big as life — a CRUCIFIX with the Body of Our Lord hanging over the altar.
I knew what the Protestants were thinking — I used to think the same — “CATHOLICS ARE WRONG, JESUS IS NO LONGER ON THE CROSS, HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND IS IN HEAVEN.” Of course t,hey think Catholics are wrong to keep Jesus on the cross as though he had not risen and ascended into heaven.
Are they right? Well, YES and NO. Jesus DID rise and ascend into heaven and He IS glorified at the right hand of the Father and we are mystically seated there with him (1 Pet 3:22, Eph 2:6). BUT the Catholic Church is ALSO correct to show Jesus on the Cross — not only to remind us of His suffering and death and to show what happens during the Mass — but because in a mystical way He IS STILL on the Cross.
God the Father sits on His throne in heaven. And what does God see from his throne every time he “opens his eyes”? He sees Jesus on the Cross! Really? Yeah, really!
Jesus is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). In the Old Testament the lambs were slain on Passover to save the Israelites from death. The lamb was held over the altar, his neck was slashed with a knife and the blood was drained onto the altar.
This is why we have an altar in the Catholic Church! The altar represents the Cross (among other things). An Altar is where a Sacrifice takes place! Jesus was slain as our Passover Lamb to save us from eternal death and to appease the wrath of God. That sacrifice is re-presented at the Mass (see my talk Defending the Eucharist!).
Take a look at Revelation 5:5 and ask yourself — what John is telling us? It reads,
Between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain . . .“
Who IS the slain Lamb that is still standing? Jesus is the Lamb! Standing on a altar before the throne of God the Father is a Lamb still bearing the wounds of slaugher. Jesus is that Lamb and he still bears the wounds of His sacrifice. That is what God sees when He “opens his eyes” — Jesus the sacrifice — Jesus on the altar — Jesus on the Cross.
Charles Wesley, the great Methodist minister and hymn writer agrees. In his hymn “Arise, My Soul, Arise” in which he says the very same thing in very poetic terms.
“Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears; The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears, Before the throne my surety stands, My name is written on His hands. He ever lives above, for me to intercede; His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead: His blood atoned for all our race, And sprinkles now the throne of grace.”
But wasn’t Jesus crucified once and for all, never to sacrificed for sins again? Yes, of course! In space and time Jesus was crucified once and for all in AD 30.
In God’s eyes — in eternity which is not limited by space and time — Jesus was crucified before the foundations of the world (see endnote 1) and in “eternity future” He is still seen by the Father as a slain lamb on the alter in heaven, as the crucified Lord on the Cross. All salvation past, present and future is based on this one historical event.
In the Mass, Jesus is NOT re-crucified, but we partake in a mystical way in the re-presentation of the ONE ETERNAL SACRIFICE which is ever before the eyes of the Father (see Endnote 3).
I used to say “Jesus WAS our sacrifice. He cannot be crucified again on Catholic altars, so Catholics are wrong!” But the Bible says, Yes, he WAS our sacrifice, but he also IS our Sacrifice. Look at what John says in his first epistle:
“[Jesus] is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (RSV-Catholic Edition).
The Protestant NIV renders this “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
The Greek word for IS (eimi) is in the present tense. Today, right now He IS our propitiation, our sacrifice. After His resurrection with His new spiritual body Jesus still has the wounds of his crucifixion (Jn 20:27). He has a body in heaven and still bears the wounds of the Sacrifice. He is presented before God as slain sacrifice — yet now alive.
So, what does God see when He “opens his eyes”? He sees Jesus on the Cross! If this is what God sees in heaven, then it is certainly proper for us to show Jesus on a Cross to remind us what he did for us — and to see what God sees every day and has from eternity. So Catholic are right after all. Suprise! Surprise!
By the way, once a Baptist said to me, “You are wrong, Jesus is no longer on the cross, He is in heaven.” It happend to be Christmas and I noticed they had a Manger Scene (creche) on their table. I said, “Why do you have Jesus in the manger? He is no longer in the manger — he is in heaven.
“And oh,” I said, “isn’t that a cute statue of Mary! I thought you Protestants considered statues to be idols? Why do you have a statue of Mary in your house?”
Endnote 1: There are two ways to translate this verse, but either way it comes out making the point. The best Protestant translations of Revelation 13:8 read: “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (NIV – New International Version).
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (NKJV – New King James Version).
Endnote 2: Pictures: 1) Crucifix; 2) Passover Lamb slain by the modern day Samaritans; 3) Image of Jesus the Passover Lamb sacrificed on an altar before the Throne of God (could not make out the name of the author) 4) Caravaggio’s famous painting “Incredulity of St. Thomas.”; 5) Creche scene.
Endnote 3: Catechism paragraph 1367: “The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: ‘The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.’ ‘And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and offered in an unbloody manner. . . this sacrifice is truly propitiatory’.”
The post Mass with 2 Protestants and 1 Crucifix appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Grilled salmon sizzled on his plate as Andy and his family sat down for dinner. No sooner had they crossed themselves to bless the food than the doorbell rang. Andrew dragged himself to answer the door while his family began eating.
Two smiling faces peered in the door. “Good evening, we hope we’re not interrupting your dinner.” Rolling his eyes, Andy responded, “Can I help you?”
The first smiling face said, “We are from the local Baptist church and stopped by to see if you are born again.”
Andy had been a Catholic all his life and remembered hearing that phrase somewhere in his past, but at this moment he hesitated. “Well, ahh, I’m a Catholic.”
The second smiling face displayed a hint of glee, “Can we come in and share the Gospel with you?” Andy blurted out, “Actually, we are in the middle of dinner – maybe another time.” “OK”, said the delighted Baptists, “how about next Tuesday evening?”
Andy sighed and agreed. Sitting down to cold salmon, he realized he had his work cut out for him. After dinner, he retreated to his den, grabbed his Bible and Catechism and got to work.
Take a few minutes and study along with Andy as he prepares for the Tuesday visit and the inevitable debate on the much-abused phrase “born again”. Andy started by reading the third chapter of St. John’s gospel. Open your Bible and read along with Andy. Andy began his mission with a barrage of questions.
Is the phrase “born again” in the Bible (Jn 3:3)? Does the Catechism mention this “new birth” (CCC 720, 591)? To understand, Andy thought about Nicodemus. What do Nicodemus and his legalistic system represent (Ro 7:5-6; CCC 1963)? Can the Jewish Law bring new birth and salvation? Is being born of the seed of Abraham sufficient for salvation (Mt 3:8-9; Jn 8:33-47)? What is Jesus bringing to Mankind (Heb 9:15; 12:24; Lk 22:20; CCC 292)?
For the whole article and lesson, click here. Prepare yourself and your children for the inevitable question.
The post Baptist at the door, “Are you born again?” Prepare yourself to answer them! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We couldn’t believe that we got tickets for the actual Divine Mercy Mass at the Chapel with the Sisters on Divine Mercy Sunday 2025. This is an incredible opportunity.
Click here for the interactive map, itinerary, and brochure. The dates for this “Modern Saints of Poland Pilgrimage” are April 23-May 2, 2025.
We will especially follow Maximillian Kolbe, Maria Faustina and Pope John Paul II. We will also visit the death cell of Fr. Kolbe in Auschwitz.
The post Divine Mercy Sunday in Divine Mercy Chapel in Poland! Join us in April 2025 appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This new document by the faithful and astute Bishop James Conley STL of Lincoln Nebraska. This document was intended for his diocese but has exploded across the country. It is important for Catholics interested in Catholic education to enrich our children. It is not a short read, but it is well worth it.
The post A New Manifesto! “The Joy and Wonder of Catholic Education” by my friend Bishop James Conley STL appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Always fun answering questions and the lively discussion that ensues. Today the topic before questions came in was “The Twelve Unknown Sorrows of Mary”.
But then the questions came which covered a lot of issues on Mary. My interview is in the first segment.
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ca240923a.mp3Questions Covered:
- 25:15 – Is the song, Mary Did You Know, biblically accurate?
- 35:25 – What does it mean to be consecrated to Mary? How do you do it and why is it important?
- 43:44 – what are the Greek words when talking about Mary having other children?
- 48:52 – Are we human race a type of Mary that’s looking for Jesus?
The post Questions I Answered on Catholic Radio “Walking with Mary and her Suffering” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
At the request of Teresa Tomeo, in response to the notes I sent her in preparation for our radio show on Wednesday, I am sharing the Notes on St. Matthew that I shared with her. Clear here for the PDF version.
The post St. Matthew Notes for Feast Day on September 21 appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My deceased parents would have never believed this was even possible. This would’ve been unthinkable when they were raising us kids
The post It Would Have Been UNTHINKABLE to My Parents! Sexually Mutilating Kids appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Upcoming ‘Four Last Things’-focused CT Catholic Men’s Conference to feature Mass, talksCV NEWS FEED // Local Catholic men will have the opportunity to grow in their spiritual lives at the upcoming annual Connecticut Catholic Men’s Conference, which will include Mass, confession, and talks from national speakers.
According to the Norwich Diocese website, the conference’s theme is “The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell.”
The conference will take place on September 21. It will host national speakers to explore the theme: author Father Wade L.J. Menezes, CPM, Catholic apologist Steve Ray, writer Kevin Wells, and TV/radio host Peter Herbeck.
The conference will begin with a procession with more than 24 saint reliquaries. The event will also include confessions, adoration, and a Eucharistic procession, ending in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne.
Many male Catholic speakers and leaders have endorsed the conference, according to the conference’s website, including Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore.
“I warmly and wholeheartedly encourage you to actively participate in this conference, an outstanding opportunity to encounter Christ, along with countless other men of faith from around the state of Connecticut,” Archbishop Lori stated.
The founder and author of Catholics Come Home, Tom Peterson, also endorsed the conference.
“Every Catholic man, no matter what age, needs to be re-energized in his practices of our wonderful Catholic faith,” Peterson stated. “The Connecticut Catholic Men’s Conference does just that… it fills you with new vigor and ardor for Our Lord, his Holy Church, and the mission of the New Evangelization.”
The post Our Men’s conference in Connecticutt – National Coverage – My Topic: “The Last Four Things” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
It was 23 years ago today. I remember exactly where I was — my skin went cold. Everyone old enough to remember knows exactly where they were that morning.
This short visually-appealing video provides an overview of 9/11 which is no longer taught to our kids in school and most of them were not born yet.
They should know — and all of us should remember. That enemy still exists!
The post What Happened on September 11, 2001? 5-Minute Review especially for young people who may have no idea appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I watched the debate, even though I dreaded it. I have never seen such an unfair debate, ever!
It was Trump against Kamala and ABC — 3 against 1. The debate was dishonest and the questions loaded and fact checking against Trump but not Kamala.
I’m sure that Trump knew that he was going to be facing three opponents. And I think he contained himself well but was forced to be on the defensive most of the time.
Her sarcastic sneering during his responses was very demeaning and childish. With the help of ABC and the media spin she came off better than expected many expected.
ABC should be ashamed of themselves. Sorry, but I’m frustrated. God bless America!
The post Presidential Debate appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Abortion and Infant Sacrifice Every Tuesday I do a segment with Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio and EWTN. The series is called “Things in the Bible” and we have done over 165 of these topics over the last 5 years or so.
Today the topic was “Abortion and Infant Sacrifice in the Bible”. This is all the more important with the presidential elections right around corner. We think our own age is the most wicked ever but human history has been riddled with egregious and unthinkable practices related to infants and human beings in general.
Click the show notes for the whole document which is over four pages long. Hope it helps people think through the issue and biblical sources.
The post Abortion and Infant Sacrifice in the Bible – Show Notes for Sacred Heart Radio appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My father died 12 years ago at 94, married 73 years. He was the best father ever and introduced me to Jesus Christ and the Bible.
I still have his old King James Version and here are two pages to see what it looks like. It is a family treasure!
The post My Dad’s King James Bible – one of my most treasured possessions appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
There are six “truths” I’ve been asked about many times. People think I’ve never heard these “truths” before and attempt to explain them to me—though I know them all to be myths.
In each case, there is no historical, biblical or actual basis to substantiate any of them. Someone started teaching them by finding an assertion on the internet or in a book or magazine. The pious speculation gets picked up by teachers or bloggers with good intentions, and as the old saying goes, “if something is said often enough, it becomes true.”
So we will address each of these myths briefly and set the record straight.
Click here for the whole article.Click here for the whole article.
The post My New Catholic Answers Magazine Article: “6 Biblical Myths Debunked” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Dear Mr Steve Ray:
First, I would like to thank you SO much for your YouTube video about Peter, The keys, seat, etc., that led me to the catholicconvert.com site!! I learned a TON of cool stuff just from your video, and by participating on the message boards, I am learning more, and gathering many online resources for readings that are extremely interesting to me as a guy who is 46, and who will be a Catholic but one year this coming Saturday vigil!
I LOVE your apologetics stuff. I may be tooooo into apologetics for my own good, but since the rest of my side of the family are almost all Pentecostal, with a few Baptists mixed in, I want to be able to at least explain, or if necessary, defend my faith, just because mine is more correct!
I used to think that crucifixes were almost sacrilegious because Jesus isn’t on the cross anymore, that all Catholics were going to hell, and many other erroneous things. I totally feel like someone took a spiritual blindfold off of me and I am finally seeing the TRUE light of God. So awesome, and so very exciting. I can’t seem to learn enough, fast enough to suit myself.
Anyway, my own conversion story is attached. I wanted to just cover the main points. If you think more information in it would be helpful to others who are still locked into the Pentecostal realm, I’d be happy to put in illustrations and explanations of how damaged I was because of those people, who, when I was in RCIA, told me if I was going to be Catholic to just stay away. Thankfully we’re “cool” now.
I pray that you are blessed in all of your endeavors and that you and your family are well and stay that way until the Second Coming (not the 3rd and 4th ones I thought would happen).
Enjoy Sean Smiddy’s Story.
The post Sean Smiddy’s Story: From Pentecostal “Catholics are all going to hell!” to “The One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic Church” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
“Tracking Down Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh” by Steve Ray
St. Paul writes that God afflicted him with a ‘thorn in the flesh.’ What exactly was it? Let’s do a little biblical detective work.
Read or listen to the article in Catholic Answers Magazine, below…
LISTEN
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/amazon_polly_142416-1.mp3READ
The post Tracking down St. Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh” – my new article in Catholic Answers Magazine appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Want to go on a pilgrimage all around Jerusalem on foot? Back in 2011 when my knees were still strong I took off through all the holy biblical sites and documented them with videos and pictures.
The iPhone technology was not as good in 2011 as it is today, but it was an exciting 3-hour, 6.5 miles run through Jerusalem and surroundings to introduce you to the holy sites.
Join me in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, including Calvary, the Tomb, the place Judas hanged himself, Gethsemane, the place St. Stephen was stoned, top of Mount of Olives, Pool of Siloam, Western Wall, Upper Room, the tomb where Mary was buried, and a whole lot more.
This is a fun and informative, biblical and spiritual adventure running through Jerusalem. Due to limitations with YouTube, it is divided into three 8 minute videos. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Part 1 of 3: From Notre Dame Center to Mount Zion, Western Wall and Pool of Siloam…
Part 2 of 3: From Pool of Siloam to Mary’s birthplace at St. Ann’s Church…
Part 3 of 3: From Via Dolorosa, through the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, other sites and finally back to Notre Dame Center.
The post Ultimate Biblical Run through Jerusalem! Take a Virtual Pilgrimage even though Israel is Closed appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Cardinal Cupich gave the invocation at the Democratic National Convention as medical vans arrive for free abortions and vasectomies as the DNC pushes the most anti-Catholic, anti-life agenda in history. It says a lot about this guy, the Pope’s Cardinal in America.
The post Cardinal Cupich gives invocation at DNC appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Here is the video on “Mary, the Saints & Statues.”
Many sects and cults, denominations and heretical groups are enticing Catholics in the Philippines to leave the Catholic Church due to misleading and seductive accusations about Marian veneration, the Communion of Saints and statues.
I will address these issues on a live Facebook event Sunday, July 11 at 8 AM Eastern time, 8 PM Manila time. The event is hosted by Empower Philippines on their Coffee Conversations which reaches Filipinos around the world.
Do Catholics worship Mary? Why do Catholics “break” the 1st Commandment by making and bowing down to statues? Where does the Bible teach that we should pray to dead saints? Why do Catholics keep Jesus on the cross when we know he is living in heaven?
Join us on Saturday and we can discuss these things together and understand what the Catholic Church REALLY teaches and why we should be proud of our 2,000-year theological history and help bring others back into the Church.
The post For Filipinos and All: Steve Ray Live Discussion of Mary, Saints & Statues appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
What is greater than GodMore evil than the devilThe poor have itThe rich need itAnd if you eat it, you’ll die?When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten students got the answer,compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.The post A Good Riddle Few Can Figure Out – except kids appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
As you know, I like to recommend great movies for Catholic families to watch since there are so few of them. Today on the plane home from Ireland, we watched a movie that had Janet and I in tears and clapping on the plane. It was entitled One Life starring Anthony Hopkins.
This man save 669 children out from under the nose of the Nazi’s from Czechoslovakia who were sending them to the concentration camps. The ending of the movie you need to make sure you have Kleenex.
This movie demonstrates how all of us should look back at life when it’s time to go. We may have to make these same choices, starting with the pro-life cause.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Life_(2023_film)
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/one_life
The post Another Heroic Movie – Gather the Family! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
(A letter Steve wrote to an Evangelical friend asking for an explanation of the Crucifix)
Dear Protestant Friend:
You display a bare cross in your homes; we display the cross and the crucifix. What is the difference and why? The cross is an upright post with a crossbeam in the shape of a “T”. A crucifix is the same, but it has Christ’s body (corpus) attached to the cross. As an Evangelical Protestant, I rejected the crucifix—Christ was no longer on the cross but had ascended to heaven. So why do I now tremble in love at the site of a crucifix? Let’s examine the history and issues surrounding the two.
I will start with the Old Testament and the Jews’ use of images and prohibition of idols. I know in advance that it is not a thorough study, but it will give a general overview of the issues. I will try to provide a brief overview of the Cross and the Crucifix, the origin, the history, and the differing perspectives of Catholic and Protestant. It will try to catch the historical flow and include the pertinent points. The outline is as follows:
- The Three Main Protestant Objections to the Crucifix
- Images and Gods in the Old Testament
- Images and Images of Christ in the New Testament
- The Cross in the First Centuries
- The Crucifix Enters the Picture
- The “Reformation” and Iconoclasm
- Modern Anti-Catholics and the Crucifix
- Ecumenical Considerations
The Three Main Protestant Objections to the Crucifix
Let me begin by defining “Protestant” as used in this article. First, it is used to describe the first Reformers who tore down crucifixes and crosses in the first years of the Reformation; and second, it refers to general American Evangelical-type Protestants. Granted there are many Anglican and “high” Lutherans and others that do not object to the crucifix or other Christian symbolism. With that behind us, let’s begin.
The first major objection of the Protestant regarding the crucifix (an image of Christ on the cross) is that Christ is no longer on the cross–He is risen. I was raised with this observation and my friend would ridicule the Catholic traditions. My friend also challenged us when we first became Catholics, commenting, “We serve a risen Christ, not one that is still on the cross.” Unfortunately for them, since childhood my mother had valued her beautiful Christmas crèche scene. I asked the obvious: “Do you serve the risen Christ or one still in the manger?” (I also had to comment on the cute little statue of Our Lady standing over the plastic baby Jesus, along with the animals.)
Second, Protestants see the image of Christ on the cross as a violation of the command to make no graven image. The Reformers were big on this. Protestants now utilize plain crosses in their “churches,” on their walls, and around their necks, just as they have pictures of Jesus (always with soft skin and melodrama) on their walls. (I was raised with this feminine Jesus presiding, ever so romantically, over our dinner table.
After spending time in the Holy Land, driving through the Judean wilderness, and ascending Mount Tabor, which he and his disciples frequented, I doubt he was so dainty and delicate; he probably had calves like a bear and smelled a bit like one as well.) However, at the turn of the last century, the Protestant churches (excluding Lutheran) were still pretty much opposed to displaying of the cross, even the bare cross. The bare cross was not in wide use until recently, though current Protestants don’t know their own history on the matter and that their predecessors opposed it as much as they did the Crucifix.
Third, they object to the Crucifix because it is Catholic and to condone or display the Crucifix is to make a statement in favor of Catholicism. No one of “Reformed” persuasion would want to be identified as a Catholic. A bare cross seems to be generic, which is what most Protestants like–generic Christianity–with no history to criticize or Church to obey.
Images and Gods in the Old Testament
Since the people in olden ages worshiped idols made of earthly materials [Endnote 1], God forbade the children of Israel to possess such “gods”. “Then God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God’” (Ex 20:1-3).
To read this whole 14-page article, click here.
To read Steve’s other articles, click here.
For Steve’s talk “The Pain of the Crucifixion,“ click here.
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Walk through St. Stephens’s Green, celebrate Mass at St. Teresa’s Church. Visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Extensive driving tour of Dublin including Merrion Green and sassy image of Oscar Wilde.
Lunch and free time in the afternoon for shopping and sightseeing. We end our pilgrimage with a Traditional Irish Farewell Dinner at Nancy Hands Victorian Pub with food, drink, music and dancing!
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My grandpa is a nice old gentleman, with gray hair, and gold spectacles, and very fond of his little grandson Billy—that’s me. Grandpa and I often go out to walk together, that is, on fine days, because on cloudy days he never goes out of the house, but stays at home to keep “comfortable with the gout”, as he says.
One day we strolled along the edge of the woods and into the park, and after walking about for a while we sat down on a nice sunny bench. Grandpa took out a newspaper to read. As his eye glanced down the columns, he suddenly gave a grunt and hit the ground very sharply with his cane.
“Got the gout, Grandpa?” I asked.
“No, my dear, it’s nothing but the old Pope again.”
“Who is he, Grandpa?” I inquired.
“I am sorry to say he’s a bad man, and always has been my dear,” replied Grandpa, looking at me over his spectacles.”
“Why don’t the police pick him up then, and put him in jail?” I asked.
“Because there are so many people that think he is a good man,” answered my grandpa, “and as for trying him, Billy, there’s been plenty of that, if you only understood it; but as often as he is brought up in court, the fewer witnesses you can get to appear against him, and he always manages to come away not guilty.”
“How many people believe he is a good man, Grandpa?” I asked. “Probably ten or twelve?”
“A dozen!” laughed the old gentleman, “see here,” and he commenced drawing figures on the sandy path with his cane. “There,” said he pointing to his numbers scratched in the sand, “what do you think of that?”
“There’s a “1” with nine zeroes after it, I said, “Why, Grandpa, that’s over a billion people!”
“That’s about it, my dear.”
I thought it was rather funny that so many people could not find out that he was a bad man, and said so; to which my grandpa answered:
“It’s because they are all blind and superstitious Billy.”
“Are these people really that stupid, Grandpa? What kind of people can they be?” I asked.
“They are called Catholics, my dear.”
“Oh! I know,” I said, “I heard Pastor Roland preach about them, and that’s what Mr. Andrews became when he left our church. Why don’t you tell him, Grandpa, that the Pope is a bad man?”
“No use in that,” he replied; “he would only laugh at your grandpa, and tell him just what I have told you, that there are over a billion people who believe the Pope to be a good man; nearly four times as many as all us Protestants together who think he is bad.”
“What makes the Pope a bad man?” I asked, “did he steal something?”
“Yes, my dear Billy,” answered Grandpa, banging his cane down with each word, “he stole too much power and authority, and made himself the so-called head of the Christian Church over the whole world.”
“But,” I said, scratching my little head, “why don’t some of the billion people find out he is not the head of the Church, and tell the rest of the people?”
“They could not find out that he is not, when he actually is now, could they, little whipper-snapper?”
“I don’t mean that, Grandpa,” said I, “but why don’t they find out that he has no right to be the head of the Church, and find out when he stole all the power and authority?”
“Because nobody knows when or how he did it.”
“How do you know it then, Grandpa?”
Grandpa was suddenly seized with a violent fit of coughing, which made him very red in the face. I was afraid he was having a heart attack. My grandpa is rather fat, and has a short neck; and short-necked fat people always die of heart attacks, you know. In my fear I forgot all about the Pope, and ran to the drinking fountain to get some water for him, when who should come along but Mr. Andrews himself, whom we had just been talking about.
“Oh Mr. Andrews!” I cried out, “my Grandpa is very bad! Come quick!” Mr. Andrews looked over at my grandpa coughing on the bench; he cautiously said hello. Grandpa had stopped coughing and looked just fine now. Mr. Andrews smiled down at me, and said:
“Your Grandpa is not bad, little Billy, but very good, as everybody knows.”
“Oh! I don’t mean he’s a bad grandpa, “I responded, “but I thought he was going to die of a heart attack when I asked him about that bad man, the Pope.”
My grandpa didn’t know quite how to respond so he said, “Little Inquisitive here. He’s been asking me about the Pope, and I told him what I firmly believe, Mr. Andrews, that the Pope assumes an unfounded authority over the Christian world, and that it’s a wicked assumption. How could you, brought up in this enlightened country, and in an Evangelical church to boot, submit yourself to it?”
“Simply because I found out that (contrary to what you and I were taught in our early days) the Pope not only is, but always was the visible head, and earthly governor of the Christian Church; and that not until a comparatively late date in history was it ever doubted. To be called a Christian and acknowledge the Bishop of Rome as the chief pastor of Christ’s flock was one and the same thing. So after some research I concluded that I must either submit myself to his pastoral authority or be cut off from the Christian Church altogether.”
“You had plenty of Christian Churches you could join without coming to that silly conclusion,” growled my grandpa.
“You are right, there are plenty that call themselves the Christian church, over twenty-eight thousand to be exact,” replied Mr. Andrews, “but Jesus Christ told us there should only be one fold, and one shepherd” (Jn 10:16).
“I know” said my grandpa, “that those words about the ‘one flock’ seem to condemn us Protestants outright, but you see the truth is, no matter how many divisions there are, we’re all Christians, and Jesus Christ is our one shepherd.”
“All alike in theory maybe, if you will,” said Mr. Andrews, “but surely you won’t pretend to say that the Christian religion as Catholics believe it, and the Christian religion as Protestants believe it is just alike?”
“Of course not. Heaven forbid!” gasped Grandpa, “Our blessed Reformers cut us loose from your doctrines and your Pope too, and we escaped from your slavery, sir.”
“Grandpa,” I asked, “why didn’t everybody run away too?”
“Ha! ha!” laughed Grandpa, “very good! ha! ha! V e r y good, Billy; and left the old Pope all by himself! That’s a capital idea!”
Mr. Andrews pointed over in the direction of the hillside, and said: “I’m afraid we’d all be in the same predicament as those sheep over on the hillside if they took it into their silly heads to run off from their shepherd.”
My grandpa stopped laughing at this, and his face went blank, at least I thought so.
“St. Paul says,” continued Mr. Andrews, “that Christ is not divided,” and it is plain that the Church ought not to be divided, as you admit it is. ‘One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism,’ says St. Paul again (1 Cor 1:18; Eph 4:5). Now we Catholics are all under Christ, have one faith, and one baptism; and we are all in one church, governed by one head, but you Protestants are divided not only from us, but even among yourselves, with multitudes of faiths, different baptisms, acknowledging no head of your churches, and for ever quarreling and competing among yourselves.”
“I admit you have the Scripture on your side,” said my grandpa, “but then you push it too far, my dear Mr. Andrews. There is Peter’s name, now, which just because it happened to mean a rock, and because our Lord said He would build His Church on a rock, you say that He must have meant Peter.”
“I beg your pardon,” answered Mr. Andrews, “his name did not happen to be Peter, but Simon: and Jesus specifically changed it to Cephas, which is, interpreted, Peter, or Rock, as the Scripture says, because He meant to make him the foundation rock of the visible Church (Jn 1:42; Mt 16:18). Cephas, you know, is Aramaic for rock, and Peter is Greek for rock. But it is plain our Lord made St. Peter the head pastor over his flock, for He said, ‘Simon, son of John, feed my sheep, tend my lambs’; and you cannot deny that He said to St. Peter, ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven’” (Mt 16:19; Jn 21:15-17).
“No,” replied my grandpa, “I don’t deny it, because it is in the Holy Bible plain enough, but I don’t believe the Pope has got them, the keys that is.”
“Who else does then?” asked Mr. Andrews.
“Nobody has, and nobody wants them,” answered Grandpa, rather gruffly.
“What use did St. Peter make of them, and what did he do with them when he was martyred?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care”; and Grandpa, and when he said that, took up his newspaper again as if he did not wish to talk any further with Mr. Andrews. I was very anxious to know who had the keys of the kingdom of heaven, as any little boy would be, so I asked Mr. Andrews if he knew, and what St. Peter did with them. “St. Peter had the keys of the kingdom of the kingdom of heaven because he was the first head of the Church, and whoever is head of the Church in St. Peter’s place must have them now,” said Mr. Andrews.
“That is the Lord and Savior, my son, and not the Pope,” said my grandpa.
“Why, grandpa, didn’t you say the Pope was the head of the Church now, only he had no right to be?”
“Hold your tongue boy,” retorted my grandpa, “hold your tongue. What do you know about theology?” He then turned to Mr. Andrews (and I was glad he did, for that big word “theology” quite frightened me), and said:
“My dear Mr. Andrews, why can’t you Catholics get along without any man as the head of your Church?”
“Because,” replied Mr. Andrews, “nothing can get along in this world without a head. A headless Church would be as ungovernable, as shaky and as liable to go to pieces as a state, or a family, or an orchestra, or an army, or any other association without a head. Even Protestants have “heads” or pastors for each of their ‘churches’ to keep order and lead the flock. In principle there is no difference.”
“But I don’t want any such human head in my religion,” said my grandpa. “I want to be able to decide things for myself, to be my own head and-”
“Your own Pope,” interjected Mr. Anderson.
“And do my own thinking,” continued my grandpa, not noticing the interruption.
“And so you get what you’ve gotten,” said Mr. Andrews, “as many religions and sects as you have heads to think.”
“And you have given up being an enlightened and free American and Evangelical, and you let the Pope do your thinking for you, eh?” said my grandpa sneeringly.
“Not at all!” answered Mr. Andrews. “The Pope is as much obliged to believe and obey the same one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic truth, as it was first taught by Jesus Christ, ‘the faith once delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3), as I am, or the least one of the over one billion Christians who acknowledge him as their spiritual pastor.A truth, moreover, to which neither the Pope, nor even the whole Church can either add any thing new, or take anything away.
And as for freedom, friend Simon,” (Simon is my grandpa’s name), “I have never known what it is to be truly free in my faith, though at one time like you I thought I did, until I became a Catholic; for I am now bound to the opinions of no man or set of men, but only to those sure and settled universal principles and truths which the whole Church is bound to, and has always believed in every age of Christianity. Outside of these, I can believe as I will, and I’m bound only by common sense and decency. ‘You shall know the truth,’ said our Lord, ‘and the truth shall make you free’. The Church has always been faithful to preserve the truth of the Lord Jesus and His apostles.”
“I must say, Mr. Andrews, that you put things in rather a new light for me; and if what you say is true, it is worth thinking over,” said my grandpa.
“Yes, it is worth thinking over, Mr. Simon,” and with that Mr. Andrews dipped his hat and bid my grandpa and I a “Good morning,” and walked on.
My grandpa seemed to lose interest in his newspaper, folded it up, and we returned home. As we walked along he kept talking to himself and appeared to get so agitated that I was afraid the gout was rapidly coming on. When we arrived at the door of our house, we saw old Mick Mooney chopping up a load of wood on the sidewalk. My grandpa stopped right before Mick and he asked:
“Mick, who is the head of the Church?”
“Jesus Christ, sir, and visibly, the Pope who represents him as pastor, your honor, bless his holy reverence,” replied Mick.
“But,” said Grandpa, “our church has no Pope. What is the use of your Church having one?”
“How could we ever know the difference between Catholic and Protestant then?” asked Mick.
“I don’t understand you,” said my grandpa.
“Sure, if it wasn’t for the Pope, the Protestants might be calling themselves Catholics, and pretty soon everyone in the Catholic Church would be going off in a billion directions and lose their way. Then no one would know who was in the true fold at all, and no one would be there to direct them, begging your permission, sir.”
“But the Bible,” said Grandpa, “could tell you, Mick, better than the Pope too, whether you were of the fold of Christ or not.”
“I’m afraid not sir, begging your pardon,” replied Mick. “For there are lots of Protestants, very fair and wonderful folks they are too, honorable gentlemen, but the Bible don’t seem to tell them.”
“Why, Mick,” said my grandpa, “you talk as if you thought all us Protestants were out of the true Church because we don’t submit to the Pope. You might as well say we are all heathens for the same reason.”
“I believe,” said Mick humbly, “that our Savior said something like that, too. ‘He that will not hear the Church, let him be to you as a heathen and a publican’, and St. Paul, bless his soul, said the Church was the ‘pillar and foundation of the truth’ (1 Tim 2:15.), whereas I would suspect that you, Mr. Simon, would probably give those honors to the Bible alone.”
“The Church. Oh! yes, well, um,” said my grandpa. “Very true, but the Church is not the Pope.”
“You’re kidding me, right Mr. Simon, you’re just joking around.” answered Mick, with a curious look on his face, “You couldn’t hear the Church, I’m thinking, if the Church didn’t speak, and how is she to speak without a head and a mouth?”
“There’s some truth in that,” said my grandpa. “And I guess the Pope is the pastor of the Catholic Church. In principle, I can’t argue because I don’t know of any Protestant church that doesn’t also have a pastor to lead it.”
My grandpa thought deeply for awhile and then said, “Come, Billy, the Pope has been in court again, and came out ‘not guilty’ again, as usual;” and taking my hand, he led me into the house, and into the living room and sat down.
“Now,” he said, turning to me, “you see now what has become of your bad old Pope, little Billy?”
I began to tremble, for I was afraid something very dreadful had happened to the Pope, yet I managed to stammer out “Dear Grandpa! what has happened to him?”
“Why, just this, that your stupid old gouty grandpa is very much inclined to think that those one billion Catholics may not be so stupid after all. They may be right after all; and-” he continued, going to the window, and waving his cane like he was yelling to someone in the street-”what a blind old fool I have been, like a old mole, not to have seen this all before. We must thank God for His mercy and compassion, even for a gouty old man like me!”
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Departed for a tour of Dublin and Mass at Dublin Pro-Cathedral. Visited Trinity College, see the magnificent Book of Kells, an illuminated copy of the Four Gospels.
After lunch a tasting tour of the Guinness Brewery and Storehouse. Then the late afternoon and evening for some much deserved free time.
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Pastor Bob Preaches The Word (or does he?)By Steve Ray
Josh left Sunday services full of excitement, anxious to discuss Pastor Bob’s sermon with his sister Jennifer who had recently converted to the Catholic Church. The pastor had explained how salvation was by “faith alone” and not by rituals and works. He was anxious to discuss this with his sister; he was irked by her conversion to the “traditions of men” and “salvation by rituals.” How could she leave a Bible-believing Church to join the Catholics? Armed with Pastor Bob’s verses, he met his sister for lunch.
After ordering grilled salmon, Josh got right to the point. “Sis, I am dismayed that you have abandoned the Bible to follow Rome. Last Sunday Pastor Bob preached about Baptism right straight from the Word of God. I wish you could have heard him.” Jennifer smiled. Josh continued, “He showed how the Catholic Church ignores the Word of God.”
Josh pulled out his black leather Bible. “Baptism does not save you, Sis. Look at this verse.” After quite a few verses he turned to Genesis 15:6 which said that ‘Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness’. “Where do you see anything about Baptism?” After listening patiently for a while Jennifer interrupted the litany of out-of-context proof texts with a sisterly word of advice.
“You know Josh, you flip through that Bible with very little regard for the context. You treat the Bible as though it were a book of numbered quotations randomly collected and unrelated to each other. Did you know that the chapter and verse divisions were not part of the original text of Scripture?” Josh was more interested in finding the next verse than in listening to Jennifer.
“Remember Josh, even in Hebrews, when quoting the Old Testament the writer says that “one has testified somewhere, saying” (e.g., Heb 2:6) because there was no easy way of refer to the passage. The Old Testament Scriptures were written on huge scrolls that had to be unrolled-just straight text with no divisions. The New Testament writings were handwritten on papyrus or parchment. For more than 1500 years verse divisions, which we take for granted, did not exist.”
“Come on Sis, what does that have to do with Baptism? Verse numbers make it easier to use the Bible. I just gave you a lot of verses that prove my view of baptism, and you give me a history lesson.”
Jennifer smiled, “My point exactly Josh! Chapter and verse divisions have made it easier to abuse the Bible since people too often view the Bible as a collection of “sayings” divided numerically into bite-sized sound bits. You are a good example-just look at your list of proof-texts about Baptism. You treat the Bible as though it were a collection of unrelated, numerically arranged sentences to pluck out at will. The Bible is actually made up of whole writings to be read in context. Remember that ‘A text without a context is a pretext’. “
“Sis, let’s get back to Baptism. How can you believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation when the Bible says we are saved by faith alone? Read John 3:16 and you’ll see that ‘whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ Do you see anything about baptism in that verse? Only faith!”
“You’re right Josh, you cannot find the word “Baptism” in that particular verse. But are you willing to set aside the practice of “proof-texting” and look at the whole context? You don’t start reading Gone with the Wind in the middle of the book and then skip around willy-nilly reading individual paragraphs do you? Of course not! Then why misuse the Bible that way. Let’s stop for a minute and look at the whole picture-what is St. John saying in context?”
Josh protested, “Jennifer, I have more verses about salvation by faith without mentioning baptism than you have that mention Baptism.” “Really,” said Jennifer, “so you feel we can ignore verses-cut them out-if they don’t fit our theology to balance the verses that do? Come on Josh, that’s not honest. Jesus doesn’t divide it into either faith or baptism. as you do; rather, He proclaims salvation through both faith and baptism. Don’t divide what God puts together. Let’s take a look at what the New Testament actually says.”
Josh agreed and they sat for almost an hour reading the text of St. John and comparing it with the other New Testament writings. Fortunately for us, they took good notes which we are able to pass on to you. Let’s see what they discussed.
Biblical Context:
John 3: What does one have to do to avoid perishing and gain eternal life (Jn 3:16)? How are faith and sacraments both necessary, not mutually exclusive (CCC 161; 1236)? How does one become a child of God (Jn 1:12-13)? How does Jesus explain birth from God to Nicodemus (Jn 3:3)? What must take place for one to “see the kingdom of God” (Jn 3:3)? How does Nicodemus misunderstand Jesus (Jn 3:4)? In order to be “born from above”, what two elements are necessary (Jn 3:5; CCC 720; 1215)? Does Jesus describe “faith alone” as the means of New Birth (Jn 3:5)? How does the Catholic Church continue Jesus’ teaching (CCC 1238; 1257)?
All of John: What had previously happened to Jesus that was still fresh on the mind of Jesus’ listeners and John’ readers (Mk 1:9-1; Jn 1:29-34)? How were “water” and “Spirit” involved in Jesus’ baptism? After speaking with Nicodemus about being born again through Baptism, what does Jesus begin doing immediately (Jn 3:26; 4:1)? What did “believers” in Jesus do to obey Him and be born again (Jn 4:1)? How does this “framework” of John three explain St. John’s meaning about being born again, believing, and being baptized? (For more on the context of St. John, see Crossing the Tiber.)
The New Testament: How does Peter conclude the first Gospel message (Acts 2:38)? Does he mention “water” and “Spirit”. What did Ananias tell Paul to do after Jesus confronted Paul-when were his sins washed away (Acts 22:16)? How does Paul later describe this experience of “water and Spirit” (Titus 3:5; CCC 1215)? According to Peter, what saves us now (1 Peter 3:21; CCC 1219)? What does Mark say (Mk 15:16)? How would the Jews have understood the Prophets on this matter (Ez 36:25-27)? Is context important (CCC 109-114)?
For more on this, see my article “Are You Born Again?”
Context from History and the Fathers and even Martin Luther
Historical Note on Chapter Divisions: Archbishop Stephen Langton (d. 1228). Verse divisions: Robert Stephens in 1551. First Bible with chapter and verse divisions: 1555 edition of the Latin Vulgate.
Tertullian (c. 160-c. 225)
“Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life” (On Baptism).
Tertullian (c. 160-c. 225)
“Now this heresy of yours does not receive certain Scriptures; and whichever of them it does receive, it perverts by means of additions and diminutions, for the accomplishment of it own purpose; and such as it does receive, it receives not in their entirety; but even when it does receive any up to a certain point as entire, it nevertheless perverts even these by the contrivance of diverse interpretations. Truth is just as much opposed by an adulteration of its meaning as it is by a corruption of its text” (Prescription against Heretics, 17).
Justin Martyr (martyred AD 165)
“They are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father . . . and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, ‘Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’. . . . And for this [rite] we have learned from the apostles” (First Apology).
Origen (c. 185-254)
“Let us remember the sins of which we have been guilty, and that it is not possible to receive forgiveness of sins without baptism.”
Origen
“The Church received from the Apostles the tradition [custom] of giving Baptism even to infants. For the Apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of divine mysteries, knew that there is in everyone the innate stains of sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit.
St. Augustine (354-430)
“Who is so wicked as to want to exclude infants from the kingdom of heaven by prohibiting their being baptized and born again in Christ?” (On Original Sin).
Martin Luther
“This fountain might well and properly be understood as referring to Baptism, in which the Spirit is given and all sins are washed away” (Luther’s Works, ed. Jaroslav Pelikan [St Louis: Concordia, 1973], 20:331).
Martin Luther
“If the world last long it will be again necessary, on account of the different interpretations of Scripture which now exist, that to preserve the unity of the faith we should receive the Councils and decrees [of the Catholic Church] and fly to them for refuge” (Letter to Zwingli).
Catechism of the Catholic Church“In order to discover the sacred authors’ intention , the reader must take into account the conditions of their time and culture, the literary genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling, speaking and narrating then current· Be especially attentive ‘to the content and unity of the whole Scripture.’ Different as the books which comprise it may be, Scripture is a unity by reason of the unity of God’s plan·” (110, 112).
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Sad to leave this exceptional Lyrath Estate but we have a busy day. Celebrated Mass in St Marys Cathedral in Kilkenny followed by a guided walking tour of this historical and lovely city’s center. Time for lunch in the pubs and restaurants and visiting the Kilkenny Design Center.
Traveled over the Wicklow Mountains to the 6th Century Monastic site of St Kevin at Glendalough for a guided tour. It is always encouraging and challenging to see the deep faith and commitment of these Irish Catholics through the centuries, and often times with deprivation and persecution.
Then arrived at our Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Great day!
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Great first day even with flight issues. We took off from the Dublin Airport in our elegant bus and drove through the Midlands of Ireland. Our guide, Owen is exceptional and explains everything to us and does so with a great Catholic emphasis.
We stopped in Athlone in the center of Ireland on the Shannon River for a short time of wandering through this old town. Many of us went to the oldest pub in Europe that’s been there 1100 years and also visited the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
Then to the ancient Abbey of Clonmacnoise started in 800 for Mass where Pope John Paul II prayed. People said they couldn’t believe how beautiful it all was. Then to the West Coast at our elegant hotel on the coast in the flower-bedecked village of Westport.
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Janet and I always look for good movies to watch. We don’t have local TV or cable TV but we watch good streaming movies (and love avoiding all the trashy commercials). This week Janet discovered a real gem.
Not to give the story away, but it is about a German footballer (soccer player) who ends up in a prison camp in England. It is a wonderful drama that drew us in. A story of redemption, heroic action, love and overcoming national and political hatred and contempt.
I told all our kids to stop what they were doing, gather the older kids around and enjoy a good heart-lifting movie.
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I post this blog again every time the readings at mass her about the multiplication of loves and fish.
When confronted with this at Mass a while ago I wrote a letter to the priest which became an article in Catholic Answers Magazine. Article HERE. The priest said there was no miracle when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish. All he did was teach selfish people to share and they pulled extra loaves and fish from their picnic baskets and shared them with everyone. The sharing was so generous that there was a whole lot left over.
In John 6:1-14 it says Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children. When Jesus fed the 10,000+ people, he didn’t really do a miracle, right?
He just taught everyone to care and share, right? You’ve probably heard that homily, right?
The people had all brought picnic baskets which they kept hidden up under their robes.
Jesus convinced them all to pull out their picnic baskets to share with everyone else. The REAL miracle was not multiplying loaves and fish, but in teaching selfish people to share.
Isn’t that sweet? And after they shared their food Jesus taught them all to sing “Kum Ba Ya” and they joined in the liturgical dance. A good time was had by all! Or so say some trendy homilists!
Click here for more info or to buy, only $5
Click on the image to learn more about Steve’s talk DEFENDING THE EUCHARIST: YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Well I had ENOUGH of that nonsense. I sat at Mass on Corpus Christi Sunday and heard the priest insult the intelligence of everyone in the church. He also insulted the Word of God and the tradition of the Church. He twisted the Gospel reading like a rubber nose.
I almost stood up to protest but my good wife said, “Steve, no! Go home and write!” So I did.
About 12 pages later I had written a very thorough response to the trendy priest and to all others who preach this nonsense. I sent a copy to the priest, to his bishop and to Catholic Answers. It was then published in the January 2008 issue of THIS ROCK Magazine.
I hope this thorough rebuttal of nonsense will be copied and given to every homilist who insults us with such pablum. Hopefully we can put this insulting claptrap to bed once and for all.
For the whole article in THIS ROCK click here. My book CROSSING THE TIBER deals extensively with the Eucharist in the Old and New Testaments and the first five centuries of Christianity. You can learn more here.
The post Multiplication of Loaves a Miracle or Just a Lesson in Sharing? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Click on image for whole storyHow did a Baptist kid from Gilmore Texas eventually become a Catholic priest? This is a delightful story full of instruction and apologetics.
I love to share conversion stories to affirm our Catholic Faith. Such a story as this rings in our hearts and confirms that we are in the right place. It also gives us knowledge and insight to share the truth with others.
The title of the interview is “Are You Saved?” Coming from Texas, which is known as part of the Baptist Bible Belt, this is a timely and appropriate article.
You can enjoy the who interview and moving story HERE.
The post How Did a Nice Baptist Kid from Texas Become a Catholic Priest? “Are You Saved?” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me. “That was not very Christ-like.” This response usually comes after being honest to the point of making someone upset. The implication is that Jesus was a cuddly little nice guy who was always smiling, always accepting with kind words – in short NICE.
In America we tend to be pretty nice, except maybe if you live in New York City. But in contrast to the rest of the world we tend to be very polite, genteel, gracious and nice. Tour guides in other countries say that Americans are the nicest people. We transpose our niceness onto Jesus and think he was a lot like us.
But does LOVE = NICE?
Of course Jesus was loving. He is God after all and God is love (1 John 4:8). We also know that love does not always equate to NICE. God allowed Paul to have a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble (2 Cor 12:7). Three times Paul prayed for it to be removed. God said NO. God was not acting very American. He certainly wasn’t very nice about it.
Nice is defined primarily as “pleasant or commendable, kind or friendly” (Collins English Dictionary). It originally comes from the Latin meaning “simple, silly or ignorant.”
There is such a thing as “tough love.” It is the kind of love that cares enough to be honest, to confront, to discipline, to cause temporary pain to bring about eternal glory. On the surface “tough love” does not always appear to be nice. How often has a child, sent to the corner blurt out “You are not very nice!”
Was Jesus nice?
Like Aslan the Lion in C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series, Jesus is approachable and loving, but don’t ever consider him “tame” or too cuddly. Jesus is God as well as man. He expressed the wrath and anger of God as well as the mercy and love of God.
Imagine coming to the Temple in Jerusalem one day to pray. You hear a great commotion and run over to see an angry man throwing over tables, grabbing the money from the merchants and throwing the money on the ground.
But worse, you see him make a scourge of cords – a whip – and striking people with it. You are shocked that anyone would be so rude and destructive, so inconsiderate and mean to lash people with a whip. People ran in fear! Everyone was upset. Jesus was red in the face and scowling. It certainly wasn’t very “Christ-like.” How nice was that?
Jesus was always loving, but he was not always nice, as we Americans count niceness. Here is just one example. Jesus spoke very harshly to his fellow Jews.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. . . . You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Matthew 23:27, 28, 33).
Ouch! It doesn’t sound very kind and courteous: not very thoughtful or nice!
So, maybe there is more to WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) than we’ve been led to believe. Maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about being nice, being liked, acting like genteel Americans. Maybe we ought to be more honest and forthright about the things that really matter. Maybe we should be more willing to hurt some feelings, step on some toes, show tough love to those in sin.
Maybe we should be more Christ-like.
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We have the Devotion of the “Seven Dolores”, or the Devotion of the Seven Sorrows.
But Mary suffered far more sorrows than those seven.
From ‘The Glories of Mary’ by St. Alphonsus Liguori we read,
“In this valley of tears, every man is born to weep, and every one must suffer those afflictions that daily befall him. But how much more miserable would life be, if every one knew also the future evils which are to afflict him!
“The Lord exercises His compassion towards us, because He does not make known to us the crosses that await us; that if we are to suffer them, at least we may suffer them only once.
“But He did not exercise this compassion with Mary, who, because God wished Her to be the Queen of Sorrows, and in all things like His Son, and to see always before Her eyes, and to suffer continually all the sorrows that awaited Her; and those were the sufferings of the passion and death of Her beloved Jesus.
“For St. Simeon in the temple, after having received the Divine Child in his arms, predicted to Her that this child was to be the mark for all the opposition and persecution of men; “Set for a sign which shall be contradicted”; and that therefore the sword of sorrow should pierce Her soul: “And Thy own soul a sword shall pierce.”
“The Holy Virgin Herself said to St. Matilda, that at the announcement of St. Simeon all Her joy was changed into sorrow.”
The post “The 12 Unknown Sorrows of Mary” – Steve Ray’s Biblical Meditations appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
It is sad that so many expect perfection before they will stand behind a good man.
We have two choices this November — radically different choices for the future of America, our families, Israel, the world and the Church. Who else will fight on our behalf to stop the insane destruction of America and restore sanity in the world.
Even if one is skeptical about Trump and Vance remember that God uses flawed people. He does not expect perfection before he calls a person for his service.
God draws straight with crooked lines. He has always used flawed men to do his will — King David the murderer and adulterer (whom God says was a man after God’s own heart) and Solomon the idolater.
God calls himself “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”, yet Jacob means “supplanter” and he was a crook and swindler. Moses was a murderer and stuttered, Aaron the High Priest was a coward and pushover.
God used Peter who denied him and waffled in his ministry at times and many others who were not even believers like the King of Persia (Ezra 1:1-4) — a host of flawed individuals.
I am not going to waste my time or your’s pointing out flaws in Trump or Vance (but I will point out my own). Frankly, from what I am learning, Vance is the ideal man to fill this slot. He is intelligent, conservative, a Catholic, eloquent, young and ready to defend freedom of religion and America.
I will pray for him and defend him and oppose the nay-sayers who have nothing better to do than take cheap potshots. Who would they be happy with?
Here is a 1.5 minute clip on Vance’s conversion to the Catholic Church.
https://x.com/CatholicVote/status/1812974268986323076
The post Vance not the choice of some Catholics? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Trump has chosen his vice president and it will be JD Vance. He’s a young senator from Ohio and a recent convert to the Catholic Church.
From what I can find he’s also pro-life and gave a talk at Franciscan University a couple years ago. Here’s a picture of him with Dr. Scott Hahn.
And I can’t wait for the first vice presidential debate.
The post JD Vance, Catholic Convert, Trump’s New Running Mate appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The post “The Bible in 10 Minutes” – if you haven’t watched this yet, it is quite good appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
It is always a great joy to answer lots of questions from non-Catholics who are questioning Catholic teaching and practice. Some of them are belligerent and others working their way into the Church. These are the questions I answered this week.
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ca240710b.mp3You can listen to the audio or watch it on YouTube. I am the first of two hours.
Questions Covered:
- 06:15 – Why is the Filioque such a big deal?
- 11:24 – Was Mohammeds spiritual encounter authentic, and if it was, was it angelic or some other nefarious being?
- 14:10 – I was raised Pentecostal. I think I understand the Marian dogmas, but it feels weird, and it feels like worship. How can I make it feel less like worship?
- 19:19 – If your name is in the book of life then how could it ever be removed?
- 31:55 – What is the response to the claim that speaking in tongues is necessary?
- 35:55 – How and when did the Catholic faith start?
- 43:03 – If a priest is in mortal sin, how can he absolve me of my sins?
- 48:37 – How can we challenge the claim that only the apostles had the ability to forgive sins and not the successors?
- 52:39 – I want to go back to church, will it cost me money? What are the requirements? The post Q & A from Non-Catholics – Questions I answered on Catholic Answers Live appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A month ago William Albrecht and I got together for an hour to discuss the Apostolic Fathers in general and then honed in on the life of St. Ignatius of Antioch who almost singlehandedly brought me into the Catholic Church.
We finished up our 2-art series with an overview and discussion of four more of these early witnesses to the Apostolic Tradition — with the words of the Apostles “still ringing in their ears”. We cover St. Polycarp of Smyrna a disciple of St. John the Apostle, St. Clement of Rome a convert of St. Peter’s and 3rd pope from Peter, St. Irenaeus a champion of the Faith and disciple of Polycarp and finally Justin Martyr.
Below the video is a timeline and chart showing the proximity of these Apostolic Fathers to the Apostles and Jesus himself. Click on the timeline for a larger, printable image.
The post Apostolic Fathers, Part II with William Albrecht: Polycarp, Clement, Justin Martyr & Ireneaus appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The first time we did this pilgrimage through France it was a huge success and a very blessed time. This trip will be even better! Join us November 30 – December 9, 2024.
D-Day, also known as the Normandy Invasion
This turning point in World War II occurred on June 6, 1944 — eighty years ago. We will celebrate that crucial battle in Normandy France and walk on Omaha Beach. On that day, more than 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops stormed the fiercely defended beaches of Normandy in northern France. This operation marked a critical turning point in World War II.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
This iconic church was severely damaged by fire in 2019. After 5 years of of restoration, Notre Dame is scheduled to open on December 8 AND WE WILL BE THERE! We are hoping to have Mass in the Cathedral the day it opens.
To top all of that, we will also visit Lisieux, home of St. Therese and celebrate Mass where her family did. Mont-Saint-Michel is stunning beyond belief as we spend time exploring and visiting the village.
We will visit the Cathedral of Saint Vincent and later that day celebrate Mass in Pontmain where the Virgin Mary appeared to four children in 1871.
Paris and the Seine River cruise. Chartres, Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Catherine Labouré’ incorrupt body and the Miraculous Medal.
Just a few blocks away, another incorrupt body of St. Vincent de Paul. See the Basilica of Sacre-Couer in Montmartre, where perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has continued uninterrupted since 1885.
And so much more. For the interactive map, itinerary, brochure and more info — and to register on-line visit here.
You will also receive a 2-hour movie of your pilgrimage as a keepsake. Here is the video we produced for our pilgrims on our last pilgrimage through France.
The post Saints & Shrines of France – including D-Day and Opening of Notre Dame Cathedral! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The old Baptist hymns still stir me and bring tears to my eyes. They take me back to my childhood when the family would dress up, us kids in our little suits with cheesy ties and short-legged pants (I’m the one in the plaid jacket). Dad would always give us candy during the service and put his arm around us while tickling our ears. The good old days.
Dad used to tear up at the old hymns. As he lay in his bed dying a few years ago we put the Bill Gaither Trio (YouTube) albums on the iPad I bought him. He would listen to the classic hymns over and over again. I think he could already see the Lord and was ready to go.
Sunday we sang two of those old classics at Mass. I looked over expecting to see my dad and mom sitting there in their 50’s suit and dress, smiling as their three boys fidgeted in the pew waiting to get back to our ponies and swimming pool. Yeah, I had tears running down my checks.
When I got home I called my brother Tim. He said he too cannot even sing those hymns at Mass without choking up and the words stop coming. Mom and Dad were the best; those old Baptist hymns are surely sung in heaven and I have fond and loving memories on my Baptist upbringing.
The hymns from last Sunday were “What Can Wash Away My Sins, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus” and “How Great Thou Art” (YouTube video).
Put the hymnal away — I can sing those by heart and from my heart. I still sing them mom and dad who is surely watching from heaven — still praying for their boys.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this I see–
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my plea–
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, ’tis all of grace–
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my hope and peace–
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness–
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
The post Tears Singing Good Ole Baptist Hymns appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
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Did you know about this forgotten verse to the “Star-spangled Banner”?
(Picture: this is the flag on my front porch!)
*“O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand;
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land;*
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave;
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
I am proud to be a Catholic American! I display our flag proudly and I am ever so grateful for my US passport so I can always come back home.
Also, read this wonderful article about our country and our flag https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/07/america-the-awesome/
It starts out —
“For all the pomp and circumstance of its presentation, there is something admirably humble about America’s national anthem.
“Britain’s anthem is cartoonish, with its repeated entreaties to “save” an already-well-secured monarch and its insistence that God is destined to “scatter” the “knavish” enemies of the crown. France’s anthem is utopian, with all those references to the “child of the fatherland,” the “day of glory,” and the prospect of “impure blood” watering the fields.
But America’s? America’s has about it that quality of the unknown. From the outset, it poses questions. “O say, can you see?” it inquires. “O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave / O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”
“Eventually — when the “rocket’s red glare” gives “proof through the night that our flag was still there” — the answer is “Yes,” and yet, implicit in the inquiry is the notion that if things had gone a little differently, the flag and all that it represents might well have ended up in tatters…” Finish HERE
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The pope holds a unique position in all the world. No other existing religious or civic government has a leader of an office that has lasted for two thousand years like the Chair of St. Peter. No other religious leader represents over one billion people in a successive role founded by Jesus Christ Himself. What leader of such a longstanding organization with such massive global proportions and authority can rightfully claim to possess the charism of infallibility?
The successor of Peter uniquely fills a successive role founded by Jesus Christ Himself—to be the rock upon which the Church is built, to be the keeper of the kingdom’s keys (Matthew 16:17-19), to be the shepherd of God’s flock (John 21:15-17), and to be the visible source of unity and protector of the deposit of truth. The pope and the structure of the Church are ordained by God to maintain Christ’s visible presence and unity among the faithful.
Since the pope has the charism of infallibility, some feel that it is schismatic or heretical to question, challenge, or criticize the pope, even when he is not exercising that charism within the strictly defined conditions. Since the Church does claim that the pope has the special gift from Christ as the successor of St. Peter (CCC 891), we must ask what this infallibility consists of and if this pope, or any pope, is then beyond scrutiny and criticism?
Infallibility is a concept and power that must be defined. For example, it does not mean a pope is impeccable. Nor does it mean that everything he says or does is without error. He cannot predict baseball scores or next week’s weather. His charism of infallibility is carefully defined by the Church as to what it is and what it is not.
According to the Catechism (citing Vatican I),
The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful—who confirms his brethren in the faith—he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. (891)
The conditions for infallibility are that 1) he acts freely as supreme pastor, speaking “ex cathedra,” or “from the chair”—not expressing his own personal opinion, 2) when he intends to specifically define a doctrine binding on the Universal Church and pertaining to the Church’s deposit of faith, and 3) when the definition pertains to and is in harmony with the Church’s constant tradition regarding faith and morals. This is a very high bar that has been invoked only rarely in Church history.
Of course, a pope may freely express his opinions and teach on any matter, but infallibility does not extend to areas extraneous to faith and morals—such as science, climate change, or immigration. When the pope teaches or speaks not “ex cathedra,” are the clergy and lay people able to analyze, scrutinize, and even criticize? The answer is yes—but, certainly, with all respect for the office and deference to the successor of Peter.
Click here for the rest of the article and the proofs from Scripture, the Catechism and quotes from the popes and history.The post “Is A Pope Beyond Criticism” – my article today in Crisis Magazine appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This short video clip of Tucker Carlson exposing and shaming an Aussie reporter is just too good.
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https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Steve-Ray-1.mp3HOME PAGE WITH SHOW NOTESThe post Is the Mass Really a Sacrifice? A Conversation between Steve Ray and Fr. Robert McTeigue SJ appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
With China so much in the news and their pushing of atheistic communism, this story of Juekun Wen is a delightful readCV NEWS FEED // In a recent op-ed published in The Catholic Spirit, Juekun Wen, a recent Catholic convert, shared his journey from the atheism he grew up surrounded by in China to Catholicism in the US.
“I became Catholic because I am a seeker of truth,” Wen wrote in his June 17 article. “God planted wonderful people along my journey in my darkest hour to show me the path of light, leading me toward him.”
Describing his upbringing in China, Wen recalled that his family did not practice religion. He did not encounter Christianity until he was 25. “I have always been taught that nothing is valid until proven to be true,” he wrote. “Skepticism was my religion.”
However, after finishing his studies at the University of Richmond, and working for a few years as a lab technician, Wen decided he would visit his parents before returning back to the US to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota.
Then covid happened.
Wen was faced with either having to return to China and potentially be unable to return for graduate school, or remain in the US without a job or place to live.
“I was very depressed and anxious and felt that my life had hit rock bottom. Little did I know that the Almighty had his plan for me, even though I was not one of his followers yet,” he wrote.
Ultimately, Wen recalled that it was one of his undergraduate professors who came to his aid, and subsequently led him to the Catholic faith.
Upon hearing of Wen’s circumstance, the professor and his family, who are all Christian, offered to host Wen for as long as he needed. It was during this time that Wen began to learn about Christianity.
Wen later attended the University of Minnesota, where his professor connected him with the family that would later become his sponsors to the Catholic Church, and the future godparents to his child.
Alongside his studies, Wen discovered that the more he learned about God, the more he realized that religion and science “are not in conflict.”
For the whole article, click here.
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Filmed by Steve Dawson of St. Paul Street Evangelism…
The post My short video tribute to my friend Al Kresta appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE WHOLE ARTICLE
The post Here is my article with Memories of Al Kresta in our earlier days in National Catholic Register appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Rough draft of my article My Memories of Al Kresta. this article to be uploaded later today from NCR.
Memories of our Friend Al Kresta in Pictures (1984-2025)
Page 1: Our conversion in 1994 with Al as my sponsor
One of our first apologetics conferences in the 80’s
Page 2: Another apologetics conference together with other friends
Al and I at the starting Ave Maria Radio at Dominos Farms with him
Page 3: Picture of Al’s family a few days before his death — yes, 21 grandkids
Kresta’s in our living room in the early 90’w putting on a family music fest
Page 4: Playing their funny song “Dogs in the night; dogs in the night!”
Afternoon at our house including Fr. Ed Fride
Page 5: Picnic at our house around 1985
Lunch at our house with Al’s kids and our daughter Cindy to the left
Page 5: Our families at Happy’s Rib Restaurant during a Steubenville conference
Al and daughter Alexis
The post A Few of our Fond Memories of Al Kresta in Pictures (1984-2024) appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I don’t often share other’s articles, but this one by Fr. Dwight Longenecker is an exception. He and I have had, and do have a lot in common with our past and our hearing from those who want to badmouth Christianity, and often the Church specifically.
So here we go,
“On social media I seem to get an increasing number of links to blog posts, X-Twitter posts, articles and memes that rant and rage about the failures of Christians and the failure of the church. It could be hatchet jobs on famous Christians showing how they were secret Nazis, anti-Semites, white supremacists, homo or trans phobes, secret homosexuals, masturbators, misogynists, cat haters, alcoholics, teetotalers, people who once cut down a tree or hated their mother or loved their mother too much, frigid, sex obsessed, emotionally frozen and sexual abusers…
“You get the idea. Christians–and especially white Christian men–are blamed for being, well, human.
Now I get it. There are a large number of people who have been wounded by their experience of the church. They’ve been ostracized by narrow minded, hypocritical Christians. They’ve been scandalized by the ignorance, incompetence, hypocrisy and stupidity of clergy. They’ve been angry at what seems deliberate obscurantism, legalism and judgmental attitudes.
They’ve been angry at the corruption, sexual abuse, cover up and injustice shown by church leaders. They’ve been hurt by the greedy, fraudulent, scamming preachers. They’ve been disappointed by the hardness of heart, lack of compassion for the poor and the self serving church people and leaders.
‘So they not only leave the church, they go on a long, weary tirade and campaign against the church and Christians in general. I get that too. If one is wounded deeply, then it hurts and when one hurts, one howls in pain. I get all that…”
For the response and the rest of this short article, click here.
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My wife and I spent time with Al Kresta and his family yesterday. This morning we were informed that Al has left this world to be with his Lord whom he loved with all his heart.
Below is one oh his last pictures. I can’t get this verse out of my mind…
Acts 3:8 “And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”
The post Al Kresta has gone to his Lord! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
These are the guys that made me Catholic!
The Apostolic Fathers were the very first, men who knew the apostles or those who did. When I studied their writings I had no choice but to convert to the Catholic Church.
William and I discuss these first Fathers in general — the rigors of being a Christian under pagan Rome, how they lived and died, what they taught, and how they converted the Roman Empire to Christianity. Part I deals with the Introduction and St. Ignatius of Antioch, my favorite.
You can see the video of Part I below. Part II will follow soon — covering Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Polycarp of Smyrna and Irenaeus of Lyon.
You can also see a link to my DVD documentary filmed entirely on location “Apostolic Fathers: Handing on the Faith” with its 28-page StudyGuide.
The post Interview with William Albrecht: Apostolic Fathers, Part I appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
With a very sad heart, we learned yesterday that Al Kresta’s cancer has progressed beyond treatment. He’s back home and his 21 grandkids gathered around to say goodbye.
We don’t know how long he’ll be with us so pray that the veil between heaven and earth is very thin and that Al goes peacefully to be with his Lord. For more follow https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alkrestasupdateshttps://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alkrestasupdates
As best of friends with Al since 1983, this is very hard news — news which has come way to quickly.
The post Al Kresta soon to meet the Lord he so faithfully served appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A true and IMPORTANT history lesson in one minute with Bill Maher!
https://x.com/shmuelreichman/status/1800325899419632077?s=42&t=914ui9zoPi9qB5HM425raA
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Past Pilgrims (and new ones):
Steve and Janet Ray here. We have a very special anniversary in 2025 and we want YOU to help us celebrate! We are inviting you to join us for a marvelous and new pilgrimage destination!
We led our first pilgrimage in 2005 — 20 years ago! Janet and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 20 years than with all of our pilgrims who have made this possible. See our FIRST group below, twenty years ago!
Over the years, thousands of you have traveled with us on life-changing pilgrimages in Israel, Jordan, Italy, France, Poland, the Mediterranean, and many other biblical and Catholic destinations. Now we add a new destination for our anniversary!
Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage along the Danube River to celebrate this milestone! This exclusive, privately chartered cruise is limited to 150 pilgrims. We will “own the ship” just for our intimate group. The itinerary is very unique, featuring Catholic sites never before visited on a Footprints of God Pilgrimage.
I will give some of my favorite talks along the way and we will have Mass at some of Europe’s most beautiful churches as we pass through four countries! Click here for all the details, map, brochure, pricing and itinerary!
The post Our 20th Anniversary Pilgrimage Celebration – Danube Cruise with our own ship! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Oh well, since it’s Pride Month I admit that I am proud to be a man who has loved only one woman for 48 years and I am in a covenant of holy matrimony with her!
We have four kids and 20 grandkids. I love being masculine and I love it that my wife is feminine and we are both PROUD of it!!
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Interesting article of 4th century drawings of pilgrimage ships arriving in the Holy Land. The port was in Gaza and the huge church where the pilgrims first arrived was in Rafah in the Negev Desert in Israel.
Imagine the difference in travel from pilgrims on rustic boats in the 400’s and the jets that arrive full of pilgrims in Tel Aviv today!
The pilgrims landed at the large port in Gaza on the Mediterranean Sea and took the half day walk to the Church in Rafah (I added a map in the article and link below). A good number of pilgrims scratched graffiti onto the rock walls depicting the ships that had brought them across the sea.
See the images and read the report here: file:///Users/SteveKRay/Downloads/Boats-in-Rahat-in-Negev.pdf
The post 5th Century Pilgrimage Ships carved images in Negev Desert in Israel appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
It was 30 years ago today on Pentecost Sunday that our family of six was received into the Catholic Church along with our friend Rob Corzine.
Today we gathered again at the same parish with the same priest to celebrate our 30th anniversary. We are no longer 6 but now 30!
Unhappily our daughter Charlotte and family were unable to join us because of logistics and distance, but some of those who sponsored us into the church were there to celebrate as well.
Here is a picture we took with Fr. Ed Fride who received us at Christ the King in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And a few from 30 years ago.
The post Our 30th Anniversary into the Church – 1994-2024 appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This last week the Vatican published new rules for dealing with alleged apparitions and other supernatural events like locutions, weeping statues, visions, Eucharistic miracles, Marian apparitions, etc.
Are they supernatural, from God, to be believed or rejected, and if so, how long will it take before the Church let us know, and who in the Church has the authority to make these decisions? And what if there are good things about the event, but serious questions still to be investigated? Must we wait decades for some guidance?
This is why the Vatican has come up with a list of six rules that can be applied to such events in a quicker and more appropriate manner. The hope is for quicker and clearer guidance and direction for the faithful on these issues.
Jimmy Akin has done a fine job of breaking it down in a simple and understandable manner. I tend to agree with him on the rules and think (and hope) it will add clarity in the future.
He ends the article with speculations that Rule 3 was created to cover Medjugorje. I tend to agree with him on that as well.
You can read Jimmy’s whole article here: What You Need to Know About the New Vatican Rules on Supernatural Phenomena
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Today I am pre-recording a podcast with William Albrecht on the Apostolic Fathers. So I am p0sting this timeline and a link to my documentary of the Apostolic Fathers. These guys MADE ME CATHOLIC!
[For my 90-minute adventure documentary on Ignatius of Antioch along with four other Apostolic Fathers, get Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith.** For more info see below.]
There are Apostolic Fathers and Fathers of the Church. What is the difference? Fathers of the Church are those bishops, priests, and theologians of the first eight centuries who taught and wrote and who helped define the doctrine of the Catholic Church.
Apostolic Fathers fit into that category but they have a subcategory of their own – the KNEW the Apostles. They did not have New Testaments under their arms but they did have the voice of the Apostles ringing in their ears. They learned personally from the Apostles.
Look at this chart below to see how close they are to the time of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. These are the guys who made me Catholic. If you haven’t read their writings, you should. (I don’t know who made the chart but would love to give him credit if I find out.)
Here is a chart I made for our documentary Apostolic Fathers: Handing on the Faith.
Download a Free copy of the Apostolic Fathers TimelineThis amazing Timeline drives home the point of how close these men were to Jesus and the Apostles. It demonstrates how Catholic the first Christians really were!
This Apostolic Fathers faced Emperors, heretics and lions but these brave heroes of the Catholic Faith never lost courage. Chains, prisons and blood-soaked arenas did not stop the early Christians from witnessing for Christ and handing on the Apostolic Tradition.Strap on your sandals and step back in time to discover the “Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith”
Comprehensive 28-Page Study GuideBehind the Scenes: The Making of Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the FaithBloopers and Outtakes
Conversation with Steve Ray and Fr. Benedict GroeschelEnglish and Spanish subtitles
Feature running time: 90 minutes, extras 30 minutes
Buy it HERE
The post Why Do We Call St. Ignatius of Antioch and others APOSTOLIC FATHERS? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has come under fire for his courageous and inspiring commencement speech at Benedictine College. In that speech, he called on Catholics to live up to the high ideals of our Faith, including the defense of the dignity of every human life, the foundational role of the family, and the gift of motherhood.
He is now the target of death threats, libel, and calls by left-wing groups to have the NFL fire him. The NFL even issued a statement distancing themselves from Harrison Butker – all because he expressed basic Christian beliefs in public… at a Catholic school.
If the NFL truly believes in “inclusion” then they must ignore attempts to cancel Christians like Harrison Butker.
Additionally, College Football Hall of Fame Coach Lou Holtz expressed his support of Butker’s speech.
Sign the petition to support him — Janet and I did!
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We just got back from Lourdes and Fatima and our travels on pilgrimage through Portugal, Spain, and France.
Everyone had such a great time and so many people asked when we’re doing it again…
… so we are announcing that in September 2026 will be taking another pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima. Stay tuned.
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We were received into the Catholic Church 30 years ago on Pentecost. I will post more about that this weekend as we celebrate.
But attached is our story — what happened to cause devout Evangelical Protestants to become Catholic.
Click the image to read the whole story and share it with friends if you think it may help them to discover the fullness of faith in the Catholic Church.
The post From Baptist to Catholic! Here is our Conversion Story with Pictures – Sunday is our 30th Anniversary! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Mom and Dad visiting graves of our ancestorsI am reposting this because we buried my mother over a year ago at almost 101 years old and because it was a big concern of hers. Also because of the huge response several years ago. Thought it would be helpful again for many people who have lost their spouse.
My dad died almost 15 years ago. Before she died, Mom really missed Dad, especially since they were married for 73 years. She was discouraged about Mark 12:25 which her paraphrased Living Bible improperly rendered “will not be married” in heaven.
I wrote the following to comfort my Mom…
Mom, I know it is important to you since Dad’s death as you look forward to eternity and speculate about relationships in heaven. It is important to me too, knowing I want to be with my wife Janet in heaven.
You quoted Mark 12:25 from the Living Bible where it says husbands and wives “won’t be married in heaven.” It is the Living Bible translation – which is not a translation but a paraphrase – that renders the words “they won’t be married.” The paraphrased Living Bible takes great liberties and is quite inaccurate.
Here is how other Protestant translations translate the verse (since I know you like the Protestant translations even though the Catholic Bibles word it the same):
The King James Version renders it:
“For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.”
New American Standard Bible says:
“For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”
New International Version (NIV) says:
“When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
No reputable translation translates this in a way to deny there are people continuing in love with earthly spouses. The original Greek language says there is no giving or taking in marriage. In other words, there will be no weddings in heaven.
Interestingly it says that before the flood the people were “marrying and giving in marriage” until the flood came. But after the flood Noah and his wife in the ark were still married And their kids continued to marry and give in marriage.
There will be male and female distinctions in heaven. Jesus appeared as male after his resurrection. Mary is seen in heaven as a woman (Revelation 12:1). Marriage will be known in heaven since the Church is the Bride and there will be the great marriage in heaven with Jesus the Bridegroom and the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).
The Pharisees set up a trap for Jesus in Mark 12:18-27. They propose a situation with seven brothers. The first marries a wife and dies with no children. The second brother “takes” the woman to procreate children for his brother. This was the law of the Jews — a brother must take the wife of his dead brother to preserve his brother’s name in the land by propagating offspring for him with his widow.) This happens seven times. Who’s wife will she be in heaven.
The woman who was the wife of the seven brothers did not marry the seven brothers. She married the first and was given to the six in order to procreate children in the name of the first. All their children would be credited to her first husband who was her true love and spouse.
The Old Testament law was very careful to preserve the land and the family heritage. If a man died without a son his brother was to take his widow and have relations with her to continue his brother’s family line. The brother was called a kinsman-redeemer. Here is a good biblical dictionary explanation,
“The role of kinsman-redeemer is found in Leviticus 25, in the case of an Israelite man’s death in which he fails to leave behind a son, the brother of the deceased man is commanded to take his widow as wife and both redeem the land and provide a son to carry on the deceased father’s name. This is Boaz’s alleged position as indicated by Naomi in Ruth 2:20 and it is this responsibility that Ruth pleads with Boaz to fulfill. Being the godly man that he is, Boaz graciously receives Ruth’s offer, but communicates that he is not the nearest kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 3:12). However, he promises that as soon as morning breaks, he will look into the situation. Additionally, he supplies Ruth with six measures of barley. Through a series of events, the door opens for Boaz to fulfill his position as kinsman-redeemer. With the greatest hesed (compassionate loving-kindness), Boaz rises to the task of becoming kinsman-redeemer.” (http://www.ligonier.org/blog/ultimate-kinsman-redeemer/)
The first husband is the real husband of the woman. The others were simply “kinsman redeemers” who would procure offspring with the widow so her husband would continue to have heirs to continue his line in Israel.
Jesus is not intending to teach on relationships in heaven but he is refuting the Sadducees’ denial of the existence of angels and the resurrection. He is cleverly eluding their question and in no way denies husbands and wives will know and love each other in heaven. This is not a treatise on relationships in heaven but a clever response to his opponents about the existence of the supernatural world.
Mom and Dad with my older sister Patty c. 1940The purpose of marriage was companionship and procreation. The propagation of children and the population of the earth was God’s plan for marriage on earth. The meeting of sperm and egg will not be needed in heaven.”Marital love” to produce children will not happen in heaven so marriage in that sense will not exist. But that does not eliminate the continuance of earthly relationship.
We will recognize each other in heaven just as the three disciples recognized Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration and John recognized Mary in heaven (Rev 12:1).
Family and matrimony are very important in Scripture and the way God fashioned the universe and created man and woman to be one flesh. There must be spiritual discernment here. The reason why the Jews buried family members together is because they will rest together in heaven. There is a spiritual permanence to family. And an extraordinarily strong spiritual permanence to matrimony. This is why it is described as “one flesh”.
We will not know and love less in heaven – we will know and love more. And can we comprehend that God would command us to love each other down here and would expect us to forget or deny that love in heaven?
Interestingly, Doctor of the Church St. John Chrysostom, in writing on fidelity in marriage said that young husbands should tell their wives, “I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself. For the present life is nothing, and my most ardent dream is to spend it with you in such a way that we may be assured of not being separated in the life reserved for us.… I place your love above all things, and nothing would be more bitter or painful to me than to be of a different mind than you. (CCC 2365, St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in Eph. 20, 8: PG 62, 146–147.)
Would God work to perfect something here on earth, even a sacrament, and not consider it important in heaven?
Nothing in Scripture leads us to believe that relationships between spouses will be eliminated. There is every reason to believe relations will be maintained in heaven though for different reasons – enhanced reasons which we will understand when we get there.
We cannot understand our new spiritual bodies and heavenly existence any more than a caterpillar can comprehend what it will be like to be a butterfly. We cannot anticipate how personal relationships will flower in glory any more than acorn can anticipate standing 50 feet tall.
I’m convinced you and dad will have a wonderful and much better relationship. It will be different. We cannot even comprehend how much better or more in love we’ll be with our spouses, any more than an unborn baby can speculate about the taste of a delicious steak dinner.
Mom and Dad’s Wedding in 1939 (middle couple)Referring to Jesus’ words J. Vernon McGee 9 (one of your favorite Baptist preachers) writes, “This doesn’t mean that a man and a woman who were together down here can’t be together in heaven. They won’t be together as man and wife. They are not establishing a home up there, nor are they raising children. That’s the thing that He’s saying to them here.”
Marriage is an earthly word to serve an earthly purpose. Marital relationships, on the other hand, will transcend time because love is forever. Faith and hope will pass away but love will never pass away (1 Cor 13:13).
Dad is sitting in his favorite chair having coffee with Our Lord Jesus waiting for you to arrive to love you better than ever before. In the meantime he is praying for you and very intent on your well being.
I also asked Mom to read Hebrews 12:1. ”
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” This is the language of sports. We on earth are running a race. Heaven in the goal. And who is cheering us on? A whole stadium full of cheering crowds. “Run, run!” and who are these crowds? The saints in heaven.
I told my mom, “Dad is in heaven watching and cheering you on! Of course he knows what is going on down here and is anxious for you to run and win the race and join him in the stands to cheer on the rest of your family and loved ones.”
(Thanks to De Maria for suggestions and insights which I have included)
Further thoughts from Whalter:
The divine declaration was that it was “not good for the man to be alone” (Gen 2:18) The text reveals that God and the man enjoyed a genuine, interactive relationship in the pristine environment of the garden (Gen 2:15-19, 17; 3:8-9), but God had created man as a relational being a being with capacity for a relationship with God, as well as a capacity, indeed, need for relationship with others like himself.
This divinely created need for companionship and relationship was part of the original creation to which the new creation returns. Granted, after man’s lapse into sin in the garden, the need for relationship in humanity was seriously marred and deformed.
Mom and Dad in 2006But, did God declare a law of marriage in a perfect world? There is no such law. There were no laws of marriage imposed on Adam and Eve either. The only laws were “Don’t eat from that tree” and ” Be fruitful, start multiplying”.
They were made man and wife. In a perfect world, no laws of marriage were needed…But, they were commanded to have sex and multiply. This is what made Adam and Eve to be man and wife. She came out of his rib.
This made them related. Was this a law or an act of God? What law of marriage was imposed upon Adam and Eve? In the portion of Scripture above, God was silent. Adam did all the talking. Adam was prophesying about FUTURE relationships (Adam didn’t have a Mom and Dad).
God didn’t need a law to make Adam and Eve to be man and wife. In a perfect world, no laws of marriage were needed. Why would you even need laws of marriage in a perfect world?
In a perfect world, when God did the pairing, no law was needed. Adam and Eve were made to be man and wife while they were in an immortal state intended to be forever without death.
So, did God intend for them to be man and wife forever? In Heaven, will God undo what He originally did in a perfect world? Think about that. In a manner of speaking, will He return Eve back to the rib and stop their relationship which he made and said was good? God will not undo any laws of marriage over Adam and Eve because there never were any to begin with. They will have their bodies and a wonderfully fulfilled loving relationship, though they will no longer be procreating children.
Heaven will be a perfect world, and no laws of marriage will be needed there either. Jesus made it very clear that in the age to come there will be no laws of marriage, no earthly ceremonies, no contracts being made where the father gets paid to sell his daughter (given in marriage).
Yet, as in the perfect state of union that Adam and Eve had — a relationship God made them to need and to have — in heaven he will not undo what he did in the Garden. A man will know and love his counterpart that God gave him. They will love each other in that relationship for all eternity. Mom and Dad will still be “married.”
Picture: Janet and I rejoicing that my mother is now after 10 years of separation finally home in heaven with dad.
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Northern Lights! The iPhone makes it look more dramatic than it is, but we drove out into the country away from ambient lighting to see the northern lights, and this is what we saw, a bit brighter than reality though.
I saw them once before when I was about 20 years old and they were green and dancing. These are not dancing, but they were quite colorful.
The post Northern Lights in Michigan! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Hard to believe how fast time flies. I remember what seems like yesterday — he was a little tyke as cute and sharp as a whip. They lived with us a few years while building their house.
Now he is 21 years old, smart and handsome and engaged to be married.
He is a student at Wyoming Catholic and a devout Catholic man. He is engaged to Anna Tabling who is a wonderful Catholic girl and also a student at Wyoming Catholic.
We couldn’t be happier! Congratulations to them both and to our daughter Cindy and her husband Ben Brown who have done such a top-notch job of raising their 5 kids.
But yikes, it makes Janet and I feel old, especially since we have another grandson about to the pop the question to a fellow student at Ave Maria University in Florida — and we will certainly be GREAT grandparents soon.
The post Our Grandson Dominic Brown is engaged to be married! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Since we are celebrating the Feast of the Ascension, I thought it would be good to share this bit of information from the actual site of the Ascension.
The Ascension always falls on a Thursday, 40 days after Resurrection Sunday. Then 9 days of praying in the Upper Room (1st Novena) and on the 50th day from the Resurrection the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost. Pentecost means “the fiftieth day.”
One of our past pilgrims wrote to me expressing an apparent contradiction in the Bible about what I had said in Israel. The wording in the two verses below is what caused the confusion.
Acts 1:12 “[After the Ascension] they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.”
Luke 24:50–51 “Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.”
So, did Jesus ascend into heaven from the Mount of Olives or from Bethany?
On pilgrimages, I take my groups to the top of the Mount of Olives to the Church of Pater Noster (the “Our Father”) where Jesus taught his disciples to pray in “the Grotto of the Teaching” — a cave beneath the front of the church. It is here that the oldest traditions inform us that Jesus was raised into heaven. Here Constantine built a church in the early 300’s. Here we celebrate Jesus’ departure and pray the Rosary’s 2nd Glorious Mystery of the Ascension.
There is a Muslim mosque five minute’s walk away (called the Chapel of the Ascension) that most Protestants visit but I don’t patronize Muslim sites and don’t accept this as the authentic place of the Ascension.
No one knows the exact square inches where his feet left the ground. But the Church of Pater Noster has the oldest tradition, is on the Mount of Olives and very near Bethany.
If we had had the time, and there was not the big wall separating Jerusalem from Bethany like it does Jerusalem from Bethlehem, in a few minutes we could walk into Bethany from the top of the Mount of Olives. We used to walk people there to go into the tomb of Lazarus. That is how close Bethany is to the top of the Mount of Olives.
However, I can’t do that with groups anymore because of the big wall that keeps us from walking from the Mount of Olives into Bethany.
Bethany is on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives about 2 miles from Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. From the time of Jesus until the late 1800’s there was nothing on the Mount of Olives but olive trees (even until the late 1800’s, see picture black and white picture from about 1900). If you left from Jerusalem, heading to the Mount of Olives, it was perceived you were headed to Bethany.
The picture shows that even until the turn of the 20th century there was nothing outside the old walls of Jerusalem. That meant there was just trees and open space between Jerusalem and Bethany. Bethany, though not seen on this map, was on the Eastern slope of the mount.
The other two maps show the proximity of Bethany, the the top of the Mount of Olives and the short distance from the walled city of Jerusalem. Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He obviously saw no contradiction in referring to both places as the general location of Christ’s ascension.
It is easily explained this way. First, some suggest that he went as far as Bethany to say good-bye to the family he loved – Lazarus, Mary and Martha, then came back to the top of the mount and departed to heaven. However, there is no need to stretch things that far. Being on the eastern slope of the mount, Bethany is virtually on the Mount of Olives, especially from the perspective of Jerusalem.
If someone asks me where I’m from, I always say “Detroit.” But those who have been to my house know I really live 40 miles east of Detroit in Plymouth. But since no one knows where Plymouth is – I say “Detroit.”
If there is nothing but trees and bare land on the Mount of Olives and you’re heading east from Jerusalem, people would say you are going to Bethany. Jesus left Jerusalem and went over toward Bethany to ascend into heaven.
So if the geography is understood there is no conflict. Scripture can be trusted.
The post Did Jesus Ascend into Heaven from Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12) or from Bethany (Luke 24:50)? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I confirmed this quote from several sources.
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I recently recorded a podcast with the increasingly popular Bryan Mercer of Catholic Truth. Our topic was the Five Solas of the Reformation. “Sola” of course means “alone”.
Bible Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone and to the Glory of God Alone.
What can we as Catholics agree upon and disagree with these “solas” and how do most Protestants use sound bites and slogans to promote their agenda?
Either listen with audio alone (no pun intended) or watch on YouTube.
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/The-5-Solas-of-the-Protestant-Reformation_-Catholic-Response-with-Steve-Ray.mp3The post The 5 Solas of the Protestant “Reformation” – What do we agree and disagree on? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Another fun show during the 40 days between Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. Where was he? To whom did he reveal himself? Did 2,000 people witness his resurrection?
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ca240506a-2.mp3Questions Covered:
What kind of body did Jesus have after his resurrection? How will that effect us?
Where did Jesus appear in those 40 days?
Who did Paul list as witnesses and why were there no women included as his witnesses?
Paul said that 500 brothers saw the risen Lord. Was it really 2,000 with youngsters who would be witnesses into the 2nd century?
- 18:54 – Why didn’t Jesus keep the wounds from his scourging, but only the five wounds?
- 23:05 – Since Jesus has a body in heaven and so does Mary, are we going to have the same bodies purified and cleansed in heaven?
- 43:12 – It makes sense to me that Jesus changed his physical appearance, and they didn’t recognize him. I’m a recovering alcoholic and people didn’t recognize when I became sober.
- 50:50 – 1. Cor 15:28 What does this mean? And how do I respond to people who claim this disproved Jesus divinity? The post Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live – Jesus during 40 Days between Resurrection and Ascension appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This week has seen several such emails and personal comments as I gave talks in several venues in Texas. People wandering through various denominations and religious groups before discovering their true home in the Catholic Church.
Here is one such e-mail I received today and it can be multiplied many times. The Church has it’s problems, but it always has. But the Church is also alive and still attracting the best and the brightest of Protestant Christians into her arms of love and truth.
We had an email exchange a few years ago now. At that time I think I was still a pastor in a Protestant church having grown up Catholic until 16. I am currently an itinerant evangelist. I just wanted to let you know I came back into the Catholic Church on Easter vigil this year.Thank you so much for taking the time to message me. Thank you for your books and YouTube content all playing a huge part in my journey. I have a road ahead that may get painful and lonely ministry wise but I am not frightened of that.I appreciate prayer as my family although not opposed are not on this journey with me just yet. God bless you and family immensely in all you do for the Lord and His church!
Keep sharing the truth of our Catholic Church, living it faithfully in a neo-pagan world and remember that Jesus and his Church are the sole hope for this lost world and the salvation of our souls.The post Love these multiple short notes of conversion appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
6 year old James: “You can put a lot of things in the Dead Sea but they all float.”
4 year old Natalie: “Even God?”
James: “Maybe not.”
Natalie: “Yes, he can walk on water!”
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We are now in the forty day period between the Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord. During these forty days we are told,
He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 ESV-CE)
We know of about 12 of these appearances. But one is especially interesting to me. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians around the year AD 55 with a list of men who first saw the risen Christ. This would have been about 25 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
He did not include women since in that day and age they were not considered reliable witnesses, and St. Paul is making a “legal defense” of the physical and bodily resurrection. In this list written 25 years later he writes,
He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. (1 Corinthians 15:5-7)
Notice the middle sentence. He appeared to five hundred brothers. There are speculations as to where and when this happened, but we are not told. It could likely be when he appeared in Galilee, possibly with many of the locals who had eaten the loaves and fish.
Here is what piqued my interest this morning. When Jesus fed the multitudes we are not told the whole number of people he fed. In Matthew 14:21 it reads,
And those who ate [the loaves and fish] were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
We know there were 5,000 men, but how many people if you include the women and children? Speculations are that with the women and children the number who ate that day swelled to 20,000.
Now if the same general rule and holds true for the 500 men who saw the risen Lord — that women and children were not included in the number — then with the women and children we could expect the number was closer to 2,000 who witnessed the risen Lord at that “one time”.
The Greek word behind “brothers” is adelphos which can mean only men, or brethren in general, as in all the followers of Christ. Remember, Paul does not list the women who first saw Jesus at the tomb on that resurrection morning (Mark 16:1). In his 1 Corinthians 15 list there are only men mentioned. It is possible that adelphos could be men and woman, but it is also possible, and maybe even likely, that “brothers” refers only to men.
If this is the case, then it is possible that 500 “brothers” saw the risen Christ along with about fifteen hundred women and children. Thus the number of eye-witnesses would swell to even more impressive numbers.
Then notice what St. Paul says about the five hundred brothers,
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (1 Cor 15:6)
That means that twenty-five years after the resurrection there were still many of these witnesses who were still alive and ready to testify to what they saw with their own eyes. Some had died, but many were still giving witness to what they saw. This means that if anyone wants to check it out for themselves, these living witnesses are ready and willing to testify.
Now let’s take it one step further. If some of these witnesses were children at the time of this appearance to “five hundred brothers at one time”, then some of this list of witnesses would still have been available into the 2nd century.
For example, if a young boy of ten years old was a witness to Christ with that large group, by the year AD 100 he would be eighty years old. So even by the end of the 1st century and into the 2nd century some of these witnesses would still be telling what they saw.
And the testimony of living witnesses passed on through the early Church. One of my favorites is St. Irenaeus writing at the end of the 2nd century (AD 180) recalling his listening to St. Polycarp, who told of his time with St. John who walked with Jesus for three years.
“But Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried [on earth] a very long time, … having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true.
For I [Irenaeus] have a more vivid recollection of what occurred at that time than of recent events … so that I can even describe the place where the blessed Polycarp used to sit and discourse … how he would speak of his familiar association with John, and with the rest of those who had seen the Lord; and how he would call their words to remembrance. (Irenaeus of Lyons, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus)
So Polycarp knew not only the apostles, but also many others “who had seen the Lord” referring most likely to the eyewitnesses we have mentioned above. And he passed this testimony on to Irenaeus who wrote about it in AD 180.
So, we know that Jesus is risen! The testimony of the living witnesses lives on in their writings and in the Church. He has risen indeed!
The post Jesus Appeared to 500 at one time (or was it really 2,000?) appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Our October St. Paul Mediterranean Cruise through Italy, Greece and Turkey has only a few cabins left. Close to being sold out.
St. Paul Mediterranean Cruise & Pilgrimage, October 10-20, 2024
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Our Ireland trip in August is already sold out
Starting a waitlist.
www.FootprintsOfGod.com
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I had a great time at EWTN down in Alabama recording two TV shows: Bookmark with Doug Keck and Mitch Pacwa Live with you guessed it Fr. Mitch.
On both shows we discussed my new book GENESIS, A BIBLE STUDY GUIDE AND COMMENTARY. A deacon friend just wrote me:
I finished reading your book on Genesis and really loved it. It reads well, provides lots of interesting information about both Scripture and culture, even has some personal anecdotes, and helps orient readers to all the prominent characters of the OT. I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this book of Scripture.
The first show is posted here — I will add the Fr. Mitch show tomorrow or Thursday.
Bookmark is already on YouTube (see below) but will also air live on EWTN in May – all times below are Eastern time.
Sunday, May 12 at 10 AM, Monday May 13 at 5 AM and 5 PM, Saturday May 18 at 11:30 PM. Enjoy!
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Great day at Mount of Transfiguration, Cana and Church of Annunciation in Nazareth.
The post Israel 9-13 Transfiguration, Cana and Annunciation in Nazareth appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Recently my grandson Charlie was in a Christmas concert for kids. We were in South Carolina visiting my daughter Charlotte. The concert was held in a Baptist church and it’s been about 29 since I’ve been in a Baptist church so it’s kind of interesting — a blast from the past. I remembered the old […]
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Our group arrives in 1st Class order. Then to our lovely Sofia Hotel in Tiberias.
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Sometimes Scripture passages cause us to scratch our heads in bewilderment. One such is Mark 11:12-14 when Jesus curses a fig tree. Sounds like a bit of temper, or maybe there is more to it. And why does he curse the tree for having no figs even though Mark says “it was not the season […]
The post Why did Jesus curse the fig tree when it was not time yet for figs? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
- Abortion is Safe 2. Abortion does not kill a Person 3. “Pro-abortion” and “Pro-choice” are Different 4. It’s okay if you are opposed to abortion, but don’t enforce that on anyone else! 5. Guys don’t have a say on abortion. 6. Birth control doesn’t cause abortion or hurt women. 7. Abortion is a basic human right 8. If […]
The post 10 Pro-Abortion Myths That Need to Be Completely Debunked appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Malcolm Muggeridge said (@malmuggeridge)
“If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner.”
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This musical piece is entitled “Darbuka la Corona.” It is a group of musicians playing from home and integrated into an orchestra. They did this during the covid hysteria. It is quite nice. Enjoy!
By the way, Contact our Reservations Team at 866-557-2364, or write them at FootprintsOfGod@ctscentral.net. Join us in 2024 on a pilgrimage. Our four groups in 2023 are sold out. Check our schedule for 2024 at www.FootprintsOfGod.com
The post I love music from Israel and this is one of my favorites – and very clever!!! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The Dark Side of Luther
This is the last of my newsletters responding to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. I’m sending you some of the overlooked statements of Luther revealing his thoughts on Catholics, his claim to infallibility, and his hatred of the Jews.
All quotations are from Luther’s Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results by Henry O’Connor, Benzinger, 1884. Google Books offers a free digital copy. A copy is also available by clicking here.
What Luther Said about Catholics
“The Pope, the Cardinals, and the whole Romish Court and mob, are nothing else but a stable full of big, coarse, stupid, disgraceful donkeys.”
“The Pope, the Cardinals…ought to be taken and (as they are blasphemers) their tongue ought to be torn out through the back of their neck and nailed to the gallows…”
[Bishops under the Pope are] “Wolves, tyrants, murderers of souls, and the Apostles of the Antichrist…”
“…why do we not still more attack with every kind of weapon these teachers of perdition, these Cardinals, these Popes, and that whole abomination of the Romish Sodom, which, without ceasing, corrupts the Church of God, and why do we not wash our hands in their blood?”
“It is clear enough that they (the Papists) are the Christians of the Devil.”
Luther’s Claim to Infallibility
“I am certain that I have my teaching from heaven.”
“Whoever teaches differently from what I have taught herein, or condemns me for it, he condemns God, and must be a child of Hell.”
“…so that whoever does not accept my teaching, cannot be saved…Therefore, my judgment is at the same time God’s and not mine.”
Why Luther Inserted the Word “Alone” in Romans 3:28
“You tell me what great fuss the Papists make, because the word Sola (“alone”) is not in the text of Paul.”
“…If your Papist makes much unnecessary fuss about the word (Sola, alone), say straight out to him, Doctor Martinus Luther will have it so, and says, Papists and donkeys are one and the same thing…(thus I will have it, thus I order it, my will is reason enough). For we will not be the scholars or the disciples of the Papists, but their masters and judges. We must once in a way act a little haughtily and noisily with these jack-asses.”
“…and as to their unnecessary noise about the word Sola, I beg of you not to give those donkeys any other further answer, but simply this much: D. Luther will have it so, and he is a Doctor above all Doctors in the whole of popery.”
“…I knew very well that here, Rom. III, the word (Sola) is not in the Latin and Greek text, and it was not necessary for the Papists to teach me that. It is true, these four letters, S.O.L.A. are not in it, which letter the jack-asses look at as a cow looks at a new gate; but they do not see that nevertheless, it expresses the meaning of the text, and if our German translation is to be clear and powerful; it ought to be put in…”
Editor’s note: To their credit, not a single Protestant English translation of Romans 3:28 inserts the word “alone” as Luther did. This includes the KJV, RSV, NIV, NASB, ESV and several others.
Luther’s Hatred towards the Jews
Luther writes, “Now what are we Christians to do with this rejected, damned people of the Jews? … I will give my honest advice.”
“First, their synagogues or schools are to be set on fire, and whatever will not burn, is to be covered and heaped over with earth, so that never again shall one find stone or cinder of them left. And this is to be done in order to honor the Lord and Christianity, so that God may see that we are Christians…”
“Secondly, their houses are likewise to be broken down and destroyed…”
Editor’s note: No wonder Hitler in “Mein Kampf” names Luther as one of history’s greatest reformers. A copy of Luther’s “On the Jews and Their Lies” was prominently displayed during the Nazi’s Nuremberg rallies.
Family Life Team
In Advent Family Life Team members receive information about a new resource I’ve produced that explains key events preceding the Second Coming. To request this free no-obligation special letter, send an email to team@dads.org.
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I had a good time with Eric Sammons, the editor of Crisis Magazine. The interview was lively and fast-paced. We covered a lot of territory.
The transcript and the Podcast webpage is here. To buy my book on Genesis, click here.
The post Steve Ray Interviewed on Crisis Magazine Podcast: Unlocking Genesis and Understanding our Origins appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
In the early 2nd century the early Church held a document in very high regard. From this document we learn about the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her own birth.
Since today is the Feast Day of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, I thought I would provide a link to the Protoevangelium of James so you can read the fascinating story for yourself.
Remember, this is from about 150 AD and was read in many churches in the early years and considered with very high regard. In fact, it is from this document that we have the names of Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna.
Protoevangelium of James
To join one of our pilgrimages, or to learn more, visit www.FootprintsOfGod.com or call my associates at 866-468-1420.
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Always fun and exhilarating to take questions from Catholics. We had some wonderful calls with interested guests. Enjoy!
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ca230901b.mp3Questions Covered:
06:29 – What’s the teaching on the Kabbalah tradition in Judaism?
11:33 – I’m protestant. What’s the rebuttal to the 7th day Adventist claim of the Sabbath still being on Saturday?
18:41 – Protestant caller: What important teachings are in the 7 books that Catholic bibles have that Protestants don’t have?
22:35 – Jewish caller: What’s the best argument for Jesus being the Messiah and that the Church was founded by Jesus?
35:39 – I’m protestant and my husband is Catholic. This is a second marriage for both of us. We believe that we both divorced due to biblical reasons. Why wouldn’t the Church recognize our marriage?
41:24 – Protestant caller: What’s the history of the Roman part of the Roman Catholic Church?
46:13 – Baptist caller: What’s your advice to a lifelong anti-Catholic Baptist who is now feeling drawn to the Church?
Or watch on YouTube.
The post Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live Q & A for Non-Catholics appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Catholic World Report interviewed me about “Genesis, A Bible Study Guide and Commentary” asking some of the most common questions. I was very pleased with the results.
You can read the article here or by clicking on the image.
Sample questions and answers:
CWR: Are there common misunderstandings or misrepresentations about Genesis that you address?
Steve Ray: Two main misunderstandings in particular. First, that Genesis is just a myth and is really not relevant to our modern world. We have moved, we are told, beyond the need for a “fairy tale”. Or we hear that God does not exist and Genesis consists of irrelevant stories of others’ religious experiences that have no importance now that science has moved us beyond needing such myths. This all is addressed in the first chapters of my book.
The second is that the Old Testament is not necessary now that we have the New Testament; and, furthermore, Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament is hard to understand, and is like slogging through a historical swamp. I think that anyone who reads my book on Genesis will realize the beauty of the words and the rich, exciting storyline, which is explained in a very personal and easy-to-understand way. It reads like a novel and is easily accessible and thrilling to the scholar and first-timer alike. I have had people say they were engrossed in the story and simply couldn’t put it down.
CWR: How did filming and producing your Footsteps of God series help or inform you on this project?
Steve Ray: One aspect of understanding a book like Genesis is to immerse yourself in the context of the writing. You have to suspend your modern mentality, so to speak, and enter the culture and world of the document. Language, lifestyle, Middle Eastern culture, and worldview are all necessary to enter the fulness of the book.
In filming the Footprints of God series over the last 25 years, we have visited all the sites mentioned in Genesis. We spent a week filming the beginning of Abraham’s life in Iraq. I climbed up the ziggurat pyramid where Abraham and family “served other gods” (Josh 24:2). People know almost nothing of Abraham’s early life in Ur before God called him. Walking through this land and in Haran in Turkey help me bring color and texture to the story. I have waded through the Jabbak River, where Jacob wrestled with God, and have entered the Dome of the Rock Shrine on Temple Mount to see and show the rock where Abraham offered his son Isaac.
Spending time in Bedouin camps, leading flocks of sheep, and milking goats help me to fill in the dots and thus help the reader enter into the real world of the Patriarchs and their way of life, all of which is important to understand the rich intricacies of the story.
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The Revolution Comes for Scott Hahn AUGUST 28, 2023 by Eric Sammons, editor of Crisis Magazine Recently a Leftist Catholic website published a hit piece on Scott Hahn. It’s not important to detail the attack, or link to the article; suffice it to say that the gist of the ridiculous article was that Hahn is not […]
The post In Defense and Support for Dr. Scott Hahn against the Looney Left appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Beheading of John the Baptist August 29 He was the last of the Old Testament prophets and the first of the New. He was the first to proclaim the news that Jesus was the Messiah, the Lamb of God. He was 100% from the lineage of Aaron the High Priest. He is the prophesied “Elijah […]
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CARDINAL BURKE BLASTS ‘SYNODAL WAY’ In a new book Burkes says the upcoming Synod on Synodality is a threat to the Church. The “ideology” of “synodality” has already spread confusion and error and their fruit, division—indeed schism in Germany. https://catholicvote.org/burke-sharply-denounces-synodal-way/
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Hello Steve, I must say I am very troubled to know that these awful things are happening in our Church, and it goes all the way to the top. It is very hypocritical, which makes it hard to swallow, and is a major trust issue. I have no thoughts of leaving the church, and I […]
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If you were like me, you’re getting sick of the words synod and synodality. These words are being thrown around as the latest and most important terms for Catholics and the Catholic Church today. But did you know “synod” is a word right out of the Bible? Yes, but let me first say… …that in […]
The post Tired of the words “synod” and “synodality”? Where do the words actually come from? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Click on the Logo below to read the whole two page letter. From the heart of a true bishop.
The post Bishop Strickland’s Short and Excellent Letter to Prepare for the Synod on Synodality appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The scientific word is “microchimerism”. It is the transfer of cells from the baby’s body into the mother’s body and the transfer of cells of the mother’s body in the baby’s body. These cells of the baby remain in the mothers’ body after birth. Very interesting indeed when considering the relationship between Jesus and his mother Mary. The microchimerism website […]
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The post Ronald Reagan: A Politician in Heaven appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Everyone loves a good conversion story so hundreds of people will love hundreds of conversion stories. Here are a bunch of them right at your fingertips. Read almost 100 Conversions stories from all religions and ways of life to the Catholic Church here on my website. My site will also provide links to other sites too. […]
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Since we are on airplanes so much, many of the best movies we’ve watched are up in the air. Today was no exception. We are high over the Atlantic Ocean and watched a movie that we needed extra Kleenex to get through the second half. It’s the story set in England of an extraordinary man […]
The post One of the Finest Movies we’ve Ever Watched – “Living” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Reposting a blog on Assumption I wrote ten years ago. Link to my long defense is here. The Assumption of Mary always ruffles the feathers of anti-Catholics. I understand why. I used to be in their camp — I joined them in lockstep chanting the same slogans and mantras against “Catholic Tradition” and “man-made dogmas.” But […]
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It’s always fun at the final dinner to share comments and awards and tips. It’s also fun to hear the comments and farewells of Pilgrims. Enjoy!
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A small contingentcy of our group returns home today but 43 of us embarked on our extra day in Krakow. En route to Tyniec Abbey, visit the Ark of the Lord Church, where JPII said Mass during communist occupation. Group lunch at the Benedictine restaurant at Tyniec Monastery followed by a tasting of liqueurs and […]
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My wife and I have been members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre for over 25 years. It is an order of Knights and Dames since the Crusaders Period. Our mission is to defend and support the Christians and the holy sites in the Holy Land. In 2019 our Lieutenant asked me to […]
The post My talk “How Does a John Paul II Catholic Survive in a Pope Francis World?” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We visited Schindler’s Enamel Factory which is now an informative museum. Lunch on own in the lively Square of Krakow. Guided tour of the World Famous Wieliczka Salt Mines where you can lick the walls, but not the statues. Deepest point is more than 1000 feet deep. Saw the magnificent statue of of St. John […]
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We started with Mass at St. Stanislaw on the Rock Church where the national saint and martyr was killed and dismembered by the king in 1079. He is the patron saint of Poland and Krakow. Then Auschwitz, the largest and most notorious World War II Nazi concentration camp in Europe. Always a moving and sobering […]
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Since we were just at the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized in water and the Spirit came down, I thought I would share this post again. A while ago a Protestant friend tried to prove that Born Again by “water and Spirit” did not mean baptism. Here is one paragraph that he sent me: In John, […]
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Travel to the tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska where we will pray the Divine Mercy Novena and celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Mary Faustina in the Basilica of the Divine Mercy and tour of the convent. The Basilica of the Divine Mercy, which was consecrated by St. John Paul II, during his last […]
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Since today we are praying the Divine Mercy at the bones of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska at the convent in Poland, I thought I would share this short biography and history. Click here for the whole story with pictures…. The Biography of St. Maria Faustina. (August 25, 1905 – October 5, 1938) An excerpt from Apostle of Divine Mercy, a […]
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Today is another highlight for our pilgrims. Wadowice is the birthplace and hometown of St. John Paul II. We visited the house of St. John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła) which is now a fantastic museum. We ate the Pope’s favorite cakes! We saw the Basilica of the Offering of the Blessed Virgin Mary and […]
The post Poland Day 6: Home of St. Pope John Paul II; Poland’s Jerusalem appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A restful and very pleasant day today. We are in the mountains of Zakopané, which is John Paul II’s favorite vacation place. And we can see why! Beautiful countryside that reminds us a lot of Switzerland. We had Mass in the beautiful wooden church of our lady of Fatima and then took the funiculars up […]
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A friend wrote me this morning: Steve: I’m not often stuck with an atheist, but I am today. I posited that without a God there is no objective morality, everything is relative, just your opinion or that of society/culture or that of Government. This leads to things like the Wannsee Conference and worse. His response […]
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We do a fair amount of writing on the bus today to get south to the mountains of Zakopané. But we have a lot of fun stuff prepared along the way including movies about the sites, the Rosary and more. We have lots of stories to tell, Fr. Ryan will share his vocation story and […]
The post Poland Day 4: Jasna Gora Monastery; Black Madonna, Czestochowa, Zakopane appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
After a good nights, sleep, and a wonderful breakfast, we begin our first full day touring this amazing Catholic country of Poland. We started with a short drive to Maximilian Kolbe‘s Niepokolanow – the Immaculata City where he published his paper and established Catholic radio Poland. He was a real pioneer at both endeavors. It […]
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I am one but you’d see three, and people barely think of me. But I am often on their lips, or found beneath their fingertips. I warrant very little thought, but with my help billions are taught. And while I span a space so small, I help you see what’s one, not all. When God’s […]
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The big day has arrived as our group flew over the Atlantic Ocean and arrived in Warsaw in good time. We gathered everyone together at the Chopin Airport and went directly to the quaint Old City of Warsaw for everyone scattered to find nice cafés and coffee, shops, and snack bars. We gather again in […]
The post Poland Day 1 & 2: Arrival in Warsaw, Mass at St. Stanislaw Koska, Westin Hotel appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The other day a friend wrote and asked a question. It was an interesting question. “Is the answer to this that in the earlier examples, only the disciples did the baptizing and John is using a Hebraic figure of speech such that his disciples did them in his name and by his authority? If so, […]
The post Was Baptism Instituted Before or After Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Our group will soon arrive in Poland; we are here to greet them! Here is the 2nd of 2 interviews between Steve Ray and Al Kresta on the amazing Catholic country of Poland. She has the richest heritage of modern saints in the 20th century including St. John Paul II, St. Maria Faustina and the […]
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Next year I will be 70 years old. It is a time to examine what I’ve done and what I will do if God grants me a few more decades. It is sobering to hit a milestone and realize that – at best – I will have about 15 strong years left, maybe twenty. (My […]
The post My Defiant and Proud Declaration for My Few Remaining Years appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Take the Benjamin quiz! https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/6028722/jewish/Take-the-Benjamin-Quiz.htm
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Bryan and I had a delightful discussion of sola Scriptura, authority, Petrine succession, conversion and the Catholic Church. Hope you enjoy it!
The post Podcast Discussion of Authority, Conversion and the Catholic Church with Bryan Topham at Quest for Faith appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Which of the following are NOT in the Bible? • Cleanliness is next to godliness • God helps those who help themselves • Confession is good for the soul • We are as prone to sin as sparks fly upward • Money is the root of all evil • Honesty is the best policy
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A dapper middle-aged man and an older black woman–both very nice, polite and full of smiles. The grandkids saw them coming and said, “Someone’s coming to the door; we don’t know who they are.” They always come at such inopportune times. I had just finished working around the house and was dripping with sweat. I […]
The post Jehovah’s Witnesses Came by Today appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I don’t always recommend News Feeds but this one I will recommend. I have been receiving and reading it for several years. The Loop by CatholicVote gives an excellent summary of Catholic news for the day. It deals with the Vatican, US Politics, Saint of the Day, Catholic 101, Pro-life and LGBT. You have short […]
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Martha is often given the short shrift. She lived with her brother Lazarus and her sister Mary in Bethany where Jesus lived when he was in the Jerusalem area. She worked hard, cared for people but was criticized by Jesus, or so it seems. I don’t think Jesus was criticizing those who serve guests and take […]
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Translating Holy Scripture is a necessary process by which the sacred text is provided in various languages, usually rendered from the original languages. Not all translations are created equal. Some result from one scholar’s work, others the work of a committee of scholars. Some are literal while others tend toward paraphrase. Translation resembles a sliding […]
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Why you should take your kids with you on a pilgrimage Josephine McCaul – published on 07/17/23 Take inspiration from ‘The Miracle Club’ this summer and give your children the experience of a lifetime. (Picture: one of our groups in Lourdes) With the release of The Miracle Club last week, the pilgrimage site of Lourdes has garnered much attention […]
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My new book was just published by Ignatius Press. It is entitled “Genesis, A Bible Study Guide and Commentary” which is thoroughly Catholic and some have said, “It reads like a novel.” Buy a signed copy now and receive my talk “Abraham, Father of Faith and Works.” Today I took questions on Genesis and we […]
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My new very Catholic commentary on Genesis is now for sale! You can get a signed copy on my Web Store. What is the most important book in the Bible? I would argue that its Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and 2nd longest book in the Bible. The title kind of gives it […]
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On Sunday a man was led to the lectern as he carefully navigated the steps. I thought maybe he was unstable and needed the extra support. But then he stepped up to the lectern and placed down and opened his own lectionary. He stared straight ahead and up a bit as he read. Intrigued, I […]
The post A Very Courageous and Special Reading at Mass appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
By THE EDITORS July 4, 2022 6:30 AM For all the pomp and circumstance of its presentation, there is something admirably humble about America’s national anthem. Britain’s anthem is cartoonish, with its repeated entreaties to “save” an already-well-secured monarch and its insistence that God is destined to “scatter” the “knavish” enemies of the crown. France’s […]
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One of the talks I give while we are in Rome with our groups is about the Apostolic Fathers and Suffering for the Faith. It is dear to my heart since we just traveled all over following the footprints of St. Paul and the Apostolic Fathers. I will be speaking on the suffering and martyrdom […]
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Since we are in Capernaum today – where Jesus said, “Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood.” I thought it would be appropriate to post again this popular blog post that explains the Sacrifice of the Mass. Recently we went to Mass with two Protestants. As we walked in the door — there it was, […]
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Sparrows and the Gospel Reading today at Mass The Holy Family was not wealthy. When you had a firstborn son in Israel you were required to take a lamb to the Temple for the redemption of your firstborn son but if you were poor you could take two turtledoves instead. Mary and Joseph took the […]
The post The Holy Family Ate those Pesky House Sparrows appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My Double Knee Surgery and Recovery — An Update after 12 Weeks with Complications A lot of friends and good folks have asked me, “How are things going with your knees now that its been almost 3 months?” So, here is a short update. Knowing that it takes one year for the full benefits of knee […]
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The Trail of Blood by Steve Ray What is the history of Baptists? Can they trace their roots back to the 1st century? Many “fundamentalist” Baptists believe they can. Are they correct? There is a booklet that is very popular among this fundamentalist crowd. It is entitled “The Trail of Blood“. The booklet claims that Catholics persecuted the […]
The post Article and Video to Debunk: “The Trail of Blood: Baptist Successionism” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
When our children were young, we took them to the Holy Land. They testify to this day that one of the reasons they are strong Catholics is because of that experience. In February we took 45 college students to Israel to teach them their Catholic inheritance by walking in the footprints of Jesus. Their testimonies […]
The post Young People to the Holy Land – saving their faith! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Every nation has the right to distinguish, by country of origin, who can migrate to it and apply appropriate immigration policies, according to the great medieval scholar and saint Thomas Aquinas. by THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D. In a surprisingly contemporary passage of his Summa Theologica, Aquinas noted that the Jewish people of Old Testament times […]
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I gave talks at my 1st conference since my knee replacements. I stood for 2 hrs giving talks plus meeting with people without too much discomfort. Couldn’t be happier! Caught up with my friend Dr Ted Sri. There were 1500 people at the Marquette Michigan Eucharistic Congress. Delighted so many people came to this Eucharistic […]
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This is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and June 19 is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Saturday, June 20 is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A non-Christian friend found two paintings at an art show and asked me, “What in the world are these? They seem […]
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What do I think of the Transgender Agenda and Preferred Pronouns? All of us will have come to grips with this issue since it is not going away any time soon AND it is going to eventually confront you whether you like it or not. You certainly already know what I think but Megan Kelly, […]
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If you want to know my opinion of Pope Francis, you may want to watch my video presentation to the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre of which we have been members for over 24 years.
It is entitled “How Does a John Paul II Catholic survive in a Pope Francis world.”
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How do I defend the Catholic Faith on issues such as abortion, same sex marriage or LGBT when some claim it’s acceptable because Jesus never mentioned those particular issues by name?
First, silence does not imply consent. We have very FEW words of Jesus over his 3 years of ministry. He is “silent” on a lot of things which does not mean he he condones certain conduct or would not have said something if the issue was presented to him.
Second, we know how a good Jewish rabbi of the first century would address the issues of LGBT, abortion, gay marriage, etc. It would be based on “the Law and the Prophets” and on the collective moral tradition of the Jewish people. The Law of Moses is unambiguous on matters of sexuality and life.
Third, as an example, let a contemporary 1st century Jewish rabbi speak to the issue in a wider context and not just the Jews in Judea and Galilee. Rabbi St. Paul was out among the pagan Romans and did confront these issues, and therefore he addresses them. He writes,
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Rom 1:26–27)
“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality … will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9)
Fourth, Jesus DID speak out against sins practiced in his own Jewish milieu such as adultery, divorce and remarriage. He did tell the adulterous woman to go and sin no more. He did say “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another.” (Mk 10:11–12). Notice he uses male and female pronouns.
He mentioned a list of sins and evil conduct concurrent with his times. He did criticize “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matt 15:19)
Summary, Jesus did not mention a lot of modern sins and vices. He was addressing his own particular society and would not have confronted things unfamiliar with the religious Jews of his time. Remember, he said he came to his own people and they were his target audience.
There was no need to mention homosexuality, abortion, contraception or gender dysphoria since in the Jewish society at the time, there were no such practices, or at least it was not a prevalent problem that needed addressing.
Stop trying to justify sinful conduct by a supposed and ignorant claim that Jesus condoned them by his “silence”.
For my longer article on this read,
Why Didn’t Jesus Condemn Homosexuality?The post Why Didn’t Jesus Speak Out Against Homosexuality – Does that mean He approved? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The Old Testament Canon and the “Council of Jamnia”
Many popular myths are believed simply because people want to believe them—not because they are true. Wishful thinking is a poor substitute for truth. It is always preferable for one to dig deep and discover the facts and not just believe things because one wants them to be true.
In order to reject the Catholic Bible, it is popular in some Protestant circles to claim that the Jews had a closed canon of Scripture in the first century and that the early Christians accepted this final Jewish collection of inspired writings as final and binding upon the Church. The Council of Jamnia is usually assumed as the “proof” for this assertion. At the “Council of Jamnia” you see, the Jewish rabbis supposedly got together—something like an Ecumenical Council in the Catholic Church—to lay down specific criteria for inspired Scripture and to finally define and close the Old Testament canon.
Is this true? First, we will look at how various authors defend the Protestant exclusion of seven books based on a flawed understanding of the so-called “Council of Jamnia”. Second, did this “council” actually discuss the limit of the Old Testament canon, and third, if so, did they have the authority to close the canon? Fourth, did they actually compile a final list of accepted writings and fifth, and very importantly, if such a decision had been made, would the Christian be bound by that decision? We will conclude with the teaching of the Catholic Church and why we can so securely trust it.
First, let’s clarify a few terms. The canon of Scripture refers to the final collection of inspired books included in the Bible. The Catholic Bible contains seven books that do not appear in Protestant Old Testament. These seven writings are called the deutero-canonicals, or the Second Law. Protestants usually call these writings the Apocrypha (meaning “hidden”)—books they consider outside the canon.
These seven writings include 1 and 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Wisdom, Baruch along with additional passages in Daniel and Esther. Before the time of Christ, these writings were included in the Jewish Greek Septuagint (LXX)—the Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures, but they were not included in the Hebrew Masoretic text.
To read the whole document, click here.
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This is a short 1 1/2 minute video that recalls the reading at the Pentecost Vigil Mass about the trumpet blast. Three of my young grandsons demonstrate!
The “trumpets” were not trumpets like we know them, but the Shofar, the Rams-horn of the Israelites.
This Pentecost was also our families 29th anniversary into the Catholic Church.
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I get asked this question a lot and thought others would find my answer helpful. Not that I claim to have discovered this myself but reading and gleaning has brought me to this conclusion.
In Luke 7:19-28, John the Baptist was in prison and sent two of his disciples to Galilee to ask Jesus a question.
And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?’
Some say John was doubting. Was Jesus really the one sent from God, the Messiah, or not?
Had John lost his faith? Of course, we cannot deny that this is a possibility. Of course John was in prison and things had not gone the way he may have hoped. If Jesus was the “sent one” why was he, John, languishing in the Machaerus Fortress?
Human weakness could possibly be an explanation though John the Baptist does not strike me as one who is going to doubt Jesus as the Messiah considering all that he had witnessed and known.
I think a better explanation might be that John the Baptist had to decrease and Jesus had to increase (John 3:30). What is the best way to get your disciples to leave you and follow the Messiah than to send them to Jesus to ask him if he is the Messiah?
In other words I don’t think it was doubt that caused John to send his disciples to ask Jesus that question. It was that he wanted to wean them off of himself so that they would realize who Jesus really was and begin to follow him.
Luke continues,
In that hour [Jesus] cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.” (Luke 7:18-28)
Seeing Jesus’ miracles and their correspondence side-by-side with the prophecies of Isaiah certainly gave the proof to an honest heart and mind.
John, knowing his disciples had been prepared for the coming Messiah through his own preaching, knew they would recognize and follow him after their journey. He must decrease, Jesus must increase.
This seems to me an adequate and substantial explanation of John the Baptist’s question. I think St. Francis de Sales explained it this way and if anyone knows where the citation is, please let me know.
“The glorious St. John the Baptist did not send his disciples to Jesus our Lord to find out whether or not He was the Messiah. He had three reasons: first, to make Him known to the whole world. Second, he wanted to draw disciples only to his Teacher, to whose school he now sends them to be instructed personally by Him. Third, to detach them from himself and let them see Jesus so that they might come to Him in a manner worthy of Him. Therefore, John sent them to this Divine Majesty.”
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Bishop Barton’s appeal to boycott and defend our Freedom and our Catholic Faith!
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CV NEWS FEED // A false belief persists that for hundreds of years, English-speaking Catholics did not have access to the Bible in their native tongue, or any other language besides Church Latin.
In addition, popular history books assume that the Church barred Catholics from reading Holy Scripture in the vernacular until after the Protestant “Reformation” or even up until Vatican II in 1962. It is also commonly held that until very recently, Bible fluency was a characteristic of Protestants, but certainly not Catholics.
Nico Fassino, author and operator of the independent Church history website “Hand Missal History Project,” recently debunked these myths.
On Monday, Fassino posted a Twitter thread introducing and sharing excerpts from a research project of his that documents pre-Vatican II English Bible readings at Mass – dating all the way back to the year 971. Fassino describes his project as “exploring Catholic history through the untold and forgotten experiences of the laity across the centuries.”
Here are a few examples of how Catholics have encountered the Bible in English for thousands of years!
Christendom 1000 – 1300Fassino shows that Catholic clergy incorporated English into the Liturgy of the Word as soon as it first evolved as a distinct language. To quote the prominent Church historian Father John Lingard, “for the instruction of the people, the epistle and gospel were read, and the sermon was delivered in their native tongue” in medieval England,” similar to what happens today during a Mass in the Extraordinary Form.
While the majority of the liturgy was conducted in Latin, the readings and the homily were given in English, for the primary purpose of ensuring that the common people could understand and live the Good News.
To back up his research, Fassino includes multiple images of texts: homilies and gospel readings in Old and Middle English. He states that by the end of the 1300s, “the use of these texts was so widespread and successful that many layfolk (even the poor and uneducated) were able to memorize a significant amount of the scripture cycle in the vernacular.”
The Renaissance and ‘Reformation’ EraWith the invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century, the Gospels and New Testament letters began to be mass-produced in English even prior to the state takeover of the Church.
Many of the early editions are nearly indistinguishable from those found in today’s missal books, with both Sunday and daily Mass readings listed in chronological order. Some also included explanatory footnotes or even full-length homilies underneath the readings to help parishioners more clearly understand them.
Fassino explains that these early “missals,” mass-printed in vernacular languages, were commonplace all across Europe, not just in England. He estimates that by 1500, hundreds of thousands of copies were in circulation. Martin Luther himself, the leading figure of the Protestant Reformation, noted this in one of his writings, dated 1534. Luther wrote that he noticed the Catholic Church “remarkably and effectively preserved … the text of the Gospel, recited from the pulpit and in sermons of the vernacular of any country.”
In 1582, the Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB) was published. This particular English translation is still read by many in the Church to this day. The DRB contained a chart that listed readings taken from both the Gospels and epistles to be used at Mass. This table alone serves as substantial evidence that the DRB was “used by priests to recite the scriptures to their flocks in English,” as opposed to solely in Latin, Fassino points out.
1700 – 1900Fassino gives several examples of bishops who decreed that Mass readings be given in the common tongue, as opposed to Latin. Catholic bishops issued instructions to that effect in 1791 in Maryland, in 1822 in England, and in 1826 in Ireland.
As a result, more English “epistle and gospel” missals were explicitly labeled “for pulpit use.” Like the Renaissance-era proto-missals, many of these books also included commentaries that could be used to develop homilies. It is clear that preaching in English not only used in Catholic churches in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it was also encouraged by the hierarchy.
1900 – 1962In the decades leading up to the Second Vatican Council, “Epistles and Gospels for Pulpit Use” missals continued to circulate throughout the English-speaking world.
In the 1930s, as the Great Depression raged on, Bishop Edwin O’Hara of the Diocese of Great Falls in Montana led the charge to revise and modernize the DRB. Centuries old, the DRB translation used many outdated words and phrases. The effort by O’Hara and others resulted in the “first official, national, modern Catholic translation of scripture in America,” two-and-a-half decades before Vatican II.
Around the same time, there were significant improvements in audio technology. Microphones and speakers began to see wide use in Catholic parishes. Just as the printing press enabled more Catholics to have access to English translations of scripture, the microphone, as Fassino explains it, allowed “others, even members of the laity, to begin to participate in reciting vernacular scripture.”
This was the beginning of the modern-day lector. In 1958, an order from Pope Pius XII recommended the use of lay lectors in churches.
Also read my article “Catholics, Don’t Read the Bible!“
Want to learn more about the history and fullness of our Catholic faith? Follow “Hand Missal History Project” on Twitter @HandMissals. Follow Nico: @NicoFassino.
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This is just one page of his comic book on angels entitled “Angelic Twaddle Comics. You can learn more about this book and the work of Louis Hall at https://www.angelictwaddle.com/
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Altars permeate the Bible from the beginning of Genesis all the way through Revelation. And if you think the topic is boring, you’re mistaken.
The word is used over one 500 times in the Bible, and the original Hebrew word comes from the root word “to slaughter”.
Enjoy the 15 minute conversation and introduction to a central theme of salvation history.
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What does the word “Christian” mean?
The first believers in Jesus were not called Christians. In fact, they were called Nazarenes, or people of “The Way”.
Acts 24:5 For we have found this man [St. Paul] a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”
Acts 9:2 “[Saul of Tarsus] asked [the High Priest] for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Acts 24:14 But this I [Paul] confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets.
It was not until later that the derogatory word “Christian” was applied to those who followed Jesus the Christ. Since the followers of Jesus were first considered a sect of Judaism, “Christian” was probably a title to differentiate them from mainline Judaism.
Acts 11:26 “For a whole year they [Barnabas and Saul] met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”
It is obvious that by this time that “Christ” had become an accepted name for Jesus, along with it being title.
So, what does “Christ” mean? It is not Jesus’ last name as in Steve Ray or Jesus Christ. No, Christ was a title — Jesus the Christ. It is the Greek word for “the anointed”. It is the Greek word for the Hebrew Messiah.
Hebrew — Messiah = Greek — Christ
John 4:25 The Samaritan woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
So, when someone is called a Christian, they are literally being called a follower of the Jewish Messiah. In this sense, we are all Jewish!
Scott Hahn quotes Pope Pius XI and expands a bit. “Anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism are spiritually destructive and stupid. In the words of Pope Pius XI: ‘Spiritually, we are Semites.’ You cannot be a good Catholic until you’ve fallen in love with the religion and people of Israel” (The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth).
So as a Christian, you are a follower of the Jewish Messiah. We Gentiles have come back to dwell in the tents of Shem. What? Let me explain.
Noah had three sons. Ham, Shem and Japheth. Ham moved into the region of Egypt and Africa. Shem lived in the Middle East of today. Japheth represents the Gentiles who lived in the West, toward Europe.
Noah’s blessing on Japheth contains a Messianic prophecy (adding a new promise in addition to the promise of Genesis 3:15). The blessing of Japheth reads, “God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem.” (Gen 9:27).
The Israelites from the line of Shem dwelled in the Middle Eastern regions. God would work through Shem’s line (from whom Israel springs); but Japheth will be brought back to “dwell in into the tents of Shem,” back into connection with the faith of Shem’s descendant Jacob and share in its promises.
With the coming of the Jewish Messiah, the preaching of the Jewish apostles, and the establishment of the Church, the Gentiles from the lands of Japheth came back to the faith and promise of Abraham “in the tents of Shem.”
The Church is built on Jewish foundations and to believe in Christ and join the Church is to figuratively enter the tents of Shem (Catechism 60). God promises Abraham that “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” (Gen 12:3). Those nations, the Gentiles are US.
Catechism 60 “The people descended from Abraham would be the trustees of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people, called to prepare for that day when God would gather all his children into the unity of the Church. They would be the root onto which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe.”
But, not only am I spiritually in connection with Jews and Judaism by virtue of believing in the Jewish Messiah, but I also found out through a DNA test that I am genetically 0.6% Jewish. I was delighted to discover I have the blood of Abraham in my veins. Even though I am 98% Northern European (as is my wife Janet), I am part Ashkenazi Jew from a few centuries ago from my German and French family line. My wife Janet is also 0.6% Ashkenazi Jew.
So, we are Nazarenes, people of the Way and Christians. Our heritage goes back to the Jewish root.
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The editing and tweaking is done! Ignatius Press told me it is on its way to the typesetter — then to the printer.
The title corresponds to my commentary on St. John’s Gospel. The title is “Genesis, a Bible Study Guide and Commentary.“ It is 500 pages. Very excited.
There are few things I’ve enjoyed more than writing this book. Genesis is the second longest book in the Bible (by word count), second only to Jeremiah.
This picture is me sending the initial edited manuscript six months ago.
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Today I went back to Mass for the first time in three weeks since my knee surgeries. I never dreamed it would be possible so soon. My eyes welled up with tears to be back in the house of the Lord.
Thanks again to my lovely daughter Emily who brought me communion for those three weeks.
Getting better bit-by-bit and and starting to feel a bit normal again. Sleeping much better. Long way to go still but progress is being made and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks to ALL of you for your prayers, advice and support. It has meant more than you will ever know.
The post Back to Mass Today; Knees better bit-by-bit; very encouraging appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A friend wrote and asked me why God would have chosen Israel, and why he speaks of living in Jerusalem or Zion. Here is my response.
I cannot pretend to know God’s eternal purposes, or why he chooses one place over another. But I’ll try to give some thoughts from a human perspective of the strategic reasons why I think he might have chosen this land.
In short, God gave this land to the Israelites, because it is the land bridge between the great ancient civilizations of Egypt to the south, Mesopotamia to the east, and the Hittites to the northwest. On this land bridge all of the commerce and transport between these civilizations passed through Israel.
Imagine that you own the major toll road between major civilizations. It is the prime piece of real estate in the whole Middle East. You would control all the commerce between the major civilizations. You collected the taxes for the privilege of using your roads and passing through your land (tollway). God wanted them to use this strategic tollway to promote the true and living God, kind of like ancient evangelists.And central to that strip of land and overlooking it are the Mountains of Jerusalem. David chose the city as his capital because it was central between the north and the south with a good source of water (Springs of Gihon) and a very strategic location.It goes all the way back to Abraham who was given the land. As he passed by Salem (Jeru-salem) Melchizedek came out with bread and wine. He was a priest of the most high God and the king of Salem. He was a prefiguration of Christ. This is very early on in Genesis 14.Also, since you’ve not been there, you have the mental image that it’s all deserts and wilderness with blowing sand and hot winds. But the land of Israel is actually one of the most beautiful and lush countries in the area. It has three growing seasons per year (“The three principal feasts of the Jews corresponded to the three harvest seasons (Ex. 23:16; 34:21f) ISBE). It’s a land flowing with milk and honey, which means great prosperity. The fields are full of vineyards and orchards and gardens. Fresh fruit and vegetables year around. Miles of date palms, trees of almonds, and pomegranates, cherries, and apples — vineyards producing award winning wines. The Jezreel Valley around Mount Tabor is one of the most fertile areas within 100’s of miles. It has been the gem desired by all the countries who have tried to conquer and control it. Solomon built three massive military cities along the Via Maris to protect the way and to collect tolls and taxes (Hazor, Meggido and Gezer). The water coming in from Lebanon rushes through the north to fill the Sea of Galilee and then meanders in the Jordan River down past Jerusalem which turns Israel into a garden.Abraham offered his son on Mount Moriah which is where Solomon built the Temple. Jesus loved the Temple calling it his Father’s House.Canaan was full of idol worshipers who burned their infants in the fire and were sexual deviants. God “killed two birds with one stone” by giving this land to Israel, and eliminating the evil Canaanites.It was the perfect lush land, strategically located in the heart of the civilized world at the time. Jerusalem stood at 3,000 above sea level and God chose it as his land for his people. It has been fought over ever since.See the map below. See the inhospitable Arabian Desert (Syrian)? It forces the travelers (even today) to hug the coast of the Mediterranean, and pass through the land bridge of Israel. Notice also the Cloverleaf below, which is prominently placed in a park in Jerusalem.The post Why did God choose Israel? Why does he love Jerusalem? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Here’s what happens when you eliminate the authority of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. The Bible can never stand alone on its own, and when it does as promoted by Protestants usually, it loses its authority, and only becomes a book of opinions that the majority can manipulate.
What this guy says is absolutely true, if and when you disregard the authority of Christ’s Church and her Sacred Tradition and magisterium.
The Bible has no inherent authority pic.twitter.com/n3PViwB1eE
— Dan McClellan (@maklelan) April 22, 2023
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Everything is getting better a little at a time. Day by day strength and mobility are increasing. The pain is gone when resting. It’s amazing that three weeks ago today I was in the hospital wondering what in the world hit me.
I am visiting the physical therapist three times a week and they are excellent. I am able to walk around even without a walker. They said my range of motion is doing excellent.
So, things are looking up and I’m hoping to be somewhat back to normal in about a month. I really want to say thanks to all those who prayed for me and shared their thoughts and sympathies. You have no idea how much it all meant.
Janet has been a champ and I couldn’t have done it without her. God bless you all and thanks!
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Peter preaching in Rome; Mark writing down his wordsHis voice boomed over the crowds in Rome as it had done all around the Roman Empire. The large fisherman was aging but his voice was still filled with intensity and conviction. The thronging crowds listened with curiosity.
Rome was the hub of the civilized world and Peter preached the message of a Jewish rabbi named Jesus from the far away country of Israel. Many in the crowd had believed in Jesus and had become part of this new society called the Church—the Church of which Peter was the acknowledged head. Standing at his side was his fellow-worker and secretary John Mark.
Mark was his Roman name, John his Jewish. He lived in Jerusalem with his mother Mary and associated with the apostles (Acts 12:12). As Barnabas’ cousin, he had been one of Paul’s first missionary companions around AD 45 (Acts 13:5; Co 4:10), but had left Paul and for a time and journeyed with Barnabas (Acts 15:37). It caused a great contention!
Mark later ministered again with Paul (Philem 24; 2 Tim 4:11) around AD 61, this time in Rome, sarcastically named “Babylon”, where he was Peter’s fellow-worker and interpreter (1 Pet 5:13). Peter probably baptized Mark himself since he calls him his son. Peter sent Mark to preach the Gospel in Egypt and today the largest church in Cairo is dedicated to St. Mark who first brought the Gospel.
For the rest of the story on St. Mark, click here.
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This blog post and video was first uploaded in 2011 when I was still running. One day I decided to follow the Road to Emmaus, and I hoofed it from Jerusalem to Abu Ghosh, which is one of the main sites claiming to be Emmaus. No one is quite sure of the several alternatives.
Since the readings at Mass this Sunday are from St. Luke, 24 (one of my favorite gospel readings) I thought I would share it again today so you can get an idea of the landscape and the journey Jesus took with the two men as they discussed many things along the way.
I didn’t realize it would be quite so long and I made a wrong turn or two that turned this into a 14 mile run — and through hilly country. But I loved it and gave a few meditations along the way imagining walking along with Jesus.
Abu Ghosh is a site is known for two things: 1) a possible site for the city of Emmaus where Jesus walked with two disciples; and 2) the place where the Ark of the Old Covenant rested for 20 years before David came to fetch it for Jerusalem.
The walk to Emmaus is one of my favorite passages in Scripture and reflects the Mass — Jesus giving them the word and then the Bread. I love to meditate on that passage and imagine what Jesus might have said to them during their long walk.
Secondly, the Ark of the Old Covenant contained the word of God inscribed in stone but in Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant is the Word of God inscribed in flesh. The parallels are phenomenal and I mention a few as I run along the road.
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The events surrounding my knee surgery were so providential that I had to write down the timeline to give glory to God.
And, why it is smart to put your life in God’s hands.
I had no doctor or hospital in mind for knee surgery and was told most doctors will not do two knees at once. My personal physician Dr. Chavey at Emmaus Health, a very devout Catholic with a very devout practice, recommended Dr. Creg Carpenter in Chelsea Michigan.
I figured it was time to make an appointment with Dr. Carpenter because of Chavey’s recommendation and because my knees were progressively getting worse. Janet and I moved a few things around on our calendar and determined the only time we could block out for surgery would be April-July, 2023.
When I called to set up our first meeting I found out it would be 6 months before Dr. Carpenter could arrange a consultation, which would be the end of 2022. Not good! I was afraid that he would be unable to fit me in for surgery with our timeframe of April-July.
So I asked Dr. Chavey for a second recommendation and he suggested a doctor at U of M hospital in Ann Arbor. I called and the two appointments with the two doctors ended up two days apart in October.
We usually don’t go to the dinner parties. But on a whim we decided to accept this invitation even though we only knew a few people. So on the evening of August 20,2022 we spent the evening with our friends Liz Lev, her husband Thomas Williams, Teresa Tomeo and John Hale at a house we’d never visited before with a host we did not know. We were kind of “tag-a-longs”.
Unbeknownst to us, this dinner was a divine appointment. The host was wearing shorts with long scars on each knee. He had recently had both of his knees done separately — one by Dr. Carpenter and one by U of M. What are the chances of that considering my two upcoming appointments??
He said, “DON’T go to U of M—there’s no comparison with the results of each of my knees. U of M is a teaching hospital (so guess who operates), but Dr. Carpenter is a professional who only does knees. Make sure you get Dr. Carpenter out at Chelsea hospital.” What a providential divine appointment that dinner was!
I took his advice as from the Lord and the next day I canceled the appointment with the U of M doctor. With anxiety and lots of prayers we waited for my meeting on October 27 with Dr. Carpenter.
Knowing it took me 6 months to make the first appointment with Dr. Carpenter I was still very nervous about him having time to fit my surgery within my timeframe. Or even that he would accept me as a patient. He came highly recommended—but highly recommended doctors are also very busy and I was told that he was fully booked into the future. I learned later that people come from all over the country to have him do their knees, and he does six to nine knees a day.
After waiting 6 months just to get a consultation, I was stressed that he could not do the surgery for a year or so, since he was so busy.
We met with Dr. Carpenter on October 27, 2022. When he entered the room he exuded confidence. He was friendly and professional, and I immediately sensed I was in the right place at the right time. God was moving events and dates like pieces on a chessboard. I could sense his divine smile.
Though doctors rarely do two knees at once (and my timeline required bi-lateral surgery) I was blessed by the Lord again. He said I was skinny and healthy and youngish and determined, so he would go ahead and do both knees for me.
He also had a quick smile and witty sense of humor. I was 165 pounds at the time and told him I would drop another 10 pounds to make it easier (which I did) and he laughed and said, “In the knee surgery world, you are a minnow in a pond full of whales.“
When Dr. Carpenter left the room I was confident and grateful — but the time of the surgery was still unknown.
Janet and I had blocked out April-July over a year ago with hopes (and the need) that the doctor could do it then. We would be arriving home from Israel on April 3, 2023. After working through our calendar we decided April 5 was the first day we could have the surgery done — and that would give me four months to recuperate before leaving for Poland with a group on the first week of August.
The doctor said he didn’t know his schedule but to talk to his assistant. The assistant apologized and said, “I am sorry but the doctors is very busy and booked up for the near future. The soonest he could get you in would be April 5. Huh?!?!
There’s no expressing the emotion and gratefulness that welled up in heart! It confirmed the Lord’s will and his timing. I love confirmations like that. That date was only available in a small medical center in Brighton Michigan. We found out later that this was by far the best place to have the surgery and Dr. Carpenter only works there one day a week.
Since then, we have talked to a lot of people, including the hospital staff, and many others who almost bow in reference when Dr. Carpenter‘s name is mentioned. They all say he is the very best and can do knees in about half the time of other doctors with better success and that you heal better and faster with Dr. Carpenter‘s knees.
And so with all the divine planning and assistance, on April 5 I went under the knife and I had no idea what hit me when I woke up. But everyone says I’ll be happy when it’s all over. On our 2-week conference call yesterday Dr. Carpenter said I was healing and rehabbing very well.
So I conclude with two favorite passages of Scripture…
Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
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Knee Surgery Update at Two Weeks — the Worst is Past!
Right now it is 8:30 AM on Wednesday, April 19. Exactly two weeks ago at this moment I had walked in to the surgical wing of Trinity Hospital (with crosses in all the rooms, for which I thanked them). They told me to disrobe and put on the silly medical gown, which is open in the back. After decades of medical practice, you’d think they’d come up with something better than that, but there I stood with a breeze at my backside.
Six medical personnel kept identifying themselves and asking for my birthdate— probably to insure they were operating on the right guy, but maybe also to see if I was alert and ready for this procedure. The laid me on the bed with wheels.
The anesthesiologist made me sign papers, then added the drip through a needle inserted into the back of my hand. He asked me if I felt anything. I said no, so he upped the drip and the next thing I knew — well I knew nothing. I was out! From that point on the only thing I know is what they told me and what I saw a few hours later when I woke up.
These two weeks have been the most unusual, unexpected, disorientating, frustrating, never-ending and painful I’ve ever had in my life. Prior to the double knee replacement surgery, when I did my pre-op preparation, Dr. Carpenter’s medical assistant told me, “The first two weeks are the worst. You’ll wish you had never done it!” Wow, was she right! There have never been truer words spoken.
Since I’ve been laying here in bed and struggling to get up and move around, I have been inundated with lovely notes and email encouragements and prayers from friends far and wide, even from people I don’t know. It helps to keep perspective—I’m just one of millions going through similar experiences and worse. I am learning empathy and perspective!
Many people are going through surgery and other procedures and experiencing more pain than I did and it’s out of their control. I walked into the hospital and paid them to do this to me!
So, things are increasingly better. I am up five or six times a day with the walker moving around the house, taking showers, using the restroom on my own, raiding the refrigerator, doing the exercises (ouch!), and sleeping a little better. My good wife, Janet is constantly at my side. She has never left for more than 30 minutes at a time to run up to the store or the post office. I sure married up when God helped us find each other.
The physical therapist named Jigar (pronounced like a jigger of whiskey) has been great and says I’m making excellent progress. I will miss him after his last visit today. Starting Friday we have to leave the house and go to an offsite physical therapist three times a week for a couple of months. Today Jigar is going to make me get out of bed and walk outside, down the steps to get into the car in preparation for Friday. It’ll be nice to smell the fresh spring air.
We are grateful for all the notes, emails and blog comments. Thanks for the many heartfelt prayers and well-wishes. They mean a lot.
Thanks to God for his nearness and blessings in the midst of this. I’m especially grateful for the healing process that he built into our bodies on the day when he made us male and female. On the 7th day God ceased from his initial creation, but the work of creation did not stop on that day. Every time a new cell replaces an old one, a wound is healed, and the bloodstream brings life-giving nutrition—the work of creation is continuing.
John 5:16–17: “This was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Even on the Sabbath the Trinity is continually working to hold all of existence in existence, to continue the creation process through redemption, healing and restoration. Every new baby and healed wound is God still at work.
Colossians 1:17 “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
My goal is to be up and walking around on my own somewhat normal in a couple of weeks and ready to board a plane to take our groups to Poland in August and Israel four times yet this year. I can’t wait to bound up and down the steps of the bus and up and down the stairs into churches without grimacing and hanging on to railing for my balance. Upward and onward!
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A lot of friends and fellow travelers have asked me to give periodic updates on my recovery. I wrote a much longer one on Day 6 but today it will be brief.
When I wrote the earlier update, I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. I would never want to be back there. A lot has changed since then and now hope shines a bit brighter.
The pain is much better now and I even go through periods with no pain when I’m laying still. The doctors said sleeping would be a problem for a while and they were certainly right. My good wife Janet gets me up four times a day with the walker to use the restroom and to walk (shuffle around the house). She is the best and I tell her I would happily do all of this for her if she ever needed it.
We were thinking back over our romance and love over the last 46 years. At first we were just friends back in 1972. Four years later that turned into romance and infatuation. I still remember the giddy emotions — she was all I could think about. We got married and a year later our first daughter Cindy came along. Things changed.
We wanted to maintain the romance so we made sure we went on a date every week even if it was difficult. Sometimes it was just holding hands walking around the block or going on a simple picnic in the field behind the house. But over the years that love his deepened beyond anything young giddy kids could know or expect. (Unless of course they had good parents for an example of devoted marital love.) She’s practicing that love for me now, and said she likes taking care of me. I’m a lucky man!
But it is certainly reciprocal. Long before this ever happened with my knees, I used to tell Janet that, even if she was ever in an accident and paralyzed, it would be my honor to push her around in a wheelchair and take care of her. The Catholic Church is right on love and marriage. Those couples that practice the Church’s principles bear the fruit throughout life.
Yesterday she helped me to my desk chair where I sat for awhile and ate dinner and even did a bit paperwork.
Sitting there I had to do all the exercise of stretching my legs out as far as I can get them to reach 180° and pulling them back trying to get to a 90° angle. They say I have two weeks to get to that 90° angle to be successfully rehabilitating. Seems like a simple feat but when I’m done, I feel like I ran a marathon (OK, exaggerating a little bit). Each of these excursions are followed by raising my legs and putting ice on my knees.
We took the bandages off two days ago and the scars were scary looking. But we had the best doctor anywhere in the area and he did a great job. My daughter Emily is a nurse and she said it all looked good. They gave me Tylenol and oxycodone to handle the pain but we never used the oxycodone after the first day and a half. It didn’t do anything and those narcotics scare me anyway. So we’ve been surviving with the Tylenol which has done a pretty good job.
So there’s a bit of an update. My wonderful daughter Emily and her husband Sean have been bringing us the Eucharist on Sundays. What a lovely thing to see your daughter walk in with Eucharist and say the prayers with her old dad.
Every day is getting a little better and they say by the end of the third week I should be up and about, and looking towards a bit of normality. We’ll see! God bless you all and thanks for your prayers and support.
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Here is my list of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus — places and people.
Then more information on his 40 days as a resurrected body on the earth in Q & A format.
Click here for the document: https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/Resurrection-People-who-witnessed.pdf
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On Wednesday before Easter, I had total joint replacement — radical surgery on both my knees. Although the process and recovery was explained to me in great detail, not only by my doctors, but by friends who are veterans of this procedure, I don’t think I was anywhere near prepared for the experience.
I have never spent a night in a hospital nor have I ever had any major surgery. “Activity” has always been my middle name. Laying strapped down on my back with pain on my back — nearly immovable wiggling around in the core of my being made me want to bellow out at the restriction. Pain meds, yes. But it has seemed as successful as blocking the light from your window with a postage stamp. I was told the pain from the surgery, and the swelling, would increase and not subside for at least 6 to 7 days.
This whole experience has taught me a few while laying in bed despairing of ever seeing the end of this. What I am sharing now will not some profound theological treatise; rather these are some simple thoughts and reflections on the 6th day after the surgery.
First, there is really no way you can prepare for something like this psychologically or physically. Exercise and good nutrition, following the rules, taking counsel — all of these are good and necessary. But when they actually put you under, cut both knees open, pull the bones out, cut the bones, attach titanium and plastic parts, rearrange the muscles, ligaments, nerves and kneecap and then sew you back up — there’s just no way to physically or psychologically be prepared for that.
I know you can watch movies on YouTube of this whole procedure but I opted out for now. There is no way that it would help me recover physically and psychologically now. My son-in-law is a doctor who has worked on knee replacement surgeries and his only comment was, “It is brutal.” One big comfort was that my knee doctor Creg Carpenter is renowned as one of the best. He exudes confidence, and I felt confident the moment I was in his presence. He talked about what he would do, agreed to do both at the same time, and I made my final decision.
Second, should you do one knee at time or both together? That was a big question constantly asked. It was never really an issue for me. I wanted to get it done and over with. I knew it would be debilitating and it has been. But the thought of going back in and doing this again would be unbearable. The doctor said it was a good idea, the nurses said it was a good idea and the physical therapist said I made the right choice. I was a good candidate they said because I was light-weighted, youngish (68), healthy and determined.
I would do both knees again because it’s such an awful experience I wouldn’t want to experience it twice.
Third, l learned a good bit more about intimacy with God. I am no mystic or contemplative, but this crisis puts you in touch with him if you are open to his intimacy. It was interesting that my operation was on Wednesday and the next day was Holy Thursday when the Passion began. I felt like I was in the middle of it.
My wonderful wife, Janet has made this much more bearable. She is the best wife, friend and nurse ever! If you someday go through an experience like this, make sure you have someone with you 24 hours a day and hopefully someone who loves you. But even with all the love and attention she’s giving me, I know she cannot experience what I am experiencing. Only God can do that. That puts me at a level of intimacy with him that I haven’t sensed before.
One example, is when the nerve blockers ran out on the fourth day. Even with that nerve blocker, it was still excruciating to move. I could only anticipate what could happen when they pulled those tubes out. I said, “Please Lord!” I wore my fingers out crossing myself that morning. The tubes were pulled out, and I waited. But there was no drastic change. I felt the Lord has blessed me in a special way that day.
Fourth, I’ve never considered myself to be especially empathetic. I think I’m always quick to help people and feel sorry for them, but not true empathy. Empathy means “the identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, etc., of another.” It is a “feeling with” — sharing the experience of another. How can I do that if I haven’t experienced something similar myself?
Laying in bed here I thought of friends and family who have gone through serious operations, car, accidents, or other devastating, physical calamities. I realize now I never really entered into their suffering or understood it. I think that will change now. With God we can always bring some good out suffering. Even Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered” (Heb 5:8).
Fifth, we often hear Catholics say “Offer it up!”) This was always a strange thing for me having come from a Protestant background. It was foreign territory. I learned to understood it in theory, and I know that Saint Paul said that he offered up his sufferings to fill her that which is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.
Col 1:24: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.”
It seems he is trying to teach us some thing here. Our sufferings can be redemptive. It is not that the work of Christ was incomplete or insufficient, but rather, Christ invites us to join with him in the work of redemption. I can join my sufferings to his, and I think I learned a bit about that more during this Passion Week.
So I picked people that I was going to offer my sufferings up for. One is for a friend, which I will not discuss here in case he reads this, and the other is for my grandson Damian, who is having serious eye problems. Whenever my pain would increase, I would mention their two names. I think I’ve learned a bit more about this aspect of Catholic teaching through this bout of my own suffering.
Sixth, today is the first time I sense there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are on Day 6. My wife says I am improving a little bit each day. The physical therapist said he was proud of me and that I am doing good.
Several positive things I look forward to. Implementing the things that I have learned in my daily life when this is over. Being able to walk, go up and down stairs, and move about freely without pain and holding onto things for my balance. I’m anxious to get back in the air for giving live conferences and leading pilgrimages. That was a huge incentive for doing this now that it would not hinder us leading groups through all the biblical lands for the next 20 years or so, as God wills.
And lastly, a little bit on the humorous side, the doctor said I could possibly increase my height by an inch and a half. This is because my legs were very bowed since the cartilage was gone on the inside of the knees. The knees pushed outward. My wife laughed yesterday, “Steve, your legs are straight again!” Straightening out gains me at least half an inch and is easier on hips and ankles. Plus Dr. Carpenter inserted new 1 inch plastic cartilages in each knee.
Thank you Lord for your sustaining blessings! Thanks Janet for your unflagging support. Thanks to hundreds of family and friends for your prayers and moral support.
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Ah, excuse me? What do flint knives have to do with the Gospel? A whole lot! Abraham believed God against all odds and as a reward he was given the special sign of the Covenant with God. And what was that wonderful sign between them?
In Genesis 17:10-11 God announces this sign to Abraham: “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.”
Ouch! Abraham gathers his 350+ men together and says, “Hey Kies, do you want the good news first or the bad news? God has finally given us a sign of his covenant but…!”
What kind of sign is that? But Abraham obeyed and at 99 years old, Abraham dropped his . . . well, anyway, he did the surgery and again demonstrated his faith and obedience to God. And so did all the men with him.
Next we read of Joshua’s bloody job after the hundreds of thousands of men with their families crossed the Jordan River to possess the Promised Land.
“At that time the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the people of Israel again the second time.’So Joshua made flint knives, and circumcised the people of Israel” (Joshua 5:2-3). The place was called “the Hill of the Foreskins”
In the early Church, many of the Jews insisted that all gentiles be circumcised before they were allowed to be Christians. The Apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the first recorded Church Council (Acts 15) said “NO!” Thanks be to God!
The whole gospel is about how Jesus came to save the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The question was, how do we get both groups into one family. Circumcision was one of the biggest issues in the way. Looked at in one way, the whole New Testament is about circumcision, how to deal with that and how to receive Gentiles into the family of God without it.
These flint knives were made for me as a generous and remarkable gift by Mike Cook of Portland Michigan. He is a “flintknapper” and primitive skills enthusiast (and also a student of the Bible!). The large one has a handle made from the jawbone of a black bear!
They are beautifully crafted and will always be a gift I treasure and which I will use in my Bible studies and apologetic work. I am overwhelmed with his skill and kindness.
I have also provided his letter about his craft and the biblical wisdom regarding flint knives and circumcision. You can read it here. Enjoy — and thanks so much Mike!
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(I wrote this a few years ago, but thought I would share it again — it is what families should be and do.)
Families are great and so are great stories. One of our favorite authors is W. Wilson Rawls who only wrote two books but they are both treasures — especially for reading aloud to kids.
The first of Rawls’ books we read a year or so ago was entitled Where the Red Fern Grows. What a great story, especially to read aloud with the wind blowing and the fireplace dancing.
This weekend our family is all together for Easter. My son Jesse and his wife Anna are home with their seven kids and Charlotte and Wes are home too. I started reading The Summer of the Monkeys a week ago to the seven Ray kids when I visited them near Chicago and we are finishing it up this weekend. I lay on the couch (my official reading position) and they are piled on all around me.
Today we are coming to the end of the story of a boy raised in the Ozark’s who wants nothing more than his own pony. He finally earns the pony but almost immediately takes it back to use the money for another purpose (I won’t spoil the book for you). I had tears in my eyes and it took every bit of will power I had to keep reading. Good thing I had a handkerchief with me.
Mom was always the best mom ever, cleaning, cooking, and caring while Dad read us storiesMy dad could never finish reading such a book to us kids without tearing up at the end. My mom usually had to finish the last chapter. My dad would not buy us a TV as we grew up — he chose instead to read us stories every night after dinner. I love him for that great gift. He read us many of these great classics for families.
I know the last 20 pages of the book will be almost impossible for me to finish tonight but I’ll give it my best shot. If I get too choked, Janet or one of the grandkids will have to finish reading the final pages.
On another note, a bird flew in front on the van on the way home from the Easter Vigil Mass. It was a rare bird, at least not seen very often due to it’s nocturnal habits and shy demeanor. Even as a birdwatcher all my life I had never seen an American Woodcock.
My son jumped from his van with his kids and picked it up off the road. They nursed it to health yesterday and we put it back outside. It slept on our rocks overnight and this morning flew away. It was a pleasant, unexpected and welcomed visit. Now we have one more bird to check off our Life List of Birds We’ve Seen.
Being a family is very cool — God knew what he was doing.
All the grandkids signed the Title Page after we finished the book. It is now a family heirloom.UPDATE: Just finished reading the story at 3:30 PM on Easter Sunday. Emotional ending. Great story of family bonds, Christian morality, deferred pleasure and eternal values in the midst of tough trials, painful choices and childhood dreams. Horses, crippled legs, hound dogs, 22 rifles, suffering, growing up and loyalty.
In the tradition of my mother and father who read us countless stories, we finished the adventure together today by writing about the story, the date and the people listening to the story read.
Today was no different. Here is the title page with the story book we just read and the signature of the grandkids who sat enraptured until the tearful end. Now we are thinking of the next book we will read together.
Blessed be God forever! I love my family! Happy Easter! (Can’t wait to read these stories again to new grandkids as they grow older and new ones as they are born.)
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“Life is all about the Journey, not the Destination!” (paraphrase of a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.) As we get ready to travel again, I recall seeing this sign at the airport a while back. Imagine! In an airport of all places!
What stupidity! Grab a passenger arriving at the airport to catch a flight and shout, “Hey, take any flight you want sir, it doesn’t matter; it’s not about your destination, it’s only about the journey – experience of the flight, any flight.”
He would tell you you’re nuts.
I don’t know about you, but if life is only about the journey and there is no destination (other than becoming worm food) then this life is ultimately a sadistic, cruel, cosmic joke and I want out!
St. Paul says if Christ is not raised from the dead then neither is there resurrection for us and we, of all men are the most to be pitied (1 Cor 15:19) and if there is no resurrection and life after death – the destination – then we should eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die (1 Cor 15:32).
But I know better. Life is a journey in preparation to arrive at the destination which is all-important. The journey is a means to the chosen destination. My destination and goal is heaven and union with God for eternity. There is another destination as well, but I’m preparing for the better of the two.
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Lyrics to “Neighborhood Bully” by Bob DylanWell, the neighborhood bully, he’s just one man
His enemies say he’s on their land
They got him outnumbered about a million to one
He got no place to escape to, no place to run
He’s the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully he just lives to survive
He’s criticized and condemned for being alive
He’s not supposed to fight back, he’s supposed to have thick skin
He’s supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in
He’s the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land
He’s wandered the earth an exiled man
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn
He’s always on trial for just being born
He’s the neighborhood bully.
Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad
The bombs were meant for him. He was supposed to feel bad
He’s the neighborhood bully.
Well, the chances are against it, and the odds are slim
That he’ll live by the rules that the world makes for him
‘Cause there’s a noose at his neck and a gun at his back
And a license to kill him is given out to every maniac
He’s the neighborhood bully.
Well, he got no allies to really speak of
What he gets he must pay for, he don’t get it out of love
He buys obsolete weapons and he won’t be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood to fight by his side
He’s the neighborhood bully.
Well, he’s surrounded by pacifists who all want peace
They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed must cease
Now, they wouldn’t hurt a fly. To hurt one they would weep
They lay and they wait for this bully to fall asleep
He’s the neighborhood bully.
Every empire that’s enslaved him is gone
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon
He’s made a garden of paradise in the desert sand
In bed with nobody, under no one’s command
He’s the neighborhood bully.
Now his holiest books have been trampled upon
No contract that he signed was worth that what it was written on
He took the crumbs of the world and he turned it into wealth
Took sickness and disease and he turned it into health
He’s the neighborhood bully.
What’s anybody indebted to him for?
Nothing, they say. He just likes to cause war
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed
They wait for this bully like a dog waits for feed
He’s the neighborhood bully.
What has he done to wear so many scars?
Does he change the course of rivers? Does he pollute the moon and stars?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill
Running out the clock, time standing still
Neighborhood bully.
Songwriters: Bob Dylan
Neighborhood Bully lyrics © Bob Dylan Music Co.
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This is a nice story. I include a paragraph to whet your appetite.
About a month later it was around midnight and I turned to my wife Mary in bed and asked her what she wanted.
Mary said that she didn’t want anything other than to go back to sleep. I insisted that she wanted something. She told me that she had no idea what I was talking about.
I told her that she clearly wanted something and asked her, “Didn’t you just tap me on the shoulder?” She said,”no”. It was then that I told her I was just tapped on the shoulder, THREE TIMES! She sat up and said, “How many times?” I repeated, “THREE TIMES”.
She then said, “And what have you been struggling with?” We looked into each other’s eyes, and I responded, “The Trinity”.
Read the whole story HERE
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These two are always favorites and fill up fast. We have 7 pilgrimages to the Holy Land in 2024. Five are our regular itinerary BUT these two are different.
First, Jordan & Israel. We start out in Amman and see all the biblical sites of Jordan including Petra. They we cross over the Sheik Hussain bridge into Israel for the full Holy Land pilgrimage. Check out our interactive map, itinerary and brochure here: https://www.footprintsofgodpilgrimages.com/pilgrimage/pilgrimagehl-022824/
Second, we offer Holy Land, Part 2 every three years. On this trip we see ALL NEW SITES. There is so much to see and do in the Holy Land that we will in many more biblical dots with the amazing trip that is one day longer than Holy Land 1. Check out our interactive map, itinerary and map here: https://www.footprintsofgodpilgrimages.com/pilgrimage/hl2-090324/
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On Wednesday, April 5 I go under the knife to have both of my knees replaced. Too much running throughout my life and now I pay the price.
The cartilage is gone and my knees are now bone-on-bone. They are not getting any better so I figured it was best to do it now and get it over with. Say a prayer for me and the doctor tomorrow. Thanks.
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A while ago a man called in to say my argument for the Assumption of Mary including references from the Old Testament was wrong.
Bathsheba takes care of young King Solomon; she later became his queenI had quoted 1 Kings 2:19 where Solomon had raised his mother up to a throne on his right hand to reign as Queen of the Kingdom. The man arguing with me said, “That was the ONLY case of a mother being a queen in the Old Testament.”
He prefaced his comment by saying that he knew the Old Testament well and it does not support what I had asserted.
Well, if he DID know his Old Testament as well as he said, he would realize I was correct and he was very wrong.
In the Old Testament, the kings of Judah following Solomon had queens but the queens were not their wives — but their mothers — with one exception of the queen being a grandmother.
Solomon had 1,000 wives and concubines — but he only had one mother. Click here to read the section on The Great Lady or Queen Mother in Roland de Vaux’s book Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institution.
The Queen Mothers of earthly kings of Judah were not always good examples or godly queens. Many of them were egregious sinners and would intercede for the people with improper requests to the king. But, this takes nothing away from the fact that the mother was the queen and intercessor. It only confirms that many of the Old Testament kings and queens were disobedient to God.
But there is a perfect King and a perfect Queen — Jesus and his mother Mary. They follow the pattern of protocol and the royal institution. It is the royal protocol and the historical precedent and the office that is important in the analogy. Kings of Israel DO what Kings of Israel do and always have done. Jesus is THE king of Israel and would follow the protocol.
Jesus is a king sitting on the throne of his fathers David and Solomon (Luke 1:30-33; Daniel 7:13-14; Rev 5:5; 19:16) and all the subsequent kings of Judah. Solomon was called the son of David because that’s what he was. But the phrase “Son of David” became a title of the Messiah. Jesus is referred to as THE Son of David (Matt 1:1; 21:9) and is therefore the ultimate and true king.
The kings of Judah all had queens but the queens were not their wives — they were their mothers. This is the royal protocol of the Old Testament and the kings of Judah. It is ultimately fulfilled in Christianity and the Kingdom of God which, obviously, is based on the Old Testament model. Jesus is our king and obviously his mother is the queen. It is proper and justly so.
Remember, the kings of Israel do what the kings of Israel do. Jesus is the ultimate King of Israel, so…
…let’s follow the logic: 1) Solomon and subsequent kings of Judah raised their mothers to Queenship which became established as an official office; 2) the mothers were referred to as the Queen Mothers or the Great Lady; 3) they sat on a throne near their sons (1 Ki 2:19);
4) The kings of Israel do what the kings of Israel do;
5) Jesus is the quintessential Jewish King with an eternal kingdom; 6) Jesus is the fulfillment of the Israelite offices of Prophet, Priest & King; 7) As the Davidic king, Jesus who obeyed the Law perfectly, would honor his mother more than earthy kings honored their mothers;
8) It is biblical, historical, and reasonable to expect the perfect Jewish king to follow the protocol of the kingdom and his fathers by assuming his mother to a throne at his right hand. 9) It is proper and biblical to consider Mary in a position of intercessor as the Queen of Heaven.
10) Mary is seen as the Queen of Heaven in Revelation 12:1.
Is it impossible or unlikely that God would assume someone into heaven body and soul? All of us will be taken us some day (1 Cor 15:52). In the Bible there are at least two clear examples of humans taken up to heaven body and soul. Both Enoch (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-11) were taken up into heaven body and soul. Mary was not the first! There was already precedent set!
Queenship of Mary is a Marian feast day in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church,established by Pope Pius XII. On 11 October 1954, the Pontiff pronounced the new feast in his encyclical Ad caeli reginam. The feast was celebrated on May 31, the last day of the Marian month. In 1969, Pope Paul VI moved the feast day to August 22.
One question was asked today about the Queen in Psalm 45. If the queen was the bride marrying the king, then how can we say the queen was always the mother and that it was a pattern by which we could see Jesus, like other Jewish kings, appointing his mother as his queen. I speculate a bit on the matter here.
For a response to the argument that Jeremiah condemns those who worship the Queen of Heaven, click here.
For more on Mary, get my documentary filmed on location. It is entitled Mary, Mother of God. You can learn more about it and order it here. My talk Mary: Real Girl & Woman of Mystery here.
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Happy Palm Sunday from Jerusalem! Cute video of 1 minute, 30 seconds. It is from a family that we help in Bethlehem and he’s also our driver. This is his young daughter Maya at school and she’s playing Mary Magdalene. So cute. I had to share it with you all.
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/149627b7-997d-4340-bc0b-dc0623c4eda0.mp4The post Cute Christian Kids in Bethlehem! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I put up a post a few days ago with a video of my talk in Ephesus about Mary being Queen of Heaven and an Intercessor for the people of God’s kingdom.
Someone wrote to object saying,
It is interesting Steve, as to what you left out in your reference to 1 Kings 2:19 , Solomon’s Mother did indeed come into the throne room, Solomon did indeed, rise and bow and have her sit at his right hand. But the Queen Mother’s request was in fact denied, and the first person to go to the Queen Mother with his request was put to death that very day! So much for taking requests to the Queen Mother, doesn’t always work!
I responded,
There are two ways to see the intercession of Bathsheba: 1) a naive request to the king for Adonijah and 2) a subtle and wise exposing of Adonijah’s continued deceit to claim the throne. Let me explain a bit. If we assume the first possible scenario, Solomon is a type of Christ yet Solomon was a sinner. Solomon’s sin does not detract from Jesus’ perfection as the quintessential king of Israel and the Universe.
Every king in Israel/Judah had a queen but it was never his wife; it was his mother. She was called giborah, great lady and Queen Mother.
Being a sinner and flawed did not detract from the fact that Solomon was a type of Christ. Neither does Bathsheba’s sins and flaws detract from her being a prefigurement of Mary. Solomon and his mother were sinners; Jesus and his mother were not. What Solomon and his mother failed to do; Jesus and his mother do perfectly.
You could also note that Jesus said explicitly that the only sign he would give was the sign of Jonah, but Jonah was rebellious; does that mean Jesus’s crucifixion and burial was a result of his own rebellion? Of course not–that would be an improper use of typology.
Also, if you use Bathsheba’s indiscretion to diminish Mary, then you must be consistent and use Solomon’s sins to diminish Jesus. Queen mothers were flawed intercessors; the Mother of God is an intercessor without flaw.
But if we consider the second possibility, the second way to interpret the historical and political situation behind this event we see Bathsheba as being very wise and discerning.
It is possible and even likely that Bathsheba was wiser than she is normally given credit for and made this request to expose the deceitful intents of Adonijah? Did she inform Solomon of the plot in a diplomatic way?
The taking of a king’s concubine was a political move to grasp the throne. In this scenario, Bethsheba wisely and publically exposed Adonijah’s continued plot for the throne. It ultimately brought about the assassination of the competitor for her son’s throne. As an “image” of Mary, the request can be seen as a parallel to the revealing of the Evil One and his continued attempt to displace her Son.
Sorry, I didn’t miss anything.
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Today was a fun day and we make it a free day for folks. Some decided to do things on their own and visit friends or take time for extra prayer. The rest of them came with us on our Optional Day Tour.
We started out at the Israel Museum to see the Model of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus and the Museum of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then we went down 4125 feet from the mountains of Jerusalem to the lowest place on the face of the earth, which is the Jordan Valley. We renewed our baptismal vows on the Jordan River.
We saw a sycamore tree and the Mount of Temptation where the Devil tempted Our Lord and had a wonderful lunch at a Christian restaurant. Then we went to Qumran and viewed the most important of the caves and discussed the Dead Sea scrolls. Floating on the Dead Sea is always a favorite and then riding camels is always a hoot. Back up to our hotel in Jerusalem for packing and dinner.
We always keep the rooms for Pilgrims even though they’re not going to stay in them tonight so they can come back from my tour today and have a shower and pack and take a nap and rest up before they fly home tonight.
Please watch for the second video for today which we call Comments and Farewells. Comments and Farewells.
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When arguments about salvation arise between Catholics and Protestants, the Bibles are usually opened to Galatians and Romans. Are we saved by faith alone or are works involved? Protestants quickly accuse Catholics of teaching a salvation based on works and Catholics quickly point out that Protestants have swung the pendulum too far in the other direction by refusing to accept human cooperation and obedience as necessary to the process.As final proof of their point, Protestants will quote Romans 3:28: “For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.” That should end the argument right? Salvation is not by good works or obedience, but by faith alone?So, the combatants rush to the books of Galatians and Romans to solve this Catholic-Protestant disagreement. But there is a huge problem here. Paul did not write these letters to us and he knew nothing of the Catholic-Protestant debate. The huge problem we have is the problem of anachronism.Do you know what the word “anachronism” means? According to the Collins English Dictionary it comes from a Greek word for “mistake in chronology” or “error in time reference”. Anachronistic is defined as “1. the representation of an event, person, or thing in a historical context in which it could not have occurred or existed; 2. a person or thing that belongs or seems to belong to another time.”The problem is that when Paul wrote these two letters he was not writing them to us today. He was writing to the Gentiles and Jews of the first century. He didn’t know about the Catholic–Protestant debate. He was not writing to Germans like Martin Luther or Americans like us.
Paul was writing to people two thousand years ago living in places like Iconium, Pamphylia, Lystra, Galatia and Rome. They were not having a raging Protestant–Catholic debate. These good folks were having a Jewish–Gentile debate which was a whole world away. To read our current situation back into Asia Minor, Palestine, and Europe of the first century is a classic case of anachronism.Paul preached that uncircumcised gentiles could be saved without circumcision and a slavish obedience to the 613 laws of Moses–along with all the ceremonial rituals. Some Jewish believers, on the other hand said, “Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and if you want to become a Christian you must become a Jew first.”They couldn’t have said it any clearer than in Acts 15:1: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” They want to impose the “works of the Law” referred to above in Romans 3:28 upon the gentiles. It had nothing whatever to do with Catholics and good works. It has to with Gentiles coming into the Body of Christ by faith and obedience, not by becoming circumcised Jews.Abraham, the father of the Jews, was the prime example or case in point. Was he saved by circumcision and by obeying all the laws of Moses? Heavens no! He was saved while an uncircumcised pagan gentile living in Ur of the Chaldees, a thousand miles to east of Israel.Circumcision was only given as a sign of the covenant, not the means of salvation. And he did not obey the 613 laws of Moses since they would not even exist for another six hundred years or so. Abraham was saved by the grace of God and his belief and obedience and not by “the works of the Law” (See Romans 4 and James 2).This is exactly what Catholics teach! We are not anachronistic. We understand Galatians and Romans within their proper chronology. Paul wrote to that particular age and culture with its particular problems. We live in a different age and culture with different particular problems.But, even though Paul didn’t specifically write his letters to us, if we study the cultural climate in which they were written, and stay faithful to the tradition in which they were passed on to us, the Holy Spirit (the primary author of the letters) will help us apply the principles and truth of those letters to our current situation.By the way, can you imagine how difficult evangelism would have been in the first century if every male who believed in Christ had to be circumcised? They would have asked Paul “You want us to cut off what?”The post St. Paul did NOT Write for Us! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Just when our group thinks there can’t be a whole lot more to see and do here, we have another action packed day. We start with Mass in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is always one of the most moving times for the pilgrims gathered around the rock where Jesus sweat drops of blood. It’s called hematidrosis in medical lingo. We see olive trees over 2000 years old.
Then to the top of the Mount of Olives, to commemorate the teaching of the Our Father, and the Ascension of Jesus. We do this at the Church of Paternoster. Then back to the Notre Dame Center for cheeseburgers and pizza.
And then to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room, the source of 4 of the 7 Sacraments. We walk down the hill to Peter in Gallicantu to walk on the Holy Steps, see the cistern prison where Jesus was kept over Holy Thursday and to see where Jesus was tried by the high priest.
Then some free time this afternoon, and a marvelous dinner at the Cheese & Wine Restaurant on the roof of the Notre Dame overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem.
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Written by Msgr. Charles Pope and posted October 12, 2016 on Community in Mission
Cultures and civilizations go through cycles. Over time, many civilizations and cultures have risen and then fallen. We who live in painful times like these do well to recall these truths. Cultures and civilizations come and go; only the Church (though often in need of reform) and true biblical culture remain. An old song says, “Only what you do for Christ will last.” Yes, all else passes; the Church is like an ark in the passing waters of this world and in the floodwaters of times like these.
For those of us who love our country and our culture, the pain is real. By God’s grace, many fair flowers have come from Western culture as it grew over the past millennium. Whatever its imperfections (and there were many), great beauty, civilization, and progress emerged at the crossroads of faith and human giftedness. But now it appears that we are at the end of an era. We are in a tailspin we don’t we seem to be able to pull ourselves out of. Greed, aversion to sacrifice, secularism, divorce, promiscuity, and the destruction of the most basic unit of civilization (the family), do not make for a healthy culture. There seems to be no basis for true reform and the deepening darkness suggests that we are moving into the last stages of a disease. This is painful but not unprecedented.
Sociologists and anthropologists have described the stages of the rise and fall of the world’s great civilizations. Scottish philosopher Alexander Tyler of the University of Edinburg noted eight stages that articulate well what history discloses. I first encountered these in in Ted Flynn’s book The Great Transformation. They provide a great deal of perspective to what we are currently experiencing.
Let’s look at each of the eight stages. The names of the stages are from Tyler’s book and are presented in bold red text. My brief reflections follow in plain text.
- From bondage to spiritual growth – Great civilizations are formed in the crucible. The Ancient Jews were in bondage for 400 years in Egypt. The Christian faith and the Church came out of 300 years of persecution. Western Christendom emerged from the chaotic conflicts during the decline of the Roman Empire and the movements of often fierce “barbarian” tribes. American culture was formed by the injustices that grew in colonial times. Sufferings and injustices cause—even force—spiritual growth. Suffering brings wisdom and demands a spiritual discipline that seeks justice and solutions.
- From spiritual growth to great courage – Having been steeled in the crucible of suffering, courage and the ability to endure great sacrifice come forth. Anointed leaders emerge and people are summoned to courage and sacrifice (including loss of life) in order to create a better, more just world for succeeding generations. People who have little or nothing, also have little or nothing to lose and are often more willing to live for something more important than themselves and their own pleasure. A battle is begun, a battle requiring courage, discipline, and other virtues.
- From courage to liberty – As a result of the courageous fight, the foe is vanquished and liberty and greater justice emerges. At this point a civilization comes forth, rooted in its greatest ideals. Many who led the battle are still alive, and the legacy of those who are not is still fresh. Heroism and the virtues that brought about liberty are still esteemed. The ideals that were struggled for during the years in the crucible are still largely agreed upon.
- From liberty to abundance – Liberty ushers in greater prosperity, because a civilization is still functioning with the virtues of sacrifice and hard work. But then comes the first danger: abundance. Things that are in too great an abundance tend to weigh us down and take on a life of their own. At the same time, the struggles that engender wisdom and steel the soul to proper discipline and priorities move to the background. Jesus said that man’s life does not consist in his possessions. But just try to tell that to people in a culture that starts to experience abundance. Such a culture is living on the fumes of earlier sacrifices; its people become less and less willing to make such sacrifices. Ideals diminish in importance and abundance weighs down the souls of the citizens. The sacrifices, discipline, and virtues responsible for the thriving of the civilization are increasingly remote from the collective conscience; the enjoyment of their fruits becomes the focus.
- From abundance to complacency – To be complacent means to be self-satisfied and increasingly unaware of serious trends that undermine health and the ability to thrive. Everything looks fine, so it must be fine. Yet foundations, resources, infrastructures, and necessary virtues are all crumbling. As virtues, disciplines, and ideals become ever more remote, those who raise alarms are labeled by the complacent as “killjoys” and considered extreme, harsh, or judgmental.
- From complacency to apathy – The word apathy comes from the Greek and refers to a lack of interest in, or passion for, the things that once animated and inspired. Due to the complacency of the previous stage, the growing lack of attention to disturbing trends advances to outright dismissal. Many seldom think or care about the sacrifices of previous generations and lose a sense that they must work for and contribute to the common good. “Civilization” suffers the serious blow of being replaced by personalization and privatization in growing degrees. Working and sacrificing for others becomes more remote. Growing numbers becoming increasingly willing to live on the carcass of previous sacrifices. They park on someone else’s dime, but will not fill the parking meter themselves. Hard work and self-discipline continue to erode.
- From apathy to dependence – Increasing numbers of people lack the virtues and zeal necessary to work and contribute. The suffering and the sacrifices that built the culture are now a distant memory. As discipline and work increasingly seem “too hard,” dependence grows. The collective culture now tips in the direction of dependence. Suffering of any sort seems intolerable. But virtue is not seen as the solution. Having lived on the sacrifices of others for years, the civilization now insists that “others” must solve their woes. This ushers in growing demands for governmental, collective solutions. This in turns deepens dependence, as solutions move from personal virtue and local, family-based sacrifices to centralized ones.
- From dependence back to bondage – As dependence increases, so does centralized power. Dependent people tend to become increasingly dysfunctional and desperate. Seeking a savior, they look to strong central leadership. But centralized power corrupts, and tends to usher in increasing intrusion by centralized power. Injustice and intrusion multiplies. But those in bondage know of no other solutions. Family and personal virtue (essential ingredients for any civilization) are now effectively replaced by an increasingly dark and despotic centralized control, hungry for more and more power. In this way, the civilization is gradually ended, because people in bondage no longer have the virtues necessary to fight.
Another possibility is that a more powerful nation or group is able to enter, by invasion or replacement, and destroy the final vestiges of a decadent civilization and replace it with their own culture.
Either way, it’s back to crucible, until suffering and conflict bring about enough of the wisdom, virtue, and courage necessary to begin a new civilization that will rise from the ashes.
Thus are the stages of civilizations. Sic transit gloria mundi. The Church has witnessed a lot of this in just the brief two millennia of her time. In addition to civilizations, nations have come and gone quite frequently over the years. Few nations have lasted longer than 200 years. Civilizations are harder to define with exact years, but at the beginning of the New Covenant, Rome was already in decline. In the Church’s future would be other large nations and empires in the West: the “Holy” Roman Empire, various colonial powers, the Spanish, the Portuguese, and the French. It was once said that “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” Now it does. As the West began a long decline, Napoleon made his move. Later, Hitler strove to build a German empire. Then came the USSR. And prior to all this, in the Old Testament period, there had been the Kingdom of David, to be succeeded by Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
The only true ark of safety is the Church, who received her promise of indefectibilityfrom the Lord (Matt 16:18). But the Church, too, is always in need of reform and will have much to suffer. Yet she alone will survive this changing world, because she is the Bride of Christ and also His Body.
These are hard days, but perspective can help. It is hard to deny that we are living at the end of an era. It is painful because something we love is dying. But from death comes forth new life. Only the Lord knows the next stage and long this interregnum will be. Look to Him. Go ahead and vote, but put not your trust in princes (Ps 146:3). God will preserve His people, as He did in the Old Covenant. He will preserve those of us who are now joined to Him in the New Covenant. Find your place in the ark, ever ancient and yet new.
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The plans fell into place perfectly. Up at 4:30 and on the bus by 5 AM; beginning the Via Dolorosa at 5:30. That got us to the Holy Sepulchre in time to go up and touch the top of Calvary. I told people that if they had touched that rock 2000 years ago, their hands would come up sticky with Jesus‘s blood.
We then did a tour of the church and had Mass at the tomb with a Franciscan‘s and the pipe organs. As soon as the Mass was over we went in, and everyone touched the tomb.
A good breakfast was had by all and then we went to the Western Wall and then to the top of the Mount of Olives for lunch before we came home to the Notre Dame for a tour of the Holy Shroud Exhibit. Everyone had the afternoon free and many went into the Old City and enjoyed exploring. A good dinner and early to bed.
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Some Baptists love a little booklet entitled “Trail of Blood” which claims to prove that Baptists are the original church and they can trace their genealogy back to John the Baptist.
They claim the heretical Catholics persecuted them and pushed them “underground” until they re-emerged after the “Reformation”. Is it true? Bosh, of course not.
Here is a recent 30- minute YouTube video I did with William Hemsworth explaining what they believe, destroying their arguments and again demonstrating the fact that the Catholic Church was the Church Jesus founded which has a continuous presence and leadership since the 1st century.
I also have a blog post on this topic with an article I wrote on it HERE.
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We spent the whole day today in Bethlehem! Today will take up two videos — the first will cover the events of the day and the second one will cover our dinner and the fun dancing with all the local Christians.
We start out at the store with all the Olivewood, and we hear the Our Father in the original language of Jesus, Aramaic. From there we go to Mass at Shepherds Field where we celebrate the liturgy in a cave.
Shawarma lunch, and then to the Church of Nativity to touch the place of our Lord’s birth and a pray the Rosary Mystery of the Nativity. From there we go to a the Grotto Restaurant, which has the atmosphere of a Bedouin tent for a whole lamb for dinner and a lot of dancing!
FULL DAY VIDEO; DANCING VIDEO COMING SOON!
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Are the Books of the New Testament “Self-Authenticating” or was the Catholic Church Necessary to Define the Canon of Scripture?
By Steve Ray
Hello Protestant Friend:
I was very happy to receive your twenty-five-page letter which claimed that sola Scriptura (Bible alone) and sola fide (faith alone) were the faith and teaching of the Apostles. I found your reasoning very weak (sorry to say) and since I once believed these false doctrines myself I thought I ought to respond to your misconceptions. I have no animosity toward you for your views; in fact; I love you for taking the time to express your theology and I love you for your sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. Having once held these views myself, I know that they can be held in good faith and I assume that is the case with you.
Since this letter became longer than I originally expected, I decided to add an outline to help you understand the flow of my discussion. So, here it goes.
- Our Recent Discussions
- Intro: Self-authentication of Biblical Documents
- Federal Rules for Self-authenticating Documents
- Correct Criterion vs. Circular Reasoning
- The Early Church and the New Testament Documents
- The Reformation and the Canon
- A Fallible Collection of Infallible Books
- Your Letter: Especially on Inspiration, Scripture, and sola Scriptura
- 2 Timothy 3:15, 16: A Basis for the Canon of the New Testament?
- Old Testament or New Testament
- Anarthrous Construction and Warfield
- Correct Translation of the Greek Text
- Universal Negative: Nothing else is Inspired or Infallible
- 2 Peter 3:16: Substantive Proof of the New Testament Canon?
- 1 Timothy 5:18 & Luke 10:7: Substantive Proof of the New Testament Canon?
- Summary using Norman Geisler’s Syllogism
- Catholic Teaching in a Nutshell
- 2 Timothy 3:15, 16: A Basis for the Canon of the New Testament?
- Miscellaneous Comments from Your Letter
- Augustine, Calvin, and the Councils
- The Noble-minded Bereans and Sola Scriptura
- Is the Catholic Church “Co-equal” with the Sacred Writings
- Can Catholics Interpret the Bible?
- Sign-off and Finger-resting
- Our Recent Discussions
- Intro: Self-authentication of the Biblical Documents
Anyway, to get serious, when we talked about the authentication of the sacred books contained in our Bible, you mentioned legal precedent for documents that were “self-authenticating.” In other words, as I understood it, there was no need for anyone (including individuals, authorities, councils, apostolic successors, etc.) to make such a determination as to which books were infallible, inspired, and canonical, since they were self-authenticating and could be discovered, but not determined. This is Norman Geisler’s view as well (Endnote 1) Whew! I hope that mouthful made sense.
You also said that the reason it took so long to discover the collected canon was due to the condition of man. If you don’t mind, and in the spirit of friendship and combativeness we have always had together and thoroughly enjoyed I will continue our tradition and take another salvo in this letter. I don’t have any Norman blood, but I do have French [passion], and German [precision and belligerence], and Irish [feisty], and English [verbose] blood in me. So, don’t blame me, blame it on my genes.
- Federal Rules for Self-authenticating Documents
I am of the opinion that the sacred writings were not, and are not self-authenticating. I don’t mean they are devoid of divine authorship, nor that they are without the divine imprint. I only mean that internal and external evidence alone is not enough to clearly and definitively establish them as inspired, authoritative, and infallible. Since you mentioned it, I looked up the legal guidelines on the matter of self-authentication in the Federal Rules (U.S. Code Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Federal Rules no. 902) (Endnote 2). This is the section, as you well know, of Self-Authentication. The reason I looked this up is simple: you stopped me in my tracks when you mentioned this, not because I questioned the validity of my objection to self-authentication, but because I was not knowledgeable about the evidentiary rules.
For the whole long and detailed argument, click here.
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The boat ride on the sea of Galilee is always a highlight of the trip for folks. Seeing the shoreline as Jesus and the disciples did is a thrill. I give my talk about the time I spent fishing all night with two Jewish fishermen. Then we saw the ancient 2000 year old “Jesus boat“ and then arrived at Capernaum.
75% or more of all Jesus‘s miracles mention in the Bible took place at Capernaum. It’s also where he said “eat my flesh and drink my blood.“ I gave my talk there called “Defending the Eucharist“ before we had Mass. Then to Pilgerhaus to eat Saint Peter’s Fish.
Following lunch, we headed south to Jerusalem. I gave our a conversion story on the bus along the way before arriving at the Visitation where Mary visited her relative Elizabeth. There I give my talk on Mary as the Ark the New Covenant. From there we arrived at our hotel in Jerusalem.
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This is part of Verbum Catholic Bible Software. I encourage every Catholic to get this Catholic and Bible Study software. Visit http://www.verbum.com/steveray. Use Promo Code STEVERAY10 for a 10% discount.
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We couldn’t have planned the schedule today any better. We are having Mass at the Church of the Annunciation where the Archangel Gabriel made the announcement to Mary. That also means that it is the Church of the Incarnation where God first became man.
This is a favorite day for everyone, even if we didn’t have that special feast day. We hit three Rosary sites today, the Transfiguration, Cana and the Annunciation Church.
Join us at these three sites and for an amazing dinner in Nazareth overlooking the old city and the church all lit up.
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Good morning Sea of Galilee! Always lovely to see the sunrise over the sea. It never looks the same twice. After a good breakfast, we headed to the Mount of Beatitudes for Mass. From there to the Syrian border where we discussed the political situation in the Middle East. Then Druze bread sandwiches, which is my favorite lunch of the whole trip.
From there we went to Caesarea Philippi where I give my talk “Peter, the Rock, the Keys and the Chair.“ Back down to the Sea of Galilee for the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish (Tabgha) and the Primacy of Peter, where I explained John 21. Back to the hotel for a great dinner and early to bed.
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I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid is aamznig. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh and you awlyas thought slpeling was so ipmorantt!The post The Human Mind is Amazing appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Some people may object to me, calling this land Israel, expecting me instead to call it Holy Land. It is, of course, the Holy Land, but it’s also the state of Israel since 1948. We landed in the airport in Tel Aviv, which is contained in the heart of the State of Israel.
Anyway, our group arrived in good sted today with no luggage lost, and everybody in good humor. We drove up to Tiberias and got settled into our Ron Beach Hotel where everybody had a great dinner and Mass on the seashore of Galilee. Good night’s sleep and ready for tomorrow to open the day with Mass at the Mount and Beatitudes.
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Church Father, St. Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem (c. 315–87) in his “Catechetical Lectures.”
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All kings when they die have their power extinguished with their life: but Christ crucified is worshipped by the whole world. We proclaim The Crucified, and the devils tremble now. Many have been crucified at various times; but of what other who was crucified did the invocation ever drive the devils away?
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Let us, therefore, not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ; but though another hide it, do thou openly seal it upon thy forehead, that the devils may behold the royal sign and flee trembling far away.
Make then this sign at eating and drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking: in a word, at every act. For He who was here crucified is in heaven above.
If after being crucified and buried He had remained in the tomb, we should have had cause to be ashamed; but, in fact, He who was crucified on Golgotha here, has ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives on the East.
For after having gone down hence into Hades, and come up again to us, He ascended again from us into heaven, His Father addressing Him, and saying, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.
- This Jesus Christ who is gone up shall come again!
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When I look back on my experience I find this cartoon has a ring of truth.
There were many verses of the Bible that I either didn’t realize existed (though that may seem strange) or that we just ignored. Other verses did not fit our Protestant theology so we kind of set them aside or did mental gymnastics to try and force them to fit our traditions, kind of like forcing a square peg into a round hole. We virtually cut virtually them out of the Bible in the sense that we ignored or reasoned them away.
Other verses I just read with my “Baptist glasses” on and twisted them to fit my old tradition. One person told me, “There are some verses that don’t fit my theology so I just set them on the shelf.
Looking back it makes me happier than ever to be a Catholic.
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Is it safe and easy to travel to Poland on pilgrimage? YES! In a few minutes Doug and Shannon will share their experience in Poland just last week. They mention two guides Olga and Jacek. These are OUR two guides we will be using in August of this year!
Join us before the it is full — and it is filling fast!
The post For those hesitating about our Poland Pilgrimage – watch this short testimonial from last week! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
March 13 ought to have been a happy day in Rome. But the mood in and around Vatican City before, during, and after the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’s election was more somber than festive—and not because the anniversary fell during Lent. Rather, the melancholy reflected the current atmosphere in the Holy See, which has gone unremarked for too long and deserves candid description.
The prevailing mood in today’s Vatican is one of trepidation. That’s not only what those who question the pontificate’s direction think. It’s also the judgment of some who are comfortable with the past ten years, and who applaud Pope Francis’s efforts to display God’s mercy in his public persona, but who also know that “kinder, gentler” does not characterize papal governance behind the scenes. Because papal autocracy has created a miasma of fear, parrhesia (the “speaking freely” Francis encourages) is not the Roman order of the day, except in private. Even then it is rare, because trust among Vatican officials has broken down. When a brave soul dares to question or criticize the current line of papal policy, it’s almost invariably in the company of those of like mind. Serious, fraternal, charitable debate over the current condition of the Church and of the “synodal process” is largely non-existent. Silos are everywhere.
Living and working in this slough of dysfunction is enervating, and the inconsistencies and contradictions in papal pronouncements and policy that have become achingly apparent are not helping lift hearts.
At the beginning of the pontificate, Francis praised his predecessor’s decision to abdicate and suggested that abdication was an option for him. Now the pope says he considers the papacy a job “for life.”
The pope’s ambiguous role in the Rupnik affair—the quick lifting of the self-inflicted excommunication of a prominent Jesuit artist, Fr. Marko Rupnik, who committed multiple acts of sexual predation and sacrilege—has intensified concerns about Francis’s commitment to cleaning the Church of the filth of sexual abuse.
The financial reform of the Holy See, while not without accomplishments, has stalled far short of completion; both the Vatican’s structural deficit and its vast unfunded pension liability remain to be seriously addressed.
The German bishops openly defy Roman authority, much of institutional German Catholicism seems comfortable with apostasy, and a schism is not out of the question. The papal voice in response to this crisis is, at best, muted. Yet the authority of American bishops to provide for the liturgical nourishment of some faithful Catholics is squashed.
Bishops and cardinals who have a tenuous grasp on fundamental truths of the Catholic faith continue to be appointed, in part because of the (typically unreported) fact that Pope Francis often governs in an imperious manner with little concern for established procedure.
The somber mood in Rome these days also reflects embarrassment over the dramatic decline of the Vatican’s moral authority in world affairs: the result of both inept papal commentary and Vatican policies that create the impression that the Church is abandoning her own. Very few senior churchmen are enthusiastic about the Holy See’s kowtow to the Marxist mandarins of the People’s Republic of China, whose Communist Party now plays a prominent role in naming bishops. The Holy See’s accommodating approach to the brutal thugocracies in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela breeds more embarrassment. When opposition leaders plead for the Holy See to vigorously defend the persecuted Church and imprisoned Catholic dissidents in those countries, their requests often go unanswered—or they’re told by a (very) senior Vatican official that, while he is personally sympathetic, the pope insists on a different approach.
And then there is the fear engendered by a systematic effort to deconstruct the legacy of St. John Paul II. The John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Pontifical Lateran University has been gutted; its new, theologically woke faculty attracts very few students. The approach to the moral life that has dominated the “synodal process” thus far is a flat-out rejection of the basic (and classic) structure of Catholic moral theology that undergirds the Polish pope’s 1993 encyclical Veritatis Splendor—just as the deliberate ambiguities in the 2016 apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, undercut John Paul II’s teaching in the 1981 apostolic exhortation on marriage and the family, Familiaris Consortio.
How any of this is an expression of the “joyous” pope recently celebrated by one enthusiast—how any of this amounts to what another votary deemed the recovery of the Church’s “true authority”—is not self-evidently clear.
All of it is, however, terribly sad. Today’s Roman atmospherics reflect that sadness.
George Weigel’s column is syndicated by the Denver Catholic, the official publication of the Archdiocese of Denver.
George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington, D.C.’s Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.
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The post 10th Anniversary of Pope Francis as Pope – A Somber Occasion: Article by George Weigal, Autobiographer of Pope JP II appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
| Remember this lady?Irena SendlerDied: May 12, 2008 (aged 98) in Warsaw, PolandDuring WWII Irena got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an ulterior motive.Irena smuggled Jewish infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried. She also carried a burlap sack in the back of her truck, for larger kids.Irena kept a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.Ultimately, she was caught, however, and the Nazi’s broke both of her legs and arms and beat her severely.Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she had smuggled out, in a glass jar that she buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived and tried to reunite the family.Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.In 2007 Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected. Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming. Later, anther politician, Barack Hussein Obama, won for his work as a community organizer for ACORN. |
The post Bet You’ve Never Heard of this Heroic, Selfless Woman appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
As a Protestant, I went to an Evangelical church that changed an important and historical word in the Apostles Creed. Instead of the “holy, catholic Church,” we were the “holy, Christian church.” At the time, I thought nothing of it. There was certainly no evil intent, just a loathing of the Catholic Church and a distinct desire to distance ourself from its heresy and man-made traditions.
I assumed that early on Catholics deviated from “biblical Christianity” so they simply invented a new word to describe their new society. Since we Evangelicals were supposedly the ones faithful to the Bible we had no interest in the word catholic since it was found nowhere between the covers of the Bible. It was a biased word loaded with negative baggage so we removed it from the Creed.
I should have asked myself “Where did the word catholic come from, and what does it mean?” Was I right to assume that Roman Catholics invented the word to set themselves apart from biblical Christianity?
A short and interesting investigation will turn up some valuable information. Let’s start with an understanding of doctrinal development and the definition of catholic, then let’s “interview” the very first Christians to see what they thought of the Church and the word catholic and then we will study the Bible itself.
How Doctrines and Words DevelopThe development of doctrine is not just a Catholic phenomenon. It is also a fact among Protestants and all religions or theological traditions. Over time, theological words develop to help explain the deeper understanding of the faith. As Christians ponder the revelation passed on by the apostles and deposited in his Church the Church mulls over God’s Word, thinking deeper and deeper. It is not unlike peeling the layers away from an onion as one goes deeper to the heart.
Development of doctrine defines, sharpens, and interprets the deposit of faith. The Bible is not a theological textbook or a detailed church manual, such as say a catechism or study guide. The Bible’s meaning is not always clear as St. Peter tells us (2 Pet 3:15?16). Thirty-three thousand competing Protestant denominations also make this fact apparent as they fail to agree on what the Bible says. It takes the authority of a universal Church and the successors of the apostles to formulate the doctrines of the faith. As an Evangelical, I was naïve enough to think I could recreate the “theological” wheel for myself.
To illustrate doctrinal development, let’s look at the word trinity. The word trinity never appears in the Bible, nor does the Bible give explicit formulas for the nature of the Trinity as commonly used today, such as “one God is three persons,” or “three persons, one nature.” Yet, the word Trinity, as developed within the Catholic Church, is an essential belief for nearly every Protestant denomination. The first recorded use of the word trinity (trias) was in the writings of Theophilus of Antioch around the year a.d. 180. Although not found in the Bible, the early Church developed words such as Trinity, which are used to define and explain basic, essential Christian doctrines.
Interestingly, while many Protestants object to the idea of development of doctrine within the Catholic Church, they seem to have no problem with developments in their own camp—even novelties and inventions. Take for example the Rapture, another word not found in the Bible and not used in any theological circles until the mid-19th century. After a prophetic utterance from two women at a Scottish revival meeting, the new doctrine of the Rapture spread like wildfire through England and America.
It was the Catholic Church that defined the Blessed Trinity, the divinity and humanity of Christ—the hypostatic union of two natures in the one divine person of Jesus—, salvation, baptism, the Blessed Eucharist, and all the other doctrines that have been the bedrock of the Christian faith. It is also the Catholic Church that gave birth to the New Testament—collecting, canonizing, preserving, distributing, and interpreting them.
As a Protestant I was quite willing to unknowingly accept the Catholic Church’s teaching on the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the closed canon of the New Testament, etc., but I willfully rejected the full teaching of the Catholic Church. I now realize that it is in the Catholic Church that we find the fulness of the faith and the visible, universal body of Christ.
The Word “Catholic” DefinedHowever, we have yet to define the word catholic. It comes from the Greek katholikos, the combination of two words: kata- concerning, and holos- whole. Thus, concerning the whole. According to the Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, the word catholic comes from a Greek word meaning “regarding the whole,” or more simply, “universal” or “general.” Universal comes from two Greek words: uni- one, and vertere- turning. In other words, a “one turning”, “revolving around one,” or “turned into one”. The word church comes from the Greek ecclesia which means “those called out,” as in those summoned out of the world at large to form a distinct society. So the Catholic Church is made up of those called out and gathered into the universal visible society founded by Christ.
In its early years, the Church was small, both in geographically and numerically. For roughly the first decade the Church was made up exclusively of Jews in the area of Jerusalem. The word catholic hardly seemed to apply. But as the Church grew and spread across the Roman Empire, it incorporated Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, Romans, freemen, and even slaves—men and women from every tribe and tongue. But by the third century, oneout of ten people in the Roman Empire was a Catholic. Just as the word Trinity was appropriated to describe the nature of God, so the term catholic was appropriated to describe the nature of Christ’s body, the Church.
But let’s get back to the history of the word catholic. The first recorded use of the word is found very early in Christian literature. We find the first instance the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch who was a young man during the time of the apostles and the second bishop of Antioch following Peter. Ignatius was immersed in the living tradition of the local church in Antioch where the believers in Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). He was alive early enough to know the apostles and was taught and ordained directly by the apostles.
From the apostles St. Ignatius learned what the church was from the apostles themselves. From them he learned how it was to function, grow, and be governed. History informs us that St. Peter was the Bishop of Antioch at the time; in fact, Church Fathers claim that St. Ignatiuis was ordained by St. Peter himself.Ignatius must have worshiped with Peter and Paul and John. He lived with or near them, and was an understudy of these special apostles. St. Ignatius of Antioch is known and revered as an authentic witness to the tradition and practice of the apostles.
In the existing documents that have come down to us, St. Ignatius is the first to use the word catholic in reference to the Church. On his way to Rome, under military escort to the Coliseum where he would be devoured by lions for his faith, he wrote, “You must all follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father, and the presbytery as you would the Apostles. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church” (Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, 8).
Another early instance of the word catholic is associated with St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who used the word many times. Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John just as St. John was a disciple of Jesus. Like Ignatius, Polycarp also suffered the martyr’s death in a coliseum in a.d. 155. In the Martyrdom of Polycarp, written at the time of Polycarp’s death, we read, “The Church of God which sojourns in Smyrna, to the Church of God which sojourns in Philomelium, and to all the dioceses of the holy and Catholic Church in every place” (Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrnam, Preface)
Later in the same book it says, “When Polycarp had finished his prayer, in which he remembered everyone with whom he had ever been acquainted . . . and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world.” They then gave him up to wild beasts, fire and finally, the sword. The epistle then concludes, “Now with the Apostles and all the just [Polycarp] is glorifying God and the Father Almighty, and he is blessing our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world” (8).
So we clearly see that early in the second century Christians regularly use the word catholic as an established description of the Church. From the second century on we see the term catholic being used consistently by the theologians and writers. One can easily conclude that catholic was a very early description of the Church, probably used by the apostles themselves
St. Augustine in the fourth century, relaying the tradition of the early Church, minces no words asserting the importance and wide-spread use of the term catholic. He writes, “We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication in her Church which is Catholic, and which is called Catholic not only by her own members but even by all her enemies” (The True Religion, 7, 12). And again, “[T]he very name of Catholic, which, not without reason, belongs to this Church alone, in the face of so many heretics, so much so that, although all heretics want to be called Catholic, when a stranger inquires where the Catholic Church meets, none of the heretics would dare to point out his own basilica or house” (Against the Letter of Mani called “The Foundation”, 4, 5).
The early usage and importance of the word can also be seen by its use in both the Apostles and the Nicene Creeds. If you were a Christian in the first mellenia you were a Catholic, and if you were a Catholic you recited the Creeds affirming the “one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Unhappily, some people today try to make a distinction between Catholic with a capital “C” and catholic with a small “c”, but such a distinction is a recent development and unheard of in the early Church.
Biblical Understanding of the word “Catholic”Jesus commissioned his apostles with the words “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:19, 20). As Frank Sheed reminds us, “Notice first the threefold ‘all’—all nations, all things, all days. Catholic, we say, means ‘universal.’ Examining the word ‘universal,’ we see that it contains two ideas, the idea of all, the idea of one. But all what? All nations, all teachings, all times. So our Lord says. It is not an exaggerated description of the Catholic Church. Not by the wildest exaggeration could it be advanced as a description of any other” (Theology and Sanity [San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 1993], 284).
Jesus used the word church twice in the gospels, both in Matthew. He said, “I will build my Church” (Mt 16:18). He didn’t say churches as though he were building a subdivision; nor did he imply it would be an invisible church made up of competing groups. He was going to build a visible, recognizable church. And in Matthew 18:17 Jesus said that if one brother offends another they were to take it to “the Church”. Notice the article “the” referring to a specific entity. Not “churches” but one visible, recognizable church that can be expected to have a recognizable leadership with universal authority.
One can see the sad state of “Christendom” today by comparing Jesus’ words about “the Church” with the current situation. If a Methodist offends a Baptist, or a Presbyterian offends a Pentecostal, which “church” do they take it to for adjudication? This alone demonstrates the problem when 33,000 plus denominations exist outside the physical bounds of the “one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Jesus expected there to be one universal, authoritative, visible and Catholic Church to represent him on earth until his return.
Just before he was crucified, Jesus prayed not only for the universality and catholicity of the Church, but for her visible unity:
“[T]hat they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me” Jn 17:21?23 NASB).
The early Church understood Jesus’ words. What good was an invisible, theoretical, impractical unity? For the world to see a catholic unity, the oneness of the Church must be a visible, real, physical, and visible reality. All of this the Catholic Church is. Since the earliest centuries Christians have confessed that the Church is “one, holy, catholic and apostolic.” One because there is only one, visible, organic, and unified Church; holy because she is called out of the world to be the Bride of Christ, righteous and sanctified; catholic because she is universal, unified, and covers the whole world; apostolic because Christ founded her (Mt. 16:18) through his apostles, and the apostles’ authority are carried on through the bishops. Through the centuries, this creed has been the statement of the Church.
In these last days, Christians need to stand confident and obedient in heart of the Catholic Church. She has been our faithful Mother, steadfastly carrying out the mandate of Jesus Christ for 2,000 years. As an Evangelical Protestant I thought I could ignore the creeds and councils of our Mother, the Church. I was sadly mistaken. I now understand that Jesus requires us to listen to His Church, the Church to which he gave the authority to bind and to loose (Mt 16:19; 18:17)—the Catholic Church, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim 3:15).
Steve Ray is the author of Crossing the Tiber, Upon this Rock, and St. John’s Gospel. You can contact him at his website at www.CatholicConvert.com.
The post What Does the Word Catholic Mean? A History of the Word “Catholic” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Written by Fr. Hugh Barbour, O.Praem.
Nicea, August 24, A.D. 325, 7:41 p.m. “That was powerful preaching, Brother Athanasius. Powerful! Amen! I want to invite any of you folks in the back to approach the altar here and receive the Lord into your hearts. Just come on up. We’ve got brothers and sisters up here who can lead you through the Sinner’s Prayer. Amen! And as this Council of Nicea comes to an end, I want to remind Brother Eusebius to bring the grape juice for tomorrow’s closing communion service . . .”
Ah yes, the Baptists at the Council of Nicea. Sound rather silly? It certainly does. And yet, there are those who claim the Church of Nicea was more Protestant in belief and practice than Catholic. I recently read an article in The Christian Research Journal, written by a Reformed Baptist apologist, who argued this very point.
No, I’m not making this up. The article, “What Really Happened at Nicea?” actually claimed the Fathers of the Council were essentially Evangelical Protestants.
As a trained patristics scholar, I always feel a great deal of sadness and frustration when I encounter shoddy historical “scholarship,” whether it be in the pages of The Watchtower, a digest of Mormon “archaeology,” or a popular and usually well-produced Evangelical Protestant apologetics journal. But this article was so error-laden, so amateurishly “researched,” and so filled with historical and theological fallacies, that I simply couldn’t let it stand without response.”
(Lower two pictures: Left is an icon of St. Athanasius; lower right: the Council of Nicea)
For the full article “‘Ancient Baptists’ and Other Myths” by Fr. Hugh Barbour, O.Praem. – click HERE.
Read more about St. Athansius, the star theologian at the Council of Nicea. Dave Armstrong’s article proves the full Catholic teaching of St.Athansius and the Council of Nicea. Click HERE.
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Click here to take the quiz https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/5192750/jewish/Take-the-Fathers-in-the-Torah-Quiz.htm
The post How well do you know the Fathers of the Old Testament? Take the Jewish Quiz! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ca230313a.mp3We discussed a lot of things like why John chose that place to baptize, why was he in the wilderness, what did he eat and why. Also, what was his upbringing, did he know Jesus as a child, how was a fulfillment of Elijah and much more.
Then, we answered these questions:
Questions Covered:
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- 19:17 – Why did the death of John receive the distinction of being known as the Passion of John the Baptist? - 23:02 – Could the sign of the cross be traced back to John the Baptist? - 29:44 – Since Jesus and John were cousins, is it possible for both of them to be in the temple when they were 12 years old? - 35:43 – Can you tell us about John’s disciples becoming Jesus’ disciples? - 42:10 – Steve, you will be coming to my area and I just want you to thank you for talking about Jesus and the Eucharist. - 45:08 – Jesus refers to John as blessed among women. Since this line is also evidence for Mary being sinless, can we also say that John was conceived without sin? - 47:14 – Jesus said as high as John ranks, he still ranks as low as women. If that’s the case, where does that put me? - 50:18 – Would Mary have been baptized by John? Were women baptized in general? The post Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live: John the Baptist, Jesus and the Wilderness appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
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In response to a question on Catholic Answers Live last evening, I promised to post a more thorough answer to a question asked.
The question is about Matthew 11:11 and why Jesus says about John the Baptist, “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Why did he say that and what does that mean?
Most commentators willingly admit that this verse is difficult to interpret. To say that John is the greatest and then seemingly contradict that statement by saying he is the least in hard to reconcile.
But it seems what Jesus meant is the make a distinction between the Old and New Covenants. John is the last and greatest of the Old Prophets, the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy (Mal 6:5). He is still under the Old Covenant, without the grace of the Church and the sacraments. As St. Jerome wrote, “We understand it simply, that every saint who is already with the Lord is greater than he who yet stands in the battle; for it is one thing to have gained the crown of victory, another to be yet fighting in the field.” (Thomas Aquinas, Catena Aurea: Commentary on the Four Gospels, Collected out of the Works of the Fathers: St. Matthew, ed. John Henry Newman, vol. 1 (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1841), 413.)
One Catholic commentary suggests, “This seems to describe John as one who straddles the threshold of the Old and the New. Insofar as John has one foot in the time of preparation, he is less than the saints of messianic times.” (Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010), 154.)
So it seems Jesus is making a comparison between the life of the Old Covenant without the indwelling Holy Spirit and about how rich and blessed it is to enter the Church and have all the graces and new life of the New Covenant following the death and resurrection of Christ.
The post Why was John the Baptist said to be the Least? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Today I am on Catholic Answers Live to discuss Jesus, John the Baptist and all the typology and intrigue surrounding them in the Wilderness of Judea.
Why was John martyred? Why did he choose that location along the Jordan River to baptize? How was he prophesied about in the Old Testament? What did John eat and why? Why did the Pharisees think he was Elijah?
What was the meaning of God’s voice and message at the river? Why did Jesus get baptized if he was without sin? How does this relate to a Christian being “born again”?
Lots of fun and I am looking forward to it! Listening options.
The post On Catholic Answers Live today at 6 PM Eastern appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
7 NATIONS RESTRICTING ‘TRANS’ AGENDA President Joe Biden is voicing staunch opposition to Republican-led legislatures restricting so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors. The president has called laws banning such procedures “outrageous” and “immoral.” European countries, however, are moving in the opposite direction to the Biden administration. Here are seven nations that are currently “following the science” of gender dysphoria more closely than the United States is. READ
The countries are truly “following the science” related to gender-bending and are resisting and banning this horrible movement, mainly promoted by the USA. Some of these countries might surprise you: Great Britain, France, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Finland, Poland and Hungary.
The post Not all Nations are as Insane as the USA when it comes to Gender-transitioning with Teens appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Today we said goodbye to the full bus of students. Janet gave them a rousing and moving 2 1/2 minute challenge.
I think you’ll enjoy it and be challenged too!
JANET’S CHALLENGE
The post Janet Ray’s Moving 2-Minute Challenge to the Students Final Challenge appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Spontaneous interviews with the students from Ave Maria University who went on our Inheritance Pilgrimage through the Holy Land.
I think you’ll enjoy their comments and forthright reactions.
The post Students Ract and Comment on their time in the Holy Land — very eloquent appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We didn’t start today as early as we did yesterday! We started the day with a visit to Gethsemane. This is always a very special place for Pilgrims seeing trees over 2000 years old that would have seen and heard Jesus that Holy Thursday night. Mass at the rock where Jesus sweat drops of blood.
Then we went to the top of the Mount of Olives to visit the Church of Paternoster, where Jesus told the disciples to pray the Our Father, and from which he ascended into heaven. We prayed that mystery of the rosary while on top of the mount.
Then we had falafel sandwiches because it’s Friday and we couldn’t eat meat. Nice restaurant overlooking the whole city of Jerusalem. A special lunch for the kids.
Then to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room and St. Peter in Gallicantu and to see the prison where Jesus was kept over Holy Thursday night.
Then 15 of the students had arranged to get religious tattoos in Jerusalem, and the rest of them had free time to wander around in the Christian Quarter of the Old City before we returned to our hotel in Bethlehem for a nice dinner. All our religious items were blessed before packing.
Great breakfast in the morning, smooth operation with packing and boarding the bus and the planes left on time for the USA. A great time was had by all!
The post Last Day: Mass at Gethsemane, Mt. of Olives, Upper Room, Free Time, Blessings & Departure Home appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
by Fr. George W. Rutler
“That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;- —Qur’an, sura 4 (An-Nisa) ayat 157-158.
Saint Paul knew from personal experience how difficult it would be for people of various cultures to understand why Jesus had to be crucified.
For the more religiously disposed, whose most inspired matrix of belief was Judaism, the very suggestion of a crucified Messiah would be a scandal, while the more theoretical thinkers, none of whom were greater than the Greek philosophers, simply mocked the proposition.
The reality of Roman crucifixion – they don’t come out alive!Centuries later when the Koran was written, subtleties were abandoned altogether, and Sura 4 plainly says of Jesus: “They slew him not nor crucified him.” The hard trials that our world is facing right now can, in large part, be traced to this denial of the Cross and Resurrection, for it replaces Christ’s atonement for human sin with a primitive understanding of salvation.
Exactly 229 years ago this month, when the Barbary pirates were menacing ships of the newborn United States off the coasts of Tunis and Algiers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams met in London with a Muslim diplomat representing the Dey of Algiers to inquire why his religion made his people so hostile to a new country that posed them no threat.
They reported to Congress through a letter to John Jay, then Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the ambassador’s explanation that:
Islam was founded on the Laws of their prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to paradise.
Not Crucified? Really? Thanks for that update Islam Islam believes that Jesus was raised bodily to heaven and will return to earth at the end of time. It holds that if Jesus had been crucified, he would have died, and that would have been his end.
The consequences of not understanding God’s love, crowned and enthroned albeit with thorns on a cross, are vivid now in the horrors being inflicted on Christians in many places. For if God is pure will without reason, whose mercy is gratuitous and has nothing to do with any sort of moral covenant with the human race, then irrational force in his name is licit, and conscience has no role in faith.
This is not the eccentric interpretation of extremists; it is the logical conclusion of the assertions in the Koran itself.
The true Word of God confounds any crude dismissal of the crucifixion as though it were a denial, and not a proof of divine power. Jesus spoke of himself as the true Temple that, if destroyed, would be raised in three days. “Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken” (John 2:22).
ISLAM: Koran Sura 4, “Jesus Was Not Killed or Crucified” by Fr. George W. RutlerThe post Jesus was NOT Crucified or Killed: Quran, Sura 4 appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The dancing went on for a long time. An energetic Arabic dance that left everyone exhilarated and exhausted. Enjoy!
Students dancing start about 5-8 minutes point.
if embedded video does not play, click HERE
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“The gates of hell shall not prevail!” I have heard this affirmation many times in the last year. There seems to be a certainty that we will prevail as a church even as our country spirals into chaos and confusion pours out of the Vatican. Is the church’s success something that we can take for granted in our country and in our time?
I’d like to make one point about the Gates of Hell not prevailing. It HAS prevailed in local and historical situations currently and in the past. Take Turkey as an example, though there are many others I could point to.
Turkey is where Christianity grew up. If it was born in Judea, but it grew up in Turkey (Asia Minor in New Testament times). St. Paul was born there. Peter and Paul preached there, Mary lived there for a while, John the Apostle was a bishop there and died there in Ephesus.
The Seven Churches addressed in Revelation were in Turkey and so were the first eight Ecumenical Councils. Istanbul used to be named Constantinople after Constantine who legalized Christianity and became a Christian himself. Turkey of today used the be the center of the Christian Holy Roman Empire.
The Hagia Sophia Church in Constantinople was the largest church in the world for one thousand years.
Now Turkey is 99.99% Muslim. There are only 60,000 Christians among 85 million Turks. The Seven Churches of Revelation have had their “lampstand removed” (Rev 2:5).
We have to overcome like those Seven Churches were commanded to do or we will end up like them. Even Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes, will there be faith on the earth?” (Lu 18:8). So, it seems to me, we cannot take too much for granted.
We need to be faithful, do the deeds required by Christ, stay faithful, suffer when necessary, defend the faith — or we too could have our lampstand removed and watch other forces take over our country.
https://www.catholicconvert.com/blog/2019/02/22/prepare-for-the-skyline-of-the-future/
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We ended the day by wading in the Jordan River to renew our baptismal vows, and the students absolutely loved floating in the Dead Sea. Back up to our hotel in Bethlehem for conversations and sharing and dinner.
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We were with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — and Jesus!
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Early morning today but the students loved it!
Day 6 parts 2 and 3 soon.
The post Via Dolorosa, Calvary, High Mass in Holy Sepulchre and Entering the Tomb appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
You may have seen this already but it’s funny every time I watch it.
My wife said this is definitely ME! I have to agree, but a bit of jocularity is a good thing, as it laughing at myself.
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This journal and video are just the adventures we had during the day. It does not include the dinner and dancing in Bethlehem at night. That video will be uploaded soon.
The young folks loved the Tabash Olivewood shop and bought a lot of olive wood products and other Christian-made items for themselves and their friends back home. Our next stop, was the Church of Nativity where our Lord was born. We did not go down to the Grotto below because the line was over three hours long, but we learned about the church and its history and prayed the Mystery of the Nativity.
Then we went to Shepherds Field for Mass in the cave where the angels announced the good news of Christ’s birth 2000 years ago. Some of the young men have taken it up to be our choir. Of the many trips we’ve been to this cave we have never had a finer choir and singing. It was the first time for all of them to have Mass in a big underground cave.
We had lunch, a picnic lunch of Shawarma, sandwiches on the promenade, with the most spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem. I gave a short history of salvation and pointed out all the key places in Christ life right before the rise. Then we all went to the City of David and stepped back 3000 years in history. Guides took us down under the Old City of David through Hezekiah’s Tunnel in the pitch dark for 1/2 a mile in places with water past their knees. I am sure this will be one of their favorite adventures along the whole trip.
Then to our favorite Grotto Restaurant for a whole lamb, like the Passover Meal and a mountain of Palestinian rice. The young Christian Dabka dancers came in and put on a performance for us in traditional garb before inviting all the students to come up and dance with them. It was a blast! Lots of dancing. But you’ll have to watch video number two to see that.
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Our hotel is so close to the Annunciation Church, where the angel Gabriel gave the announcement to Mary, that we walked to Mass this morning to celebrated the liturgy. A group of the young created an impromptu choir ad sang beautifully at Mass.
We boarded the bus and headed to Haifa where we visited Elijah‘s Cave on the top of Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
A set of cable cars took us down the mountain and provided an incredible view of the Mediterranean Sea. After splashing in the water for a bit we put our shoes back on an went to lunch. From there, we headed towards our Bethlemen hotel, stopping at the Elah Valley, where David found the smooth stones and killed Goliath. The students and some of the faculty ran up the side of hill where the Israelites encamped during battle with the philistines.
A fun day was had by all! We arrived at our St. Joseph Hotel in Bethlehem, had dinner and settled in for the coming days of adventure in Jerusalem.
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Two great Jesuit churches stand near each other in Rome. One is the Church of St. Ignatius and the other the Church of Gesu (Jesus). Both are imposing and majestic and reflect the glory of the Jesuits in their heyday.
The one to the left is called the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola. In Italian it is Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio. It was built in the 17th century, back when the Jesuits knew who they were and what their commission and charism was (though there are still a few like that today, e.g., Fr. Joseph Fessio and Fr. Mitch Pacwa and the deceased Fr. John Hardon).
In the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola there is a huge statue of St. Ignatius standing tall looking up to heaven. In his hand is a book with the words “To the greater glory of God. Constitution of the Society of Jesus”
Beneath him is Martin Luther with a closed Bible. St. Ignatius has his foot on Luther’s neck and Luther is biting the back of his own hand.
Click IMG_3603 for a short video clip.*
This would probably not go over very well today. In fact the sign under the statue only says “A Statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola” but fails to explain the original purpose and meaning of the statue and who is under St. Ignatius’ foot.
I bought their booklet explaining all the statues and art in the church and it fails to show this statue or to explain it.
It is fully recognized that we are in a new era today, and do not attack today’s Protestants for the schism caused by Luther and we refer to them as our “separated brethren.” However, the things taught by Protestants that are contrary to the teaching of the Church are still heresies and their separation from the Catholic Church and the Roman Pontiff is still an unfortunate schism.
But we still need to realize that when the “Reformation” took place the rebels were heretics and caused a schism in the Church and the saints and theologians did not hesitate to say so. We need to quit being politically correct and overly ecumenically sensitive and start calling heresy heresy and schism schism when they raise their ugly heads up in our current time.
Mary casting Luther and Huss from heavenIn the Church of Gesus is another of my favorite statues. It is called The Triumph of Faith over Heresy and was designed during the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Heresy was not considered a naughty word back in the day when battles were fought for the truth of the Catholic faith. It is a word that should maybe be resurrected in our time.
When you see the sculpture today no one comments on what it means, nor will you find a placard explaining its meaning. Here is a paragraph from the former Sacred-Destinations website:
To the right of the altar sits Pietro Le Gros’ sculpture entitled The Triumph of Faith over Heresy. This sculpture depicts Mary casting Martin Luther and his precursor, Jan Huss, out of heaven. An attendant angel (lower left) rips their translations of the Bible and their writings to shreds. The militant nature of the Jesuits and their mission to spread the faith and reassert the power of the church is clear in this dramatic work. A companion sculpture entitled The Triumph of Faith over Idolatry” by Jean-Baptiste Theodon further cements the message of the Jesuits.
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- http://www.stpetersbasilica.info/Statues/Founders/IgnatiusLoyola/Ignatius%20Loyola.htm
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One thing is for sure, give young people a chance to understand the beauty of the gospel and to see the land where it took place, and they will thrive! We love watching these young people interacting with these sites, the accounts in the Bible and the time of fellowship and prayer and Mass together.
Today we started at Tabgha which is where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed almost 20,000 people. We emphasized the fact that this was a real miracle and not just a bunch of selfish people who learned how to share.
I then gave my talk at the next site called the Primacy of Peter, which is also on the shores of Galilee and the place where Jesus cooked breakfast for his disciples — loaves and fish in the morning. He was always feeding people over here. He was a great provider, healer, teacher and entertainer.
We then saw the 2000 year old ancient “Jesus Boat” before going out on the sea on a real boat. The kids loved it that I had to constrained them from jumping in to swim.
We then ate St. Peters Fish at Pilgerhaus. A new experience for some of them with a big fish dropped on their plate, head and all. Just like the disciples and Jesus ate!
Then we had Mass of Capernaum, where Jesus spoke the words “Eat My Flesh and drink My Blood.“ I gave my popular talk there entitled “Defending the Eucharist.“
Back to Nazareth for a bit of free time again and another delicious meal.
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What a wonderful thing to wake up and look out the window and see the Basilica of the Annunciation, and then to go down and see all of the smiling, excited and enthusiastic students ready to go! This is gonna be fun!
After a great breakfast we headed to the Mount of Transfiguration where I gave my talks on the biblical and Catholic importance of the site. We prayed the mystery of the Transfiguration there as well.
Then to Beatitudes for Mass looking out over the sea of Galilee. From there to the Syrian border, where we stopped and looked into Syria and talked about the situation here in the Middle East from a Catholic perspective.
Then on to the Golan Heights, where we had a simple lunch with the Drew‘s before going to Caesarea Philippi.
At Caesarea Philippi, I gave my talk “Peter, the rock, the keys and the chair.” We see the backdrop to Jesus’ announcement to Peter, and why he came up here to make that announcement. Then back to the hotel for some free time in Nazareth for the kids to wander around. Excellent dinner and to bed early.
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A Southern Baptist writes:
I am a Southern Baptist who has a lot of respect for the Catholic faith. The Immaculate Conception is a hard concept for me. Does it also include the belief that Mary never sinned? How does that pass muster with Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God?” It seems like Paul would have noted the one exception here in Mary if that were the case.
From my limited studies, I think Catholics have a very good argument for their position regarding the Eucharist. But wasn’t it several centuries before this concept of Mary arose in the Church?
Dear Friend: yours is a good question. From the early centuries, Mary was considered the All Holy One and considered as without sin. Rom 3:23 is a general statement but does not mention exceptions to the rule. For example, Jesus was a man without sin, therefore an exception.
The New Adam (Jesus) is without sin. From the 1st century Mary has been viewed as the New Eve. It would be appropriate, actually proper, that the New Eve be without sin also.
Those who die before the age of reason, or who are mentally deficient are also exceptions. Job could even be called an exception if you take God’s report of him literally (Job 1:8).
Romans is also discussing that it is not only the Gentiles that have sinned but also the Jews. All can be a collective of peoples. “You Jews think you are righteous because you are of Abraham? You think only the Gentiles are in sin. No, all have sinned, Gentile and Jew alike”
This is born out in Psalm 14 from where Rom 3:9 (parallel passage to Rom 3:23) is quoted. Here is says, Psalm 14:2–3 “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one.”
Yet immediately following we find that God has his righteous. Psalm 14:5–6 “There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would confound the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.”
As a Baptist I used to use the Bible often for proof-texts and sound bites. Scripture is much more subtle than that. It is our tradition, whether Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, etc., that guides us in our approach to Scripture. The real question is, which tradition will you allow to direct your interpretation and study? I chose the tradition that was practiced from the first century until today – which is Catholic.
Wish I had more time. I warn you (tongue in cheek) that if you want to stay Baptist you are asking dangerous questions and dancing very close to the fire
You will find helpful writings on this matter here, especially the short explanation on the radio of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption.
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Video of Day 1 Arrival — below…
Building off what Janet and I have been doing for 20 years with our Footprints of God movies and pilgrimages, our son Jesse Ray has now begun a new endeavor to reach college-aged students for Jesus and his Church.
This new endeavor is Inheritance Pilgrimages which will be bringing busloads of young Catholic college students to the Holy Land to immerse them in the Bible and and their inheritance as Catholics.
My son Jesse Ray and grandson JoshSince we’re losing about 9 out of 10 students as they go through college, it’s time we do something to plug the dike and help our kids stay Catholic.
We want to profoundly thank Ave Maria University in Florida for partnering with my son Jesse on this first pilot program pilgrimage. They have been remarkable with their assistance and are implementing this as part of their ministry to reach these young people for Jesus Christ. We are proud to begin doing yearly pilgrimages with them for their students at Ave Maria university.
Stay tuned for our July and December pilgrimages with Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor and many other students. We are planning one or two a year with Ave Maria U.
Students with Fr. James ready to fly!Today was arrival day! The students and chaperones came in with my son Jesse, three of my grand children, Fr. James Conlon — one of our favorite pilgrimage chaplains AND a bunch of enthusiasm.
The 45 students came in from Miami through Istanbul on Turkish Air and we picked them up at the Tel Aviv Airport.
We drove up to our hotel in Nazareth so they could get dinner and a good night’s sleep — ready to start this fast-paced and fun pilgrimage adventure tomorrow.
To learn more about this new program, visit www.inheritancepilgrimage.com.
Each day I will be posting YouTube videos of the day. Hope you can join us virtually each day. The day of arrival is already below. Enjoy!!
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As I sit looking out over the Old City of Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock where Abraham offered up Isaac, I have a few thoughts I would like to share about the people here and the existence of God.
Though a small fraction of the world’s population, and though they’ve had no land of their own for 2,000 years, the Jews continue to exert a vastly disproportionate influence on the world. Abraham believed and obeyed God so God blessed him. Isaac was the son of that blessing. God said to Abraham, “Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him” (Gen 17:19).
God made promises to Abraham, to Isaac and to Isaac’s son Jacob, and to their ancestors after them, and it seems the blessings are still in effect. I don’t know that I could possibly articulate the details, but it certainly seems so to the observant eye. And in my mind, having spent so much time in this land, the Jews’ continued existence and blessing here and around the world, is a huge argument for the existence of God. What an amazing thing that a people persecuted and scattered around the world would still exist and have such influence today even without the benefits of their own land for 2,000 years. God existence can certainly be seen in their existence.
The other son of Abraham, Ishmael by the servant Hagar, has also flourished. God also blessed Ishmael: “As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac” (Gen 17:20-21). The sons of Sarah and the sons of Hagar, both from the loins of Abraham, were both blessed and became great peoples — the Jews and the Arabs. And these brothers still struggle on the same land 3,800 years later.
But you will search in vain for Ammorites, Jebusites or Hittites. The blessing of YHWH never resided with them.
We have just arrived again on the holy ground of our fathers in the faith — the land where God Himself walked in sandaled feet. God walking in sandaled feet, how can that be?
Ah yes, here in Jerusalem where the Great Scandal took place, the ultimate fulfilment of the promises to Abraham: God became man through the line of Abraham. But how can the invisible, omnipotent, infinite God become man? And worse yet, how can God who took on flesh be executed like a common criminal? How could such a thing be?
This is great foolishness to most people, especially the Jews and the Muslims. But I relate profoundly with the remaining .08% of the people in Israel (or as they call it “Palestine”) who still embrace the Great Scandal of the Incarnation and the Cross. I come to encourage and support them as my brothers and sisters in Christ. The Christians in the Holy Land — once many, now few — are mostly Palestinians. They are doubly blessed: by the blessing of God through the promise to Abraham regarding Ishmael, and by the blessing of God through the ultimate Son of Promise, Jesus Christ.
But I also can’t help but see the special blessing that resides upon the children of Israel through the first son of promise — Isaac. This land is fraught with tension and competing religions and cultures yet both of God’s blessings remain.
I will join the Jews in the celebration of JHWH, but I will also rejoice with the Christians in His Son Jesus Christ, God Incarnation. And I will pray for Jew and Arab alike that as children of Abraham they will all come to believe in the One promised to Abraham — his seed — Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16).
I will also wonder at the marvel of God’s promises that are irrevocable. God exists and you can see it here in the streets of the Holy City of Jerusalem.
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At the end of a pilgrimage people love to share what they thought of the trip. It’s always fun with some humorous comments and heartfelt thanks.
Janet gives her extended final exhortation, which resulted in an eruption of applause!
You’ll also see Fr. Alfonso enjoying his new toy, the espergilium, way too much It has been a humorous thing throughout the trip.
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The Last NightmareA Short and Terrifying Story by Steve Ray
Everything went blank for a moment, but that moment seemed like eternity. He felt a motion, not with wind and breeze, but a motion none the less. He was traveling, moving, floating, transcending-he wasn’t really sure. The sudden blackness gave him time to regain his thoughts, just enough time to recapture the last moments.
Though his first thoughts were garbled and dreamlike, they slowly began taking shape, like a tree seen through a thick fog, slowly it all came back to him out of the swirling, traveling, blank void. Utter confusion was giving way to bits of clarity.
They had rushed him to the hospital. He remembered the sirens and the cold hands of the paramedics. Cold hands all over his body, probing and poking. Yes, there had been screams, he remembered now—and the sound of sobbing.
Then the horrendous sound resurfaced, a sound that could be felt. It was a sound that had subsumed his whole being, wrapping itself around him, ripping through him. Then the sound of crunching metal, broken glass, and twisted carnage. What must have lasted only seconds seemed to him a long and troubling nightmare—then the dark, foggy void.
For the rest of the 12-page terrifying story, click here.
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We walked the Via Dolorosa and then a very special Mass inside the tomb, with the door closed for just us. Amazing and you’ll like the video of it.
We touched the top of Calvary and went to the Western Wall and saw some brand new art here at the Notre Dame. Powerful, very good!
We are making a second video today which will come out tomorrow about farewells and comments and the people departing for home.
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Today is the Feast Day of the Great Bishop and Saint Polycarp on February 23. When we converted to the Catholic Church my son Jesse chose St. Polycarp as his patron saint because of his great heroism.
We filmed the whole life of St. Polycarp on location. I feel like I know him.
The name Polycarp sounds funny to our English ears, but in Greek it comes from two words “poly” meaning many or much, and “carp” meaning fruit. Obviously his Christian parents named him Polycarp along with a prayer that he would bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God — which he did.
To learn the whole story of St. Polycarp, on location, watch our new DVD “Apostolic Fathers: Handing on the Faith” along with a 28-page Study Guide.
Download a Free Copy of the
Apostolic Fathers Timeline
This amazing Timeline drives home the point of how close these men were to Jesus and the Apostles.
It demonstrates how Catholic the first Christians really were!
The Apostolic Fathers faced Emperors, heretics and lions but these heroes of the Catholic faith never lost courage. Chains, prisons and blood-soaked arenas did not stop the early Christians from witnessing for Christ and handing on the Apostolic Tradition. Strap on your sandals and step back in time to discover the “Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith”
Comprehensive 28-Page Study GuideBehind the Scenes: The Making of Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the FaithBloopers and Outtakes
Conversation with Steve Ray and Fr. Benedict GroeschelEnglish and Spanish subtitles
Feature running time: 90 minutes, extras 30 minutes
Buy it NOW here
Link to Eyewitness Account of his martyrdom. Link to Letter he wrote to Philippians. Link to letter St. Ignatius wrote to Polycarp.
Fascinating Quote from St. Irenaeus about St. Polycarp
“When I was a boy . . . I remember the events of that time more clearly than those of recent years. For what boys learn, growing with their mind, becomes joined with it; so that I am able to describe the very place in which the blessed Polycarp sat as he discoursed, and his goings out and his comings in, and the manner of his life, and his physical appearance, and his discourses to the people, and the accounts which he gave of his [interaction] with John and with the others who had seen the Lord.
And as he remembered their words, and what he heard from them concerning the Lord, and concerning his miracles and his teaching, having received them from eyewitnesses of the ‘Word of life,’ Polycarp related all things in harmony with the Scriptures. These things being told me by the mercy of God, I listened to them attentively, noting them down, not on paper, but in my heart. And continually, through God’s grace, I recall them faithfully (Irenaeus quoted in Eusebius, History of the Church 5, 20 in NPNF 2nd, 1:238-139).
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Today is Ash Wednesday and we’re navigating the special requirements during a pilgrimage. Mass at the Notre Dame Center with ashes, then a drive to the Israel Museum to see the model of the city in the 1st century and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Then we descend down 4,250 feet to the lowest place on the face of the Earth. That would be the Jordan River near the northern tip of the Dead Sea. We renewed our baptismal vows and prayed the 1st Luminous Mystery.
A visit to a Hebron glass shop in Jericho and we saw a sycamore tree (remember Zacchaeus?) We also saw the the Mountain of Temptations where the devil offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Then touring and lunch at Qumran.
Then all the real fun begins with floating in the Dead Sea and the camel rides before coming back up to Jerusalem for the exquisite and elegant dinner on the roof of the Notre Dame at the cCheese & Wine Restaurant.
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Recently I have corresponded with a polite gentleman about the correlation between “Moses taking his seat” to judge the people and the Chair of Moses mentioned by Our Lord (Matt 23:2).
As Catholics, we also see that authority exercised in the Chair of Peter. It was an interesting discussion which I hope you find helpful, historical, biblical and edifying. His words are indented in blue and mine in black.
Friend
I rarely take the time to respond to folks because many times people just wanna debate and are antagonistic. But I am sensing you have a good heart and an honest mind so I am happy to respond a bit to your comments and irenic tone.
Ii doubt I will have time to respond further since there are a lot or things on my plate right now and travel is picking up again.
Hi Steve,
Thank you. I really appreciate the reply, the quote from your book, and the correction. I have been researching the Moses seat extensively the last couple of years, which I think is how I came across your video.
I love visiting all of the biblical sites. I’ve been to Israel over 180 times and that doesn’t count all our trips to Egypt and Jordan and Syria and Iraq and more. I too love to study scripture in the context of culture of the time.
Also, in response to our earlier conversation, I do not believe in the infallible interpretation because the two commentators (Keil and Delitzsch) said so. I believe in it because it is biblical and Catholic. I quoted those two Lutheran commentators in my YouTube because I find it curious that Protestants who oftentimes criticize Catholics for believing in an infallible interpretation would use that phrase regarding a fallible person, even though a biblical character. They said that Joseph in Genesis was giving the “infallible gift of interpretation of dreams.” I believe in the infallible teaching of the church because it is the way the church has organically grown and developed which I’ll explain later.
I understand your point, though I respectfully disagree with the “extrapolation” theory. I don’t think the interpretation of dreams equates to infallible teaching authority over God’s Word. There’s a lot to unpack and obviously debates on these things will always persist. I’ll share a few thoughts but I’m a little pressed for time and don’t want to take up too much of yours, either…(but apologies in advance, I can be long-winded
I don’t think it is an extrapolation. I think it’s the ability of God to give fallible man an infallible interpretation, dreams or anything he wills. He wants us to have clarity and certainty, nor confusion and a thousand interpretations and sects.
But even more so, what is more significant than giving fallible men (the Church) the gift of infallible interpretation, is the ability and practice of God to give fallible men the ability to write inspired infallible words with their quill and ink and their very verbal words as well (e.g., 1 Thes 2:13).
Fallible men like Moses and Matthew and Paul use their own words but are actually speaking/writing the infallible word of God. And if a man can write the actual words of God, then it is a much lesser thing for a fallible man and a simple man, like the pope, to be able to infallibly interpret the word of God — or dreams.
And of course, if you are as studied as you suggest, you know that the Catholic Church does not teach that whatever the pope says or does is infallible. Especially this pope! But, there are certain conditions under which by the guidance of the Holy Spirit the pope and the church speak infallibly for God, interpreting the Scripture and the Apostolic Tradition. I know that makes the hair rise up on the back of many Protestants, as it did me when I was a Baptist Bible teacher.
One such infallible interpretation or decision was the closing of the canon of the Bible. Even the Jews throughout their centuries did not have a closed canon. Even during the time of Christ, this was so. The Sadducees had only the Pentateuch, the Pharisees excepted pretty much the Bible of the Protestants today, The Greek-speaking Jews with their Septuagint had a larger set of writings. the Essenes had a much broader understanding of “the writings.“ Some suggest that the Council of Jamnia in around 90 AD is the point the Jews closed their canon. However, this is inaccurate.
Never do you find in Jewish history or the time of Christ that it was expected or predicted that additional inspired writings would be added or appended to the “Law and the Prophets”. It was the Church that closed the canon of scripture at the end of the 4th century. And Christians today of all stripes pretty much accept that authority of the Church when they carry their Bibles to church with them on Sunday. We don’t need prior explicit mentions of the NT in the Old or in Jewish tradition to accept the authority of the Church to authoritatively and infallibly to establish additional writings to the Bible.
Who would’ve ever thought at the time of Jesus that there would be 27 books added to the “written word of God”? But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I am not aware of anything in Scripture or in ancient Jewish literature that indicates Jews had such a concept of infallibility. If you have any specific references to such a concept, I’d love to see them (not ones that are logically woven together into a conclusion…I’m well aware of those, but a specific, Jewish use/definition of such a term – or a similar one, maybe ‘inerrant’). It would be one thing if we read that in Genesis, or elsewhere, but we don’t. It’s simply a term that these commentators use. Indeed, interpreting a dream seems like a discrete, black or white issue. Either you know what it means, or you don’t. Clearly, Scripture is much broader and not on par with the dream of a Pharaoh…and it is the Word of God!
I’ve already addressed this above pretty much. If God can give infallible interpretations of dreams, he can certainly do more than that as I proved above by giving men the ability to write inspired, God-breathed, infallible text.
You may not see the word “infallible” used in the Pentateuch or in the prophets because the word was not in vogue back then, but no one would deny Moses spoke for God and nobody would question him as to his infallibility. When Miriam and the others challenged Moses and has authority, the ground opened up and swallowed them.
We only find the word “inspired“ once in the whole Bible and that’s in 2 Timothy 3:16. Even though we don’t see the word “inspired“ used of Moses in the Old Testament (nor does 2 Tim 3:16 explicitly refer to the NT), no one would dare say that he was not.
We use words today that may not have used back then but just because we don’t find the word “inspired” or “infallible” in the writings of “the Law and the Prophets” doesn’t mean they didn’t believe in it 100%. Just like we don’t find our word Trinity until the second or third century, yet you and I both will die for the doctrine of the Trinity even though it’s not a word used in the Bible but we certainly know the actuality there in the Bible.
With Joseph, we know he was a God-fearing man of faith and character (my terms, but I think clearly see in passages like Genesis 39:7–9 and Hebrews 11:22). Even if one “extrapolates” such a concept as general infallibility, what indication do we have that God bestows such a blessing on people that are unfaithful, simply because of their position? Joseph wasn’t given this gift because of his position in the palace…
God can give that gift to anybody in any situation. He even used Balaam‘s ass to speak his word to Balaam. If the ass could interpret the intentions of God and speak them accurately to Balaam, I suggest God could use just about anyone. It seems Caiaphas had the same “gift” at one point (John 11:49-52). And if God gives a certain man a position of authority where it’s important that his word is spoken accurately, I do believe that that position can be accompanied by infallible interpretation. Of course, I would believe that, because I’m a Catholic and it’s what we believe. But we believe it with very good biblical and historical reasons.
The same is true of Moses. In your video, you also said: “Moses took his seat…cathedra.” In Exodus 18:13, it says he “sat” (verb). I acknowledge the concept and its legal connotations (which even carries into our cultures, today) but there 1) isn’t any concept of infallibility described anywhere that I’m aware of and; 2) isn’t any evidence of an actual object that represents singular, infallible, authority, anywhere through Jewish history, up through the second temple period that Jesus is born into. There were three primary roles of authority…king, high priest, and prophet. None of them are ever described as having infallible interpretations. Well, prophets would be an interesting study, clearly true prophecies are “infallible” but they are individuals that God raises up, not a genealogical line and they didn’t hold the “authority.” All three of these roles come together in Christ.
Yes, it is a verb, but the verb assumes an object — something to sit on, which is the chair. It was a chair of Moses and thus representing his authority when he sat there.
You noticed a chink in your armor there with the prophets. Because God did call a cadre of men called prophets who did speak infallibly, and even though we know they spoke infallibly and interpreted past scripture and current events infallibly, they never use the word because that word was not in vogue back then but no one would have doubted the concept existed.
Also, we do not believe that infallibility in the Catholic Church is based on genealogy. But remember that the priesthood and the kingship in Israel were based on genealogy. Even prophets were known at times to pass on their authority to a successor, e.g., Elijah to Elisha.
I also agree that there was no specific office of “infallibility”, specifically stated, in the Old Testament though the Jews may have argued with us on that matter. (In fact, we never see in the NT the word infallible or inerrant regarding Paul, though no one would doubt in the NT he is infallibly interpreting the OT, especially the passages he quotes from the OT).
In the Mishnah, which as you know is a compilation of Jewish tradition around the time of Christ. It could of course be dismissed because it was after the time of Christ, bi it is certainly a good thermometer for Jewish thought, not just after Christ, but also during his time and earlier. It was an attempt to put down the traditions and teachings of the rabbis down through their past. The Mishnah states,
“ABOT 1:1 A: Moses received Torah at Sinai and handed it on to Joshua, Joshua to elders, and elders to prophets. B And prophets handed it on to the men of the great assembly.”
One cannot dismiss this out of hand because it was after the destruction of the Temple since the Targums and Mishnah was the effort of the post-Temple Jews to recall and document the earlier customs and traditions of the Jews.
There was always an office to go to inquire of God. It was always assumed this office as handed down in succession would speak the true word of God. However, since the Holy Spirit had not been sent yet we know that we could never consider that infallible. The coming of the Holy Spirit can and does change all that, especially in the leadership of his Body, the Church to which he made promises to.
For the rest of the article where we get much deeper into the Chair of Moses, the Chair of Peter, and infallible teachers and judges, click HERE.
The post “Chair of Moses – Chair of Peter” – a lengthy debate appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Cloudy and cool today, but very delightful. Better than hot! We started out at Gethsemane for a very emotional Mass at the rock where Jesus sweat drops of blood. The medical term for that is hematidrosis. We saw the 2000 year old olive trees.
Then up to the top of the Mount of Olives for the Paternoster Church where Jesus taught his disciples to pray the Our Father, and from which he ascended into heaven.
Lunch of beef Shawarmas overlooking the city of Jerusalem, and then to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room and the prison where Jesus was kept in Saint Peter in Gallicantu. A little free time this afternoon for everyone, much deserved I must say.
The post Day 6: Gethsemane, Mt of Olives, Upper Room, Peter in Gallicantu appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Crisis Magazine has published today an excellent article on Frank Pavone. Not only was he defrocked by the Vatican but now has been charged with sexual harassment allegations.
This article is a detailed assessment of the credible charges against him, how he has failed to respond appropriately, and what he should do for the good of the Church and the pro-life movement.
https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/what-should-we-think-about-the-pavone-affair
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Steve,
I wanted to ask you a question. I read that transubstantiation was not adopted formally by the church until medieval times. I read the attached that St. Ignatius and others believe in the true presence in the second century. Did they consecrate the bread and wine as we do today? Did they practice transubstantiation as early as St. Peter and St. Ireneaus? Was it consubstantiation or some other form?
Thank you! I am so happy that you and Janet can resume traveling again! You teach so many what we need in this crazy world today.
Kevin
My response:Kevin:
Thanks, yes Lourdes and Fatima in September, followed by Israel, then our St. Paul Mediterranean Cruise. Excited!
Within the Church, as within Judaism before it, there is something called the development of doctrine. God did not reveal everything to us in its fullness all at once but in bits and pieces, over time. In Christ, the whole Truth of the Faith was fully provided, but it was not all easy to understand and it took time for us to unpack it. We call it the deposit of faith — it is like a rich man putting his money in the bank. Jesus and the Apostles deposited the fullness of the faith in the bank, which is the Church.
Even Protestants have to deal with this issue since they believe that the 27 books of the New Testament are inspired and authoritative writings given to us by God. However, that conclusion and collection of books were not made until the end of the 4th century.
It was a development and it took time. It was determined by the councils of the Catholic Church. It is the same with the Trinity. The early Christians believed in one God in three persons and three persons in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. However, only through the development of doctrine was it given the name – Trinity. The first time the word trias was used was in 180 AD and it wasn’t until much later that Christianity began to use the word Trinity as a clear definition of the one God in three persons.
It is the same with the Eucharist. Very simply stated, like Irenaeus and Ignatius before him and all the early Christians, they ALL believed that the bread and wine became the body and blood of Jesus Christ and that the substance changed. There was no Christian that doubted that until after the protestant deformation.
St. Irenaeus (120-200 AD) said,
“[The bread and wine] having received the Word of God, becomes the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ; so also our bodies, being nourished by it, and deposited in the earth, and suffering decomposition there, shall rise at their appointed time, the Word of God granting them resurrection to the glory of God.”
Likewise, St. Ignatius (35-107 AD),
They even abstain from the Eucharist and from the public prayers, because they will not admit that the Eucharist is the self-same body of our Savior Jesus Christ which flesh suffered for our sins, and which the Father of His goodness raised up again.”
However, because it was so well accepted, and no one challenged it, it wasn’t until the 1200s that it was given the official name of transubstantiation. Some protestants like to say that transubstantiation was “invented“ in the 1200s, implying that the idea of the bread and wine becoming the body and blood of Christ or something newly invented by a pagan church.
However, that is total rubbish. Just like doctrines already believed received official “names” later in time, and understandings of those doctrines was developed, so the Eucharist was always the Eucharist. But as the Church pondered these things in her heart they better understand and could more clearly define and describe it, such as with transubstantiation.
This big word simply means that the substance changes though the outer appearance remains the same. It is the same thing taught but the Fathers of the Church, just not with the fancy definition.
Just remember the development of doctrine and it’ll help you understand many of the teachings and doctrines of the Church. And again, the Protestants who accuse us of “making up doctrines” have to deal with it too even though they won’t admit it. They have a doctrine they call the “Rapture” — and yet that false doctrine was not ever mentioned before the 1850s.
For a marvelous understanding and explanation of the Development of Doctrine, read Cardinal John Newman’s Essay of the Development of Christian Doctrine.
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Today is always a favorite for a lot of our pilgrims. At 8 o’clock we drive through the “security fence“ into Bethlehem. It’s really not a fence, but a 30 foot wall. Israel built that wall to protect themselves from terrorists who came into Jerusalem from Bethlehem — and since they built the wall, the terrorism attacks with bombs have stopped. It’s been over 10 years.
We arrive at the olivewood store where people love to do their Christmas shopping and bring back religious items as memories of the trip. Mass in a cave at Shepherds Field and then Shawarma sandwiches.
From there we go to the Church of Nativity and jostle with the crowds to touch the birthplace of Jesus in the grotto below. We pray the Mystery of the Nativity there.
Next is our whole lamb dinner, which is always quite an event for our folks. Then the young Christian Dabka dancers come out in their traditional dress and do a performance for us before all of us get up and dance with them. It’s a hilarious and rumpus good time. (The dancing is on a separate Vimeo video) Then back to the hotel in Jerusalem.
The post Day 5: All Day Bethlehem and the Birth of Our Lord appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
David had a very handsome son. His name was Absalom and he betrayed his father the king and led a rebellion against him. The Bible says that Absalom was “beautiful“ and he only cut his hair once a year. Here is what the Bible says about him:
“Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his beauty as Absalom; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight” (2 Sam 14:25-26).
The pile of hair left on the floor each year, after Absalom’s haircut, weighed 200 shekels. How much is 200 shekels? It is an amazing 4.4 pounds!
Now, do you remember how Absalom died in his fight against his father, King David?
“Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging [presumably by his hair] between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on….
“Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him” (2 Sam 18:9, 14-15 ).
What was Absalom thinking about as he was hanging between heaven and earth? I have to believe he was wishing he’d gotten his hair cut a bit earlier that year!And notice, the Scripture says Absalom was left hanging between heaven and earth — almost a implication that the traitor was condemned and unworthy of heaven or earth.Remember Judas? What did he do to his king, Jesus? And how did Judas die?The post Hair Cut only Once a Year appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Today was the big move from our hotel in Tiberias to Jerusalem. We started the day getting everything loaded up on the bus and we headed to Capernaum for Mass at the House of St. Peter. Very unique glass floor looking down into the area where Jesus lived for three years with Peter. I gave my talk “Defending the Eucharist“.
We took a boat ride out on the sea of Galilee, which is a favorite for everyone. I share my experience of fishing all night with two Jewish fishermen. Then we ate St. Peter’s fish at the German Benedictine retreat center.
Drove to Jerusalem with a stop along the way and I told my conversion story on the bus. and we arrived at the Visitation to talk about Mary and the special event that took place with Elizabeth in Ein Kerem, a subdivision of Jerusalem. People are always amazed that Mary walked almost 100 miles to visit Elizabeth
Then we arrived at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem and settled in for the night.
The post Day 4: Mass at Capernaum, BotRide, Peter’s Fish, Visitation & Jerusalem appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This got a chuckle out of me so I thought you might like it to.
In a dream Marge sees Bart and Homer convert to the Catholic Church and go to Catholic heaven, leaving her behind in Protestant heaven, to her chagrin.
Click HERE.
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Busy day today in northern Israel and around the Sea of Galilee. Beatitudes for Mass, up to Caesarea Philippi where I give my talk in titled “Peter: the Rock, the Keys and the Chair.“
Druze Bread Sandwiches in the Golan Heights, then overlooking the border with Syria, explaining the situation here in the Middle East, then down to the Sea of Galilee for the Primacy of Peter and the Multiplication of loaves at Tabgha.
Some free time and then a fantastic dinner at an upscale restaurant in Nazareth overlooking the Church of the Annunciation.
The post Day 3: Beatitudes, Banias, Syrian border, Tabgha, Primacy, Dinner in Nazareth appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Since we are in Jerusalem, where many of the Eastern Catholic Churches converge, I decided to share this excellent article. I found it very helpful.
Many think the name of “our church” is the “Roman Catholic Church” — but that is only the name of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. The “Catholic Church” is the simple and actual name of our Church, a church made of many different rites, all with the same sacraments and all loyal to the Bishop of Rome as the visible head of the Catholic Church.
But many others of the Eastern churches are not “Catholic” and are not in union with Rome such as the Greek Orthodox, the Russian Orthodox, Coptics and many others.
I hope you find this explanation, list of the various rites, glossary of terms and more as helpful as I did. Greetings from Jerusalem where the Roman Catholic Church is referred to as the Latin Rite and cooperates with many other Catholic Rites and co-exists with many non-Catholic Eastern rites.
The article begins,
“As millions watched the funeral for Pope John Paul II, many were confused by the concluding Panakhyda celebrated not in Latin, but in Greek and Arabic by hierarchs in black hoods, turbans, crowns, and unusual vestments. Was this not the responsibility of the cardinals? And were those clerics even Catholic?
“The answer may surprise you, as Catholics are generally unaware that they have millions of coreligionists who are not themselves part of the Roman Catholic Church. Indeed, even the term “Roman Catholic” isn’t quite right it was actually a derogatory label assigned to us by Anglican Protestants, trying to legitimize their own use of the term “Catholic” over and against that foreign Church loyal to the pope of Rome.
“In point of fact, the Catholic Church directly under the jurisdiction of Rome is properly and canonically termed the Latin Church. All official Church documents simply use the term, “Catholic Church.” And contrary to popular belief, most of the day-to-day work preformed by the Holy Father is not in his role as pope and pastor of the Universal Church but in his position in the Latin Church as the bishop of Rome and the patriarch of the West.
“So who are these “other” Catholics? They have their own hierarchies and liturgies, as well as their own distinct apostolic lineages. They may look and act like Eastern Orthodox churches, but they recognize the pope of Rome as the head of the visible Church on earth and have suffered for the cause of that unity.
“Meet the Catholic Churches. There are more of them than you think… For the whole article, click here.
The post The Other Catholics: A Short Guide to the Eastern Catholic Churches appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Mount Tabor rises 1900 feet above the Jezreel Valley below. It has a unique hump of a mountain rising up in the plain. On
Many times people had asked me how long it would take Jesus and the disciples to get to the top. So back on ways, I drove over to the mountain, parked at the base, and I scrambled straight up to the top through the trees and over rocks. It took me 55 minutes but I was in a rush. So I suspect it took Jesus and his disciples about an hour and a half.
We arrived early in the morning and took the van taxis up instead of climbing, and had Mass looking out over the land of Israel.
From there we went to Cana for the renewal of wedding vows and lunch at the YMCA.
Our last step of the day was Nazareth to visit the grotto where the angel made the announcement to Mary, and where the Incarnation took place — it ALL started here! We arrived back at the hotel, giving everyone some free time to sit by or swim in the Sea of Galilee, and to get a good night’s sleep.
The post Day2: Transfiguration, Cana & Nazareth appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Ben Schapiro does a nice job of explaining the history of Israel from Moses until today. He could’ve started with Abraham, to whom God promised the land to his descendants as an everlasting covenant in Genesis chapter 17.
In my opinion it is a fair and accurate explanation of the situation in the Middle East and with Israel.
The post The History of Israel and Explanation of Current Conflicts appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
One thing that’s always exciting about a pilgrimage is when you see families come with their youngsters. These young folks are so profoundly impacted by the gospel as it’s presented in the land where it actually happened.
We had a wonderful start, everybody’s accounted for, no lost luggage, and we had a great Mass and dinner on the shore of Galilee.
The post Our new group arrives in Israel: lots of young folks which is very exciting! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
By Dave Armstrong:
Many Protestants understand being “saved” as a one-moment-in-time act of repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as one’s “personal Lord and savior” (a phrase that nowhere appears in the Bible, by the way), a life-changing transformation of “lost” sinner who becomes a “saved” child of God. They believe this to be an irrevocable step that eliminates the penalties of past sins and guarantees, no matter what might happen from that point forward, that nothing can undo or rescind one’s salvation.
“Once-saved-always-saved” is a slogan many Protestants use to describe their belief in a Christian’s absolute assurance of salvation. And though not all Protestants accept the once-saved-always-saved formula, many, such as Southern Baptists and the myriad of “non-denominational” denominations, do. Two Bible passages commonly cited in support of this view are:
1 John 5:13: “I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
John 10:27-29: “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
St. John’s assurance that “you have eternal life” is a proclamation of every Christian’s moral—not absolute—assurance of salvation. Christ offers us the gift of salvation, and he will not go back on his word.
But you and I are entirely capable of going back on our word by abandoning Christ and, thereby, forfeiting his gift of salvation. St. Paul speaks about this in 2 Timothy 2:11-13:
If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
Take care to notice the particular “if” in this passage. So while it’s true that we may indeed “have” salvation, whether or not we keep our grasp on it is another matter, as St. Paul will demonstrate below.
But first, let’s consider St. John’s other statement: No one can snatch out of Christ’s hand, those whom the Father has given him. No external power is capable of wresting us out of Christ’s loving embrace (Rom. 8:28-29), but you can do it, if you decide to willfully rebel against God through mortal sin (1 John 5: 16-17), and if you die unrepentant in that state, you will have lost your salvation because you will have, in effect, snatched yourself out of Christ’s hand. This is demonstrated by the following verses:
Romans 11:13-22: that first of all, contains a description of (and warning to not be like) those individual Jews living at the time of Christ who forfeited their salvation by deliberately rejecting Jesus Christ as Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior. They were once “branches” on a cultivated olive tree (i.e., the Chosen People of Israel) that symbolizes in this analogy those who were saved. Pointing toward their sin of spurning their Savior, St Paul declares:
They [i.e., those who lost their salvation by rejecting Christ] were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.
The “you” to whom he’s addressing this warning are gentile Christians whom he likens to branches from a “wild olive tree” that had been grafted onto the cultivated tree in places where the natural branches had been snapped off. Note well the warning he gives these gentile Christians regarding the possibility that they too could lose their salvation.
Hebrews 10:26–31: [I]f we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. . . . How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2 Peter 2: 20-21: For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.”
Ask yourself: Is there any way someone could “escape the defilements of the world” other than by God’s grace and forgiveness (what many refer to as being “saved”)? No. So this means that some who been saved fall back into grievous sin, thereby losing their salvation.
And recall the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35. He’s a perfect parallel with the sinner who repents, pleads for mercy, and was forgiven by God and his debt of sin wiped out. But the unforgiving servant proceeded to mistreat a fellow servant and when the King discovered this, he reinstated his debt and threw him into prison.
The Bible is clear that, tragically, Christians can indeed lose their salvation by sinful rebellion against God. As the Lord himself declared, “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matt. 18:35).
Ask yourself: Why would Christ warn us about this, if there was no danger that it could happen? See these additional verses for more study: Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 10:22; John 5:29; Rom. 2:5-11; Rom. 8;24-25; 1 Cor. 9:27; 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 6:11; Phil. 2:12-13; 1 John 3:21-24; 1 John 4:20-21.
The post Yes, Christians Do Have an Assurance—but Not an Absolute Assurance—of Salvation appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Click on image for the movie – it is worth your time!If you haven’t watched this 1 hour video yet, do so. A good friend told me about it at a men’s conference where I was speaking a while ago. Janet and I watched it several years ago and were captivated.
If you want to understand the homosexual lifestyle, the sadness and emptiness it brings — this is a great movie. Three honest people who lived the gay lifestyle for decades tell the story of their coming to grips with their life.
I highly recommend you take an hour and watch this movie which is a tear-jerker in places. It will help you understand, sympathize with and relate to those among us who struggle with homosexuality. It will help set the tone for how we relate to and love our fellow men and women, especially those who have turned to Jesus Christ and decided to live a life of holiness.
For some reason I am unable to embed it but you can watch it HERE.
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Conversion stories are always so compelling. Jim’s is full of good content that can help another understand and see the truth of the Catholic Church. This story is about 23 pages but a very good read. Hope you enjoy it. By the way, below is also a link to his wife Julie’s story
She wrote this about her husband:
“My husband a quiet man at times, especially if he does not know you, spent the last few months writing his journey into the Catholic Faith. For a man who usually does not use many words….. He had much to say. I am so proud of him and every time I asked him if he was finished yet? He would say… “No! I have too many areas I need to cover. This is my story and I want to get it right.”
“Why do we want to share this? In hopes of bridging a gap and help folks understand the misunderstandings that have divided Christianity. We know we are just a small pebble in this great big ocean in which we live. Hoping our pebble with bring a few ripples across the waters and touch others. God Bless, Jewels”
I was born the second child of a staunch Presbyterian family; father, mother, four sisters and me. From as early as I can remember our parents did not “send” their children to church, they “took” them. We did Sunday school and Church service almost every Sunday. We may have protested (more about protestation later) from time to time, but we understood we were going. It was a part of our lives. I thank God often for the father and mother he prepared for me. They were not perfect parents by the world’s standards, but they were perfect for me. God does not make mistakes. What does the world know?
I was baptized at the age of 13 months. Until I was about five years old, I have scant memories of life; a few places and events. When I was eight years old, we began attending St. Phillip Presbyterian Church in Hurst, TX. There were many families with children my age, but the ones that attended regularly only had girls my age.
There I was in Sunday school surrounded by girls. Not the ideal situation for an eight or nine year old boy, especially a boy with four sisters! Still, I enjoyed the Bible stories, mostly from the Old Testament, that told the ancient history of the people of God. Great heroes like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and David were imperfect, yet God showed them great power and had mercy on them. Then too, we had stories from the New Testament of Jesus healing multitudes of people, teaching them to obey God and ultimately being crucified. Oh yes, He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. Yet, the “full” meaning of all this escaped me.
When I was thirteen, it was time for Confirmation. Yes, the Presbyterians have, or had back then, a confirmation process. Eight or ten weeks meeting with the Minister to “learn” the tenets of the faith (Communicants Class), followed by a Confirmation Service. We made a profession of faith, were received into full membership and received our first Communion (sound sort of familiar to you Catholics?).
I cannot tell you the complete affect first Communion had on me, but as I continued to take Communion over the years I experienced something special. I now know it was the Grace of God. I had wondered for many years why I could not “participate” in Communion and why my father, mother and others in the assembly would weep at the eating of flat bread and wine. (Yes, our Presbyterian church had WINE! It was not until much later that grape juice was offered as an alternate to wine.) I too would well-up during the Communion Service, but would be so at peace afterword.
At this point of the story I know many Catholics are screaming “What about examination of conscience? What about Reconciliation? What about receiving unworthily? What about crackers and juice? What about… What-up with dat?” Calm down already. We were taught to examine our conscience and confess our sin and sinfulness, before receiving. Did we confess to a Priest? Yes and no. We were more than welcome to approach our minister, Reverend James F. Garvin (a wonderful man of God, but not a Catholic Priest… more on this later), and discuss any manner of sin, fault or greivance. He would assure us “in Jesus Christ you are forgiven.” Most of us confessed to the High Priest forever of the order of Melchizedek. You might know him as Jesus Christ.
As I transitioned from junior high to high school, my church attendance slowly declined. Eventually it was relegated to the level of holiday celebrations. There were basically two, Easter and Christmas. Two things occurred during this time that affected my attitude toward church attendance.
First, my dad had a “disagreement” with the church leadership. He was a Deacon willing to serve, but something upset him so much he resigned and rarely attended church the remainder of his life. I know nothing of the details and never asked.
Second, I became self absorbed. I focused on working, football, friends with little or no inclination toward spiritual development, smoking, drinking and girls. Imagine that, smoking and drinking coexisting with football. Sure, many players on my high school team smoked and drank their way through the season. Young bodies can take a lot of abuse and recover quickly. Probably still happens today with the added influence of drugs. Girls?
Although I liked girls, I never had success in this department. I was terrified of them. I feared rejection and thought I had nothing to offer. I had three dates in three years of high school. One of those the girl asked me, but I thought she was motivated by her recent breakup with another guy. Enough about this. In my senior year I quit football half way through the season and worked (money was important to me) while moving on to a more “important” activity, experimenting with drugs.
I graduated from high school and began to work construction. I had plenty of money, but wanted more. What better way than to sell pot. I was not the prime North Texas Distributor, but sold it none the less. This was a dark period in my life. I lived for money and the next high. I worked all day, partied all night, got up the next day and repeated the cycle. This lasted for about three years.
For the whole story, click here
For his wife Jill’s story, click here
To share your story, or to read hundreds of other conversion stories, click here
The post Jim’s Story: Born Presbyterian, then to Parties, Drugs … Protestantism and finally to the Church appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
GODLESSNESS IS THE NO. 1 CAUSE OF WAR- Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. has talked about the following on EWTN-TV: The Myth that Religion is the Number 1 Cause of War by Robin Schumacheredited by Matt Slick. Atheists and secular humanists consistently make the claim that religion is the #1 cause of violence and war throughout the history of mankind…. All faiths combined –minus Islam– have caused less than 4% of all of humanity’s wars and violent conflicts.Further, they played no motivating role in the major wars that have resulted in the most loss of life. The truth is, non-religious motivations and naturalistic philosophies bear the blame for nearly all of humankind’s wars. Lives lost during religious conflict pales in comparison to those experienced during the regimes who wanted nothing to do with the idea of God –something showcased in R. J. Rummel’s work Lethal Politics and Death by Government:Non-Religious Dictator Lives Lost Joseph Stalin – 42,672,000 * Mao Zedong – 37,828,000 * Adolf Hitler – 20,946,000 * Chiang Kai-shek – 10,214,000 * Vladimir Lenin – 4,017,000 * Hideki Tojo – 3,990,000 * Pol Pot – 2,397,0003 Add to that the Chinese and North Koreans. The historical evidence is quite clear: Religion is not the #1 cause of war. In the end, the evidence shows that some instructors and others who oppose religion are quite wrong.Sin is the #1 cause of war and violence, not religion… not Christianity. Source/footnotes: http://carm.org/religion-cause-war. MORE INFO. FROM UNIV. OF HAWAII ON POWER KILLS: https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/NOTE1.HTM* The post Wars and Death not cause by Religion, but by the Irreligious appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This article was published by The Denver Catholic and I agree with it. I actually prefer the ad orientem posture during Mass. When the priest is representing the people, he faces the altar looking east with his back to the people. When he is representing the Lord he turns and faces the people.
Until the 1960s, Catholics worshipped ad orientem, with priest and congregation facing the East during Mass. Originally Christians celebrated Mass before daybreak Sunday morning with the rising sun serving as a symbol of Christ’s resurrection (testified by Pliny the Younger’s letter to the Emperor Trajan in 112 A.D.).
The common liturgical direction toward the East honored the resurrection and anticipated the Lord’s coming in glory. The oldest Christian church discovered in the world (without a later structure built over it), the house church at Dura-Europos in Syria, dating from the early 200s, was found with its altar touching the wall, facing East. Churches were constructed throughout history in this same fashion, with the altar (whether against the wall or not) oriented toward the East.
Even though there were more exceptions to a strict interpretation of this geographical direction in recent times, priest and people still worshipped facing the Lord together throughout the entire history of Catholic worship. Services facing the people arose during the Reformation, because ministers were focused on speaking to and leading the congregation.
The priest during Catholic worship, however, acts in the person of Christ and leads the members of the Body in a common approach to the Father. The Mass does not focus on the people but seeks to give glory to the Father through Christ and in the Holy Spirit. The Mass is not about us ultimately but about coming into communion with God, worshipping him and being drawn into his life.
Why, then, did we change the direction of Catholic worship to face the people, called ad populum, in contrast to ad orientem? The Second Vatican Council did not mention this change and there is no official liturgical document from the 1960s that directed it. The thought following Vatican II’s constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, was that the Mass, which had been celebrated in an oft-inaudible Latin, should be more accessible to the people.
In the experimental period between the constitution in 1963 and the promulgation of the reformed Mass of Pope Paul VI in 1969, the posture of facing the people had already become standard as a kind of spontaneous reaction to the liturgical mood of greater transparency and accessibility.
It is truly amazing that a timeless practice of Christian worship, such as the posture of ad orientem, would be abandoned without the directives of a Council or even any deliberation from authoritative bodies. Over the last 50 years, it has become the absolute norm. At the same time, works such as Pope Benedict XVI’s Spirit of the Liturgy and Uwe Michael Lang’s Turning towards the Lord (both published by Ignatius Press) have pointed to the implications of this change for the way Catholics perceive the meaning of liturgy.
It appears to have become more human-centered rather than God-centered, indicating more of an enclosed circle than a transcendent action that draws us beyond the confines of the church. Inspired by these reflections, some priests have been seeking to recover the ad orientem posture. And not far behind that decision, controversy lurks.
Many congregations panic, thinking that the priest has “turned his back” on them. Others allege a return to a properly abandoned archaic way of doing things: “Father’s taking us back to the past.” Bishops will tell priests to desist, and two prominent archbishops have put restrictions on the practice just this last year in the United States.
Nothing compares, however, to the literal “liturgical war” that has erupted in India within the Syro-Malabar archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, rejecting the decision of the Church’s governing synod to introduce a uniform celebration of the liturgy with the Liturgy of the Word facing the people and the Liturgy of the Eucharist ad orientem.
While this decree was implemented in the rest of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in relative peace, protests from priests and the laity have led to the replacement of an archbishop and violent disruptions of liturgies and meetings in this one archeparchy. No resolution has been reached.
What is so controversial about ad orientem that would lead to restrictions by bishops and violent protests? Although Vatican II said nothing about changing the priest’s direction during Mass, ad orientem has become a symbol of more traditional liturgy, leading some to see it as voicing hesitation or even a rejection of the new liturgy.
If the post-Vatican II liturgical changes sought a greater openness to the world, increased intelligibility, accessibility, and transparency, then the return to ad orientem would seem to constitute an “about face.” For supporters, it would reorder the liturgy toward greater solemnity, transcendence, mystery and a common orientation toward God. Although there is nothing, other than custom, that connects the new order of the Mass intrinsically to celebrating Mass ad populum, some priests and bishops may feel threatened by an older and even ancient custom as challenging the established order.
The Church will have to navigate this important question in the coming decades. Will we return to this ancient practice, despite controversy, or retain the congregation-centered posture that has become the new norm?
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“But what does it all mean?” asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer.
“It means,” said Aslan, “that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of Time.
But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation.
She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.”
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
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Bible Riddle #1: The hunter was killed, the prey were set free, the water was the lock and the rod was the key. Who was the hunter?
Bible Riddle #2:
It walked on earth,
It talked on earth,
on earth it knew no sin.
Its not in hell,
Its not on earth
And heaven won’t let it in.
(if you give up, visit Psalm 136:10-15 and Numbers 22:28)
The post Who is the Hunter? Who is the Hunted? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Published on Crisis Magazine website, written by Paul Chaloux
With so much darkness surrounding us, it’s sometimes hard to see how God is working in the world. Garrett Johnson’s story demonstrates that God is still active, reaching out to even the most fallen who have chosen to embrace darkness and addiction.
It begins with young Garrett, as a six-year-old, being taunted with the words, “You are gay.”
Garrett didn’t understand what that meant at the time, and he was certainly not sexualized at age 6; but the taunting persisted throughout his childhood and into adolescence, coming from many different sources.
It happened so often that Garrett began to believe it and to think the easiest path forward was to embrace the title. At one point in his youth, a girl he had a crush on convinced him to put on a wig and a dress. He mistook her laughter for approval and walked home in this attire, which made his father angry.
Garrett had a good relationship with his father in his early life, but as he approached his teen years, tension developed and their relationship soured because Garrett was so undisciplined. Due to his own difficult upbringing, his father didn’t have the tools to bring Garrett under control.
Out of frustration, his father pushed many of those he loved away, including Garrett. He learned from his father’s behavior that the way to deal with people who hurt you is to hurt them back. This hurting included leveraging his mother’s love to hurt his parent’s relationship.
Once, when they were playfully wrestling, he purposely kneed his father in the groin. This opened the rift with his father even more, as you might expect. After this split, Garrett saw only the worst in his father.
He saw every act of love as somehow an example of his father’s self-centeredness, and he took every opportunity to harm his father. As his relationship with his dad continued to deteriorate, he grew closer to his mom, who seemed to reflect his tender, kind side. He began to see himself as more like a woman than a man.
For the whole article, click HERE.
Garrett Johnson’s website and YouTube Channel
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UN to push religious communities to ‘fully comply’ with human rights law to ’empower’ LGBT+ people
“The United Nations announced plans to release a report in June regarding “perceived contradictions” between “the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB)” and “sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).”
“The report aims to push governments to “fully comply” with international human rights law to “protect and empower” the participation of LGBT+ people in religious communities, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.
“The U.N. requested calls for input from all interested governments, religious leaders, academics, activists, and human rights organizations regarding “perceived points of tension” between FoRB and SOGI.” (From The Blaze)
So, we who hold to traditional views of sex and marriage (as held by mankind since the beginning), and who hold to the teaching of Scripture and the Church, will be accused of being haters and of hate speech. It we fail to approve and even to celebrate this perverse lifestyle will expose us to retaliation and legal persecution.
It will someday soon be illegal to read aloud in public or even in a church this passage from the Bible found in St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans,
Romans 1:26 “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
Romans 1:27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
The post So it begins! UN pushes Religious Communities to “fully comply” – empowering LGBT+ appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We recently watched a FANTASTIC movie about adoption, love, redemption and family while on the plane. Funny thing, we discover most of our good movies on airplanes.
A movie from India. It is worthy of an evening with popcorn and a box of Kleenex..
I think everyone will agree it would be good for the kids too. Redemption, hope, family…
Oh, it is entitled “Lion” which you don’t find out its meaning until the end. Enjoy!
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Published in Crisis Magazine, author Austin Ruse
No Church. No country. These gaping absences have produced a rage among young people that explains a great deal about our present national trauma. This is one of the fascinating theses in Mary Eberstadt’s masterful new book, Adam and Eve After the Pill, Revisited.
Don’t let the title fool you. This is not merely an updating or reworking of her 2012 book of roughly the same name. This is a fresh and deeply insightful look at the pathologies the sexual revolution hath wrought. Among them, envy and wrath among young men and women who have been cheated out of life’s true wealth: family relationships.
Eberstadt says, “Deprived of father, Father, and patria, a critical mass of mankind has become dysfunctional on a scale not seen before.” She argues that much of the violence we witnessed in the summer of 2020 can be chalked up to fatherlessness.
We knew this already—for instance, that the epidemic of fatherlessness has caused the murder rate in the cities to bloom like poison plants gone mad. Eberstadt points out that much of the violence has been based on envy.
She describes the “feral children of Portland.” For decades, Portland has opened its doors to runaway teens and thus grew tribes of “teen hobos” organized into toxic “street families.” Toss into this mix that these kids are not anchored in religious faith and have come to hate their country. No father. No Father. No patria. No wonder Portland burned. No wonder Portland is a dystopian nightmare that its citizens are abandoning.
Man is not made to be alone, nor is he made to live only with a “street family” or what some call a “chosen family.” A street family is no family at all. And so, we have the specter of child mobs entering the suburbs to attack homes that fly the American flag. They attack these homes not for the flag but for the family inside. Do you remember the fad of gangs of kids attacking families eating dinner in restaurants? This is the wrath of feral children turned against those who have what they have lost or never had.
I recommend the whole insightful article HERE
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Today at around 3 PM Eastern, the healing Mass here in Phoenix, Arizona begins. I will be one of the two play-by-play announcers, discussing healing and the sacraments and anointing along the way.
You can watch it live on YouTube at rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2
You can you can write in your prayer requests at PrayWithMalta.com.
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I spent a week in January with Archbishop Aquila as we were both speakers on the Good News Marriage Cruise. As always he was brilliant, approachable, and godly. I told him I wished we had 100 more like him and our country would be a different place. This is a erudite and timely message from the good Archbishop to counteract much of the garbage being taught by too many bishops today.
Radical Inclusion Requires Radical Love, by Archbishop Samuel Aquila, Feb. 1, 2023The Church needs the courage, and love, to be clear in inviting people to leave their sin. What Jesus offers is better than what the world offers the person in sin, and his grace and power is sufficient to free anyone from the slavery to sin.I have written of my concerns in the past with the German Synodal Process, as well as concerns with other bishops and cardinals and their take on the process. They essentially ignore the oft repeated words of Pope Francis, that in the synodal process there must be a deep listening to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth and charity that keeps us firmly attached to Jesus Christ. Pope Francis has made it clear that the synod on synodality is not about changing long standing Church teaching and is not a democratic or parliamentary process.
In a recent article, my brother bishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy, laid out a vision of the church in the context of synodality calling for “radical inclusion”. According to His Eminence, the Church “contains structures and cultures of exclusion.” He then goes on to speak about categories of people who are systematically excluded from the life of the Church. He speaks about a need for “radical inclusion” that invites all the baptized to participate fully in the life of the Church regardless of his or her relationship with the Church and Jesus Christ.
There is much that could be addressed, but I would like to focus on putting Jesus Christ first and the joy that flows from adhering to the Gospel. Staying attached to Jesus Christ the “vine” is essential, for the Lord tells us, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Similarly, the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, “Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him Jesus endured the cross…” (Hb 12:1b–2 emphasis mine).
Cardinal McElroy’s reflection paints the Church as an institution that harms due to its incapacity to welcome everyone into full participation in the life of the Church. According to His Eminence, the Church categorically discriminates, but did not Jesus himself put demands on his disciples which distinguished them from those who did not respond to the radical and costly call of the Gospel?
Indeed, in the encounter with the rich young man (cf. Mk 10:17–22), Jesus demands radical discipleship from the young man, and he lets him refuse and walk away. Furthermore, Jesus lays out the cost of discipleship as denying oneself, and even family, for the sake of the Gospel (cf. Lk 9:23–26; Mt 16:24–25; Lk 14:25–27). And, just as he was not received by everyone, he reminded his disciples as he sent them out if people did not receive the message of the Gospel to simply “shake the dust from your feet” (Mt 10:14), not wishing them ill but turning them over to the Lord.
Finally, many disciples left Jesus because of his teaching on the Bread of Life, (cf. Jn 6:66) and he goes even so far as to ask the apostles if they want to leave (cf. Jn 6:67). Jesus never waters down his teaching, nor does he appeal to conscience; he gives testimony to the truth (cf. Jn 18:37). The call Jesus gives is radical, and it goes out to everyone, but is not received by everyone because of the cost of discipleship.
The presentation given by some bishops and cardinals sadly fails to preach the radicality of the Gospel and obscures the true eternal love of the Father for the sinner.
For the rest of the article, click HERE
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I received an e-mail from a man considering conversion to the Catholic Church. He wrote:
Now if I could get past Jeremiah, chapter 44, I’d really be a happy camper, (LOL). Stumbled on that passage this morning in my “Quiet Time” (still have SOME residual Protestantism within me I guess), and wondered about the “Queen of Heaven” that the people of Judah were burning incense to. God sure was mad! Who was this “Queen” they were venerating (worshiping? don’t know the Hebrew here)? I wonder if they were putting her ahead of God? The struggles continue….but the Lord is faithful!!
I thought it would be good to think through this passage with him. In Jeremiah 44 the people of Israel were “presenting offerings in worship to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her” and they “made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?” (verse 19).
Jeremiah 44:17-21 “We will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her … And the women said, “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”
Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who had given him this answer: “As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem … The Lord could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. …
It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey the voice of the Lord or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day.” …
Jeremiah (right) condemned this idolatry. But Jeremiah 44 is one of those passages that some Protestants confuse and wrongly apply to the Catholic faith.
Just like the discussion of Paul in Romans and Galatians (about faith and works) has NOTHING to do with Catholic vs. Protestant debate—it is about Jew and Gentile—so this passage in Jeremiah has nothing to do with the Christian/Catholic faith and our veneration of Mary.
Israel was forbidden to make offerings to “the queen mother” or to worship her. She was a mythical goddess and the conduct of the Israelites was idolatry. See Jeremiah 7 and Jeremiah 14. This is often used by anti-Catholics against the Catholic veneration of Mary. A few comments are in order…
I then present seven reasons why this has nothing to do with the veneration of Mary. For the full article, click HERE.
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I am not suggesting that my response is appropriate for everyone, it all depends a bit on individual situations, but in this particular situation, I am sharing how I responded.
A woman who will remain unnamed wrote and asked me what to do. Here is her situation:
I work as a financial auditor. One of my team members, a biological male for whom I’m the manager, is identifying as a transgender woman and will soon start with hormonal treatments and transitioning. As his manager, I am looped into this and asked to support him. Nothing much is required of me but I need to say to him that I support him. Anything else would be a bad reputation and maybe a potential loss of my job. What do you think I should do?
My response:
This is a very touchy issue and it’s going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of Christians in the years to come. I suggest that you find a good priest and discuss this with him on a one to one basis. But from my own perspective I could never accept transgenderism. LGBT is contrary to nature and nature‘s God. However, at the same time, people have free will and we are not in a position to tell people what to do, especially those who are not Catholic or in our family. God did not put you in charge of this person’s moral or family life, but only in charge of their function as an employee. We have a similar situation and we are looking at it as a long-term evangelization project. A friendship has formed although the person knows we are opposed to their lifestyle and consider it wrong, but that we also respect the person as made in the image of God. There may be a way you can deal with this without committing yourself one way or the other since the his decision is not your decision. You can say some thing about not discriminating against anyone who works under you and that you will never discriminate against anyone, but you will treat this person with respect and recognize the dignity that all employees possess as human beings. You can and will affirm and recognize the merits of the the person’s work as an employee of the firm. Any personal choices that any employee makes are their own responsibility and not your’s to approve or disapprove, support or not support. It is your job to treat them fairly and without discrimination. Maybe in this manner, you can avoid saying that you approve or disapprove but still let them know that — because they have their own free choice you will treat them equally with everyone else. On the other hand, many people are losing their jobs and will lose their careers and livelihoods because of the LGBT and abortion issues. There’s a thing called “white martyrdom“ for people who suffer but don’t lose their lives because of the truth. This is a specially hitting doctors and nurses and pharmacists. “Red martyrdom“ is when people shed their blood because they stand up for the truth. May God give you wisdom and grace and help you know what to do. We will pray for you over the next couple of weeks.
The post “Employer is Forcing Me to Support A Male Transitioning to a Female at Work” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord. I put up a few pictures of what I think it may have looked like.
The presentation of a new son, was mandated in the Old Testament because after the exodus God had required the firstborn son to be dedicated to Him. But since the tribe of Levi had become the priests dedicated to God, parents could “redeem” their firstborn son, “buy him back from God”, so to speak. The price of redemption was 5 shekels, about two week’s wages.
Numbers 18:15-16 The firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels in silver.
It was also required of the mother to purify herself after giving birth for either a son or a daughter. Of course, this was not a purification from sin but was a ritual, ceremonial cleansing after the “flow of blood.”
Leviticus 12:6-7 And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female.
Mary was no more offering sacrifices for sin than Jesus was washed from sin at his baptism. It was a ritual cleanliness and was required at the birth of any child.
These are two of my favorite paintings of the Presentation. Notice in the top one that Joseph even has the two turtledoves in a cage to offer as the sacrifice. You can barely see the birds’ beak and eyes through the weaving.
At the Temple the Prophet Simeon declared Mary’s soul would also be pierced. That took place later at the crucifixion. Imagine a 15-year-old girl hearing those ominous words and trying to process that message!
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CATHOLIC MASS ATTENDANCE BY COUNTRY
According to new data compiled by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, Nigeria and Kenya have the highest proportion of Catholics who attend Mass weekly or more, with Nigeria as the clear leader. Ninety-four percent of Catholics in Nigeria say they attend Mass at least weekly. In the United States, that number is 17%. READ
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Let me introduce a new friend of mine. He is a new convert from Anglican to Catholic. His associates just can’t figure out why he did that.
We met over e-mail and I found him brilliant, humorous, devout and a great communicator with predictable British wit. It was a delightful interview. I hope you enjoy it.
| Gavin Ashenden | | --- | | |
Gavin Roy Pelham Ashenden (born 3 June 1954) is a British Catholic layman, author and commentator, and Associate Editor of the Catholic Herald. Formerly a priest of the Church of England, and subsequently a continuing Anglican bishop. He was appointed Chaplain to the Queen from 2008 until his resignation in 2017.
From his website:Catholic Herald Podcast 34: Steve Ray’s Personal PilgrimageJanuary 27, 2023 at 9:53 am“This week Dr Gavin Ashenden talks to Steve Ray, the acclaimed American author of Crossing The Tiber and Upon This Rock, among other titles, and a man hailed as one of the most effective Catholic apologists of the present generation.
In this 34th episode of the Merely Catholic podcast series for the Catholic Herald, Mr Ray recalls how he left the Baptist faith of his youth to become a dedicated and highly-motivated Catholic after, like St John Henry Newman, he studied the writings of such Fathers as Ss Irenaeus of Lyon, Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna and recognised that their sub-Apostolic faith was the same as that professed by the Catholic Church.
Mr Ray also offers some insight into new and emerging contemporary crises in the history of the Church and shares some opinions about what the future may hold.”
Click here to listenThe post My Interview with Dr. Gavin Ashenden, former Anglican priest and Chaplain to the Queen of England appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
EXPOSÉ: PFIZER MULLS MUTATING COVID IN LAB A new undercover video exposé from Project Veritas allegedly captures a high-ranking Pfizer official saying the company has considered deliberately mutating COVID-19 in a lab in order to create effective vaccines in advance, declaring that COVID will be a “cash cow” for years, and claiming federal regulators go easy on Pfizer in hopes of getting jobs later. READ
From CatholicVote’s The Loop
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POPE FRANCIS: DECRIMINALIZE HOMOSEXUALITY
Pope Francis in an interview with the Associated Press condemned laws that criminalize homosexuality and sodomy. “Being homosexual is not a crime. It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime,” Francis said. The pope also said that bishops who support anti-sodomy laws must undergo a process of “conversion.” READ
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Jesus asked an unusual question from heaven. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” How could Saul persecute Jesus who was safely distanced in heaven?
This question was the seed that grew into the foundation for all of St. Paul’s teaching and theology. Fascinating look at how we are all in Christ and Christ is in us.
Steve also discusses his times visiting the very location of Saul’s conversion in Damascus and how he came down the same wall as St. Paul in a basket.
By the way, do you know why nothing really happened that day?
Enjoy the lively discussion here
https://www.catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/5-2-3-steve-ray.mp3Steve filmed the life of St. Paul in 6 countries. Each DVD comes with a complete Study Guide.
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In 1982 Janet and I were renting a chalet in Switzerland with our two oldest kids then 6 and 2. We lived in the Alps for almost a year while studying at L’Abri with Dr. Francis Schaeffer.
During that time another student and I decided to hitchhike to Italy to see all the history and culture, art and beauty. His name was Ray Hines.
He wrote this parable of our loss of the transcendence. Our modern world has stopped looking beyond what they can with their physical eyes. Very interesting meditation.
The post Roots and Metaphysics – The Loss of Transcendence appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The Seven Communist and 36 Islamic Regimes That Most Persecute Christians in 2023Persecution of Christians “has grown exponentially “ in the last 30 years. Communism and Islam are no friends to Christianity and Christians — in fact they are enemies
JANUARY 19, 2023 ZENIT STAFFPERSECUTED CHRISTIANSCommunist totalitarianism and Islamic fundamentalism are yet another year the main causes of persecution of Christians in the world.
It’s a persecution that “has grown exponentially” over the last 30 years. It’s the moment of the Christian NGO Puertas Abiertas [Open Doors], which reports annually on the persecution of Christians in the world. This year’s Report was published on January 18 and offers very alarming data:
- 5,621 Christians were killed worldwide because of their faith in 2022.
- 4,542 Christians were arrested because of their faith over the last 12 months
- 2,110 Christian churches were attacked during the past year.
- 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. Now only in the first 50 countries, 312 million Christians are suffering at present very high or extreme levels of persecution.
- In 1993, Christians faced a high to extreme level of persecution in 40 countries. In 2023 this figure has almost doubled to 76 countries.
- Two out of five Christians are persecuted in Asia, being the most hostile Continent to Christians because of Communism (in North Korea, China, Laos and Vietnam), Islam and Hindu nationalism.
- One of every 15 Christians is persecuted in Ibero-America, where Communism (Cuba and Nicaragua) has become a growing cause of that persecution.
- One of every five Christians is persecuted in Africa, where theprincipal cause of persecution is Islam.
China’s dictatorship is forging a global alliance to redefine human rights
Open Doors has alerted that China’s Communist dictatorship “is forging a global alliance of nations that intend to redefine human rights, alienating them from civil rights and religious liberties. Dissident voices, such as those of Christians, are persecuted as ‘troublemakers’ or even ‘terrorists.’ The Christian NGO points out that “China has taken more drastic measures against Christians, introducing new and radical rules on the use of the Internet by the churches.”
For the whole insightful news article, click here.
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Each year we sing the popular Christmas carol Away in the Manger which in verse two says,
“The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes.”
Here is a delightful icon of Jesus crying on the laps of Mary and Joseph. He has just skinned his knee, which is enough to cause any little boy to cry. He was a real boy, God yes, but he came down to share our humanity, our skinned knees, our mosquito bites, our hunger and thirst.
We too often suspect that the Holy Family walked three feet off the ground, but we are told in Scripture that even Jesus was made like us in all things but without sin (Heb 2:17; 4:15). We fervently defend his divinity, but we must remember his humanity as well.
We don’t see images like this one very often and I in particular are very fond of it.
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Today is Thursday, and I’m giving a talk on the Good News Marriage Cruise, sponsored by Corporate Travel and Ave Maria Radio. My talk is entitled “Men, Marriage, Sex & Heaven.”
It’s a talk that you can always hear a pin drop because Catholic speakers don’t generally talk about things like this AND in the way I’m going to be explaining it.
So, in honor of the talk today I am again posting an an article from Crisis Magazine which I love. I hope you enjoy it too!
OUR SEXY LIFEby Peter J. LeithartMy wife and I got married in the autumn after we graduated from college. We were both virgins. Our first son was born ten months later, and for the next fifteen years we had a child every two years or so.
They were more spaced out at the end, and by the time the dust settled in the early 2000s, we had ten children, six boys and four girls. For over two decades, my wife was either pregnant or taking care of a newborn or toddler—then she became a midwife and started taking care of other pregnant women and their newborns.
We started our lives as parents in the early ’80s of the last century, and our youngest leaves for college later this month. After almost forty years of raising kids, we’re going to be (more or less) empty nesters.
Neither my wife nor I played the field before we got married. Our alma mater, Hillsdale College, didn’t host sex fairs or encourage promiscuous experimentations (it still doesn’t). Neither of us has had an affair. By today’s standards, we’ve shared a boring, unsexy life.
That doesn’t bother us, because we’re convinced today’s standards don’t know what sex really is. We’re told to think sex is the experience of ecstatic passion when we lose ourselves in the intensity of our own, and our lover’s, pleasure. The orgasm subsides, we cuddle and talk (or not), and the sex is over.
That couldn’t be more wrong. No act is over when it’s over. As Maurice Blondel insisted, our actions escape our grasp, stretching beyond our purposes and desires toward completions we neither intended nor wanted.
Theoretically, we can distinguish acts and consequences, but in lived life they’re always inextricably joined. And that means following through on the surplus of our action is part of the action itself. We like it when the surplus is a plus: We enjoy being rewarded for results we didn’t anticipate.
We don’t like it when the results are dire. I run a stop sign while texting at the wheel, and I’m rightly held responsible for the damage I cause to another driver and his car. “I didn’t mean to do that” is meaningful, yet, whatever my intent, the action is still “reckless driving” and perhaps “vehicular homicide.” We finish our actions only when we own up to their consequences. Reward and cost are two facets of the same principle.
Our impulse to decouple sex from its aftermath is one of the deeply inhuman distortions caused by the abortion regime and the contraceptive mentality that infuses it. Technology and readily-available “solutions” bewitch us into believing we can engage in the most intimately personal human act without having to complete the act in an ongoing personal relation.
We’ve convinced ourselves we can perform the act that keeps the human species alive without having to worry about keeping the human species alive—even while deliberately intending not to keep the human species alive. Sex has become abortive even when it doesn’t end with an abortion.
We’ve forgotten what sex is for. Yes, it’s for pleasure, and the pleasure is a good gift from our Father. Yes, it’s the most complete expression of the self-gift for which our spousal bodies were designed. But we’ve forgotten that, as Audrey Pollnow has recently argued, the possibility of conception is part of the “pleasure, as well as the excitement” of sex.
Sex acts that evade this fuller pleasure “are illusory, sentimental, and warping: They involve the experience of doing the babymaking act without actually doing it.” To shore up its collapsing legal clout, the abortion establishment has found it necessary to demonize the babymaking potential of sex.
Kat Rosenfield recently reported at UnHerd that abortion activists, doctors, and the media have conspired to give us “wall-to-wall coverage of the danger of pregnancy and childbirth.” The message is that “no woman in her right mind would ever carry a pregnancy to term unless she had some sort of death wish.” The abortion establishment rubbishes the sacrifices of giving life, while it mourns the lost freedom to take it.
Last December, our whole family gathered outside Atlanta for our youngest son’s wedding. As I wrestled and chased our grandchildren around the Airbnb, watched our sons play chess in a haze of cigar smoke, ate and drank, talked with children, grandchildren, and in-laws, I was overwhelmed by the sheer abundance that surrounded us.
Forty years ago, it was only my wife and me. Now there are an additional thirty-one human beings who would not exist but for us. The proliferation goes beyond mere numbers. It’s a proliferation of projects, plans, aspirations, achievements, gifts, and talents; of dinners, parties, songs; of teaching and learning, jokes and laughter, conversations and debates, worship and prayers, losses and tears.
My wife and I have given the world an attorney, a couple of teachers, more than one writer, a game designer, a musician and a couple of filmmakers, an executive assistant who runs a nonprofit, a social worker, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, boys and girls with plans and aspirations that will come to fruition long after my wife and I are gone. Lord willing, Leitharts will keep proliferating for a thousand generations.
This is what the Bible means by “blessing,” and it all began with my wife and me keeping our promise to be “only for you.” We’ve lived the sexy life God created sex for.
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Janet and I a were invited as speakers on Corporate Travel‘s Good News Marriage Cruise through the Caribbean. It’s been a marvelous time with 400 great Catholics who are here to enrich their marriages and fall more in love with Jesus in the church. And to have a great time!
Today I checked the maps and realized that we were passing within a few miles of Cuba. It is kind of sad because of the political situation there and the Communist regime that is isolated and imprisoned these poor folks from the rest of the world. It is I nconceivable that there are many Americans trying to bring communism to our great country. Unbelievable!
I’d almost like to stop there and visit, but I know the ship won’t do that and I don’t know the legalities of such a visit. But it is sad, looking over the water and seeing the hills and coastline of Cuba, which has been in the news so much over the last decades. I feel sorry for the many folks that endure that oppressive regime with no hope of escape. Makes me all the more grateful for the freedoms that we have in America. But I warn people that we better use our freedoms now before we lose them.
Tomorrow we land in Jamaica, and then later to Haiti. My talk will be entitled Man, Marriage, Sex in Heaven.”
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Aged King David in the City of DavidScripture tells us that King David was buried in the City of David. Since Scripture refers to both Jerusalem and Bethlehem as “the City of David” some say David was buried in Jerusalem, other suggest he was buried in Bethlehem.
In Scripture there are two cities called “The City of David.” The Old Testament (OT) uses the phrase 49 times – each time referring to Jerusalem, never to Bethlehem. The New Testament (NT) uses the phrase twice in Luke’s Gospel and each time it refers to Bethlehem.1
So, what is “The City of David” – and where were King David and his successors buried?
In my documentary David and Solomon: Expanding the Kingdom (produced by Ignatius Press) I assert that David was buried in Jerusalem, actually in the area called Silwan today. However, some have suggested by some that David was buried in Bethlehem where he was born and raised. This is not because of any evidence; rather, it is because of a confusion caused by the phrase “city of David” being used of Bethlehem by Luke. And also for other reasons that arose subsequent to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD (details to follow).
So, loving a good biblical mystery, I decided to dig a bit (no pun intended) and see what I could find.
To read the whole article, click here.
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then & now
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https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Greatest-Play-In-Baseball.mp4
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Thursday, January 12, 2023“This pontificate is a disaster…” The final testament of George Cardinal Pell (d. January 10, 2023)
| | | George Cardinal Pell prays before the body of Pope Benedict XVI lying in state, January 2023. |
George Cardinal Pell is dead.
As a man, Cardinal Pell stood accused of grievous sins before several earthly tribunals. He was convicted of some of those crimes in secular courts, and as a result, spent over a year in prison—much of it in solitary confinement. He was later acquitted and released when the High Court of Australia unanimously overturned his convictions saying that the jury likely made its decision based on faulty evidence, and that there was a significant possibility that an innocent person had been convicted.Was Cardinal Pell guilty of the crimes he was accused of? Or was he targeted for destruction by enemies who would stoop even so low as to manufacture false sins? In this world, we will never know.But now, Cardinal Pell has taken his stand before the Just Judge from whom nothing can be hidden. Whether his sins warranted mercy or damnation is in the hands of Christ, and all the faithful can do is pray that our gracious Lord will have mercy on him.What is clear is that George Cardinal Pell did not go out with a whimper, but with a resounding bang.
Less than a week before he died, Cardinal Pell wrote an article in the UK Spectator that is nothing less than a clarion call. The title of the article says it all: The Catholic Church Must Free Itself from this “Toxic Nightmare.”
What toxic nightmare is he referring to? That would be the so-called Synod on Synodality—that useless and wasteful meeting of bishops that seems to be the very embodiment of the unofficial motto of the current pontificate: “¡Hagan lío!” or “make a mess!” Regarding the 45-page document put out by the Vatican explaining the “listening” stage of the synod, Pell calls it: “one of the most incoherent documents ever sent out from Rome.”
After offering a point-by-point deconstruction of the document, Pell is left scratching his head:
What is one to make of this potpourri, this outpouring of New Age good will? It is not a summary of Catholic faith or New Testament teaching. It is incomplete, hostile in significant ways to the apostolic tradition and nowhere acknowledges the New Testament as the Word of God, normative for all teaching on faith and morals. The Old Testament is ignored, patriarchy rejected and the Mosaic Law, including the Ten Commandments, is not acknowledged.
This is a pretty harsh condemnation that should be taken very seriously by all serious Catholics.
But it gets better.
In the spring of 2022, an anonymous letter was said to be circulating among the Cardinals signed by someone called “Demos” or the Greek word for “the common people.” It was a sober reflection upon and harsh criticism of the numerous scandals which have proliferated over the past 10 years within the Church, with an unusually pointed critique of the Francis papacy. The opening sentence gives the reader a sense of what follows:
Commentators at every school, though for different reasons, with the possible exception of Father Spadaro SJ, agree that this pontificate is a disaster in many or more respects, a catastrophe.
It was revealed today that the author of this letter was none other than George Cardinal Pell.
This letter is not merely a litany of the failures of Pope Francis. It is a road map for his successor. Indeed, the second half of the letter reads more like avuncular advice from an experienced elder churchman to a man who will be faced with cleaning up a gigantic mess not of his doing.
The entire letter is well worth reading, but the following point seems to be the most important of all, encapsulating what has gone wrong and the attitude necessary to fix it:
The new pope must understand that the secret of Christian and Catholic vitality comes from fidelity to Christ’s teachings and Catholic practices. It doesn’t come from adapting to the world or money.
This point is followed immediately by another that lays out the steps necessary to return from the present chaos:
The first tasks of the new pope will be the restoration of normality, the restoration of doctrinal clarity in faith and morals, the restoration of just respect for the law, and the guarantee that the first criterion for the appointment of bishops is acceptance of apostolic tradition. Theological competence and culture are an advantage, not an obstacle for all bishops and especially for archbishops. These are necessary foundations for living and preaching the Gospel.
More than anything else, the faithful need doctrinal clarity. Indeed, we thirst for it, as one can not drink the muddy slurry churned up by “¡Hagan lío!”
Pell’s “Demos” letter reads like an encyclical letter written by one of the Church Fathers when faced with an ecclesiastical crisis.
Thank you, Cardinal Pell, for speaking like a believing Catholic, reminding us of our patrimony, and for standing up for the devout who have spent the past nine years taking abuse from those tasked to nurture them in faith and teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
With men like Benedict XVI and Cardinal Pell passing into eternity, ordinary devout Catholics pray that Christ will raise up other bishops and cardinals with the fortitude to keep the current mess from spreading and leading even more souls to perdition.
May the Holy Spirit, in His good time, bestow upon us a new pope who will come armed the charism of Saint Francis of Assisi who was commanded by God to “restore my Church which is falling down.”
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This episode is in Alexandr Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago, Vol. 1. It shows the stupidity and mind control that totalitarian, socialist and intolerant governments and groups can impose upon people. It shows what can happen if we move toward socialism and Communism in our country with the liberals and the Far Left pushing their agenda and being very vocal about it.
If you haven’t read Solzhenitsyn you should acquaint yourself with him. He was a devout Russian Orthodox Christian. Start with his One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich which won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970. It is a short novel but very powerful.
The episode below from his Gulag Archipelago fascinated me so I decided to share it with you.
Here is one vignette from those years as it actually occurred. A district Party conference was underway in Moscow Province. It was presided over by a new secretary of the District Party Committee, replacing one recently arrested. At the conclusion of the conference, a tribute to Comrade Stalin was called for.
Of course, everyone stood up (just as everyone had leaped to his feet during the conference at every mention of his name). The small hall echoed with “stormy applause, rising to an ovation.” For three minutes, four minutes, five minutes, the “stormy applause, rising to an ovation,” continued.
But palms were getting sore and raised arms were already aching. And the older people were panting from exhaustion. It was becoming insufferably silly even to those who really adored Stalin. However, who would dare be the first to stop?
The secretary of the District Party Committee could have done it. He was standing on the platform, and it was he who had just called for the ovation. But he was a newcomer. He had taken the place of a man who’d been arrested. He was afraid! After all, NKVD men were standing in the hall applauding and watching to see who quit first! And in that obscure, small hall, unknown to the Leader, the applause went on —six, seven, eight minutes! They were done for! Their goose was cooked! They couldn’t stop now till they collapsed with heart attacks!
At the rear of the hall, which was crowded, they could of course cheat a bit, clap less frequently, less vigorously, not so eagerly—but up there with the presidium where everyone could see them? The director of the local paper factory, an independent and strong-minded man, stood with the presidium. Aware of all the falsity and all the impossibility of the situation, he still kept on applauding! Nine minutes! Ten! In anguish he watched the secretary of the District Party Committee, but the latter dared not stop. Insanity! To the last man!
With make-believe enthusiasm on their faces, looking at each other with faint hope, the district leaders were just going to go on and on applauding till they fell where they stood, till they were carried out of the hall on stretchers! And even then those who were left would not falter. . . .
Then, after eleven minutes, the director of the paper factory assumed a businesslike expression and sat down in his seat. And, oh, a miracle took place! Where had the universal, uninhibited, indescribable enthusiasm gone? To a man, everyone else stopped dead and sat down. They had been saved! The squirrel had been smart enough to jump off his revolving wheel.
That, however, was how they discovered who the independent people were. And that was how they went about eliminating them. That same night the factory director was arrested. They easily pasted ten years on him on the pretext of something quite different. But after he had signed Form 206, the final document of the interrogation, his interrogator reminded him:
“Don’t ever be the first to stop applauding!”
Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr I. The Gulag Archipelago Part I (NY: Harper & Row, Publ., 1974), 69-70.
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Was Benedict XVI the True Pope the Whole Time?No, no, definitely not. From 2013, Francis was pope, and Benedict was pope emeritus. This is crucial to understand.JOE HESCHMEYER • 1/6/2023Of all the things Benedict XVI did as a theologian, and then a cardinal, and then a pope, the one detail that every one of his obituaries touches upon is his resignation. His announcement of this plan to resign, just shy of a decade ago, shocked the world. In fact, in the aftermath of Benedict’s resignation came a strange phenomenon: Catholics claiming that he hadn’t really resigned.Patrick Coffin, former host of Catholic Answers Live, suggested that Benedict’s “resignation” was some kind of elaborate sting operation, in which Benedict merely pretended not to be the pope to expose corruption in the Church. In Coffin’s words, “if his abdication was intentionally false, it was a masterstroke, pure genius, because it revealed all the corruption that he knew was simmering just below the surface of the Church’s life, but he was too weak to confront it.”This is a form of “Benevacantism”—the theory that Benedict XVI never truly abdicated and was, in fact, the true pope, whereas Francis was and still is an antipope.Given that we’ve already addressed this argument elsewhere, why bring it up again? For two reasons. First, Benedict’s death clarifies something that Coffin and others misunderstood. In his final general audience, Benedict asked for prayers “for the new successor of the apostle Peter” and then again asked “each of you to pray for me and for the new pope.” That Benedict was declaring himself no longer the pope was unambiguous. But he also said something else, which has led to a great deal of confusion:
The “always” is also a “for ever”—there can no longer be a return to the private sphere. My decision to resign the active exercise of the ministry does not revoke this. I do not return to private life, to a life of travel, meetings, receptions, conferences, and so on. I am not abandoning the cross, but remaining in a new way at the side of the crucified Lord. I no longer bear the power of office for the governance of the Church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, in the enclosure of Saint Peter.
This line is supposedly the key proving that Benedict didn’t really resign. But this gravely misconstrues what the pope meant.
In the year 451, after Pope St. Leo the Great intervened at the Council of Chalcedon to clarify the orthodox understanding of the natures of Christ, the assembled bishops cried out, “Anathema to him who does not thus believe. Peter has spoken thus through Leo.” Were the bishops at Chalcedon trying to claim that there were two rival popes, Leo and Peter? Not at all.
They were acknowledging that Jesus had entrusted Peter with the care of the whole flock of Christ (John 21:15), and that this entrustment still mattered even after Peter’s martyrdom. (The idea of “patron saints” is rooted in this same spiritual reality. St. Patrick, for instance, didn’t suddenly stop caring about the Irish once he went to heaven.) This is recognized in the liturgy as well: popes on the liturgical calendar are listed as “Saint X, pope,” and there are special prayers for honoring saintly popes.
In other words, when Benedict XVI said that “the ‘always’ is also a ‘for ever,’” he meant just that: forever. Something is gained in becoming pope that is never lost, not by resignation and not even by death. Ironically, this is clearer in Benedict’s death than in his life. We’re now free from the cumbersome term pope emeritus and can return to calling him simply “Pope Benedict XVI,” since it’s now clear what is (and isn’t) meant by that title.
This spiritual reality—which he perceived but which so many Catholics missed—also stands behind so many of his other decisions. Many thought that “the term ‘pope emeritus’ has no precedent and is confusing.” But in a letter to Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, Benedict clarified that he had opted against going back to being called Cardinal Ratzinger because he didn’t want to be “constantly exposed to the media as a cardinal is—even more so because people would have seen in me the former pope.”
Instead, “with ‘pope emeritus,’ I tried to create a situation in which I am absolutely not accessible to the media and in which it is completely clear that there is only one pope.” Benedict wanted us to hear emeritus, while so many people insisted on hearing only pope. But this is the real key: facing relatively uncharted territory, Benedict tried to find a way of expressing both that his resignation didn’t undo his papacy and that he was no longer the reigning pontiff.
The second reason to return to Benevacantism is more distressing. Upon hearing of Benedict’s death, Coffin announced that he had become a sedevacantist, saying, “The pope has entered eternity, RIP. The impeded See is now vacant. May the pre-2013 cardinals do the right thing, and avoid yet another antipope.”
Why is that so alarming? Because this line of reasoning makes for a clear collision course for schism and heresy. Here’s why.
Only cardinals under the age of eighty can vote, and Benevacantists don’t accept the legitimacy of the cardinals created by Pope Francis, since they don’t accept the legitimacy of Pope Francis. That leaves only forty-four of the 224 cardinals in the College of Cardinals who are old enough to have been made a cardinal by John Paul II or Benedict, but young enough still to be voting age.
Under the rules laid out by Universi Dominici Gregis, a papal conclave must be called within twenty days of the death of the pope. So if you think Pope Francis is an antipope, the only way out of that situation is if, by January 20 of this year, those forty-four cardinals (a) conclude that Pope Francis is an antipope, and that none of the cardinals he appointed is really a cardinal, and (b) somehow form a papal conclave to begin the process of electing a new pope. We’ll leave aside all of the implausible logistics of such a suggestion (like where such a conclave would even convene, since Pope Francis presumably won’t offer the Sistine Chapel).
Imagine for a moment that, despite its implausibility, this occurred. Would that bring peace and unity to the Catholic Church? …
For the rest of the insightful article and response, click HERE.
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Published by Word on Fire by JUSTIN KALANRecently, Cameron Bertuzzi, the man who runs the YouTube-based ministry Capturing Christianity, announced that he recently entered RCIA at a Catholic Church and will formally enter the Church this Easter. Besides being an occasion of joy, Bertuzzi’s conversion offers an opportunity to reflect on a somewhat controversial topic: the role of apologetics in evangelization.
Some in Catholic and other Christian circles are pessimistic about the role of apologetics and argue that it has little or no role in evangelization. People convert to Christianity—we are told—by Christians living out their faith publicly and thus serving as witnesses to the potential converts.There is much truth in this point of view. After all, arguments alone do not bring people into the faith. Indeed, strictly speaking, it is false to say that any one person converts another. Rather, all conversion is fundamentally the work of the Holy Spirit. But while we can all agree that arguments and evidence themselves do not move the hearts and minds of our fellow human beings towards conversion, it doesn’t follow that they have no role, or even no major role, in the conversion of some people. Cameron Bertuzzi’s conversion illustrates that point well.A Bit about Cameron BertuzziBertuzzi runs Capturing Christianity, which seeks to “expose you to the intellectual side of Christian belief.” The primary focus of his channel is to defend what C.S. Lewis called “mere Christianity”—that is, the most important and foundational elements of Christian belief: God’s existence, the divinity of Jesus, the historicity of Jesus’ Resurrection, and similar matters.
Bertuzzi’s channel has featured some of the most prominent scholars, both atheist and Christian alike, including William Lane Craig, Graham Oppy, Edward Feser, and many others. Bertuzzi himself has engaged in debates with other leading atheist apologists, like Alex O’Connor and Stephen Woodford.
Throughout these interviews, discussions, and debates, Bertuzzi shows his great zeal for truth and his willingness to seriously engage arguments—even ones that cut strongly against his own views. This trait would present itself again in his conversion to Catholicism.
His ConversionEarly on in his conversion, Bertuzzi had many intellectual objections to the Catholic faith. As an Evangelical Protestant, Bertuzzi offered various objections regarding the Eucharist, divine simplicity, and hell. He engaged in debates with Matt Fradd, host of “Pints with Aquinas,” on a number of these issues, and he slowly grew to appreciate the Catholic point of view.
Bertuzzi also brought in leading scholars—both Catholic and Protestant—to discuss various topics. He talked with Catholics such as Trent Horn, Suan Sonna, and Joshua Sijuwade, as well as Protestants such as James White, Jerry Walls, and Gavin Ortlund, all of whom are prominent Protestant thinkers. Over time, as he talked with friends who were helping him in his process of discernment, he realized that the papacy was the central issue of his investigation.
Cameron Bertuzzi’s conversion to Catholicism was unusual in that it was so public. Throughout the process, Bertuzzi openly engaged in talks with Catholics and Protestants alike, and he made public where he stood regarding his views and potential conversion. Thus, unlike many other conversion stories, we have a clear view of Bertuzzi’s thinking, challenges, and experiences throughout the process. For instance, in a talk with the Matt Fradd (roughly at the 33-minute mark) just a couple months before his conversion, Bertuzzi said that, as a result of his research, he was “93.8% certain” of the truth of the papacy.
While this number might strike us as oddly specific, it illustrates precisely how seriously and thoughtfully Bertuzzi was reasoning about the papacy and which factors he thought weighed in favor of it and against it. We can clearly see that it was his mind that was seeking the truth of Catholicism by focusing on one of the Church’s most distinct characteristics.
One of the arguments he found most persuasive was the biblical typological argument linking the giving of the keys to Eliakim in Isaiah 22 to the keys which Jesus promises Peter in Matthew 16. Bertuzzi weighed this and other evidence for and against the Catholic doctrine of the papacy and put them into a Bayesian analysis (hence his very precise probability). Ultimately, Bertuzzi became convinced that the Catholic teaching about the papacy was true, and he decided to enter the Church.
Apologetics, Beauty, and TruthNothing above should be construed to say that the arguments alone persuaded Bertuzzi to convert. He was also drawn to the beauty of the Church, in her Liturgy, architecture, and other ways. Matt Fradd made a point of taking Bertuzzi to a Byzantine Catholic church, showing him the beauty of the Eastern liturgy. This interest in beauty is seen when Bishop Barron was on Bertuzzi’s channel in September of 2020.
Bertuzzi marveled at the beauty of Word on Fire’s Evangelization & Culture journal. As a photographer himself, beauty was something that drew him to the faith along with its truth. Nevertheless, if we take Bertuzzi at his word, it was the arguments and evidence for the papacy which were the primary reason for his decision to convert.
God, in his wisdom, uses many means to draw his people into relationship with him. God’s knowledge is so intimate that he knows exactly what would be most effective in bringing about that relationship. For Bertuzzi, someone drawn so zealously towards truth, God used philosophical and theological arguments to show him the truth of the faith.
Is this the manner in which most people are converted? Experience may answer in the negative, but there clearly exists a small but sizable minority for whom arguments are an important means of bringing them closer to God. It is for these individuals that apologists labor, refining their arguments, and searching out new evidence for the faith.
Cameron Bertuzzi’s conversion can offer some consolation to apologists that their work matters. God can and does use arguments and evidence to bring people to the faith. Cameron Bertuzzi is neither the first to be converted in this way nor will he be the last. Let’s thank God for this recent convert and pray for him as he continues his journey of faith. Who knows, perhaps soon it will be “Capturing Catholicism.” He wouldn’t even have to change the logo.
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Imagine that a king establishes a new country on the other side of the ocean. It is called the Celestial City and has streets paved with gold. To populate his new land, he summons the people and invites them to be citizens. Next, he builds a ship and prepares his chosen people for the long journey across the ocean.
The ship he provides is a large, beautiful ocean liner well-equipped with everything needed for the journey: food and water, showers with hot water, navigation charts, maps and GPS. He has ordained a captain and a crew and an engine with dynamic power to move the ship. The king invites many to join and soon the ship is full.
Everything needed to reach the new country can be found aboard that ship. The founder of this new country is God, the new country is heaven, and you and I are the ones he has chosen to join the voyage. The ship that He built is the Catholic Church, the captain is the pope, and the crew are the bishops, priests and deacons. The navigation charts and GPS are Scripture, the maps are Sacred Tradition.
The food is the Eucharist — the food for the journey. The water is the grace of baptism and the life that flows from Christ through the Sacraments. What are the showers? Confession of course. When we get dirty and soiled we need to be cleaned up. The power that moves the ship is the Holy Spirit. Everything we need to reach heaven can be found within the Catholic Church.
He warns the passengers before they commit, that there will be troubles along the way. Troubles from without and troubles from within. Storms will hit the ship and threaten to dash it to kindling wood. They will get so sick at times they may wish they had never come aboard the ship.
There will be problems within too. The captain and crew may not always conduct themselves as expected and some may even attempt to sabotage the ship, but he promises them boldly, that if they stay with is the ship he promises to get them to the other side.
Everyone agrees to go and he steps up to the bow and smashes the bottle of champaign with great solemnity and christens her the Catholic Church. The engines roar and fire is seen as he moves away from the port.
The journey goes well for the first 1500 years. There are some awful storms and waves and within there are debilitating intrigues and rebellions but in the end, the ship is always righted and still on coarse. There are some who fall overboard due to their own recklessness and disregard for rules. The ship is battered but remains intact and seaworthy under full steam by the powerful engine.
About halfway across the ocean some of the passengers start to argue and protest. Like the Israelites who grumbled about the manna in the desert, they begin to complain about eating the same food all the time. They ask, “Who is this captain, and why should he be in charge? Who gave these crew members the right to tell us what to do?” They stir up emotions and rile up some factions and instigate a mutiny.
The protesters go down into the belly of the ship where they find wood and rope, and they lash them together and build rafts. They collect food and water, clothing and anything else they can find, and throw themselves and their rafts over the side of the ship. Now they are free! No more captain, no more crew. Now, they are on their own to their own!
Instead of a single ship sailing through the sea, there are now 33,000 or more small rafts bobbing around in the water around the ship! Now this beautiful ship is surrounded by 33,000 rafts bobbing around it—each with its own self-appointed captain giving conflicting and contradictory orders. Rafts are crashing into each other, competing with each other for people to join their rafts.
As the ship continues toward heaven, some of the rafts remain close by, but others drift off into the distance, and some are moving in the opposite direction and have lost their way completely. Those rafts that are close to the ship are sheltered from some of the wind and waves; those farther away are tossed about during the storms. The farther away they are, the less chance they have to make it to the other side.
And here is a question for you. Everything good they have on their raft—where did they get it from? It all came from the ship, but now they are cut off. Eventually, the King’s food runs out, and the people begin to eat something other than what the king provided. There are no hot showers available for people to get clean.
(When I was a Protestant, I never realized that everything good that I had on my raft came from the Catholic Church. For example, the Bible was put together by Catholic bishops and copied and preserved by Catholic monks. Martin Luther even admitted that we wouldn’t have a Bible if it were not for “the papists.” My Protestant fellowship only had two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, while the Catholic Church has seven. I did not define the faith, such as the Trinity. That was hammered out by Catholic Councils over the first 500 years of the Church.)
One interesting point—I wasn’t one of those who jumped off the ship; I was born on a raft. For most of my life I didn’t even know there was ship—it was nowhere in sight! I was born on a Baptist raft, and I could yell over to the Methodist raft, and they could yell over to the Episcopalian raft, and they could yell over to the Pentecostal raft, and so forth. Our view of unity was just all trying to get along. We called that fellowship and we had an invisible unity. How could it really be a visible unity since we were all split up on separate and competing rafts?
Then one day, I caught a glimpse of something large on the horizon and I had no idea what it was. I yelled out, “Hey, what is that on the horizon?”
Those on my raft answered, “We don’t know!” So I yelled louder to nearby rafts and they responded over the waves, “We don’t want to talk about it.” “Why not?” I yelled. “Because it’s enemy.”
“But what is it?” I yelled. “It’s, it’s, well, it’s the ship.”
As I gazed upon the ship I thought to myself, “If the founder of the Celestial City had any sense, he would never have pushed 33,000 rafts into the ocean and expected them all to successfully make the voyage. He would have prepared a ship with everything needed for the voyage.
It dawned on me that that the founder of the country I was trying to reach had created the ship to carry me home safely. I began to ask questions and discovered from ancient documents that INDEED the founder had only chartered one ship and the rafts were all a result of a protest!
“Of course,” I thought. “Why would God create 33,000 rafts competing to ferry His people home?” After a year of paddling around the ship and looking up at it from every angle, and after much reading and researching and praying, I got back onboard the ship and pulled my whole family up with me.
I became a Catholic on May 22, 1994, and I’m amazed at what I have found onboard. Cradle Catholics may take these things for granted, but we converts are in awe. You have seven sacraments, and they work! You have navigation charts: the Scriptures and the Tradition that helps you make sense of the maps. You have a crew that understands how to read the maps and charts without error, how to prepare the food of the Eucharist properly, and how to operate the showers so that we can get cleaned up from all the foul-smelling sins we commit. You also have a captain, the Pope. There have been good and bad popes and clergy, but throughout history the Papacy has known how to navigate the ship!
(Picture to the right: Our family getting on board the ship at Christ the King Catholic Church in Ann Arbor Michigan with Fr. Ed Fride on Pentecost Sunday, May 22, 1994)
So do I now want to shot canons at all the protest-ants out on the rafts? No! My mom and dad are out their and Vatican II reminds me that those who are baptized and recite the Creeds are my brothers and sisters in Christ though separated from the physical ship. Some of the people on the rafts can even sing better than the people on the ship.
No, I don’t want to shoot them. I have decided I will spend the rest of my life calling out to the people on the rafts, “Hey, you out there. I too was born on one of your rafts but I have discovered the fullness of the faith in this ship, the way the founder originally planned it. Problems, yeah! But the ship is great. Come rejoin us!”
And when I get a few minutes I turn around and look at the people on the deck. I say, “Why are you grumbling? Don’t you realize where you are?”
The post The Ship & the Rafts: A Convert Looks Back at his Protestant Raft appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I found this great little summary of errors of Seventh Day Adventism. This sect of Christianity claims that Christians should not worship on Sunday, which is the “sign of the beast’, but that we should all worship on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.
This article summarizes their beliefs, errors, thoughts on Catholics and how to respond. Enjoy. It begins:
Answering Seventh Day AdventismThere are two major distinctive claims of Seventh Day Adventism, which separate it from the rest of Christianity:
- First, that Christians are supposed to keep Saturday, the Sabbath, holy. They oppose worshiping on Sunday, arguing that it’s against the Ten Commandments and generally anti-Scriptural.
- Second, that the founder of Seventh Day Adventism, Ellen G. White, was a prophet.
The official Seventh Day Adventist website declares:
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G. White . As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.
But as we’ll quickly see, White was no prophet, and her works are riddled with errors. Let’s look at two of her major claims about the Sabbath, both from her supposedly-inspired book, The Great Controversy. I. When Did Sunday Worship Begin?
For the whole article, click here.
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It has been a great pilgrimage, and it finally has come to an end, though it seem to go very fast. I had a few people wanted to share their comments and thoughts on the trips and their farewells.
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Today I received what I hope was an honest, searching e-mail — so I took the time to give a short response. Below you can read the questions in blue and my answers in black.
Mr. Ray,
I am an Evangelical Christian and have read your book “Crossing the Tiber” and listened to a CD about your testimony. (St. Joseph’s Communications) Both of these were given to me by a Catholic. I don’t think either of these resources were intended to explain how a person could have their sins forgiven by God and know that they would spend eternity in heaven. In Roman Catholicism, how does this happen? What must a person do?
Hello Friend:
My book Crossing the Tiber and my audio conversion story were not meant to be “Gospel Messages” per se, as is common in evangelical circles. Rather, they were a record of my search into “what is the Church?” and “What is the fullness of Christianity?”
I was asking myself “What does the Bible teach and how did the very first Christians understand Christianity, salvation, the Sacraments, and the Body of Christ – the Church?
However, even though Crossing the Tiber is not specifically about how do we get saved, the second section on Baptism has a good deal to say about salvation both as taught by the Bible and practiced by all Christians for the first 1500 years. I would encourage you to read that section, and the section on the Eucharist at the end.
About salvation, it is really quite simple. One must “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” That is the Catholic gospel in a nutshell — faith in Christ. But then, we must ask what “believe” and “faith” mean. In biblical times believe meant more than the simplistic definition it is often given today. In biblical language, the opposite of “believe” is to disobey (Jn 3:36), meaning that “believe” was a very pregnant and meaningful word.
Paul begins and ends his book on Romans referring to the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5 and 16:26) and in Galatians he ways “faith working through love” (Gal 5:6).
We are saved by “the obedience of faith” based on the propitiatory death and merits of Jesus Christ, but not by faith alone — unless of course we mean faith and all the things that are included within that word.
Jesus says that one is born again by “water and spirit” (Jn 3:3-%) and Peter said on the day of Pentecost not “ask Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior”; rather he said, “Repent and be baptized to wash away your sins” (Acts 2:38). Paul heard the same thing in Damascus when Ananias said, “Why do you tarry, arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling upon his name” (Acts 22:16). I could multiply the passages about the need for baptism.
Salvation by faith cannot be separated from the necessity of baptism, obedience, holiness (Heb 12:14) , and other elements the Bible and the Church have made very clear.
Consider this: if you go to a restaurant and ask for a hotdog, and the waiter dropped a frozen hotdog on the table, what would you think? You would be shocked and angry! But you asked for a hotdog and a hotdog is what you got. But you expected the waiter to have some cultural literacy — to know that a hotdog was shorthand for a plate, silverware, a napkin, a hotdog in a bun, chips, ketchup, and everything else that goes with a “hotdog.”
“Believe” and “faith” are similar to the hotdog — they are shorthand for what it means to place our full confidence and trust in Jesus Christ. They imply and include all that one must do when they boy the knew to a king — full obedience and submission.
Jesus is the one who says that new birth — becoming “born again” — is accomplished through “water and Spirit” and since he had JUST been baptized by going into the water and having the Holy Spirit alight upon him, he expected his listeners and US to understand that baptism was a necessary element in obtaining salvation.
So, that is a quick summary. Read the section in Crossing the Tiber on Baptism and get back with me if you are still interested in pursuing this matter.
You can order my talk on “Born Again? Faith Alone?” by clicking here; you can also listen to my talk on-line by clicking here.
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Our last full day, and it went flawlessly. Very early morning start with the Stations of the Cross and Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
After a bit of free time, we took a group picture and then went to the Western Wall. We also visited the Patriarch of Jerusalem and had a wonderful time with him before coming back for dinner and farewells. Another great day!
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By Steve Weidenkopf September 18, 2017
Many years ago I attended a conference organized by a national Catholic organization on the topics of marriage and human sexuality. One of the speakers was a professor from Creighton University who, in the middle of his talk on contraception, launched into a long tangent about how the Church had never condemned slavery in the past, which “proved” that the Church had made a mistake, and so perhaps it’s teaching on contraception would be viewed as incorrect in the future (a viewpoint he agreed with).I did not get the opportunity at the conference to talk with this professor about his erroneous statements about the Church and slavery, so I emailed him and we engaged in a courteous exchange in which I pointed him in the direction of several papal condemnations of slavery, which he dismissed out of hand. He ignored the historical record because it did not fit with his agenda of changing Church teaching on contraception.
Sadly, this is not an uncommon tactic by those with an animus against the Church. Many believe, as this professor did, that the Church approved or at least tolerated slavery, especially of Africans and Native Americans in the New World. Scholars argued that the Church was either late in condemning slavery or actively supported it. But like many other historical myths about the Catholic Church, this one does not withstand scrutiny of the historical record.
The myth persists because there were individual Catholics who supported slavery or owned slaves. Scholars with an ax to grind use these examples as “proof” of the Church’s malfeasance without drawing the necessary distinction that what individual Catholics may do does not necessarily reflect the authoritative teaching of the Magisterium.
Moreover, scholars have routinely failed to distinguish between different types of slavery. The Church has consistently and constantly condemned the practice of “unjust servitude,” which usually entailed the enslavement of a certain race or for economic gain. But Western society since ancient times permitted just title servitude; that is, the involuntary servitude imposed on criminals or prisoners of war. Just title servitude was considered permissible as recently as 1949 when the Geneva Convention allowed nations at war to conscript prisoners of war for labor. In this case, the Church has always demanded humane treatment of slaves by their masters and even encouraged their emancipation. The failure to recognize these distinctions between types of servitude has led many scholars to declare falsely that the Church failed to condemn slavery.
The Church was born into a world where slavery was a lynchpin of society. Imperial Rome was built and sustained on the backs of slaves; the complete abolition of slavery in Rome was unthinkable and impractical. Despite societal acceptance of slavery, the Church made no distinction between slaves and freedmen in its membership. The equality of believers in a highly class-stratified society was one of the attractions that the Church held for the people of Rome.
Once Emperor Constantine legalized the Church in A.D. 313, its teachings influenced Roman laws and policies. Church funds were used by Christians to redeem slaves, especially prisoners of war. One former slave even rose to become pope (Callistus I) in the early third century! Still, slavery continued in Europe even after the collapse of imperial rule in the late fifth century, but as the Church’s influence increased the institution of slavery decreased until it was completely eradicated in Christendom.
Unfortunately, slavery returned to European society in the fifteenth century, with the conquest of the Canary Islands and the discovery of the New World. But from 1435 to 1890, a succession of popes condemned the slave trade and slavery in no uncertain terms. The first pope to do so was Eugenius IV (r. 1431-1447), who in his 1435 bull Sicut Dudum demanded that Christians free all enslaved natives of the Canary Islands within fifteen days; failure to do so would incur automatic excommunication. Thus, fifty-seven years before Columbus’s first voyage, the Roman pontiff unequivocally prohibited the enslavement of native peoples.
In 1537, Pope Paul III (r. 1534-1549) issued a bull, Sublimus Dei, which taught that native peoples were not to be enslaved. In 1591, Gregory XIV (r. 1590-1591) promulgated Cum Sicuti, which was addressed to the bishop of Manila in the Philippines and reiterated his predecessors’ prohibitions against enslaving native peoples. In the seventeenth century, Urban VIII (r. 1623-1644) promulgated Commissum Nobis (1639) in support of the Spanish king’s (Philip IV) edict prohibiting enslavement of the Indians in the New World.
The need for cheap and abundant labor in the colonies is what led to the African slave trade. This new form of bondage was also condemned by the popes, beginning with Innocent XI (r. 1676-1689). In 1741, Benedict XIV (r. 1740-1758) issued Immensa Pastorum, which reiterated that the penalty for enslaving Indians was excommunication. In 1839, Gregory XVI (r. 1831-1846) issued In Supremo to condemn the enslavement of Africans. Pope Leo XIII (r. 1878-1903) promulgated two bulls condemning slavery in 1888 and 1890.
Yet despite the many papal condemnations of slavery, European colonists continued to enslave Africans and New World natives until the nineteenth century. Papal denunciations of slavery were so harsh and so frequent that the colonial Spanish instituted a law forbidding the publication of papal documents in the colonies without prior royal approval.
It is ironic that the Church is falsely accused of either supporting slavery or failing to condemn it, when the wholesale enslavement of Christians by Muslims (estimated at one million people), especially the Ottoman Turks from the sixteenth to the eighteen century, is all but ignored. Finally, it is disingenuous to equate the immoral behavior of individual Catholics with official Church teaching. The fact that some Catholics owned slaves or participated in the slave trade is not an indictment of the Church, but rather an illustration that Catholics will sometimes ignore the clear teachings of the Church.
For more information on this and may other common anti-Catholic historical charges, see Steve Weidenkopf’s new book, The Real Story of Catholic History: Answering Twenty Centuries of Anti-Catholic Myths, available late September and available now for pre-order from Catholic Answers Press.
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It’s always nice to start Mass at Gethsemane at 8 AM before any of the crowds begin to visit. Always very moving to be around the rock, which is a sweat drops of blood, and then to partake of his Body and Blood. Then I drive to the top of the Mount of Olives to visit the Church of the Paternoster. Hears where Jesus told his disciples to pray, and from where he ascended into heaven.
We had Shawarma sandwiches on a platform overlooking the city of Jerusalem before heading to Mount Zion. We first visited the Upper Room from which we get four sacraments. since the Church of the Dormition is closed for restoration, our next stop was Saint Peter in Gallicantu, where we saw the place Peter denied Christ, where Jesus was tried by the high priest, and where he was kept in prison over holy Thursday night.
We then stood in line to visit the Holy Sepulchre Tomb and then ate dinner at the Cheese & Wine Restaurant on the roof of the Notre Dame overlooking the city of Jerusalem.
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On this day people have a choice for a free day for the optional tour. The optional tour is always a very fun day, where we start at the Israel museum, and then go down the mountains of Jerusalem to the lowest place on the face of the earth in the Jordan Valley. We stop at the Jordan River to renew baptismal vows and pray the first luminous mystery. Everyone gets their feet wet.
Then to Jericho for lunch, and to see the Mount of Temptation and a sycamore tree (remember Zacchaeus? From there we shopped at an interesting store in Jericho that sells Hebron glass and other items that people really enjoy, including the Dead Sea skin cream products.
Then to swimming in the Dead Sea, which is always everyone’s favorite and then the next favorite is the camel rides before returning to Jerusalem for dinner, a free evening and bed at the Notre Dame.
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Dinner and dancing in Bethlehem with the local young Christians.
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Is “Faith Alone” the Basis for theFinal Judgment?Dear Baptist Friend Jerry :
I had no intention of writing you again this soon but after having dinner with your brother — and seeing a copy of the silly Protestant booklet you gave him entitled Studies In Contrasts: The Doctrine of Salvation (by Herb Vander Lugt), I thought I’d drop you a short note.
I was not surprised, but I was again disappointed in the obvious dishonesty (or ignorance) of the author and the unfounded assumptions of the booklet — and your gullibility in believing this stuff. I decided to write a short note to ask you a few questions to see if you agree with me. . . .
For the rest of the letter, click here.
For many more such articles and letters, click here.
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The bells of St. Xavier Church woke up Jerusalem this morning. We headed off down the Hebron Road to Bethlehem, the same road traveled by the patriarchs and prophets, kings in the Holy Family.
We entered through the wall into Bethlehem and took our group to the beautiful Olivewood store for the purchase of religious items. Fun was had by all including listening to the Our Father sung in Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
Then we went to Mass in a cave at Shepherds Field where the Angels announced the good news on that first Christmas Eve. From there we had Shawarma‘s sandwiches for lunch and visited the Church of the Nativity to touch the birthplace of Christ.
Following that we went to dinner at the Grotto Restaurant and had the Passover lamb and everyone danced. Dancing on separate video.
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Thanks to my friend Patrick Madrid. Might I suggest you plan to tell your kids all of these things over the next week or two?
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Greetings from Jerusalem!
Today somebody wrote me and asked me about a comment I had made in one of my talks. He asked,
“In responding to a Twitter message about Mary, I had a link to one of your videos where you said an angel bowed to Mary. They went crazy saying no where in the Bible does it say the angel bowed to Mary — can you clarify?”
I responded briefly,
The Bible doesn’t say a lot of things. But if one understands a bit of cultural literacy, especially of antient Israel, and the proper response to a queen, one doesn’t have to find everything in the Bible to know how things probably took place in biblical times.
I was talking with Cardinal Schoenborn of Austria. He’s the one that suggested that the angel coming to Mary bowed profoundly as he recognized her as the woman who would become the queen of heaven.
The king always has a queen, but the queen is never his wife. The queen of Israel is always the mother. Since Mary is the mother of the king, Jesus, the angel would’ve come with great respect.
The Cardinal suggested that the angel bowed to her, knowing that she was at that very moment, becoming the mother of the king, and therefore the queen, not only of Israel, but the queen of all of heaven and the queen of the angels.
The proper response is to bow before the queen.
See also my article on the Queen ship of Mary HERE.
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Our schedule got changed a little bit because of New Year’s Day and certain closures but we still covered it all and added more.
We started out today with the lovely boat ride on the sea of Galilee before driving up to the Syrian border where we talk to the folks about the situation and the countries in the Middle East.
We had Druze bread sandwiches up in the Golan Heights, and then visited Caesarea Philippi where Jesus said to Peter “You Are Rock and on this rock, I will build My Church!“
Then we headed southwest to Haifa and the Mediterranean Coast looking out over the cliffs. This is where Elijah stayed and is the Headquarters of the Carmelites. We had Mass in the Monks Chapel. Then I gave my Conversion sStory on both buses on our way to Jerusalem. Msgr. Droll also shared his location, story and both buses.
Then we arrived at the Notre Dame in Jerusalem, which will be our home base for the next five days.
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The cooler weather in December and January is always lovely compared to the heat of summer here. We started out the day with the sumptuous breakfasts at the Ron Beach Hotel before heading to the Mount of Beatitudes for Mass overlooking the sea.
Then to Tabgha to celebrate the multiplication of loaves and fish. I then gave my talk at the Primacy of Peter and we saw the table where the Lord fed his disciples in John chapter 21 and walked down to the shore of Galilee.
Lunch in Capernaum, where we all had Saint Peters Fish, the very fish caught by the disciples and eaten by Jesus. Wonderful view of the sea during lunch. Capernaum was our next stop where we viewed the home of Jesus, for three years during the time of his earthly ministry living with Saint Peter. I gave my talk “Defending the Eucharist“.
We stopped by the hotel for an hour to give everybody time to rest and regroup, and then we drove to Nazareth for the most marvelous New Year’s Eve dinner that could be imaginable. Compliments were raging! People had a choice of salmon, lamb chops, or fillet steak. Everybody’s now enjoying themselves in the lounge or going to bed and we will see you all next year!
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A while ago I gave a talk in Ann Arbor Michigan. It was about the New Evangelization. As part of my talk I explained how Janet and I have our “evangelism antennas” up first thing in the morning – alertly watching for open doors and ways to share our Catholic Faith throughout the day. And the Christmas season is such a great time to do it!!
I explained that God sets up “divine appointments” for all of us and then holds his breath to see if we will do his bidding. If we don’t, it disappoints God, someone fails to hear the good news, and our days are more boring. Sharing the gospel is a great joy of life once we get over that hurdle of fear and self-consciousness.
After my talk I received this e-mail from Marnie. It was too good not to share. Learn from this! Take her ideas and use them yourself throughout the day. Enjoy!
Dear Steve,
Sue passed along your email. I was telling her about the day after your Evangelization talk at Christ the King that I prayed in the morning about my antennae being up and had three occasions to share my faith on Wednesday.
Here is how it went. I am M and the other person is J for Jennifer. Jennifer works in the laundry room at Schoolcraft College where David and I go to work out.
M- (walking past big window of laundry/custodial room) Oh, I love your purple decorations. Purple is the color of Advent. Are you Catholic?
J- smiling says, yes, and added that purple is for royalty
M – Jesus is royalty! I’m a convert to the Catholic Church because Jesus did not want disunity; He did not create divisions or denominations. Merry Christmas!
J – Thank you for sharing that.
(The man in line, waiting to be handed a towel by Jennifer looked bewildered!)
After working out, the young girl at the gym desk told me that I knew her boyfriend from my teaching days. I said I remembered what a good student her boyfriend was and how he had a nice, church going family. I told her I knew all about Ward Presbyterian and Oakpoint where the boyfriend now attends.
I told her how David and I were Kids Kamp directors at Ward for 14 years (she was a camper), but now we are Catholic and love the faith. Went on to explain how Ward friends don’t understand why we are converts but that we still love Jesus, perhaps more. Then we talked about whether or not she had a favorite Bible verse, which she didn’t. I challenged her to find one and report back to me!
Later in day was checking out at Lord and Taylor, purchasing a gift. I told the clerk that her accent reminded me of my friend, Ula, who is from Poland. When she declared that she is Polish, I told her about Ula from Krakow, Poland who had met John Paul II.
She smiled and I told her how much I loved the Catholic Church and that I was a convert. I asked her if she had been to the gift shop at The Shrine of the Little Flower that sells hand painted Polish ornaments? That led to talking about the Eucharist and praying the Rosary. Meanwhile another customer was waiting and I felt like I should not hurry
So….thanks for all the encouragement at the Tuesday talk! Your talk was excellent, exciting and made me think. I was taking notes as that is my ADD way of listening better! In about 2001 or was it 2002, your Defending the Faith talk (@Steubenville) about the Pope, had a huge impact on me. That is the moment when I finally “got it” – about having a Pope.
On Thursday, at CSS Joshua study, I shared all this with my small group, and at our next fellowship lunch in January, the women decided we would all bring an antennae story to share.
Thanks for using your God given gifts to reach and teach so many of us! May God bless you and your family this Christmas time.
~Marnie
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A sea that is only 8 miles x 13 miles seems to be immune from big storms and dangerous waves. We live in Michigan with the five Great Lakes. We know a sea when we see one. the first time my wife saw the Sea of Galilee, she said, “That’s no sea. It’s a wimpy pond!”
But the gospels tell us a small lake can get very dangerous. If you doubt it, watch this video. And this is a calm storm. There are no clouds or storms or rain or lightning. We’ve been here when it’s been much much Worse.
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A lovely first full day as we all joined together for the first time. People having come from all directions in countries meeting together last night, and we finally board our assigned buses and takeoff for the day.
All is well and everyone is happy and luggage all arrived. Today we started out at the top of the Mountain of the Transfiguration 1,900 feet above the Jezreel Valley. From there the renewal of wedding vows in Cana and a visit to the site of the First Joyful mMystery in Nazareth.
A great way to start a pilgrimage. I gave my talks at all three of the sites to help people understand the deep meaning of the Bible as it relates to the sites and to our Catholic faith.
Back to the Sea of Galilee for some free time and a great dinner here at the hotel.
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From where God placed me I did fall,
I knew the Christ and knew of Paul.
They showed great power, this is true,
But I would never flee from you.
For though your number was complete,
I was not one you could defeat.
When you told me to go my way
I thought I’d have the final say.
When the time came you did flee
With wounds exposed for all to see.
For in your clothes you could not hide
You left without a show of pride.
I was a demon, this is true
All I asked was “Who are you?”
After you give up, if in fact you do
Read Acts 19.
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Today we start our 10th pilgrimage of 2022. We’re certainly back in the air! After a trip to Italy, two to Germany, then Wisconsin, a St. Paul Mediterranean Cruise, and five to Israel. We are excited to be bringing pilgrims back to share our favorite places in the world.
This afternoon we picked up by our group of two buses as they arrive to go in pilgrimage through the lands of the Bible. This pilgrimage is entitled “Family Christmas Holy Land, Pilgrimage.“ We plan it for families to come over Christmas break when school is out. It has a powerful impact on young people.
We picked them up at the Tel Aviv Airport and drove two hours north to Tiberias right on the Sea of Galilee where we settled in for the night. A quick dinner and Mass and we got everyone to bed. Thanks for joining us. We have many exciting days ahead!
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Batt Burns is one of the premier story tellers of Ireland. He is our guide and has mesmerized us along the way. One evening he performed his one man show “Wisperings of Ireland.”
Part of this show was the enchanting and hilarious story of the seven year old boy going to his first confession with his older and nasty sister.
Unhappily, YouTube limits the length of videos so some of the beginning had to be cut. I think you will enjoy it!
The post "First Confession" the Hilarious Story of a Seven Year Old Irish Boy appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
In preparation for Trinity Sunday, here is a clever little video that says a lot in a short time with good humor.
The post St. Patrick Explains the Trinity to Simple Irish Peasants :-) appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A Little Poem about Bible Context
I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah,
Certain Psalms (the twenty-third),
Twelfth of Romans, first of Proverbs —
Yes, I thought I knew the Word!
But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.
You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel, aweary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book,
Just a paragraph, disjointed,
Just a crude, impatient look.
Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through.
To study the Bible and learn how, visit CatholicScriptureStudy. To buy Catholic Bible Study software visit www.Verbum.com/SteveRay. Use the Promo code STEVERAY10 for a 10% discount.
Writer Amos Wells reflected our need for thorough Bible study in this verse: Leading the Way by Paul Borthwick, Navpress, 1989, p. 139. Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
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Every time I am on the radio over Advent someone calls and asks if Jesus was born normally and naturally like other babies, or was he a miraculous birth–in other words, arriving in the world by avoiding the birth canal and without “opening the womb.” There are discussions and debates suggesting he miraculously appeared in Mary’s arms without a normal birth.
After reading much of the material on this matter I believe he was born as any other baby. You can read my article and thoughts here.
I know a lot of folks are very adamant on the other side of the debate and I do not post this to start another debate here. I am presenting this for people interested in the topic to think on the issues and to understand both sides.
The post Mary’s Virginity: How Was Jesus Born? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We all went to 4:00 PM Christmas Mass on Saturday and then had a wonderful family Christmas dinner.
Then four of the grandkids told us they were going to the midnight Latin Mass in downtown Detroit.
Love these grandkids, very proud!
The post Not sure what to think of these 4 grandkids – Yikes! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Today is the Feast Day of St. Adam and St. Eve. What? those original sinners are saints? Yes, and so are many of the figures of the Old Testament.
In the picture above you see the resurrection of Adam and Eve. The Last Adam pulls the 1st Adam from the grave. Notice that Eve, embarrassed by her hand that took the fruit to eat, has her hand covered.
Adam and Eve have liturgical feast days. So do Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Elijah, Jeremiah, King David and many others.
It is perfect to remember today the sin of Adam and Eve that brought evil and corruption, suffering and death into God’s perfect creation. It sets the stage for the marvelous redemption God planned — to bring a New Adam into the world to redeem and raise us up into the very life of the Trinity. “O happy fault of Adam that brought us such a great redeemer” we sing at Easter.
(Picture to left: Notice the blood of Christ drips on the skull of the 1st Adam below bringing redemption to his sinful ancestor.)
Remembering Adam and Eve today sets the stage for the birth of Christ, the 2nd or Last Adam and the new humanity is will bring. Praise God!
The Roman Martyrology (1600) lists saints recognized up to that point including many saints not in the Church’s general calendar. Some that it remembers are Habakkuk (Jan. 15); Isaiah (July 6); Daniel and Elias/Elijah (July 20 and 21); the seven Maccabees and their mother (Aug. 17); Abraham (Oct. 9); and King David (Dec. 29).
We in the West have not discussed it much, but the Eastern Churches remember them every year and their churches are full of their images.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states,
“The patriarchs, prophets, and certain other Old Testament figures have been and always will be honored as saints in all the Church’s liturgical traditions” (CCC 61).
Here is an interesting article Dr. Jeremy Holmes who teaches Theology at Wyoming Catholic College? Old Testament Saints and Events.
It not only explains the “sainthood” of Old Testament heroes, but gives a list of the dates for various prophets, kings, and virtuous men and women before Christ. For this article and calendar, click here.
In answer to the question on air about the redemption of Adam and Eve, I promised a bit of information. The Catechism 489 states, “Throughout the Old Covenant the mission of many holy women prepared for that of Mary. At the very beginning there was Eve; despite her disobedience, she receives the promise of a posterity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living.“
Another quote CCC 635
“Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began.… He has gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in his bonds and Eve, captive with him—He who is both their God and the son of Eve.… “I am your God, who for your sake have become your son.… I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead.”
(Picture to right: Jesus raises Adam and Eve from their graves. Notice they are wearing halos. Notice a similar picture at the top of the post.)
One Journal I own states it well, though I don’t agree with the article overall:
“In this first dispensation, there is a clear illustration that the only way of salvation is by the grace and personal provision of God. After the judgment section of Chapter 3, the literal translation states that the Lord God himself “made garments of skin for Adam and for his wife, and He caused to clothe them.”
The Lord God initiated and was the causative agent (Hiphil stem—“cause to”) of the personal redemption of Adam and Eve by providing a method of restoring the personal relationship with Him. Some conclude that the personal faith of Adam was expressed by naming his wife, Eve (living or life-giver), and believing that (strong textual emphasis) “she, she will be (the) mother of all living.”
This act would have verified that he believed in the future promise of God (3:15) and in the prospect of continued life after judgment (3:20). In a similar way, having acknowledged that the Lord was the source of her first born son, Eve confirmed her personal faith in the Lord and His previous promises of children (3:15–16; 4:1).
“Considering that this was a possible theophany of God, the full impact of the statement may be realized. This would be Christ himself who had performed this sovereign act of divine grace for Adam and Eve, another Old Testament verification that Christ was involved providentially in the affairs of mankind from the beginning!” Conservative Theological Journal Volume 2 2, no. 7 (1998): 455–456.
The post Happy Feast Day of Sts. Adam & Eve (Dec 24) – Did you know some Old Testament people are Saints? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
With Epiphany upon us, I thought I would post my article this Christmas season with bits of interesting information and details about Christmas. Join us any of five times in the Holy Land in 2022. Visit www.SteveGoes.com.
Did the Wise Men Meet the Shepherds?
A king was born. He was born unlike most kings. There was no pomp and circumstance; there were no midwives or court attendants. There was only the bleating of sheep and the buzzing of flies. Giving birth in a cave-turned-stable was not like giving birth in a royal palace.
When a king is born proclamations ring out across the land. But no one knew about this exceptional birth. So angels felt the need to sing out. They burst from the heavens in glorious harmony declaring the royal birth to a group of shepherds sleeping on the ground protecting their sheep. The darkness of night was rent with brilliant light encompassing the terrified shepherds. The lead angel announced “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
The king’s arrival had been foretold from of old. He was the long awaited savior of the world. But why were shepherds the first to discover his birth? Possibly because this king was also the anticipated Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. So, let me ask: who are the first to learn of a lamb’s birth in the middle of the night? Shepherds of course!
But the story recounted by Luke the physician is not the only account of the miraculous birth. Another account was written by an ex-tax collector named Matthew who informs us that the Jewish shepherds were not the only ones to discover this royal birth. Gentile magi—astronomers from the East—were also informed, but not by angelic choirs. They anticipated this historical event through astronomical observations and consultation with the Jewish scriptures.
It was an unusual star that led them to the infant Jewish king. They traveled at great risk for many for months, arriving from lands historically hostile to Israel. How amazing! The magi brought gifts and fell on their faces before a helpless child in an enemy land. It is often assumed there were only three magi because three gifts were presented (frankincense, gold and myrrh), but the number of distant travelers or the size of their entourage is unknown.
King Herod was in Jerusalem enjoying his palatial pleasures when the wise men arrived looking for the new king. Herod was worried. No one could help the magi. The star led them the last four miles to Bethlehem where they found the Child and fell prostrate. They presented gifts appropriate to royalty.
Luke and Matthew were not alone in writing accounts of the Christ. An old man named John, chosen by Jesus while still a young fisherman, wrote a personal account of his three years with the king. And Mark, who was Peter’s “secretary” recorded Peter’s recollections of his years with Jesus. Four witnesses wrote four accounts called the Gospels. They recount the one historical event from four different perspectives, just as in a courtroom four witnesses might testify about one case with four differing yet truthful accounts. Each Gospel writer had his own material, audience, emphasis and style.
For example, each author deals with the genealogy and birth of Jesus in very different and fascinating ways. Each account is true, non-contradictory, and essential to understand the whole story. Matthew was a Jew writing to Jews. He adeptly demonstrated that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and King with royal pedigree through the lineage of King David to Abraham the patriarch of Israel and the father of the Jewish nation.
Mark, on the other hand, penned Peter’s gospel from Rome and presents Jesus to the Romans as a servant with no genealogy. A key verse in Mark summarizes the whole Gospel, “For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). A servant’s genealogy is irrelevant. Mark’s gospel begins with Jesus working. King and servant: no polar opposites could be more extreme.
Luke, probably a Greek and the only non-Jewish author in the Bible, writes in part to fellow gentiles portraying Jesus as the ideal of humanity with a genealogy going back to the first man Adam. Jesus Christ is revealed as the perfect Man to a Hellenistic audience steeped in Greek philosophy and struggling for human perfection and meaning in the aftermath of their failed “glory days”.
Lastly, John reveals a very different beginning or “genealogy.” He fleshes out the full mystery of the eternal king starting with the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:1, 14). Jesus has no beginning—he is the beginning. John doesn’t write to an exclusive ethnic group; rather, he writes for the whole world and proclaims that Jesus is divine—by his very nature, God. And as God he is eternal and therefore has no genealogy. No science fiction has ever reached such heights. Truth is stranger than fiction?God has become Man. As St. Augustine said, “[Jesus was] the Revealer of His Father, Creator of His mother; Son of God from His Father without a mother, the Son of Man through his mother without a father.”
So the four gospels present Jesus Christ as both king and servant, as both God and man. Matthew and Luke tell the story of his birth, Mark and John do not. The four gospels differ in other aspects as well. But such differing stories with such carefully selected details do not imply contradiction. Rather, it gives them diversity, beauty, and depth. Like a diamond, the many facets must be viewed and appreciated to glimpse the elegance of the whole.
It seems that Matthew may be telling the nativity story from Joseph’s perspective whereas Luke tells Mary’s story. Matthew alone records the angel’s appearance to Joseph four times, whereas in Luke only Mary is visited by an angel. In Matthew Mary’s virginity and honor are defended, something done by a loyal and loving husband. Though no words of Joseph are recorded in Matthew it does tell us his thoughts and his quick submission and obedience to the will of God. Mary’s submission and obedience to God is not mentioned in Matthew, but is clearly recorded in Luke where it is her words and thoughts that are expressed.
One could easily conclude that Luke spent a considerable time with Mary, interviewing her about the miraculous birth and surrounding events. He relays many details that Mary had “treasured and pondered in her heart”, things only Mary would have known. It is Luke who records the words of the angel, Mary’s response, and the glorious Magnificat. He even begins the story with an account of Elizabeth, Mary’s relative. And whereas the genealogy provided by Matthew relates to Joseph’s ancestry, some have considered the genealogy recorded in Luke to be Mary’s family tree.
But despite the variety of information provided, these texts inspired by the Holy Spirit of God himself clearly proclaim the birth of Christ as a miraculous watershed event in human history. He is the Son of Man and Son of God miraculously born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit in a cave-stable in Bethlehem and cared for by his legal, adoptive father Joseph.
But we still haven’t answered the question: did the wise men meet the shepherds? The tyrant King Herod died in 4 b.c. and he was alive at both the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the magi, so the magi’s visit had to take place after the birth of Jesus and before the flight to Egypt since Herod died before the return of the Holy Family.
Since “the East” probably meant modern day Iraq or Iran, the journey up the fertile crescent and down through modern day Syria and Israel would have taken a long time. They must have calculated the time of birth pretty accurately, arriving shortly after the birth but before the Holy Family fled to Egypt. So, the time frame certainly allowed for them to meet the shepherds. If I had been one of the wise men, I hope I’d have been wise enough to cross one more field to find the shepherds and get the full story—which is exactly what the Gospels have provided for us.
The truth of the Gospel account is not compromised because the Evangelists report the Lord’s words and deeds in different order. Nor is it hurt because they report His words, not literally but in a variety of ways, while retaining the same meaning. As St. Augustine says: “It is quite probable that each Evangelist felt duty-bound to narrate his particular account in the order which God suggested to his memory. At least this would seem to hold true for those items in which order of treatment would not affect the authority or truth of the Gospel. After all, the Holy Spirit distributes His gifts to each as He chooses (The Historicity of the Gospels [Sancta Mater Ecclesia], April 21, 1964, Instruction of the Pontifical Biblical Commission)
Come with us to see all this for yourself in the Holy Land. We still have seats open in 2023. One is already sold out.
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I posted this a few years ago, but it is still just as relevant today. Do you really know St. Nick?
Everyone loves jolly ol’ Saint Nicholas. There is something romantic and cozy about telling Santa stories around the crackling fire. He is an icon of the Christmas season. But not everyone agrees about the real Santa Claus.
Some like to picture Santa as the early-19th century, pipe-smoking elf with a bucket full of coal for naughty boys who don’t eat their cauliflower. Others prefer Santa as an emasculated, overweight consumer who gets bossed around by Mrs. Claus and thus flees the North Pole once a year to relive the glory days.
St. Nicholas saves a family from death
Then there is the wiry bishop who pulled Arius’ beard and punched him in the face for teaching heresy. Maybe they’re all the same guy. A 1,700-year-old hero can’t be expected to fit into just one old Santa suit. Our images of St. Nicholas seem to evolve or deteriorate based on the values of contemporary culture in different times and places.
For the whole article written by Christopher Warner in the free on-line magazine Catholic World Report click HERE.The post St. Nicholas is Coming to Town: the Real Story appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
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Catechism definition of heresy: ” “Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same.” (CCC 2089)
The post You Know You Are a Heretic when… appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Damian continues to lose more sight as the doctors scratch their heads trying to figure out what is causing the lose of sight in his left eye. We are also praying it does not spread to his right eye.
He is at peace and announced that even he goes blind it will give him more time to pray. But he is also seeking God about being a priest. Wow! What a kid!
The post Please continue to pray for my grandson Damian’s eyes appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
For starters, sedevacantists are those who believe the chair of Peter is empty, from the Latin sede-chair and vacante-empty. It is the belief we have no legitimate pope since around the 1960’s with various dates proposed.
Someone wrote to me today and asked,
Hi Steve. I have seen you around the internet and have learned a great deal about Catholicism from you. I was wondering if you’ve heard of Sedevacantism and what your thoughts are on the subject. I’m guessing you will be pretty knowledgeable about this and would like your expertise. Is it possible and why or why not. I understand you are a busy man but I would really like your insights on this. Thank you.
I responded,
God bless you and thanks for your kind words. With the Church in the sad, abysmal state that she is currently in, I understand the angst many people feel and I join you in that. With a Pope who has caused great confusion instead of clarity, weak-kneed bishops, closed churches, sex scandals, uncatechized faithful and more — I too am frustrated. However…
When I joined the Catholic Church 26 years ago I quickly identified the extreme Left (the liberals who want women priests, LGBT acceptance, liturgical dance, etc.) and I stayed as far away from them as possible.
Secondly, I identified the extreme-Right (those rejecting Vatican II, saying we have no pope, rejecting the Novus Order, etc.) and I stayed away from them with equal fervor.
I do this no matter what organization or society I join. Some converts joined the Catholic Church and got enticed into one or the other of these heady and seductive schismatic-minded groups. It is like jumping on a horse and falling off the other side.
Jesus is building his Church. It is not about our current Pope, or bishops who are more politicians than pastors, or the multiple problems in today’s Church. It is about Jesus. It is his Church and he is the one I trust.
There have always been good popes and bad popes, strong and spineless bishops, problems and sin. There has never been a Golden Age in the Church. Every generation thinks, “Oh my, the Church is falling apart, the Pope and bishops are bad, evil prevails, schism looms, etc.” You would think that it was a Golden Age under the great Apostle St. Paul. Just read 1 and 2 Corinthians to have that myth shot to hell.
I eschew the sedevacantists like I reject the schism of Luther and others who divide the Church, cause confusion and assert themselves as “their own popes and councils.”
Jesus said to the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67–68)
Stay with Jesus, stay with his Church, stay with all the great converts who have joined the Church in the last 30 years and who have no thought to follow such radicals. The chair is not empty. It is filled by a man with all the imperfections of men, but Jesus still reigns and I for one will stay with him and the Church and pray, work, teach and remain faithful.
Remember, Mother Teresa, who also loved and stayed true to the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church said, “He does not require us to be successful, only to be faithful.”
God bless you! Below is a video with Jimmy Akin about the problems with sedevacantists.
The post “Steve, what do you think of the sedevacantists?” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I along with everyone else was somewhat shocked by the actions of the Vatican towards Fr. Frank Pavone.
All of us see many injustices, and problems coming from the current Vatican. I agree.
However, it would be wise for us to step back and let the smoke clear a bit before jumping to too many conclusions.
I might recommend reading Phil Lawler‘s latest assessment of the situation which he posted today. He is a trusted Rome correspondent.
You can read his article here: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/vaticans-action-against-frank-pavone-overdue-yet-unexplained/https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/vaticans-action-against-frank-pavone-overdue-yet-unexplained/
Cann Lawyer and regular EWTN commentator Fr. Gerald Murray also published San article worthy of consideration.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253111/canon-lawyer-fr-gerald-murray-on-frank-pavones-dismissal-from-priesthood-only-the-pope-can-issue-a-decision-without-appeal
The post Fr. Frank Pavone Update 12-19-22 Two Articles appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A few years ago I went on a speaking tour through Australia – thus the Aussie kangaroo leather hat – and they asked me to do a talk on Atheism. I tried to make it approachable to average folks.
It is over an hour long and I hope you find it instructive. Please feel free to share the link with others if you found it helpful.
The post Steve’s Talk: “Confronting Atheism” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Fr. Frank Pavone responds to his removal from priesthood.
Looks like this will be an ongoing saga. May God bless and help him.
https://www.priestsforlife.org/library/9624-fr-frank-comments-on-latest-developments
The post Fr. Frank Pavone Responds appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I was organizing the 17,000 books in my Verbum Bible Software program on my laptop and noticed this quote about the so-called “Rapture” as taught by many Evangelical Protestants. The Rapture is a new Protestant doctrine that was invented in the mid-1800’s in Scotland.
The recent novelty is mainly based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The following article taken from the popular Evangelical Protestant commentary – New International Biblical Commentary:
“When our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones: One scenario of the end time embraced by many Christians today sees a twofold return of Jesus: the first in secret to gather up the church, the second openly, following the tribulation (which, on this theory, only the world will endure) to judge the world.
The first return is called the Rapture, the second the Revelation. The Greek word from whose Latin equivalent (rapere) our word “rapture” is derived, is actually used by Paul in 4:17, “we … will be caught up” (but not, we believe in the sense of the modern theory; see discussion on 4:17 and 2 Thess. 2:1). The theory rests largely on a conclusion drawn from the verse before us. If Jesus is to come with his saints, it is argued, as this verse says he will, he must first have come for them. A number of other passages are enlisted to corroborate this scenario (e.g., Mark 13:27; Rev. 11:11f.), but none of them, and least of all 1 Thessalonians 3:13, can bear the weight of this interpretation.
“Some would even doubt that the holy ones refers to his saints; but allowing that it does (see the discussion), what more is Paul saying here than he says, for example, in 4:14? Paul wants to assure the Thessalonians that their dead will not be disadvantaged. They will be raised, the living will be transformed, and together, the living and the dead will “meet the Lord” and be “with the Lord forever” (4:16f.). The “all” of 3:13 is important. In anticipation of his fuller treatment in chapter 4, Paul casually indicates that all will be involved in the Parousia, but he says nothing more than that.
Besides reading too much into a passage dealing with other matters, the whole idea of the Rapture founders (1) on the fact that the church’s hope—based, we may believe, on Jesus’ own teaching—has from the outset been fixed upon his visible return (cf. 1 Cor. 1:7; Titus 2:13); and (2) on the language of 2 Thessalonians 2:1, where Paul speaks of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him.” Paul used two nouns governed by the one definite article, which shows beyond question that he thought of the “coming” and the “gathering” as two facets of the one event.
In short, Christ’s Revelation [the 2nd Coming as taught by Scripture and the Catholic Church] is at one and the same time our Rapture.
(Williams, D. J. (1992). New International Biblical Commentary: 1 and 2 Thessalonians (68). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.)
In short, Catholics should not fall for, or be intimidated by this unbiblical “Rapture” idea. Protestants can’t even agree with each other on the matter and intelligent Protestants don’t accept it at all.
The post The Rapture? Not All Evangelical Protestant Scholars Agree appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I’ve looked into this, and it seems like it’s an accurate report. If anyone has any different information, please let me know.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253106/vatican-dismisses-father-frank-pavone-from-priesthood
Here is a CNA (Catholic News Association), article confirming that the Vatican has laicized father Pavone, and has now referred to him as Mr. Pavone.
See also National Catholic Register https://www.ncregister.com/cna/breaking-vatican-dismisses-father-frank-pavone-from-priesthood
If this is the case, and unless they give some pretty good reasons, I consider this an absolute travesty. Who knows what the ramifications of this will be.
Fr. James Martin gets special meetings with the pope, and Fr. Pavone gets removed from the priesthood?
The post Vatican Removes Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life from the Priesthood! What?? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Revelation 21:10-27 describes the New Jerusalem at the end of time. It is exquisite and the writer of Revelation struggles with words to describe it’s glory and magnitude.
So, how large will the New Jerusalem be? Here is a diagram superimposed on a map of the United States.
Many people, especially the Orthodox Jews, discuss the building some day of the new Temple.
Sorry, there will never be a “new Temple” since that new Temple is already being built. It is the Body of Christ, the Church.
The Gospel of John tells us, “The Jews then said to him, “What sign have you to show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he spoke of the temple of his body” (John 2:18–21).
And St. Peter tells us more, “And like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).
Our destiny is marvelous, exciting and for all of eternity. But I wonder, does the size of the New Jerusalem imply there may be fewer people there than the universalists think?
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This is very clever. Sure rings of the truth – enjoy!
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The Protestant’s Three Huts
A Protestant was stranded all alone on an island. He begins sending smoke signals, hoping that somebody will find him.
Ten years pass, and a boat is sailing by. The captain notices the smoke signals, and decides to pull into the island. When he docks, he sees three huts.
The Protestant runs out and embraces the captain, and says, “Thank you for rescuing me!” The captain says, “No problem, where are the others?”
The man says, “There is only me, I am all alone on this island.” The captain, confused, asks, “If you are all alone, then why are there three huts?”
The man says, “Well, the first hut is where I live, that’s my home. The second hut is my church, where I worship.”
The captain asks, “And what is the third hut?” The man says, “Oh, that’s the church where I used to go to.”
The post The Protestant and his Three Huts appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
“No man can be a good bishop if he loves his title but not his task.” St. Augustine
May God grant us good Shepherd‘s. May he grant us those willing to be politically-incorrect, willing to be honest with their flock, exposing heresy and sin even if it’s among their own bishops and priests — even if it causes them grief, ostracization and discomfort.
Where are the Shepherds that lay down their lives for the sheep? Where are the shepherds ready stop being politicians and ready to be martyrs?
If they do, they will be amazed at the loyalty, love and devotion the sheep will show them. The sheep will follow such shepherds anywhere!
God bless all the marvelous bishops that grace our Church. I know many of them and I love them dearly. They already heed the words of St. Paul. But there are others who need to take heed…
Acts 20:28–30 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking [and doing] perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Venerable Fulton J. Sheen “Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops.”
Please Shepherds…
The post St. Augustine and St. Paul on Real Bishops appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My grandson Joshua Ray, just arrived home for Christmas from Ave Maria University in Florida. He went to a church group party and sat down at the piano and — WOW!
He’s just winging this on the fly with no music. He improvises. I don’t know where he got these talents — they sure didn’t come from us This was a gift infused by God.
The post Grandson Josh’s Piano Christmas Carol Mash-up, Wow! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Never had a flight like this in 20 years and I’m almost a 3 million-miler on Delta and so is my wife. Here are the texts I sent to the organizer of my speaking events this weekend:
“We are on the plane, waiting to fly to Phoenix. The first plane had problems so they had to bring in a new and smaller plane. Once that confusion was resolved, and we were all boarded, they had computer troubles, and it took them an hour to get it fixed.
“Then somebody started smoking in the restroom in the back and it set off the alarm which caused another delay with the system and they had to remove the smoker.
“But now the pilots are beyond their timeframe and can’t fly the plane. They are trying to find new pilots to fly the plane. I am assuming and hoping and praying will be all right. I’ll keep you updated.
“It’s a good thing we planned an early departure which gives us some cushion. But I wanted to let you know the situation ahead of time. IF WORST COMES TO WORST, I will happily give both talks tomorrow. At this point, they seem confident we will fly. More soon…”
Then,
Now we are waiting for new pilots to arrive, and a family brought a sick baby on the plane. There was a conflict in the back and another family with a baby got off because they didn’t want their baby to get sick sitting next to the sick baby. Who knows how that’s going to play out now. The sick family was allowed to stay on the plane!
The elderly couple next to us has a dog they say can only go 4 hours. We’ve already been on the plane 2 hours and the flight ahead is 4.5 hours.
Never been in such a dramatic flight in my life and we haven’t even left the ground yet
Then,
The ground crew left and now we have to wait for a new crew… We finally flew but with a very bumping first hour “Stay in your seats with seat belts!”
I have flown over 2,000,000 miles with Delta and my wife also. We fly roughly 150,000 to 250,000 miles a year for the last 20 years. We have NEVER had a flight like this EVER! You are correct, someone could make a movie of what happened on this plane today. It will make a marvelous introduction for my talk tonight
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After five years of work and research and writing, the final edit on my Catholic Commentary on Genesis is on its way back to Ignatius Press.
The plan is that the book will be printed in January and published and ready for sale by April. They say the supply line may slow it down, but in any case, I am very excited. This has been a huge project that my wife and I have worked on for many years.
I don’t think there are any current, recent Catholic commentaries on the book of Genesis, the 2nd longest book of the Bible.
This book is full of biblical background, quotes from the Fathers of the Church, Jewish rabbis and scholars, and full of apologetics and typology. Jesus said the whole Law and the Prophets was about him, and Genesis is rich with prefigurations of Christ and the Church.
So I hope, and pray that the Lord uses this book for his glory.
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I was recently asked a question about the reliability of scripture, and I provided a simple answer.
Hi Steve,I have someone who has questioned how we can believe that what is written in the Bible today (obviously Catholic Bible), is the true copy of the sacred scriptures that was written 2,000 years ago? How do we know that after 2,000 years, we don’t have something now that is unreliable and is not what was actually written by the original writers of the New Testament (and even the Old Testament). I explained how Christ gave His word that basically the Church would never lead anyone into error or false teachings/beliefs and that Church (the Catholic Church) declares to the word that it is the Word of God and nothing less, because Christ said so. But I need some historical evidence that shows that the Douay – Rheims or Revised RSV is as close to the original Greek as possible and show how we can know that the Bible didn’t get changed at all.Do you have any sources or books that shows any of this? I know the actual original copies that the original writers wrote are lost.Thank you very much and may God Bless!Happy Advent!!
Dear Friend. Steve Ray here …
Yes, the Holy Spirit has protected scripture through the ages. But we do not need to depend upon that only because the translation and copying and preservation of scripture is also very scientific.Once at my Bible study, we put a poem up on the wall and we made the group copy the poem, but they had to make at least two mistakes. We had a translating committee at five people in another room, who never saw the original poem. We gave them the 45 flawed copies, and after they studied and analyzed them, they did their best to reconstruct what the original Palm said from all of the 45 flawed copies.When they came out with the poem and showed it to the group, it was 100% accurate.This is how Scripture has been handed down. We do not have the original manuscripts of Matthew, Mark Luke, but we do have thousands of fragments and copies in our possession. The documents of scripture, all the New Testament and the Old, are better arrested to than any other ancient writings.When the translators look at all of those ancient documents from the first centuries, and compare them all, just like a poem that was flawed, they can restructure what the new testament was with 99.99% accuracy.Anyone who doubts the accuracy of the New Testament, and that includes the old as well, has never studied the issue and is just parroting things they’ve heard from others.. very foolish and ignorant indeed.The post Are our Bibles Reliable? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Damian is a marvelous and very holy young man considering the priesthood. You will never find a more lovely, talented, fun, caring, athletic and thoroughly Catholic young man.
From my daughter Cindy
Please pray for my son Damian. He has a blind spot in the center of his vision in his left eye. This is the novena that we are asking people to pray for Damian’s eyes, for the return of his full central vision in his left eye, and for a clear diagnosis and wisdom for all the doctors, we will be seeing this week.If you start the novena today then it will end on the Feast of St. Lucy (patroness of vision), and also my birthday! https://novenaprayer.com/2021/12/04/st-lucy-novena-prayer/Thank you so much for praying with us!~CindyIf you haven’t heard any details yet, here is a short summary:Damian had trouble with internal bleeding and inflammation in his left eye back in August, as many of you know, and they thought they knew the issue, but last Tuesday he noticed a partial loss of vision (which he didn’t tell us about until late that night), and we got him in as soon as possible last week on Wednesday. They can now see that the problem is progressing, so it’s not fundamentally trauma-caused after all (though there may be that, too).They’re pretty sure it’s a rare condition (serpiginous choroiditis) that is either caused by TB or is auto-immune. They ran a whole panoply of tests last Sept, and the TB test was negative, so it looks like this is the auto-immune version. The doctors are pretty concerned because the inflammation is encroaching on the center of his vision area (fovea).They gave him a steroid injection into his eye, and he’s on oral steroids now, too. We are meeting with an auto-immune specialist on Friday and with a couple of other doctors as well. This condition may progress and cause damage to his vision in both eyes, so we are praying hard that that doesn’t happen!The post Pray for my grandson Damian who may be losing his eyesight appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Bible Verses Missing in Modern Translations? By Steve Ray (PDF version here) There are a lot of people today that are what we call “King James only“ Christians. They believe that the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is the only inspired version and that modern translations are modernist. One argument for […]
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Have you heard of the Jewish Birthright tour to Israel? Every year more than 50,000 young Jews come to Israel for free as “a gift to the Jewish leaders of tomorrow.” With our new non-profit initiative, Inheritance Pilgrimages, we’re committed to revealing the Gospel in the Holy Land to young Catholics, seminarians and those […]
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One must care for their land. We own an acre in the country and a while ago I was cutting wild vines out of the trees and burning them. The overgrown branches from the bushes and trees were also trimmed and burned. The flames brought to mind the words of Jesus in John 15:5–6, “I […]
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Hello, This is Steve and Janet Ray, Have you heard of Jewish Birthright tours to Israel?They’re impressive. Every year 50,000 Jewish young folks come to Israel for free as “a gift to the Jewish leaders of tomorrow.” Now, with our new non-profit, Inheritance Pilgrimages, we’re sending young Catholics, Seminarians and those discerning their vocation to […]
The post Jews are way ahead of Catholics when it comes to this appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The names of eighteen books of the English Bible are hidden in the text of the following paragraph. Can you find all sixteen of them? Remember, some names are found in parts of more than one word or sentence. For the answer, click here. I once made a remark about the hidden books of the […]
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Though I’ve never had a tremendous amount of respect for this episcopal body as a whole, there are many marvelous bishops involved. The recent news of new elections has promised a positive development for the next few years. Here’s an excellent article, summarizing the situation and the new bishops elected. What the USCCB elections suggest […]
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Usually, I don’t put up interviews I do on various radio shows, but this one was a good one I thought and specifically on pilgrimages. It was recorded on Archangel Radio out of Mobile Alabama. We discussed the How and Why, the effects on people and the lasting spiritual depth indelibly marked on their souls. […]
The post 20 Minute Pilgrimage Overview: the Why, the Meaning, the Effect and the Doing appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Find out how I study the Bible. On Wednesday, November 23, at 7:00 PM CST I will join a Bible study expert, Steven Smith, and will collaborate to show you the newest and most powerful ways to study the Bible, Catholic doctrine, and history. Learn how to quickly access the Fathers of the Church, the […]
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Since we are entering the Palestinian Territories today — going to visit our good friends in Bethlehem for the first time in two years — I thought it would be appropriate to share this post again. I often hear people refer to Jesus as a Palestinian Jew or that the land was called Palestine even […]
The post “Palestine” – What is the origin and meaning of the word? Today we enter Bethlehem appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
When is the first time the word love is used in the Bible? It is great fun to ask a million questions when you open the Bible. Good questions serve to unlock the treasure chest revealing untold riches. Since the Bible is a book and books are made of words, it is great fun to […]
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Since we will soon be in Jordan and Israel again riding camels, I thought I would post some fun and interesting facts – and a movie of the camel trying to bite me. My new commentary on Genesis will be published next year by Ignatius Press. In chapter 24 Abraham sends his unnamed servant to […]
The post How Much Can a Camel Drink? – as he bites me! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
For a PDF printable version, click here. This list was developed to show the weakness of the Protestant “Sola Scriptura” or “Bible Alone” position. *********** 1) Where did Jesus give instructions that the Christian faith should be based exclusively on a book? 2) Other than the specific command to John to pen the Revelation, where […]
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Catholic Doctrines in Scripture, Compiled by Greg Oatis Click here for document Introduction 3 Preface 4 Church Authority and Papal Infallibility 5 Peter as First Pope 8 Apostolic Succession 11 Ordination and Priesthood 12 Salvation Not By Faith Alone/Not Assured 14 Doctrines 21 Free Will 21 Abortion 23 Contraception 24 Homosexuality […]
The post Catholic Doctrines in Scripture by Topic. Save or print 87- page Resource appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Wonderful and emotional final comments and farewells. They speak for the. Enjoy!
The post 12b Israel: Comments & Farewells appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We call today, the Optional Day, because some people prefer to use it as a free day, while others go on the planned itinerary. Today, 36 of our 56 decided to choose the Optional Day and we had a blast. The 1/4 acre Temple Model from the time of Christ and the Dead Sea scrolls […]
The post 12 Israel: Museum, Jordan River, Jericho, Qumran, Dead Sea, Camels appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Atheism is growing in America and around the world. But is there a good reason for its popularity? Do they know something we don’t know — or do they just not want some supreme being or a “God” to tell them what to do and not to do? Is it reasonable to be an atheist? […]
The post Atheism or God? You are the Detective! My Chart to Use with Family and Friends appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
It’s always a moving experience to begin the day at Gethsemane, with Mass at the rock where Jesus sweat drops of blood. Amer and I give our talks there about the meaning and agony of the garden. Then we drive up the Mount of Olives to the Church of Paternoster, from which Jesus ascended into […]
The post 11 Israel: Gethsemane, Mt. Olives, Upper Room and more appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The past is shrouded in a fog for most people. What was really going on in the 1st century during and after the live of Christ and the birth of the Catholic Church? Here is a simple Timeline of First Century Christianity. I created the Timeline to help my students understand their heritage as Catholics. It […]
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We started early today and it’s one of the most meaningful day for many folks. The bus rolled out of the parking lot at 5 AM and we walked the Via Dolorosa through the Old City of unimpeded. After a tour of the Holy Sepulchre, we had Mass on top of Calvary. After walking back […]
The post Israel 10: Calvary, Tomb, Western Wall appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
No translation is perfect. Translating ancient and foreign languages into English is not as easy as it would seem. There are ambiguities and linguistic hurtles. Picture a sliding scale from left to right. Every translation fits somewhere along that scale. At one end of the scale literal translations and on the other extreme are dynamic […]
The post What Translation of the Bible Should You Use? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
On our way to Bethlehem I shared all the levels of history of that city from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob until today. Fabulous history in layers like a birthday cake. We started out at the Nativity Gift store, which is bright and beautiful with the finest of Christian-made local products, especially olive wood and Jerusalem […]
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Who is Justin Martyr and why should we care what he says about the Eucharist? He is a second-generation Christian who learned from the successors of the Apostles. He lived from c. 100–c. 165. In other words, he was born about the same time St. John the Apostle died. Look at the timeline chart […]
The post St. Justin Martyr (AD 100-165) The Eucharist and Who is Eligible to Receive appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Since abortion has taken center stage in the upcoming elections and voting, it is good to again look at a few situations when many say abortion would be the reasonable and moral thing to do. In the United States, there are many situations in which abortions are recommended, even encouraged by family, counselors, medical personnel […]
The post Should This Baby Be Aborted? You Decide appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
MAKE SURE YOU VOTE PRO-LIFE ON NOVEMBER 8! Recently we visited the Aztec Temple in Mexico City. The cathedral of Mexico City was built right next to the 500-year temple. I did a lot of study on the Aztecs and their massive human sacrifices and cannibalism. I realized there was a great tie-in with the […]
The post Aztecs, Human Sacrifice, Abortion and Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Share this with family, friends and your “pro-choice” associates. With the election upon us, it might do well to remind ourselves what abortion actually does to a baby and what the Democrats have made a non-negotiable in their party’s platform. Pretty words about a woman’s right to choice need to be counteracted what it actually […]
The post The Barbaric Act of Aborting a Baby…Videos Explaining 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Trimester Abortions appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
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What Does Catholic Mean? A History of the Word “Catholic” By Steve Ray As a Protestant, I went to an Evangelical church that changed an important and historical word in the Apostles Creed. Instead of the “holy, catholic Church,” we were the “holy, Christian church.” At the time, I thought nothing of it. There was […]
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“Are You Born Again?” “You Betcha!” By Steve Ray Grilled salmon sizzled on his plate as Andy and his family sat down for dinner. No sooner had they crossed themselves to bless the food, than the doorbell rang. Andrew dragged himself to answer the door while his family began eating. Two smiling faces peered in […]
The post Are you Catholics Born Again? You Betcha! A Bible Study… appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Running on the treadmill and flying international gives Janet and I a chance to watch movies we wouldn’t otherwise take the time to watch. Here are a few of our recent viewings. All of these, interestingly enough, have Catholic themes, especially Henry Poole is Here and the Secret Life of Bees. While running last week […]
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This is a common fallacy among Protestants. Now that Jesus has become our high priests, priests are no longer needed; in fact, they detract from the priesthood of Christ. We don’t need priests now because Jesus has become our one and only High Priest. We believers are all priests in the New Covenant. We are the “priesthood […]
The post Old Testament Priests; New Testament Priests – Isn’t Jesus our ONLY Priest Now? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Get away with your spouse on a fun, relaxing, and rejuvenating cruise with inspiring speakers, daily Mass and endless memorable experiences! I’ll be speaking, along with several other renowned Catholic presenters, such as Chris Stefanick and Teresa Tomeo. Sign up today with my discount code “FOG” or “CRUISE8” for $100 off. I hope to see […]
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How do we know the sites related to Jesus are authentic? Didn’t the truth of these places get lost in the mist of history? Is the Bible really historically reliable? Recently I did an interview with Tim Staples of Catholic Answers about the reliability of the Bible, the proof of archaeology and the authenticity of […]
The post The Stones Cry Out: What Does Archaeology Say about the Reliability of the Bible and the Catholic Faith? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
It’s always fun and encouraging to listen to the Pilgrim’s comments and thoughts on their recent days of walking in the footprints of our Lord and our Lady. Towards the end of this video, my wife Janet gives an impassioned challenge to the pilgrims as they return home. It’s certainly worth listening to for everyone. […]
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Dear Jerry: I am writing a short letter to thank you for approaching me in the bookstore yesterday to talk, and to make a few comments on our earlier discussion. As always it was fun talking with you Jerry. I always look forward to such times; they are a high point in my week. I […]
The post Baptist in a Protestant Bookstore – Interesting Conversation I once had appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The last and the fun Day. We visited the Israel Museum to see the 2nd Temple Model of the city as it was in Jesus’s time. Then we go to the lowest place on the face of the earth, arriving at the Jordan River to renew our baptismal vows, and pray the 1st Luminous Mystery. […]
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A Mother Superior wrote to me about her experience in Sydney Australia with the Olive Wood Rosary I sent her which had touched all the holy sites. Greetings in the Lord Jesus Steve and Janet!!! and welcome home from what looked like a thoroughly blessed pilgrimage to the Holy Land!! I saw your wonderful videos […]
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Today was spent in Jerusalem. We started the day with Mass at Gethsemane which is always a very moving Mass for folks at the very place where Jesus sweat drops of blood. Then to the top of the Mount of Olives where Jesus taught the disciples to pray, and from which he ascended into heaven. […]
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Steve and Janet, We would like to thank you and Janet for a once in a lifetime experience in the Holy Land. From day one, this journey has been the work of God. Our last minute addition to the trip was no accident and truly the work of God. The trip itself was well organized and […]
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An urgent letter from Archbishop Vigneron of Detroit— Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, We are less than two months from the November 8 election, during which voters in Michigan will decide on an issue of paramount importance to protecting the inherent, God-given dignity of all people. Abortion advocates under “Reproductive Freedom For All” seek […]
The post Horrendous Contitutional Amendment in Michigan! Vote “NO!” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The highlight of a pilgrimage is the Holy Sepulchre, Calvary and the tomb. We started at 4:30 in the morning with the Via Dolorosa to avoid the crowds and have a spectacular time with our Lord in this most intimate setting. After a couple hours of free time we went to the western wall, and […]
The post Israel 6: Highlight! Holy Sepulchre (and Western Wall) appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I suggest everyone listen/watch this short video. She puts it all in perspective in a few minutes. Pass this on to others. We need to wake up!
The post Is Islam a Religion of Peace? A Profound Short Video from a Brilliant Muslim Women! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Since we are in Philippi Greece today, I thought I would post this colorful blog 🙂 We miss a lot when reading the English Bible. We’re at a great disadvantage. The early Christians read the writings of the apostles in the original language – they understood the words and expressions must better than we do. […]
The post Crap, Castration & Two Creations – Colorful New Testament Wording appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
St. Paul wrote 2 Timothy shortly before his martyrdom. He spent the last days of his life in the Mammertine Prison in Rome, north of the Roman Forum. While in that prison he wrote to Timothy and says a prayer for a man dead man. “It seems apparent that St. Paul DOES pray for the dead. […]
The post Did St. Paul Pray for the Dead? Yes! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
First Seven Ecumenical Councils This is a simple, very short and helpful summary of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church. These councils were foundational for the doctrine and establishment of the Church. They are accepted by Catholics and Orthodox alike. The article was included in the August 2022 newsletter of the Coming […]
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This magazine arrives in our mailbox four times a year; not because we subscribe but because we live in this community. We never sent our kids to public schools, choosing rather to educate them at home. When I grabbed the mail and walked back to the house I had not even reached the front door […]
The post What is Wrong with this Picture? What is Missing? Is this the “New Normal”? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The troubled movie star has found some much-needed peace in the arms of the Catholic Church. In some positive news from Hollywood, the actor Shia LaBeouf has converted to Catholicism after studying for his lead role in the upcoming Padre Pio movie. It might not come as surprise to many, considering the Italian saint is […]
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A wide-ranging and lively discussion with some challenging questions. Fun show! We opened the show with the question: “Where do you find the Assumption and Queenship of Mary in the Bible. Why Protestants usually read the Bible incorrectly and have a wrong view of how to interpret it. 14:56 – How does religious freedom account […]
The post “Q & A for Non-Catholics” – Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Register now to join the conversation with Steve Ray on “The Veil Removed” with interviewer Diane Rinehart who wrote, “We believe your conversion story, your love for the Eucharist, and your vast experience with pilgrimages to the Holy Land would all create great content!” So that is what we will do and — a whole […]
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Busy tomorrow with two EWTN shows. At 9:15 AM I start with Teresa Tomeo on Ave Maria Radio to discuss the Queenship of Mary. What is the Old Testament foundation and is there any New Testament verification? Then I will be taking questions from Non-Catholics on Catholic Answers Live at 6:00 PM. Always great to […]
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“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” –St. Augustine ********* Pope Paul VI referred to the Holy Land as the “5th Gospel” implying that a pilgrimage rounds out and compliments the Scripture for a fuller understanding. “A long procession of people…have gone in search of the ‘footprints’ […]
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Last week was the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and today, August 22 is the Queenship of Mary. The other day a man called to say my argument for the Assumption of Mary from the Old Testament was wrong. I had quoted 1 Kings 2:19 where Solomon had raised his mother to Queen of […]
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If you have not yet heard of the Atlantic article that refers to the Rosary as an “extremist symbol” and a dangerous weapon — it has sure made a media splash and is quite an embarrassment for the magazine. Notice this picture of nuns openly carrying these dangerous weapons in public! It stated, “On this […]
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Funny 2 minute episode with a brain surgeon!
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St. Aldhelm wrote a collection of 100 riddles called “Aeinigmata.” This was originally published by Aleteia. “Adept at music and poetry, Aldhelm composed ballads that remained popular as late as the 12th century, and played the harp, fiddle and pipes. “As Abbot of Malmesbury, Aldhelm noticed that the local people spent their time at Mass […]
The post St. Anselm: Can you solve this medieval saint’s puzzling riddles? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Our journey through Europe has come to an end. And what a wonderful pilgrimage it was! Today you will see a lot of folks sharing their thoughts, saying goodbye and reminiscing. Our final dinner together was a delightful time. And here’s a picture of our group earlier in the day in front of the cathedral […]
The post Europe 8 Comments, Farewells and Updated Critique of the Passion Play appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Paul wrote, Hi Steve, I attended your conference recently — thank you for being there and sharing your experiences with everyone. Your beliefs and passion come through loud and clear and I admire that. I had a question I wanted to ask you. You touched briefly on LBGQ and how our culture has not only […]
The post “Should I attend my Niece’s “Gay Wedding” to a Transgender?” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Another gorgeous day for our guided tour of Milan — emphasizing the incredible Duomo Cathedral of Milan dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Because of it’s Gothic style it seems to rise into the sky as light as a feather. It holds 40,000 people and boasts 135 spires! It has 3,400 statues! It […]
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Bear Wozniak is quite a guy and a fun interviewer. I always love our 50 minutes together. Enjoy, with Bear from Hawaii.
The post Interview with the Bear – “Peter, the Original Rocky” with Steve Ray appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Depart for Mesero, Italy for lunch at the local restaurant Tenuta Brama Sole. It was certainly a unique location with a zoo as well as a fine restaurant with a who gourmet lunch. Along the way Steve Ray shared his conversion story on both buses. The priests and Bishop Kelly told their vocation stories as […]
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GENERAL PROTESTANT REPORT A withering report on sexual abuse and cover-up in the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. A viral video in which a woman confronts her pastor at an independent Christian church for sexually preying on her when she was a teen. A TV documentary exposing sex abuse of children in Amish […]
The post The Media wants you to think the sex scandal is a “Catholic Thing” – oh really, read this report on Protestant Denominations appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
After a lot of pretty early mornings everyone was delighted that we didn’t leave the hotel until 9:50 AM. Sleep in a bit and a leisurely morning and breakfast. Celebrated Mass at Liebfrauenkirke which means the “Church of our Lovely Lady”. This is probably Janet and my favorite church along this pilgrimage. I gave a […]
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After taking my group of 60 to view the Oberammergau Passion Play in the Bavaria region of Germany, I gave an 11-minute recorded critique at dinner. I was very disappointed after seeing the Passion Play. Many go expecting a Catholic performance, but it is far from it. It has been Protestantized and now secularized with […]
The post My 11-Minute Video Critique of the Oberammergau Passion Play with a “Socialist Jesus” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
EXCELLENT article. Read the whole story here.
The post Confessions of a Feminist Heretic, by Abigail Favale appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
After the Passion Play, we stayed at two quaint and very German/Swiss village hotels in the countryside with a delightful German breakfast. One hotel was surprised by a fire alarm at 5:30 AM due to bacon cooking. Oberammergau to Füssen to Zürich is the outline for today and beautiful views of the Alps and surrounding […]
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After the Passion Play, we stayed at two quaint and very German/Swiss village hotels in the countryside with a delightful German breakfast. One hotel was surprised by a fire alarm at 5:30 AM due to bacon cooking. Oberammergau to Füssen to Zürich is the outline for today and beautiful views of the Alps and surrounding […]
The post Europe 4 Füssen to Zurich Switzerland appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
CDC RETRACTS VAX POSITION The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 guidance Thursday, lifting its recommendations for mandatory quarantines for people exposed to the virus, screening for people with no symptoms, and testing for people after potential exposure. “It also brings the recommendations for unvaccinated people in line with people who […]
The post CDC Finally Catches Up with the Rest of Americans with Common Sense appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I had a wonderful time with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows in Beaverton Oregon where I spoke for two days at their Marian Retreat. When talking on Mary I am usually squeezed into a 1 hour timeframe. This conference was delightful since I could tell the story of Mary’s life for two hours. […]
The post Steve’s Video Talks: “The Life of Mary – Real Girl & Woman of Mystery” Parts I and II appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Today is the day that all these people have been waiting for for over two years. Having been canceled in 2020, the Oberammergau Passion Play was rescheduled and those folks that signed up two years ago were now finally able to see the play live. We left Munich Germany in the morning and drove to […]
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Today is the day that all these people have been waiting for for over two years. Having been canceled in 2020, the Oberammergau Passion Play was rescheduled and those folks that signed up two years ago were now finally able to see the play live. We left Munich Germany in the morning and drove to […]
The post Europe 3 Oberammergau Passion Play appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The Rosary is an ancient and marvelous prayer with many varieties and meditations. One of my favorites is the Scriptural Rosary. Thanks to Tom Rizzo we have a delightful Scriptural Rosary for you to download in either English or Spanish. It begins with detailed information on how to pray the Rosary and specifically how to […]
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Today was a sobering day with a visit to Dachau Concentration Camp just outside of Munich. It was called the “Priest Camp“ since it is where they sent the Catholic priests. What they did to them and the numbers that died here is staggering. We bring our folks here even though it is a very […]
The post Europe 2 Dachau and Munich Tours appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
So we embark on our second pilgrimage through Europe with the emphasis on visiting the Oberammergau Passion Play. Most of our folks arrived this morning on Lufthansa Airline. We were there to greet them in the morning, board our beautiful buses and started the pilgrimage. Then we off-loaded the luggage at the hotel hotel and […]
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… to feed the poor? Geez, I used to say that myself in my former life as a Protestant – when I was an anti-Catholic. Actually, if you added up all wealth and property of the Protestant churches and organizations it would FAR exceed that of the Vatican or all the individual dioceses around the […]
The post Should the Vatican Sell its Treasures… appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
So we embark on our second pilgrimage through Europe with the emphasis on visiting the Oberammergau Passion Play. Most of our folks arrived this morning on Lufthansa Airline. We were there to greet them in the morning, board our beautiful buses and started the pilgrimage. Then we off-loaded the luggage at the hotel hotel and […]
The post Europe 1 Arriving in Munich Germany appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A Catholic couple wrote and expressed their dismay at the current state of affairs in our country and the world. He said he was about to give up. I wrote to him these words which I hope will encourage others as well. ******** We certainly do live in disappointing times. Seeing the chaos and anarchy […]
The post A Man Wrote Discouraged by our World and Felt in Despair appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The post Not Human, No Rights – so say the Democrats then and now! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
People who visit my blog regularly know that I don’t just post about Bible study and apologetics. I also blog on matters I think I need to be heard about — things on my mind. This is one of those kinds of blogs. We are being fed a bunch of propaganda by the news media. […]
The post Common Sense & Guns appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Jesus seems very harsh to the gentile woman in today’s Gospel Reading (posted on the day this reading was at Mass). He seems to call the woman a “dog”. Here is his comment, And Jesus said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and […]
The post Is Jesus being harsh calling a woman a “dog”? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Our first “Love Being Catholic” Conference was a huge success. With an auditorium full of great Catholics we started off with Fr. Chris Alar giving his talk on the End Times. This was a first for many Catholics to discuss the End of Time, the book of Revelation from Scripture and Tradition and the Saints. […]
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That’s why I always where my San Damiano Cross. It is colorful and catches people’s eye. Even yesterday while traveling two people commented. My response is always, “Thanks, I wear it proudly as a Catholic!” Invariably an interesting discussion ensues. An atheist once asked why he should become Catholic. What fun! Yesterday two people at […]
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Very full day. Ending our pilgrimage and overlapping with first day of our Love Being Catholic Conference. Cardinal Burke joined us for the end of the pilgrimage and the beginning of the conference. We had a marvelous breakfast again at the Hyatt Regency before driving two hours through the beautiful countryside of Wisconsin to Rudolf […]
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In Wisconsin they know how to make a good hearty breakfast. No rush this morning so everyone enjoyed the delicious food and the Hyatt Regency Hotel. We boarded our buses and headed to the Norbertine National Shrine of Saint Joseph. After a tour I gave my talk “Joseph, Manly Man and Chosen Father”. Lunch on […]
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Everyone arrived at the Milwaukee Airport and we had a lovely bus drive up to Green Bay for dinner on the water. Fun joing 100 likeminded Catholics, brothers and sisters in Christ!
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July 27 is the Feast Day of Mary’s parents Sts. Joachim and Anna. Their story is not told in the Bible, but in a 2nd-century document entitled The Protoevangelium of James. In this document we read of the birth and presentation of Mary and her childhood through her marriage to Joseph and the birth of Jesus. This […]
The post Feast Day of Joachim & Anna: Nativity and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Bear Woznick is convert, lives in Hawaii and is a champion surfer. He is also a passionate Catholic with his own shows on EWTN and a great men’s ministry and Mama Bear club for wives and moms. In short, he is a great friend, a fun-loving Catholic and very effective servant of the Lord and […]
The post The Bear interviews Steve on Holy Spirit Moments appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
There is no better Bible and Catholic software on the Planet that can touch Verbum! I have been using it since 1999. Verbum is going to partner with me for a one-hour webinar on how Catholics can tap into the most powerful program with a library of books and resources that would make Sts. Augustine […]
The post What Catholic Bible Study Software Does Steve Use? Join his Free Webinar and Find Out! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A young person wrote to me today with a question about their new-found passion for the Catholic Faith and the difficulty they are having with their “cradle-Catholic” family. So, I shared a few words of advice I hope are helpful, and it may be helpful for others too. I wanted to email you specifically in […]
The post “I am being rejected by my family because I am zealous for the Catholic Faith” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My wife and I decided several years ago to pray the Angelus every day at 12 noon and 6:00 in the evening. But alas, we seldom remembered and usually forgot. But we wanted to! It is a marvelous way to “reset” our minds and hearts on what matters most — to break away a few […]
The post We Kept Forgetting to Pray the Angelus appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
COMMUNION AND PUBLIC SCANDAL Archbishop Joseph Naumann has said he is “sad” over the way Pope Francis has handled the controversy surrounding the pro-abortion actions of President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA. “It is not pastoral to tell someone they are a good Catholic and can receive Communion as a matter of […]
The post Bravo Archbishop Naumann! Commenting on Pope’s Response to Politicians and Abortion appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Staying with the Catholic ChurchI received a courteous email asking me what I considered to be a sincere question. It was proposed, I believe, by a Protestant who is considering joining the Catholic Church! He wrote, Hello Mr. Ray, If Pope Francis was the pope at the time of your Conversion to the Faith, would you […]
The post “Steve, would you have joined the Church if Pope Francis had been the pope?” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Actually, the retreat center is in Beaverton Oregon which is just outside of Portland. I was a little curious at first knowing of all the chaos and anarchy that took place in Portland over the last few years, but this retreat center is safely and tranquilly away from all that Satanic activity. The Sisters at […]
The post Enjoying a few days with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows in Portland Oregon appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Many people who know me know that my knees are a problem. All through my life I have been a runner and I ran through countries around the world. It was a great adventure and a way to explore and keep thin and fit. Running throughout Israel and Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Dubai and Onamia and […]
The post Working on my knees appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
It has always been my contention that a — if not “the” — major problem in our country today is children being raised without fathers. Boys need role models and if there’s not a strong father in the family, they will look to alternatives which are usually not good. Young girls need the acceptance and […]
The post Fatherless Homes Linked to Mental Illness, Mass Shootings appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
When I was an Evangelical Protestant, I thought DOGMA was a dirty word. It had bad connotations. It represented unbiblical teaching forced down people’s throats by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. They invented new doctrines not found in the Bible and then called them dogmas and told Christians if they didn’t believe them — […]
The post Is DOGMA an Oppressive Catholic Word? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will officially retire from the nation’s highest court. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Breyer confirmed that his retirement will come into effect on Thursday, June 30, at 12 p.m. ET.
The post Liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announces retirement this month appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Jesus was a Jew… This fact may escape the casual reader of the New Testament, but it is crucial to understanding Jesus and the book written about him—the Bible. Unhappily, in 21st century America we are far removed from the land of Israel and the ancient culture and religion of Judaism followed by Jesus and […]
The post Jesus Was A Jew – So What is That To You? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This is a hilarious 2 minute skit. Gotta British humor. Watch til the end.
The post British Humor and Brain Surgery appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Since we are taking people to the Holy Land 5 times this year and 7 times next year, I thought I share an e-mail I received from a man whose Protestant friend just returned from the Holy Land a bit disillusioned and skeptical. Here is the e-mail I received: Hi Steve, Here’s the question in […]
The post How Do We Know the Holy Sites are Authentic (Protestant Skeptic)? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Here are some responses to common myths about the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We should learn these answers and have them on the tip of our tongue over the next year. Jonah McKeown/CNA | June 24, 2022 The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Friday overturning the 1973 decision Roe v. Wade as well […]
The post Answering 7 Myths about the Overturning of Row v. Wade appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Imagine children running and tussling unsupervised in a playground. Now imagine the playground surrounded by deadly dangers: a sharp cliff dropping down a thousand feet to one side, a field of land mines, poisonous snakes in the sand, and a bog of quicksand on the other sides. With anguish you watch the children decimated as […]
The post Bible Study: Dangerous Playground or Safe Place to Play? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Our last and full day was happy and sad. Happy because it was a great day and sad because we knew it was our last day together. We started out with a great blessing from God which was a surprise for us all. We had a Mass scheduled at St. Peters but when we arrived […]
The post Day 12: Mass at Tomb of St. JP II in St. Peter’s, Execution of St. Paul, San Clemente, Final Dinner and Farewells appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
10 KEY QUOTES FROM DOBBS Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito stated: “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division. It is time […]
The post Significant articles on the reversal of Row v. Wade from The Loop appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
“Enemy occupied territory — that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” C. S. Lewis For the larger context from Lewis’ Mere Christianity click HERE.
The post The Rebel in Me LOVES Quotes Like This appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Here is a fun quiz to test your knowledge. How much do you know about Jesus and his Land? Answers are below in the Comments but DON’T CHEAT until you give it a hero’s try! 1. We have no record of Jesus visiting which place? a. The Phoenician Coast b. Tiberias c. Egypt d. Nain 2. […]
The post How Well Do You Know Jesus and His Land? Multiple Choice Questions. appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Still reveling in the Supreme Court decision yesterday to overturn Roe v. Wade after 50 years. Hallelujah! Today is our final day together with our pilgrimage group. Tomorrow morning they fly home early. But today we cover some very important ground. We arrive at St Peter‘s Basilica at 7:30 prepared for Mass. Then Liz Lev […]
The post Day 11: St. Peter’s Basilca for Mass &Tour, Tre Fontaine and San Clemente appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
On our first full day in Rome, we were joined by the inimitable Liz Lev, the art historian and superb Catholic guide for Rome. We began at St. John Lateran Church, which contains the Chair of St. Peter, the skulls of Peter and Paul, and it’s the “Mother Church of the World”. I explained the […]
The post Day 10: Ancient Rome, Peter’s Chair, St. Paul’s Tomb appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
What wonderful long awaited news after nearly 50 years of babies being slaughtered in their mothers womb, the Supreme Court finally ends the Row v. Wade national abortion legalization with a 6-3 vote. God bless Donald Trump for the judges he picked and God bless America! Now the battle enters a new stage which will […]
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I received an email today regarding one of my talks I gave at Franciscan University of Steubenville. It is on my audio CD “Born Again? Faith Alone?” In the talk I said that the opposite of “believe” is to “disobey.” In other words, Jesus does not just require that we “believe” in him like we […]
The post What is the Opposite of the word “Believe” in the Bible? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Beautiful view of the Abruzzo Mountains from our breakfast window. We left the Excelsior Hotel in Lanciano and drove the one hour to Manoppello where we have the “Volto Santo — “the Holy Face”. We had Mass in front of the Volto Santo which is always a highlight of our pilgrimages to Italy. The Face […]
The post Day 9: Facecloth of Christ in Manoppello to Rome appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A while ago I received an e-mail from a Southern Baptist and decided to take a few minutes to respond. Thought others might be edified by it so I have posted it here without using his name. His e-mail is contained in regular text and my response is in CAPITAL LETTERS but the capital letters […]
The post Response to an Ex-Catholic, now Baptist appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The main portion of our a Oberammergau Passion play Pilgrimage through Germany, Switzerland and Italy has come to an end. Half of our pilgrims flew home this morning and the other half consolidated with us and one bus and headed south through Italy. We were sad to say goodbye to them all and to our […]
The post Day 8: Milan to Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
From Little Catholic Bubble website Leila@LittleCatholicBubble Dear Protestant: Where did you get your New Testament? At least a couple of times every week, Protestants use New Testament verses to show me where the Catholic Church is wrong about something. I always make them take the necessary step back by asking the following: “Where did you get your […]
The post Dear Protestant: Where Did You Get Your Bible? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Milan is the 2nd largest city in Italy and a beautiful one at that. Marvelous churches, history and architecture. So with great enthusiasm everybody started out at 9 AM for a walking tour of downtown Milan. We visited the bones of St. Ambrose at his church. Then to the Scalla Theatre which is the most […]
The post Day 7: Milan Tour, Duomo, Da Vinci’s Last Supper appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I was recently asked why Evangelicals cannot see the Eucharist and Real Presence in the Bible. This person said that when they read the Bible it seems so clear — especially John 6 where Jesus says “Unless you eat My Flesh and drink my Blood . . .” and at the Last Supper when he said, […]
The post Why Can’t Evangelicals See the Eucharist? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Sad to leave Zürich, but we have to get to Italy. After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast we boarded our buses and headed through the Swiss Alps which are always stunning. It’s hard to take in all of the grandeur of these mountains and the surrounding countryside and villages. The highlight of […]
The post Day 6: Swiss Alps, St Gianna, Milan Italy appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Free Sacraments Chart by Steve Ray Want to know all about the Sacraments in a handy, short reference format? Download this link and print out your own 2-page chart — Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. It gives you references from the Bible and the Catechism. This chart was made to go with my 7 talk series […]
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How can you not love Switzerland? Everything is clean, polite and organized. It is a gorgeous country with great food and drink and a feast for the eyes. It’s religious and political background is quite intriguing. It is a country with four primary languages: the majority speak German, then French, Italian and a minority speak […]
The post Day 5: Zurich All Day appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live Topic: “Are You Born Again?” 1. What do you say if someone asks “Are you born again”? What is the Catholic understanding of being Born Again? 2. A former Catholic, now Evangelical asked: “I was born Catholic but I never had a relationship with Jesus. I’m an Evangelical […]
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Fun day! Enjoy!
The post Day 4 Germany thru Austria to Zurich Switzerland appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Today was the highlight of the pilgrimage. Everyone was delighted and overwhelmed with the fantastic production of the Passion Play. Five hours with eyes glued to the stage. It was all in German, but we had the whole script in our hand. We also had excellent seats in row 15 and 16. Live animals, probably […]
The post Day 3 Oberammergau Passion Play appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My wife and I recently went to confession. The line was pretty long (which was good to see, though I hate lines 🙂 As I sat and waited it struck me again that the Church is not just a loose association of like-minded followers of Jesus. It is not just “Jesus and me” as we […]
The post My Thoughts While Waiting In Line for Confession appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We must admit that the Catholic Church today is the same organization with unbroken continuity with that organization (Church) started in the 1st century. A reading of the Apostolic Fathers, the hinge figures between the Apostles and the later 1st and 2nd century, makes that clear. The question is whether at some point the one […]
The post Short Thought on If or When it’s OK to Break from the Church appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
We could not fit today in one video so I uploaded our tour of Dachau Concentration” Priest Camp” on an earlier video. On this one we share with you our day touring Munich and enjoying this beautiful German city. Enjoy!
The post Day 2, Part 2: Munich all Day: Rembrandt Art, Munich Tour, Glockenspiels, Ornate Mass and Beerhaus appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
There are few questions I get asked more frequently than, “What about my kids? They left the Catholic Faith.” Or, “What can I do to keep my kids from getting influenced by the world and leaving?” Well, in this episode of Catholic Answers Live our topic was “Keeping your Kids Catholic”. It was aimed at […]
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This is a very astute account of a man’s discovery of the Catholic Church. It is not long but covers a lot — the Bible, Mary, the Pope and salvation. Dear Family: Given the deep and sincere feelings we all have about our faiths, and the volume of information I want to share, I felt […]
The post Charlie’s Story from Evangelical Protestant to Catholic appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My Seven Rules for dealing with family and friends who disagree with us, oppose us, want to argue and are against the Catholic Church and our morals. They are basically common sense, but many have found this article to be very helpful. Yes, it was originally Six Rules but I realized “Patience” had to be […]
The post Steve Ray’s Seven Rules for Dealing with Non-Catholic Family & Friends appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The woke community of liberals can’t help themselves and invariably show the stupidity of the whole woke culture. It is contrary to nature and to common sense. This is an actual image used by KLM Airlines a while back to promote “diversity”. But how stupid is this image? It denies the whole purpose of a […]
The post The “brilliance” of the Woke Corporate World – visual example appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
William Albrecht is a great Catholic apologist, debater and biblical scholar. He wrote to me and asked for an interview and I granted it. I hope you enjoy this animated conversation about Israel, biblical truth, holy sites, sacred ground and much more. To learn more about our upcoming pilgrimages (and videos of past pilgrimages) visit […]
The post Interview with William Albrecht: Holy Land & Sacred Ground appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The post Hope you can join us in Beaverton Oregon! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
My wife Janet and I just celebrated our 45th anniversary and are more in love now than in the flush of youth. We had a plan and we worked it. The beauty of that plan is it bore fruit in the next generation. Our four kids all married young and we now have 19 grandchildren. […]
The post Can a Couple Really Stay Married and in Love for a Lifetime? A free Q&A with Steve Ray appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Pentecost Sunday 1994 our family of six along with friend Rob Corzine entered the Catholic Church with tears and new friends. We lost all of our Evangelical friends within two weeks but it was a small price to pay. Our beloved friend and priest Fr. Ed Fride received us into the Church. Here you can […]
The post Today is our 28th Anniversary as Catholics! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Sunday, July 9, 2000, Pope John Paul celebrated the Jubilee for Prisoners at “Regina Caeli” Prison in Rome… He then said, “I feel obliged, now, to mention the well-known demonstrations held in Rome in the past few days.” Rome had just hosted its first ever Gay Pride event that was attended by tens of […]
The post Pope John Paul on Gay Pride Event in Rome in 2000: The Church Cannot Be Silent about the Truth appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
For 2 years Covid has been a thing. It was passed on by breathing and touching. To stop its transmission we were forced to wear masks, stay away from people and they closed our churches. Monkeypox is now becoming a thing. It is mainly passed on by gay sex. To stop its transmission will they […]
The post Monkeypox vs. Covid 19 appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Here are two helpful charts with information about the life of the Apostles after Pentecost (coming up soon) and the way they were martyred. Click on each image to enlarge it.
The post What Happened to the Apostles after the New Testament? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A fellow Catholic wrote with a good question. I would like to ask you a question. When I was in grade school, everyone just accepted the Bible as the Word of God. If you said, “It’s in the Bible” then it was assumed to be true, even if it was a very questionable interpretation. Now, […]
The post The Inspiration of Scripture and “People of Faith” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
The post Who Was the 1st Person to Recognize Jesus? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
For many people across the United States, and beyond, the month of June denotes what’s come to be known as “Pride Month”. What, though, is Pride Month? What does it hope to achieve? And what is a Catholic perspective on all that? Those are just some of the questions asked in this Diocese of Lansing […]
The post Proud of our Diocese’s Video on “Pride Month” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Enjoy the emotion, joy and sorrow as pilgrims share their recollections and farewells.
The post Leaving Israel: Comments & Farewells appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Interesting and disturbing article… By Phil Lawler May 30, 2022 “What message did Pope Francis send to the American Church by naming Bishop Robert McElroy to the College of Cardinals? How will his latest choices shape the prospects for the next papal conclave? Which other choices deserve a second look, and which prelates were conspicuously […]
The post Pope’s rebuke to Americans; prospects for the conclave appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Fun final day! After Mass at the Notre Dame and the blessing of all our purchases, we descend to the lowest place on the face of the earth which is 1250 feet below sea. Our first stop is Qumran, Next to the place where John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River at the northern […]
The post Our Fun Day! Camels, Dead Sea Float, Jordan River, Jericho…. appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I know many other Arabs in Israel that feel the same way. It needs to be known to a wider audience.
The post Muslim Palestinian Explains Why He Serves in Israeli Army appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This was a full and rich day but with free time in the afternoon. We started out with Mass at Gethsemane which is always very emotional for most of the folks, then to the wWestern Wall which was packed with Jews celebrating “Jerusalem Day”. From there to the Upper Room associated with for of the […]
The post Exciting Day! Mass at Gethsemane, Western Wall, Upper Room, and the streets shut down with “Jerusalem Day“ Processions appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A young man wrote today telling me of his coming into full communion with the Church having been raised Catholic but fallen away during university. Now he is back with full joy and appreciation for the truth. He asked about his parents who were previously lukewarm Catholics but now just a theist and the other […]
The post “My Parents are Good Folks? Will They Go To Heaven?” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
With the end of Roe vs. Wade expected any moment, the radical pro-abortion rhetoric has stepped up. It seems like everywhere you turn, angry Leftists are arguing that the Supreme Court has put minority lives in danger, that abortion is necessary for women’s rights, and that the “right to privacy” is the bedrock of America. […]
The post 6 Common Pro-Roe Arguments (and how to refute them) appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Join us this July 25-29 for our 2nd Shrines of Wisconsin pilgrimage AND Our 1st Love Being Catholic conference Please note the Pilgrimage and Conference overlap, but are two separate events. Registration and brochure for the conference coming soon Featuring Raymond Cardinal Burke celebrating Mass Steve Ray (author of Crossing the Tiber, Upon […]
The post Pilgrimage to Shrines of Wisconsin & “Love Being Catholic” Conference with Cardinal Burke appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Can you believe that in my lifetime (I was 11 years old) Time Magazine published a cover of “The Drama of Life before Birth” with such graphic detail and such pro-life emphasis? How fast things have changed! I actually remember this cover as a boy. My grandfather visited every Saturday and brought Life out for […]
The post The Pro-Life Cover of Life Magazine in 1965 – WOW, times changed for the worst! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Earlier I posted comments and two discussions related to Patrick Coffin’s assertions regarding his thoughts on Pope Francis being an antipope. Here is a follow-up interesting discussion on Coffin’s assertions with Matt Fradd interviewing Dr. Ralph Martin of Renewal Ministries. This is a concern to me because there are many voices trying to bring schism […]
The post Pope Francis an Antipope? Matt Fradd & Ralph Martin discuss Patrick Coffin’s Flawed Presumptions appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
I visited my daughter Emily‘s parish today with my wife Janet and Emily’s three grandkids and her husband Sean. I was again moved by the profound and beautiful altar area in Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth Michigan. So, I prepared a 2 1/2 minute video for you to enjoy it as well. God […]
The post A Most Stunning Apse and Altar – thanks Fr. John Riccardo! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Omaha, Neb., May 7, 2022 / 06:00 am (CNA). What would drive a Protestant minister to give up his ministry, to wander in spiritual darkness for a time and eventually follow God’s call in a new direction? For Steve Dow, it was the truths of the Catholic faith that, despite his best efforts, he ultimately […]
The post Another Protestant (Wesleyan) Pastor resigns to Join the Catholic Church appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
CV NEWS FEED // A radical abortion group calling itself “Ruth Sent Us” announced this week that it is mobilizing activists to enter Catholic churches during Mass this coming Sunday in response to reports that the Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe vs. Wade. “Whether you’re a ‘Catholic for Choice’, ex-Catholic, of other or […]
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Our grandson Damian Augustine Brown wrote and delivered a poem for his Thomistic Philosophy class at their home school co-op St. Augustine classical education. I don’t know if a grandfather could be more proud! You can watch the delivery here:
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Mr. Ray, My eldest daughter invited me to my grandson’s ‘dedication’ at her new place of worship. Worship? Sorry. Her new place of…..well, the giant Olympic-sized structure that, after being directed in by police/traffic officers, upon entering, reminded me of a mall. Oh and by the way, I didn’t witness any worship. My 1st thoughts were…”Wow! […]
The post Mega-church Mania: One Mom’s Observations (she’s a good writer) and Observations from the Early Church appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Hope you enjoy this. I found it quite nice with a ring of truth to it. When it comes my turn to die, this will be my attitude.
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Raining a bit today but we headed out early to join the line to enter the Vatican Auditorium for the Papal Audience. Our group made it in and got pretty good seats.
The rest of the day was free until Mass at 5:00. Folks were free to explore Rome, visit churches, pray, shop, dine – or even climb up into the dome of St. Peter’s!
I gave a talk on the martyrs IN the church of the martyrs, San Stefano Rotundo, before Mass. We then invited the group to join us at one of our favorite restaurants where we eat while in Rome on our own. Great day!
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When I was last on Catholic Answers Live last week Constantine Regas called in to defend the Eastern Orthodox position against the Catholic Church’s teaching on Peter and the Primacy of Rome. Constantine’s words are in BLUE and my responses are in BLACK. I appreciated Constantine’s irenic tone and honest demeanor.
CONSTANTINE REGAS (CR): I called the “Catholic Answers Live” show last Monday to clarify the Orthodox position on authority in the Church.
STEVE RAY (SR): I remember Constantine. And the studio cut us off before we got very far in our conversation.
CR: My exact question was that, if Christ gave St Peter the Keys to the Kingdom, why isn’t the current Bishop of Antioch the head of the universal Church since St Peter was the founding bishop of that city several years before he became the bishop of Rome? Part of your response was that he was also the first bishop of Jerusalem. The Apostle James was Jerusalem’s first bishop.
SR: Jesus promised him the keys to Peter in Matthew 16:19. The Royal Steward steps up to his position of authority when appointed, especially to fill in for the King in his absence. Once Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit fell Peter picked up those keys and exercised his authority on the day of Pentecost. From that point on we hear no words of the other Eleven. Except for Paul, none of the others have any recorded words in Acts. Peter is the Bishop, the Pope and the visible Head of the Church from that point.
In his massive history of the Church, Warren Carroll gives a very cogent outline of Peter’s movements. You can read this list here as I provided in my book Upon this Rock.
30 AD Death and Resurrection of Jesus
30-37 Peter head of the Church in Jerusalem
38-39 Peter’s Missionary journeys along Mediterranean Coast and Samaria
40-41 Peter in Antioch
42 Imprisonment in Jerusalem and departure to “another place.’
42-49 First sojourn to Rome
49 Expulsion from Rome by edict of Claudius
49-50 In Jerusalem for the Apostolic Council (Acts 15)
50–54 In Antioch, Bithynia, Pontus, Asia, and Cappadocia (or some of them)
54–57 Second sojourn in Rome; Gospel of Mark written under Peter’s direction
57–62 In Bithynia, Pontus, and Cappadocia (or some of them); Mark in Alexandria, Egypt
62–67 Third sojourn in Rome; canonical Epistles of Peter; Mark with Peter in Rome
67 Martyrdom in Rome and burial near the Necropolis at the Vatican
You say that the Apostle James was the first bishop of Jerusalem. If you referring to James the son of Zebedee, you are incorrect because he was killed by the sword about 42 AD as recorded in Acts 12:2. The James that became bishop of Jerusalem was James “the Lord’s brother” (Gal 1:19). He was referred to as James the Righteous. He became bishop of Jerusalem after Peter’s departure for Antioch around 40-41.
Doctor of the Church, St. John Chrysostom (an Eastern bishop) says, “‘And having spoken thus,’ the Evangelist declared, ‘he said, “Follow me.” ’ In these words He was once again referring indirectly to His solicitude for Peter and to the fact that He was on terms of intimate friendship with him. And, if someone should say: ‘How is it, then, that it was James who received the bishop’s chair in Jerusalem?’ I would make this reply: that Christ appointed this man [Peter], not merely to a chair, but as teacher of the world.” (John Chrysostom, Commentary on Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist: Homilies 48–88, trans. Thomas Aquinas Goggin, vol. 41, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1959), 473.)
Peter was the leader of Jerusalem for 10 years before going to Antioch for 2 years then ending up as the leader of the Church in Rome about 42 AD.
CR: The point I was making is that primacy of honor (not authority which rests with Christ alone) was given to the bishop of Rome because it was capital of the empire.
SR: Unfortunately, you are incorrect again. Never was the phrase “primacy of honor” used until after the Eastern churches broke away from Rome, took a new name (Orthodox) and used this phrase as a justification for rejecting the honorary and jurisdictional authority of Rome. One only needs to read history to find the Eastern churches in heresy for much of their existence and always depending on Rome to establish the truth of the faith and to appoint orthodox bishops in Eastern churches.
Rome was established as the See of Peter because Peter chose it to be. Jerusalem had become a backwater city after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and the 10th Legion. Yes, Rome was the capital of the Empire and the hub of the wheel (“all roads lead to Rome”). Peter and Paul established the Church of Rome by their blood and it was by their appointment, the See of Peter and the Head of the Church.
Of course, Jesus is the head of the Church. But he left his royal steward with the keys of the kingdom as a visible head of the Church and a source of unity. There is no contradiction here.
CR: The second canon of the Second Ecumenical Council A.D. 381 explains this clearly. After the capital was moved to Constantinople, primacy of honor became shared. Feel free to investigate.
SR: I see you do not provide the quote from the source you cite. It is easy to say a council said this or that, but proving it is quite another thing. And claiming the primacy was “shared” is an eastern idea and refuted by the facts of the first 1000 years of the Church. This I have made abundantly clear in my book Upon this Rock.
Yet in that very Council, in the beginning of the very next Cano it contradicts tour claim. Here is the except from that Canon of that Council:
Canon III
The Bishop of Constantinople, however, shall have the prerogative of honour after the Bishop of Rome; because Constantinople is New Rome.
Ancient Epitome of Canon III: The bishop of Constantinople is to be honoured next after the bishop of Rome.
CR: I also noticed that the above comment (among others) was edited out of yesterday’s rebroadcast.
SR: I am not aware of that, nor is that under my care. The sound techs at Catholic Answers Live handle what is posted in the podcast.
CR: One last point if I may: All the Eastern bishops can trace their authority back to one of the Apostles. The Vatican recognizes this and therefore acknowledges the validity of the Orthodox priesthood and sacraments.
SR: We have no argument here. That is why we consider the eastern churches to be legitimate churches. We don’t consider Protestants to be churches since they have lost the apostolic succession, which the Eastern Orthodox churches have maintained. However, that has nothing to do with the fact that Rome has the primacy both in honor and in jurisdiction. The Eastern churches are in schism and we all hope that one day there will again be unity.
St. Pope John Paul II said it best when he stated his desire that the Western and Eastern lungs be breathing together again in one united Body of Christ.
If you are interested in my thorough study on all of these matters, in which I interact a great deal with Orthodox theologians, I suggest you get my book referenced below.
I appreciate your irenic tone and honest discussion. God bless you my brother in Christ!
(Stephen K. Ray, Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church, Modern Apologetics Library (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1999), 67.)
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Another fast paced and busy day. We started out with Liz Lev and Francesca Barbarini guiding our group through the Vatican museums. Always stunning! Then back into Saint Peters Basilica for a very thorough tour there. So much to see and do!
After lunch at the many local cafés and pizzerias, we took off for the Roman Colosseum and the Roman Forum for a walking tour through ancient Rome.
Then we had Mass at Saint cCosmos and Damian Church which used to be a pagan building but is now a church in the center of the Roman forum. Free evening and to bed for early morning with a Papal Audience.
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“Call No Man Your Father”
By Steve Ray
I received several questions recently and will post my answers separately over the next few days. Here is the first question which I received and answered.
1.) In Matthew 23:9 Jesus says: ” And call no man your father upon earth: for one is your Father which is in Heaven.”
I find this point quite confusing especially concerning the Catholic church where the priests are called “father”.
Also I’ve heard people address priest on Catholic radio call-in shows as “good father” and they accept this greeting without protest…..Jesus clearly stated that none is good but God the father. Surely man can only be “good” in a relative sense compared to other men but compared to God the Father, surely man is not good.
First, regarding the word good. I would agree with you that “good” is somewhat relative based on the context and meaning. They called Jesus good, and we all know he is good, yet Jesus said only the Father is good. Is Jesus denying here that he is good? Of course he could not mean that since it would be contrary to the truth. So we have to understand that there must be more to this than what we see on the surface.
Jesus is making a subtle argument with the Pharisees using rabbinic hyperbole and certainly not arguing that he is not good, nor that others can be good. I often say to my son, “You are a good boy!” or to my wife, “You are a good wife!” I do not think either of these comments would be offensive to God, any more than to say to a pastor “You are a good pastor.”
I too wondered many times in my past about calling a priest “father.” Upon further study and reflection I resolved the issue in my mind. There are several ways to approach the issue of calling a priest “father.” Let me begin this way. This passage does not forbid us from calling a man “father”; rather, it says “Call no man your father.” As I see it the command would not forbid me to call a priest father but forbids the calling of someone your father. A seemingly small detail, but actually rather important if we read Scripture carefully.
Now, if Jesus commands me to call no man my father then that would seem to include my earthly dad. Taking the words of Jesus literally here, would it not mean you cannot call your biological father father? Of course it would, even more so than calling a priest father since I am not actually calling the priest my father but a father. However, I do call my biological father my father. The words related to my biological father would be more in violation of Jesus’ command than to call a priest father. So, I think we see the need to be careful with our interpretation here.
Second, usually verse 9 is taken out of context, neglecting to mention the verses before and after it. Here is the the immediate context, “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.”
I used to refuse to call a priest or pastor father, yet I never hesitated to call my Sunday School teacher teacher. It seems that if we take Jesus extremely literally here we would stop calling any man or women teacher, father, or leader. I don’t think this is the actual point Jesus is trying to make, and if so, we are all being disobedient to his commands both Catholics and Protestants. But even Scripture freely uses these titles for offices and gifts within the Church (e.g., Eph 4:11)
It seems that Jesus is using what it referred to as rabbinic hyperbole, meaning speaking in exaggerated terms to make a point in the opposite direction. For example, Jesus says if your right hand or eye offend you, cut it off and pluck it out! (Mt 5:29-30). Most people recognize that Jesus was not commanding us to amputate or blind ourselves but is emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the eternal consequences of our actions. If we followed this “command” to the extreme limit we would all be eyeless and handless.
He is using hyperbole to demonstrate the foolishness of the Pharisees in their extreme positions in the other direction. It is the way rabbis argued in the first century which is important to understand so as to properly interpret Scripture within its proper context. Historical and cultural context is as important as the textual context.
Now, another point that should be made here. If Jesus is literally forbidding us from calling a man father then it seems that he and other Scriptural writers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, violated this injunction themselves. In Matthew 1 alone the word father is used 39 times referring to men. Jesus himself calls Abraham father both as a physical and a spiritual father (Lk 16:24, 30; Jn 8:56). Stephen refers to Abaham as our father (Acts 7:2) and Paul speaks of “our father Isaac” (Romans 9:10).
Paul regularly referred to Timothy as his child: “Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ” (1 Cor. 4:17); “To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (1 Tim. 1:2); “To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2 Tim. 1:2).
“This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare” (1 Tim 1:18); “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1); “But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel” (Phil. 2:22).
Paul also referred to other of his converts in this way, even referring to himself as a spiritual father: “To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4); “I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment” (Philem. 10). None of these men were Paul’s literal, biological sons. Rather, Paul is emphasizing his spiritual fatherhood with them.
Ultimately, God the Father IS the only father since he created us all, yet Paul says that he himself is a spiritual father with spiritual children. Here is what he writes to the Corinthians:
I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors (teachers) in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Cor 4:14-17).
Not only does Paul say there are spiritual fathers, but calls himself a spiritual father. Does not this violate the words of Jesus? Paul does not think so, nor does the Holy Spirit who inspired his very words. Beyond that, Paul even tells us to imitate him, to follow his example — which we can suppose would extend to calling our spiritual fathers father.
By referring to these people as their spiritual sons and spiritual children, the writers of the New Testament imply their own roles as spiritual fathers. Since the Bible frequently speaks of this spiritual fatherhood, we Catholics acknowledge it and follow the custom of the apostles by calling pastors/priests “father.” Failure to acknowledge this is a failure to recognize and honor a great gift God has bestowed on the Church: the spiritual fatherhood of the priesthood.
As Catholics we know that we are members of a local church, a parish, and that the parish has been committed to a pastor’s spiritual care, thus we have great respect and affection for pastors/priests and call them “father.” Pastors also follow the apostles’ biblical example by referring to members of their flock as “my son” or “my child” (cf. Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1; Philem. 10; 1 Pet. 5:13; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4).
Understanding Jesus’ words in the full historical, cultural, and literary context, Catholics see no contradiction between the real meaning of Jesus’ words and the use of the word father in relation to our earthy fathers (dads) or those who act as our spiritual fathers and teachers.
I hope that helps a bit. If you’d like to read further I might suggest this website http://www.catholic.com/library/Call_No_Man_Father.asp
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We called this the Peter and Paul day because we started with Mass at the tomb of St. Peter in St Peters Basilica thanks to my friends Fr. Andrew Dalton LC and Fr. Michael Baggot LC.
We then went to the Tre Fontanne where Paul was beheaded and and visited St. Paul Outside the Walls where his bones are interred.
We also take a slow and casual walking tour of Rome (see video for all the sites) and went down in the St. Sebastian Catacombs were Peter and Paul’s bones are both kept for a while in the early centuries. Liz Lev gave us her famous talk and the Sistine chapel and we had a great dinner.
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Six minute interview at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
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The morning we spent in San Giovanni Rotondo with Padre Pio. We started with Mass in the very chapel where Padre Pio regularly celebrated Mass with his famous confessional to the side. I gave a brief overview of the life of Padre Pio with some fun facts and spiritual challenges.
We visited and venerated his body which is in a glass case for easy. This was the highlight of the trip for many folks so we were not rushing anyone and gave them plenty of time to pray and appreciate this magnificent site.
Then we went to the new shrine, very modern in design, but beautiful in its own way, visiting the expansive museum and shop.
Then we boarded our bus and headed to Rome. Teresa and Dominick told the story of their saved marriage and coming into the fullness of Catholic life and I shared my conversion story as well. The priests shared their vocation stories.
We pretended Teresa was hosting a live “Catholic Connections”. Teresa, Fr.James and I fielded questions from the pilgrims. Had a grand time. Stopped several times along the way times for restrooms and sandwiches and such. We arrived at our exquisite hotel — the Michelangelo — which is only a five minute walk from St. Peters. Joan Lewis from EWTN joined us for dinner. Great dinner and to bed.
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Another marvelous day with perfect weather. We started the day in Lanciano at the first and greatest Eucharistic miracle. We had Mass in front of the Eucharistic host that turned into heart muscle and the chalice which turned into human blood physically. This all happened in 750 A.D. when a priest doubted the Real Presence and was stunned by this miracle.
I gave my talk on the bus entitled “Defending the Eucharist”.
We then drove some gorgeous countryside with mountains and vineyards and olive groves and farmland and quaint villages arriving to the cave of Saint Michael which is the earliest apparition site in the 5th century. We entered right when they were praying the Divine Mercy and having adoration. Marvelous!
A nice lunch in Mount Saint Michael before a leisurely drive to San Giovanni Rotondo are we checked into our hotel had some free time and an excellent dinner.
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Every day, Catholics are invited by coworkers, neighbors, and even family members to “ecumenical” Bible studies. Should they go? Certainly all of us would benefit from more study of Scripture, but as someone who has been a part of a number of Protestant Bible studies—I’ve even taught them—I discourage Catholics from attending them because of the foundational premises and principles in operation at these studies.
Protestants are delighted to have Catholics attend their Bible studies, but it is often not because they want to hear and discuss the Catholic perspective on Scritpure. Instead, they see it as an opportunity to bring them to the “true Gospel”—to evangelize them, to get them saved.
In many cases, though certainly not all, the non-denominational Bible study is the Trojan Horse that infiltrates the Catholic’s mind and succeeds in drawing him away from the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church—to join a Protestant group. Most of us have a family member or friend who has been affected in this way.
An unwary Catholic who steps into the Protestant Bible study usually does so with no intention of leaving the Catholic Church. They just want to study the Bible. The Catholic usually has a hard time finding a good and welcoming Bible study in Catholic circles—but this is changing.
First, while the Bible study may call itself “non-denominational,” Catholics and Orthodox are not usually included under this umbrella. While they may be invited, you’ll rarely find them in leadership.
Protestants think of themselves as people of the Book, not hampered by human tradition. They think of Catholics as, at best, followers of traditions for whom the Bible is secondary.
That is a huge misconception: Protestants are also people of tradition. No one reads the Bible objectively. People who claim to “just read the Bible” really read it through the eyes of a tradition they’ve already accepted, whether that be Fundamentalist, Calvinist, Pentecostal, Baptist or one of many others. Everyone depends upon tradition, but not everyone recognizes it.
“Bible Christians,” based on their tradition, study the Bible with these premises:
- There is no binding authority but the Bible alone.
- There is no official binding interpretation or interpreter.
- The Bible is perspicuous (i.e., easy to understand) and can be interpreted and understood by anyone.
- An individual can and should read the Bible and interpret it for himself.
Catholics, based on their Tradition, study the Bible with different premises:
- The authority of the apostles and the Church preceded the Bible, and the Tradition of the Church is an equally infallible authority (2 Thess. 2:15; CCC 80–83). The Bible is part of the apostolic Tradition.
- The authoritative interpretation of the Bible is the prerogative of the Catholic Church (1 Tim. 3:15; Matt. 18:17; CCC 85-88).
- The Bible is not always easy to understand (2 Pet. 3:15-16) and needs to be understood within its historical and contextual framework and interpreted within the community to which it belongs.
- Individuals can and should read the Bible and interpret it for themselves—but within the framework of the Church’s authoritative teaching and not based on their own private interpretation (2 Pet 1:20-21).
These basic differences place the Catholic and Protestant worlds apart even though they are opening the pages of the same book and accepting it as an authoritative revelation from God. The Catholic position is biblical and has been espoused from the first days of the Church. The Protestant position is unbiblical and is of recent origin. The Catholic is in full continuity with historical Christianity; Protestants are in discontinuity.
Catholics attending a non-denominational Bible study need to be aware of these differences and be ready not only to filter out false conclusions but also to guard themselves against the false underlying assumptions (e.g., that everything has to be found and proven explicitly in the Bible).
Catholics who are unaware often begin to adopt a Protestant mentality without knowing they are doing so, gradually learning to suspect the Catholic Church and trying to prove everything from the Bible.
Let’s Take Just One Example: Baptism
But what difference do these premises make? Let’s take the example of 1 Peter 3:18-21:
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Notice the words in italics. What does it say? To Catholics it makes perfect sense because Christians have always taught (until the Reformation) that baptism is essential for salvation. As Catholics, we can draw from a wealth of other biblical and patristic passages that consistently and continuously teach a seamless garment of doctrine—the constant teaching of the Church, of all Christians.
A few examples:
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)
This has always been understood to mean water baptism, until descendants of the Reformation denied it and came up with new interpretations, such as that the water refers to the water in the womb, the word of God, or even a synonym for the Spirit (as in “water, even the Spirit”). There is no consensus among Protestants.
Other examples are Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16. The first says, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
The second one says, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
These verses agree with the words of Jesus, Titus 3:5, and the rest of the New Testament about the necessity and importance of baptism. But many Evangelicals will offer in reply a list of verses that say salvation is by faith (e.g., John 3:16) and argue that since he can find twenty-five verses that say salvation is by faith, it can’t be by baptism.
Can we cut two verses out of the Bible because we find ten others that seem to contradict? Heavens, no! We have to find a way to explain and accept both and harmonize them into a cogent theology. That is what Catholics have been doing well for two millenia.
One of the great reliefs for me as a Catholic was to read the Bible without having to set aside verses that didn’t agree with my preconceived assumptions. Catholics do not have this problem.
A Figure of a Figure? Go Figure.
Now, back to 1 Peter 3:18-21. Protestant commentaries on Scripture admit it is one of the most difficult passages of the Bible to interpret. Here is a quote from my book Crossing the Tiber:
In his recent anti-Catholic book The Gospel according to Rome, James McCarthy says that “when Peter says that ‘baptism now saves you,’ he is speaking of the typological, or symbolic, significance of baptism. . . . It [the word figure] tells us that what follows, ‘baptism now saves you,’ is a figurative illustration that complements the symbolism of a preceding figure” (331-332).
It seems he is saying that baptism is a figure of a figure instead of the fulfillment of a figure. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature offers a different and more straightforward interpretation: “Baptism, which is a fulfillment (of the type), now saves you, i.e., the saving of Noah from the flood is a . . . ‘foreshadowing’ and baptism corresponds to it [fulfills it]” (75).
McCarthy does go on to say: “This verse is part of one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament to interpret. Nevertheless, this much is clear: it does not support the Roman Catholic doctrine” (331-332). (Crossing the Tiber, p. 130, note 56)
The Catholic interpretation explains the passage quite comfortably without twisting the text from its clear meaning, accepting the literal meaning of the text, and complementing the rest of New Testament teaching. It is difficult for McCarthy to interpret because he comes to the passage with a handicap: his Fundamentalist preconceptions.
Catholics: Seen but Not Heard
Baptism is just one example, and we have only scratched the surface. Other examples of passages that are difficult for Evangelicals—and where unwary Catholics attending a non-denominational Bible study can be misled—are John 20:23, Colossians 1:24, James 2:24, Matthew 16:18-19, and John 5:28-29.
Catholics often find non-denominational Bible studies appealing because of the warm, serious, loving, and family-like environment. Being used to reverence and quiet devotion, Catholics find the welcoming and chatty nature of these gatherings refreshing and new.
But there is such a thing as an ecumenical Bible study that doesn’t allow knowledgeable Catholics to participate in leadership or where the Catholic perspective is not equally presented and discussed with respect. In a truly ecumenical Bible study, the Catholic interpretation and teaching is not treated as substandard or heretical.
Also, the Catholic Church is not a “denomination” (which means “to take a new name”); it is the Church. Those who are in schism, who break away or subsist apart from it are denominations or sects. The Church is not. It is the Church.
There’s still a long way to go to get Catholics to the point of scriptural study that Protestants have achieved. But it is happening, and you can help. For more information, see my article “Starting a Parish Bible Study” at www.catholicconvert.com.
SIDEBARS
Before Chapter and Verse
Chapter and verse divisions in the Bible are quite recent. They have proven quite helpful in biblical study and finding our way around. But they can also be a great hindrance if people begin to see the Bible as an unrelated collection of wise maxims listed numerically. It becomes quite easy to pluck a numbered statement (a verse) out of its context and quote it as in independent entity. For the first 1,600 years of Christianity, biblical study was conducted without verse numbers, forcing the reader to see whole texts and not simply lists of unrelated sentences randomly compiled.
Bible Resources
Sites to help you find a Bible study, start a Bible study, or get Bible study materials:
www.catholicscripturestudy.com
www.greatadventureonline.com
A Catholic Answers booklet to help you get started reading the Bible:
Beginning Apologetics 7: How to Read the Bible by Jim Burnham and Fr. Frank Chacon (San Juan Catholic Seminars, 2003)
Books available at www.catholic.com to help your understanding of Scripture:
A Guide to the Bible by Antonio Fuentes (Four Courts Press, 1987)
Inside the Bible by Kenneth Baker, S.J. (Ignatius Press, 1998)
You Can Understand the Bible by Peter Kreeft (Ignatius, 2005)
How to Read the Bible Every Day by Carmen Rojas (Servant Books, 1988)
Books that answer common Protestant questions:
Where Is That in the Bible? by Patrick Madrid (Our Sunday Visitor, 1999)
Where We Got the Bible by Bishop Henry G. Graham (Catholic Answers, 1997)
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After being grounded for two years it is great to be back in the air and exploring biblical and Catholic lands again. Traveling is pretty easy again and Janet and I landed in Italy yesterday, Teresa Tomeo and her husband Deacon Dom today.
So, we prepare for our “Saints & Shrines of Italy” pilgrimage, culminating in Rome for a 3-day extension with our guide Liz Lev. Excited!!
We have a group of 41 excited folks arriving soon. We will then start in the north of Italy, in Milan (Milano), and move our way south covering many of the great saints and shrines of Italy. We will get them boarded on the bus for two days in Milan and Pavia (tomb of St. Augustine).
We had breakfast with Teresa and Dom at our Concorde Hotel. They will go ourt exploring today while Janet and I will read up on all the sites and get ready for talks and sharing along the way.
Stay tuned for our daily videos I will be uploading so you can share our adventure with us each day. God bless you all!!
Check out all of our upcoming trips this year to the Holy Land (5 times), Jordan-Israel (1 time), Obermammergau (2 times), St. Paul Mediterranean Cruise and — Shrines of Wisconsin combined with our 1st Annual “Love Being Catholic” conference.
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Uh oh. What do we do now? Someone just discovered a Bible verse that destroys the Catholic view of salvation. Here is the previously “undiscovered verse” which Catholics seem to have missed somehow! Ephesians 2:8–9. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Actually, humor aside, this passage from Ephesians is the groundwork for a correct understanding of the Catholic teaching of salvation. A friend wrote to inquire about his passage so I took a few minutes to help explain it and how it fits into the whole picture.
Dear Richard: Glad to hear my humble efforts have had a positive influence in your life. Very personally gratifying but the glory goes to God who has blessed us, made it all possible and continues to grant his grace. Regarding Ephesians 2:8-9, people forget to keep reading on through verse 10: “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Protestants are great with “sound bites” and “marketing slogans” and are very good at pulling a verse or two out of its context to misrepresent the understanding of the cultural and historical context of Scripture. They love to extract a verse or two out of context and to absolutize it. So let’s look at this passage in context and in the whole of Scripture. But let’s back up a bit to Square #1. You are a sinner, there is an insurmountable chasm between you and a holy God. What can you do to get across? What good works or efforts can you perform to bridge the gap and make you acceptable to that holy God on the other side? Is there any way sinful and condemned “you” will be successfully able to stand before that holy God and say, “You owe me eternal life since I did so many good works for you!” Now take another scenario. You are a sinner, there is an insurmountable chasm between you and a holy God. You have no way to get across or to appease that holy God because if you’re condemning sin and disobedience. But that God in his great mercy decides to have pity on you and by a free gift of undeserved grace builds a bridge across the chasm which is the cross and the death of his Son (Jn 1:51) who took your penalty of sin upon himself and now by his grace opens the bridge across for you to freely be accepted as part of God’s heavenly family. Now take another scenario. God extends a bridge across that chasm which only requires one to accept the gift of the bridge through faith and baptism (Jn 3:5; 1 Pet 3:21; Rom 6:3-4). You take those first steps to cross the bridge of grace given freely by faith. It is not your works that put that bridge there or enabled you to cross. But now, you have been given the grace to be holy and live the life required by God. You are leaving the sin and old way of life behind. Now, are now required to be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matt 5:48). You are required to work out your salvation, notice the word work. Philippians 2:12–13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Yes, we are INITIALLY saved by the simple grace of God received by faith. But when I believe, I DO something. Even in the act of believing I am doing something—a spiritual good work. Even when I receive the grace of God I am DOING something. Receive is a verb. The initial work was accomplished by God through Jesus Christ, but now it requires a response on our part enabled by the Holy Spirit. Now take another scenario. You have accepted and received that initial free gift of salvation earned for you by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You are “saved,” correct? But what about Abraham who had already believed (Gen 15:6)? Would Abraham have been “saved” or justified before God if he had believed in God but refused to leave his homeland and refused to renounce the pagan gods? What pleased God? Faith alone or the obedience of faith? Would Abraham have been the Friend of God without good works? What if he said, “I’ll believe in you but I won’t do everything you ask?” We are required to become holy (Heb. 12:14). We are to do the works God now requires of us as his children. They are necessary for our salvation. Consider Colossians 1:22–23 “He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, [the gift, the grace, the ladder of the cross to heaven] if indeed you continue in the faith [good works, obedience, works of righteousness], stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” James 2:20–25 Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.” See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? Protestants of course have “fifty ways to leave their lover” when it comes to this passage. They do all kinds of gyrations and twisting in their effort to fit this round peg into their square “faith alone” hole. But its message is quite clear if you just read it and let it speak for itself.
As a Baptist I believed in “cheap grace” in which I only accepted the gift of God but nothing was really required of me. My sins were forgiven past, present and future. I have eternal security; once saved, always saved. I now know that it is not only unbiblical, but a harmful and heretical position. Much is required of us! But how can I do good works acceptable and meritorious to God? Consider my grandson Dominic wants to buy me a Christmas present but he has no money. He comes to me and asks for $100 so that he can buy me a nice Christmas present. On Christmas morning he proudly presents me with the present. Let me ask you a question. Who bought that gift? Dominic did? No I did? Wait, it was Dominic! No, it was me!
God gives us the free gift of grace and the assistance of the indwelling Holy Spirit and requires us to live a holy life, to be sanctified…. We are required to do the good works in accordance with our new status and goal of holiness and heaven. It is God that gives us that grace—like I gave the $100 to Dominic. When God rewards our good works, he is simply rewarding his own good works achieved through his grace. Catechism 2023 Sanctifying grace is the gratuitous gift of his life that God makes to us; it is infused by the Holy Spirit into the soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. 2024 Sanctifying grace makes us “pleasing to God.” Charisms, special graces of the Holy Spirit, are oriented to sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. God also acts through many actual graces, to be distinguished from habitual grace which is permanent in us. 2025 We can have merit in God’s sight only because of God’s free plan to associate man with the work of his grace. Merit is to be ascribed in the first place to the grace of God, and secondly to man’s collaboration. Man’s merit is due to God 2026 The grace of the Holy Spirit can confer true merit on us, by virtue of our adoptive filiation, and in accordance with God’s gratuitous justice. Charity is the principal source of merit in us before God. 2027 No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods. John 5:28–29 “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Hope that helps. God bless you!
The post “Saved by Grace through Faith, not of Yourselves…” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
A loving wife of an unbelieving Protestant husband asked me to explain to her husband that Jesus renamed Simon as Peter and how that relates to Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew. So in simple terms I gave it a simple (though a bit long) explanation. I hope it helps you as well.
Let’s give this a whirl for your husband’s sake. We know Aramaic was the daily language of the Jews in Judea after their return from their exile to Babylon in 586 BC. Jesus, though he obviously knew Hebrew and probably Greek, primarily spoke Aramaic.
“Greek took over as the language of government, literature, and commerce, but Aramaic remained the language of the common people in Palestine until the Arab Muslim conquest.”
“As Aramaic was spoken commonly in Palestine during the New Testament times, Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic (Matt 26:73). Fragments of Aramaic appear, for example, in Matt 16:17; Mark 5:41, 7:34, 14:36, 15:34; John 1:42; and Acts 1:19. The Gospel stories were probably first transmitted orally in Aramaic, although only the Gospel of Matthew is reported to have been written originally in Hebrew or Aramaic.” (CBD, “Aramaic”)
When under extreme pain on the crucifixion Jesus said, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” These are Aramaic words.
“According to Matthew 27:45–50…” says the Evangelical Bible Knowledge Commentary, “…near the end of this period of time, Jesus could bear the separation no longer and cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? These Aramaic words mean, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (a quotation of Ps. 22:1).”
Here we have clear biblical evidence that when Jesus spoke, even under the emotional terror of the crucifixion, he spoke in Aramaic. This is just common knowledge and undisputed by anyone who knows New Testament history.
According to scholars, the dialogue going on in Matthew 16 about the rock and the keys was certainly in Aramaic which would be expected since it was the vernacular language. In Aramaic, there is just one word for rock and it is kepha.
Matthew had to translate his original Aramaic/Hebrew text or the dialog of Jesus into Greek and since Greek had feminine and masculine nouns—and rock was the feminine petra, he had to translate the word differently since a 200-pound fisherman could not go around with a feminine name like Petra. In the translation, Matthew made the Aramaic name Kepha — Petros—petra with a masculine ending.
Where do we first find the word Kepha used in the Gospels? It is in St. John 1:42 when Jesus first meets Simon. We so naturally think of him as Simon Peter that we think he had that name all along. However, when Jesus first met him he was simply Simon. But Jesus said, “Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter)” (John 1:42 (ESV)) The English Standard Version (ESV) is the new favorite translation among Protestants.
In the footnote to the word Peter it says, “Cephas and Peter are from the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek, respectively.” It must be emphasized that Cephas is the Greek transliteration of the Aramaic Kepha which means rock.Cephas (Kepha) and Peter are not different names. They are merely the same name, Rock, in two different languages, Aramaic and Greek, respectively. Cephas is the Greek transliteration of the Aramaic Kepha. This name was appropriately given to Peter near Caesarea Philippi. The water that flowed from the massive rock there was the source of the Jordan River.
Jesus says “You shall be called Cephas.“ When will Simon be called Cephas? Do we see any other later place in Scripture where he will be given that name since Jesus already predicted it will happen?
Yes, of course, in Matthew 16:18. Jesus speaking in the vernacular Aramaic (established earlier in this e-mail) he said to Simon, “You are kepha and on this kepha I will build my church.” In English Bibles, which are two languages beyond the original Aramaic, we read Peter where we lose the original Aramaic word parallel.
Protestants often use this sequence of languages and details of translation to obfuscate the text and confuse people. They use this obfuscation to deny what Jesus was actually saying about the Catholic Church has always taught.
Quoting my own book Upon this Rock, “W. F. Albright, eminent Protestant scholar and internationally regarded as the “dean of biblical studies”, writes, “This is not a name, but an appellation and a play on words. There is no evidence of Peter or Kephas as a name before Christian times.… Peter as Rock will be the foundation of the future community.
Jesus, not quoting the Old Testament, here uses Aramaic, not Hebrew, and so uses the only Aramaic word that would serve his purpose. In view of the background of verse 19, … one must dismiss as confessional interpretation any attempt to see this rock as meaning the faith, or the messianic confession, of Peter. To deny the pre-eminent position of Peter among the disciples or in the early Christian community is a denial of the evidence.… The interest in Peter’s failures and vacillations does not detract from this pre-eminence; rather, it emphasizes it. Had Peter been a lesser figure his behavior would have been of far less consequence (cf. Gal 2:11ff.)” (W. F. Albright and C. S. Mann, The Anchor Bible: Matthew [Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Co., 1971], 195).
“David Hill, Presbyterian minister and senior lecturer of biblical studies, University of Sheffield, writes, “It is on Peter himself, the confessor of his Messiah-ship, that Jesus will build the Church.… Attempts to interpret the ‘rock’ as something other than Peter in person (e.g., his faith, the truth revealed to him) are due to Protestant bias and introduce to the statement a degree of subtlety which is highly unlikely” (The Gospel of Matthew, New Century Bible Commentary [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1972], 261). For more information on this point, see James T. Shotwell and Louise Ropes Loomis, The See of Peter [1927; reprint, New York: Columbia Univ. Press, 1991], especially 23–24).
“Name changes held great weight in Eastern cultures. Abraham’s name change from Abram (father) to Abraham (father of nations) is a prime example. It signified a change of status or mission. Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon to Rock. Jesus is making it obvious that something important is taking place; Peter’s status has changed for all time, and, as with Abraham, this change would have a continuing impact on the new covenant community.
The fisherman was now the steward of a kingdom. Fundamentalists may object, “Only Christ can be the rock.” However, the same figures of speech can be applied to more than one person in Scripture. In one illustration, Jesus is called the cornerstone, not the foundation, while the apostles are called the foundation (see Rev 21:14).
“God is called rock in Deuteronomy 32:4, and the name is now given to Peter, who shares in God’s rock-ness. Jesus is the one with the keys (Rev 3:7), but the keys are delegated to Peter. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but Peter is also given the responsibility of shepherd (Jn 21:15–17). The apostles were to share in the authority and work of Christ.” (The Infallibility of the Church [London: John Murray, 1914], 338). (Stephen K. Ray, Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church, Modern Apologetics Library (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1999).
And one must realize that in biblical terms a change of names is of earth-shattering importance. Abram received his new name Abraham when he received a new covenant and became the father of all those who believe by faith (Romans 4:11). Jacob was renamed Israel when the covenant was renewed and he became the father of the 12 tribes. We cannot assume that the change of Simon‘s name to Cephas—Peter—was any less significant in the eyes of Jesus. Jesus knew that this name change marked a huge statement of importance, change of status, and position.
Paul is often considered to be at odds with Peter. People like to quote Galatians 2:11 to imply that Paul did not respect Peter’s primacy and authority.
But quite the opposite. If Paul intended to diminish Peters’ authority he would have referred to him merely as Simon, his given name. But instead, he emphasized Peter’s position and authority by referring to him as Cephas—the Rock! Here Paul uses the Greek transliteration of the very word Jesus spoke at Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:18). Peter was the authority but unhappily not living up to his own authoritative teaching regarding the salvation of Gentiles equally with Jews.
As a Baptist, I had to learn all this the hard way. I went to Israel and studied the location where Jesus said these words in the Gospel of Matthew, and studied in detail the Jewish context and background to this text and in short, I became a Catholic.
If anyone really wants to understand this whole Biblical passage I would suggest they read my book Upon this Rock, Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church.
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(SEE UPDATE BELOW)
We just boarded our plane to head to Italy where we will pick up 41 excited pilgrims including Teresa Tomeo and her husband Deacon Dom. We will travel from the north to the south of Italy on our “Saints and Shrines of Italy” pilgrimage. It’s good to good to be back in the air again!
My wife and I have a commitment that we will share Jesus Christ and his Church with people every day. Today we had two great opportunities to share the Lord before we boarded our plane.
First, our driver taking us to the airport — his name was Bassam. I assumed he was from the Middle East. I asked him if he was a Christian. He said yes, a Greek Orthodox Christian. We had a delightful chat all the way to the airport encouraging each other in the Faith.
Second, one of the ticket agents commented, “I like your cross.” I thanked her for her nice comment and said, “I wear this cross so people know that I am a Christian.” She said me too, “I am also a Christian.” We had a nice little chat and ended with both saying “God Bless You!”
I wear this cross everywhere I go as a witness to Jesus Christ. I encourage all of you to do the same. It’s time we stop letting the world tell us to shut up and to start speaking the truth again with love and boldness.
I hope you can join us at virtually on our pilgrimage as I will be posting videos every night as we go all through Italy. God bless you!
UPDATE at 6:35 PM
Opportunity No.3. I saw this elderly gentleman in the JFK airport in New York who had a pilgrimage shell on his backpack. Since I’ve been to Santiago de Compostela Spain many times, I recognized it as a symbol of having walked the El Camino, the pilgrimage way to the Tomb of St. James. So I stopped him and we had a nice talk. I encouraged him on his next leg of the journey and said “God bless you!”
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“How big was baby Jesus in Mary’s womb when Mary visited Elizabeth?” That is the question I asked myself while visiting the Church of the Visitation in Israel. What I learned was quite revolutionary and amazing. This is one of the best pro-life arguments from Scripture and one I’ve not heard discussed before.
It also says a lot about who Jesus was and the “stranger than fiction” event taking place in space and time in the womb of young girl about 15 years old.
Pictures sometimes show Mary very pregnant — better get to Bethlehem fast! But in reality that is not the case. In scientific terms Jesus was just a blastocyst, a few hundred miniature cells no bigger than a millimeter (0.039 inch).
At the Visitation, Jesus was a “blastcyst” like on the top right How big was Jesus? Read this article I just wrote and step back in time to the first days of Jesus’ life taking on a human body even though you could have barely seen him with the human eye at the time.
Here is an excerpt from my new article “How Big Was Jesus at the Visitation?”
“When Mary arrived for the Visitation, as we Catholics refer to the her visit, she was not “showing” yet. Isn’t if funny how we see pictures of a very pregnant Mary as though the baby was ready for Bethlehem. But in reality Jesus—100% God and 100% human — was so small he was practically invisible.
Though this blastocyst attached to Mary’s uterus had not seen the light of day He had created with his soon-to-develop eyes, nor breathed fresh air He had created with His still-to-develop lungs, yet He was very alive and very human. The cells were replicating at a rapid rate and they were already developing distinct bodily features. It contained the DNA—the genetic code of Mary.
The microscopic cells were not just extraneous tissue in the mother’s body—something to be discarded, a disease or something. It was human life with a soul. From conception Every baby shares in the image of God and true humanity with inestimable value long before it takes it’s first breath—right from conception.
These replicating cells in Mary’s body were truly human life, God himself taking on human flesh. St. John tells us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt (literally, “pitched his tent” of flesh) among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” John 1:14).
One thing many people do not think about—what was Jesus’ size and the stage of development in the womb when Mary arrived at the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth? And, how did Elizabeth and the unborn baby John the Baptist react upon pregnant Mary’s arrival?” …
Continue reading the full article, click HERE.
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In my articles ‘Losing and Finding it All’ and ‘The Day I Heard the Lord’s Voice; The Day I Knew Jesus Is Real’I talked about how I moved from being an Agnostic to a Christian. I wish I could say that I went to prison and found Christ, but that would not be the truth – It was Jesus who found me in very bad condition and gave me a new opportunity at life.
After Jesus spoke to me as I was in the process of trying to commit suicide and said, “I love you. I am here,” everything was different. I could no longer deny that Jesus was real and that He was interested in having a personal relationship with me, but some of those issues that troubled me about Christianity for all those years still lingered in my heart.
Ever since I was teenager, I could never understand how those Christians could be in so many different denominations, and each of them teaching so many radically different things that were at odds with what the other denominations were teaching, and, yet, all insisting that they each believed in the same God.
David Gray (click image for more about him) I kept asking myself how could they all believe in the same God and simultaneously accept that their God was confusing them with opposing and competing truths? As far as I was concerned, that was not a God worth believing in.
Moreover, I was not very knowledgeable about the New Testament, but one thing I knew for sure was that the YHWH of Old Testament always kept His people together and for His children there was nothing more important than the Shema, “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
I knew that in the Davidic Kingdom there was only one God, one Temple, and one priesthood. Therefore, as an Agnostic, I concluded that either these Christians were not of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as they claimed, or there was no God.
There in October of 2004 it was good enough for me to finally know that God is real, and He truly does have a Son named Jesus Christ who loves me more than I love myself; so the restlessness and questions in my heart about those Christian denominations would wait until a later time. I was on my way to prison – my new life, and I had to figure out how I was going to adjust to that.
To read the whole astute story, click here.
The post David Gray’s Story: From Prison and Attempted Suicide to the Catholic Church appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
click here.A Baptist antagonist claimed he had the proper view of God’s plan of salvation – working through dispensations.
I explained to him the more substantial, biblical and Catholic concept of covenants. I think you will enjoy the chart which makes salvation history easy to visualize and comprehend.
Hello Jerry:
It was good talking with you on the phone. Sounds like your summer is about as busy as ours. Anyway, . .
. . . . following is a chart describing my understanding of the Catholic teaching on the Covenants, followed by a few paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). They relate to the covenants which I told you I would send over when we talked on the phone the other day.
These paragraphs appear early on in the Catechism and are in the context of the progressive revelation of God to His people. The Catholic Church has always taught the covenants of God are ever-expanding as he reveals Himself to an ever-expanding group of people in His plan to redeem back for Himself members of every tribe and nation.
I have an extra copy of the Catechism which I will give you; it is a fascinating piece of work. The New Covenant, ratified by the blood of Christ Himself, the Creator, brings all parties within the scope of salvation and the New Covenant – Jew and Gentile.
Jesus tells us in John 10:16 that “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold [non-Jews]; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice, and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.” Paul tells us that the great mystery is that the plan of God is to include not just the Jew but also the Gentile (Eph 3:3-6) – the whole world.
They would have a new covenant and offer a new and pure sacrifice (Mal 1:11) which has been understood from the first century to refer to the Eucharist: “My name will be great among the nations [gentiles], from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.” (Endnote 1)
Below is a brief overview of my understanding of the progressive covenants by which the Catholic Church teaches that God revealed Himself and brought His redemption to the world. I put it in a table format for ease of reading.
For the chart and the whole letter, click here.
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This book has been in the process for some time but is is editorial at Ignatius Press. Hopefully it will be for sale by the end of the year.
Genesis is such an exciting and foundational book. When I am completely finished with it I will miss Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Feel like they are friends after all this research and writing. Well, if I have been a bit quiet over the last month, now you know why.
Here is a section of the book introducing Abram before he leaves Ur in modern-day Iraq. Our filming in Iraq several years ago for our documentary “Abraham, Father of Faith & Works” helped a lot.
Introduction to Abraham
Scripture now funnels the narrative down to one particular line within Shem’s family tree. There were ten generations from Adam to Noah followed by ten generations from Shem to Abraham which are provided here to arrive in our story to a major milestone in the history of salvation—the great patriarch and “the father of us all.” (Gen 10:10–26; Rom 4:16)
Again we see the new chapter in the story with the often repeated “These are the descendants of Shem. (11:10). In his line from Shem to Abram we find the name Eber. (11:16) “Êber in the Hebrew means “on the other side of.” The ancestors of Israel are described as those who ‘dwelt of old time beyond the River’ (êber ha-nâhâr = ‘on the other side of the Euphrates river’). See Josh. 24:2.” From his name comes we get the word Hebrew.
In verse 27 we find again the formula which announces a new phase in the story. A new funnel to direct us toward the line of the Messiah. “Now these are the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot. Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans” (Gen 11:27–28). Haran means mountaineer, Nahor means snorting, and Abram means exalted father.
We have arrived at a huge juncture on the road of salvation history. We are now introduced to Abraham though that was not the name he was born with. His given name was Abram. Only later at the age of ninety-nine will God change Abram’s name to Abraham.
We must also remember that Abram was not a Jew, per se, since at this point Jews did not exist. The word Jew comes from Judah—one of the twelve sons of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Abraham was also not an Israelite since Israel was a new name given to Abraham’s grandson Jacob (Gen 32:28). To outsiders Abram was referred to as a Hebrew from the name Eber as we just discussed.
Abram was born in the city of Ur in Mesopotamia, between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, also known as the land of the Chaldeans. (Acts 7:2). Even today Christians from Iraq are called Chaldeans. The ancient site of Ur is located at Tel el–Miqayyar in Iraq, about 250 miles southeast of Baghdad, near the Persian Gulf. “The city of Ur is one of the oldest and most famous in Mesopotamia, with a recorded history of over two millennia…. Findings at the tell point to the Early Dynastic III period (2600–2500 B.C.) and the Third Dynasty (2111–2003 B.C.), especially under Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, the first two kings of the Third Dynasty, as the high points in the city’s history.
It was during Ur-Nammu’s reign that the famous ziggurat began to be constructed. … Ur was the center of Mesopotamian worship of Nanna/Sin, the moon god, the same god who was said to reside in Haran, the city to which Terah and his family migrated when they left Ur.”
Still standing in the archaeological site at Ur is the massive ziggurat, a square–shaped multi–leveled temple. While recently visiting Ur in Iraq we climbed to the top of this amazing ziggurat. Even after significant erosion of the the last 4,000 years it is not difficult to image the splendor that entranced the people of Abram’s time.
Mesopotamia is a flat land with no natural “high places” to ascend for the worship of the gods. The people of Mesopotamia made bricks to build their own “high places” which were called ziggurats, derived from an Akkadian word meaning to “build higher.” This ziggurat known by Abram was built to worship the god of the moon named Nanna-Sin in the 21st century B.C. The massive step pyramid was 210 ft. in length, 150 ft. in width and 100 ft. in height. The erosion makes it difficult to estimate the full hight. Projections suggest it was a hundred feet high. Saddam Hussein rebuilt portions of the ziggurat including the steps running up the face of the pyramid.
Famed British archaeologist Sir Leonard Wooley uncovered hundreds of tombs near the ziggurat some of which contained the remains of kings and queens with all their royal retinue. Wooley referred to the royal tombs as the Death Pits because the royal personages were surrounded by the skeletons of their entourage carefully arranged to accompany the royalty on their journey into the afterlife. Some tombs had over seventy skeletons strategically arranged around the king or queen, some of whom had declared themselves to be divine.
The people of Ur practiced human sacrifice. “In the corridors and in the wells, funerary chariots are found with their teams of equids, their drivers and a whole group of servants and musicians that must have accompanied the king in death. Sometimes more than 80 bodies have been found, certainly sacrificed before the funeral.”
When God called Abram, Abram was a pagan—an uncircumcised gentile living in an opulent land a thousand miles from Canaan. Abram’s ancestors, and certainly Abram himself worshiped Nanna–Sin, the patron god of the city. Ur was an upscale, wealthy urban center during Abram’s time. The musical instruments, pottery, jewelry and other treasures discovered attest to the wealth and elegance of the city….
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Published by The Pillar
The Holy See announced on Wednesday that Pope Francis had “relieved” Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres of the “pastoral care of the Diocese of Arecibo” in Puerto Rico and appointed an apostolic administrator to assume governance of the diocese.
It was a highly unusual announcement — bishops tend to only ever leave office by resignation, or by death. The move seemed to come as a surprise to Torres, and has made headlines around the globe.
But it has also raised a question: Can a pope just “fire” a diocesan bishop?
The Pillar explains.
“You’re fired!” — Ok, it isn’t quite that simple, but it’s close.
What happened? The Vatican announced March 9 that Bishop Daniel Torres had been “relieved” of his leadership in the Puerto Rican Diocese of Arecibo.
The announcement did not specify the reasons for Torres’ removal; he is 57 years old and in good health. But in a statement published on the diocesan website, the bishop gave his version of events, and branded the pope’s action “totally unjust.”
“A successor of the apostles is now being replaced without even undertaking what would be a due canonical process to remove a parish priest,” Torres said in his March 9 statement.
“I want you to know that it is not for me to explain a decision that I cannot explain myself, even if I accept it with the patience of Christ for the good of the Church.”
“I have not been prosecuted, nor have I been formally accused of anything,” he said, “simply one day the apostolic delegate verbally communicated to me that Rome was asking me to resign,” he added.
The bishop said he was told that, while he had not committed any canonical offense, he, allegedly, “had not been obedient to the pope, nor had [he] had sufficient communion with [his] brother bishops of Puerto Rico.”
Torres said he had refused to offer his resignation. He said he was incredulous that he would be removed without any canonical cause or process.
For the whole article, click here.
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This article was published by Nick Page in Premier Christianity Magazine in October 2017 but it’s as good today as then. He is trying to help Protestants understand that there were problems created by the Protestant movement. He explains five big loses: 1) Loss of unity, 2) Loss of monasteries, 3) Loss of silence, 4) Loss of “doing things”, and 5) Loss of color and beauty. I think this is must reading for Catholics and Protestants.
And now for the bad news: what we lost because of the Reformation
Sorry to intrude on the Reformation celebrations, but Nick Page has some not-so-great-news to share.
It’s the anniversary! Woohoo! Five hundred years since Luther published his ninety-five theses and lit the touchpaper to launch the Protestant Reformation. There are books and TV programmes and celebratory articles. There will be cards and parties and bunting!
There will be cakes in the shape of Zwingli (with a low-fat, sugar-free, extra-roughage version in the shape of Calvin). Even Playmobil have joined the party and released a figure of Luther (over 34,000 of them were sold in three days, making it the fastest selling figure in the company’s history).
The anniversary of the Reformation is clearly a cause for celebration. But it’s worth remembering that for all its undoubted benefits, the Reformation wasn’t good news for everyone. Its heroes were not entirely without flaws, nor its villains entirely without merit.
Sometimes this comes as a shock to people. Many biographies of Luther, Calvin, Zwingli et al simply repeat the myths (such as Luther throwing ink at the devil, or even, dare I say it, the famous story about Luther nailing the theses to the Wittenberg door). The darker sides of these characters are carefully Photoshopped. Luther was famously abusive to his enemies and was responsible for some vile anti
Semitic writings. Zwingli had his theological opponents drowned in the river. Leaving aside his role in the arrest and execution of the Unitarian Michael Servetus, Calvin was so unpopular within Geneva that people tried to empty their chamber pots on him as he walked beneath their windows.
All three of these Premier League reformers – and many others in the lower divisions – had a propensity to banish anyone who spoke out against them. Now, I know all the arguments: they were not alone in this behaviour, it was the culture of the time, the Catholics were just as bad, etc, but if we want to truly remember the Reformation then the best way is not merely to get all excited about the theology, but also to be honest about the dodgy goings-on. Here are five key ideas which were lost from the Church.
We lost unity The Reformation destroyed the idea of a single, unified Church. True, this was already a bit of an illusion, given that the Western and Eastern churches had undergone the ‘Great Schism’ in 1054. And there had been that unfortunate business when there were two Popes. Then three
Popes for a bit. But, nevertheless, in Western Europe there was the idea of one catholic or ‘whole’ Church to which everyone could claim some sort of allegiance. But the Reformation shattered any semblance of unity. And it didn’t just split Western Christendom into ‘Catholic’ and ‘Protestant’, but into ‘Catholic’ and ‘Protestants’ – the latter encompassing many different flavors of evangelical and reformed belief.
The Reformation began an endless, fractal splintering of the Church. Because, as anyone who has ever tried to do the splits can tell you, once you start it’s very difficult to stop, and if there’s one thing we know about theology, it’s that other people always get it wrong. Even among the reformers themselves there was disunity. Luther and Zwingli hated each other….
For the rest of the “five things we lost”, click HERE.
The post Protestant Acknowledges “Five Things We Lost because of the Reformation” – one of the best I’ve read on it appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Several years ago I posted a blog refuting a sermon on “Once Saved, Always Saved” by Pastor Charles Stanley. This view of salvation is also frequently called Eternal Security.
Today a man named John posted a response (copied below in brown text). He purports to have not tradition – simply the Bible alone. It is so fraught with errors that it borders on humorous if it were not so blind and sad.
You can read it below. I reproduce it here as he sent it with all the misspellings and errors intact. I will make no comments on his typical Fundamentalist Protestant tradition. You can analyze it for yourself and make note of the skewed view of Christianity, the Bible and the Church. He can’t even spell the words correctly.
There is much of what he says that is true (mainly in his second paragraph) but the context of his statement is a “me and Jesus” approach to the faith and an “interpret the Bible for yourself” mentality that has led to so many errors, sects, cults and confusion. What actually happens is a guy like John actually makes himself a pope since he is the final word and as such, no one dare challenge his interpretation of the Bible and his Fundamentalist tradition.
I wrote to John and thanked him for his Comment and told him reading things like this makes me so glad I discovered the Catholic Church, having once parroted the same kind of thing in my former life. Enjoy!
JOHN WRITES: All we have and were given by god through the apostiles were the 66 books of the bible. The catholics added their pound of baloney including the pope, mary, pergatory, holy water, mass, etc. The protestants reformed what they felt necessary based on the bible, and came up with many different loafs of their baloney. I believe you are correct in criticizing the flawed use of the sinners prayer.
The truth exists in the bible. Jesus died for the elect. His sacrifice washed away and washes away our sin. Jesus is our ( the truly saved) mercy seat. God’s righteousness is imputed to us. His holy spirit guides us and sanctifies us. His blood covers our sin. The only clue we have of our redemption is our changed heart, that seeks to honor his stated will and glorifies his name. Work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Until called home to heaven, wrestle with our old man and repent when we fall short.
The post Classic Fundamentalist Tradition – Claiming to NOT be Tradition :-) You Analyze It appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
You would not have wanted to be with St. Paul today because February 10 is the Feast Day of the Shipwreck of St. Paul on Malta. I have been on ships in the Mediterranean many times and I make a practice each time of going out on the deck on a stormy night and imagining….
Paul was shipwrecked FOUR TIMES and once spent a whole day and a night floating on the sea waiting to be rescued (2 Cor 11:25; plus the 4th on Malta, Acts 28:1).
So I am reposting this blog from our recent trip to Malta where I found the place of St. Paul’s shipwreck.
One of my favorite things is to discover the events and places of the Bible and to share them with others. The Bible is true and the more we learn of it the more we are grounded in the Catholic Faith.
Today I went out in search of the place of St. Paul’s Shipwreck in Acts 27-28. It was great fun and I thought I would share this adventure with you.
Much to do on this Catholic Island and this is only one of my adventures on video from Malta.
The post Discovering the Place of Paul’s Shipwreck on Island of Malta on the Feast Day! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI recently wrote a letter about the sex abuse crisis in Munich. Within the letter, he shared 4 sentences about his preparation for his death.
He 94 year old former Pope wrote,
Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life.
Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer, for I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has already suffered for my shortcomings, and is thus also my advocate, my “Paraclete.”
In light of the hour of judgement, the grace of being a Christian becomes all the more clear to me.
It grants me knowledge, and indeed friendship, with the judge of my life, and thus allows me to pass confidently through the dark door of death.
Taken from Aleteia (you should subscribe)
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Does God Pick the Pope? by Jimmy Akin (written in 2018)
“When Pope Benedict was elected in 2005, I was overjoyed. As much as I loved John Paul II, Cardinal Ratzinger spoke to me in a special way, and I was thrilled when he became pope.
I was puzzled, though, by the way people began announcing him as “God’s choice” and speaking as if—in every conclave—the Holy Spirit himself selects the pope.
It’s customary for people to speak that way in the jubilation that occurs whenever a new people is elected.
I knew that, but this was the first conclave I witnessed as an adult, and as a Catholic, and I hadn’t experienced it first hand.
That kind of language is understandable as a way of building confidence for the new pontificate, but is it literally true?
Does the Holy Spirit really select the best possible man for the job, or is it a form of pious hyperbole?
Common Sense
Common sense would suggest the latter. The cardinals in a conclave certainly invoke the Holy Spirit and seek his guidance, but he does not override their free will.
We’ve had some really bad popes in the history of the Church, and not just ones like Peter who made mistakes and then repented.
We’ve had some genuinely bad actors in the papacy (for example, Benedict IX, who reigned three different times between 1032 and 1048).
So in what sense can the election of a pope be said to be God’s will?
Divine Providence
Everything that happens in history takes place under God’s providential care.
By his omnipotence, God could stop any event from occurring, and so if something happens, it’s because God allows it.
The election of a pope thus can be said to be God’s will in the sense that any historical event can.
In this broad sense, however, the fact that something is God’s will does not guarantee that he approves of it.
It may be God’s will to allow a man to commit adultery, but that doesn’t mean he approves of the adultery.
Is the election of a pope in accord with God’s will only in this minimal sense or does it involve something greater?
Divine Guidance
While God does not override human free will, he does offer guidance. Jesus gave the Church certain promises in this regard, stating:
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth (John 16:13).
And:
Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age (Matt. 28:20).
God has thus promised to give the Church his guidance. He has also promised it to individuals:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him (James 1:5).
If an individual man seeks God’s guidance, he can count on it being given. This does not mean it will be easy to hear or understand, or that the man will act on it, but it does mean that God will offer his assistance in some way.
Similarly, when the college of cardinals seeks God’s guidance in a conclave, they can be confident he will give it. Indeed, given the weightiness of the decision facing the cardinals and the implications it will have for the entire Church, they can expect he will provide even greater guidance.
This does not guarantee that the guidance will be easy to hear or understand, or that the cardinals will act on it, but it does mean that God’s assistance will be provided.
By presuming the discernment and good will of the cardinals, we may presume the man they elect was chosen in accord with God’s guidance and thus that his election was God’s will in a greater way than if God merely allowed it.
A Marriage Analogy
We should be careful about assuming that there is only one correct choice for pope, for the process of selecting a pope is similar to the process of selecting a spouse.
Pop culture sometimes promotes the idea that everyone has a soul mate—a single, best individual that they should marry—but the reality is more complex.
Each marriage prospect has different strengths and weaknesses, and depending on who you choose, your marriage will unfold in different ways. But that doesn’t mean there is a single, best candidate you must find.
Even if there is, identifying that person with confidence cannot be humanly accomplished, given the number of factors and the number of unknowns in play.
Similarly, candidates for the papacy have different strengths and weaknesses. Depending on who the cardinals choose, the next papacy will unfold in different ways. But there may not be a single, best choice—or one that is humanly knowable.
After the Choice is Made
Once a selection has been made, however, a new mode of divine will comes into play.
In the case of a marriage, once you exchange vows, it is God’s will that you treat that person as your spouse.
The realm of possibilities that existed before has now reduced to a single person, and that person is your divinely ordained spouse. He ordained that you be spouses in the moment the vows were exchanged, and “what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matt. 19:6).
It’s now your job to make the marriage work, not to worry about what-ifs and might-have-beens.
Similarly, when a man accepts his election as pope, he becomes the divinely ordained pope, and it’s now everyone’s job in the Church to support him in the various ways that are appropriate to their station and to make the papacy work.
Spouses are not perfect, and neither are popes. Just as every marriage has challenges and requires work, so does every papacy.
Cardinal Ratzinger’s Views
When he was still a cardinal, Benedict XVI acknowledged the fact that cardinals can elect sub-optimal popes in an interview with German television back in 1997.
When asked whether the Holy Spirit is responsible for the election of a pope, he said:
I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the pope. . . . I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined (John Allen, The Rise of Benedict XVI, 6).
He continued:
There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!
Similarly, in his final address to the college of cardinals, Pope Benedict stated:
Before I say goodbye to each one of you personally, I would like to tell you that I shall continue to be close to you with my prayers, especially in these coming days, that you may be completely docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in the election of the new pope. May the Lord show you the one whom he wants.
Benedict’s prayer that they will be docile to the Holy Spirit indicates the possibility that they will not be docile
Implications for the Future
Nobody knows when the next conclave will be, but we can draw several implications from all this.
First, we can be confident from the fact that the cardinals seek God’s guidance that he will give it to them, as he has promised.
Second, even if they make a sub-optimal choice, we can be confident that God will ultimately bring good out of it, for “in everything God works for good with those who love him” (Rom. 8:28; cf. CCC 311).
Third, we need to pray. We need to pray now that good cardinals will be chosen, and when they meet in conclave, we need to pray that they will earnestly seek and heed God’s guidance.”
The post Does God Pick the Pope? [implied, Did God Pick Pope Francis]? by Jimmy Akin appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.
This is an excellent article published in the Legatus Magazine about our very own Catholic travel services provider. We have been using Corporate Travel Services (CTS) exclusively for over 15 years to handle all of our pilgrimages around the world. They are excellent!
The President, John Hale, is not only excellent at his business but a devout Catholic and a dear friend. Mark Slater has been my personal operations manager for our trips for over 15 years, along with the day-to-day manager Bridget Yurko.
But the last two years have been a nightmare. Many people who travel with us to the Holy Land, Italy-Rome, Poland, Ireland, Guadalupe, Lourdes & Fatima, St. Paul Mediterranean Cruise, and more don’t realize all that CTS does for us. Nor do they understand the nightmare they experienced and how it affects them — and us.
Use the arrows at the bottom left of the image to scroll pages 2 and 3.
CTS Legatus Article
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Israeli study offers strongest proof yet of vitamin D’s power to fight COVID Bolstering previous research, scientists publish ‘remarkable’ data showing strong link between vitamin deficiency, prevalent in Israel, and death or serious illness among patients
By NATHAN JEFFAY 3 February 2022, 9:03 pm
Israel scientists say they have gathered the most convincing evidence to date that increased vitamin D levels can help COVID-19 patients reduce the risk of serious illness or death.
Researchers from Bar Ilan University and the Galilee Medical Center say that the vitamin has such a strong impact on disease severity that they can predict how people would fare if infected based on nothing more than their ages and vitamin D levels.
Lacking vitamin D significantly increases danger levels, they concluded in newly peer-reviewed research published Thursday in the journal PLOS One.
The study is based on research conducted during Israel’s first two waves of the virus, before vaccines were widely available, and doctors emphasized that vitamin supplements were not a substitute for vaccines, but rather a way to keep immunity levels from falling.
Vitamin D deficiency is endemic across the Middle East, including in Israel, where nearly four in five people are low on the vitamin, according to one study from 2011. By taking supplements before infection, though, the researchers in the new Israeli study found that patients could avoid the worst effects of the disease.
“We found it remarkable, and striking, to see the difference in the chances of becoming a severe patient when you are lacking in vitamin D compared to when you’re not,” said Dr. Amiel Dror, a Galilee Medical Center physician and Bar Ilan researcher who was part of the team behind the study.
Dr. Amiel Dror (via Twitter)
He noted that his study was conducted pre-Omicron, but said that the coronavirus doesn’t change fundamentally enough between variants to negate vitamin D effectiveness.
“What we’re seeing when vitamin D helps people with COVID infections is a result of its effectiveness in bolstering the immune systems to deal with viral pathogens that attack the respiratory system,” he told The Times of Israel. “This is equally relevant for Omicron as it was for previous variants.”
For the whole article, CLICK HERE
Vitamin D is inexpensive and readily available at any grocery store, drug store and online.
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SIGN OF THE CROSS
By Steve Ray
The Sign of the Cross is a ritual gesture by which we confess two important mysteries: the Trinity and the centrality of the Cross. It is the most common and visible means by which we confess our faith. The Sign of the Cross is made by touching the forehead with the fingers of the right hand, then the breast and then the left and right shoulders.
The sign was originally placed upon the forehead with the thumb and later extended to the whole upper body. This is not only a personal gesture, as a form of prayer but also a public witness and a sign of participation in the life of Christ and the Church. It is used as an integral part of many actions (e.g., at Baptism, Confirmation, prayer, to begin and end Mass, etc.).
The Church has given us wonderful customs and traditions to mark ourselves and to acknowledge our participation in the whole continuity of the Church and the work of Christ. Miracles have been performed with this simple gesture and parliaments and councils have opened under its sign. Though Protestantism jettisoned this practice, along with the crucifix during the Reformation, the Catholic and Orthodox traditions faithfully continue this age old practice handed down from the age of the Apostles.
The Catholic Church has always seen outward gestures as means of expressing and actuating internal spiritual realities. Sacramentals, such as the Sign of the Cross, are not superstitious practices but are sacred signs by which various things in life are rendered holy through the effectual and sacramental grace of God. By the Sign of the Cross we pledge allegiance to Christ and invite the Holy Spirit to apply the cross to our lives—to take up our cross and follow Christ.
Though the NT does not specifically mention the “Sign of the Cross”, there is scriptural warrant for such a gesture. St. Paul writes, “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Cor 2:2), and “may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:14).
Ezekiel provides precedence for a sign upon the forehead of believers (Ezek 9:4; 17:9–14) as does Revelation (Rev 7:3; 9:4; 14:1). Ezekiel provided a support for the early Christians to use it as a “sacramental” (CCC 1235, 1668) to display their devotion to Christ and His Cross. There is reason to believe that the Jewish Christians used the Sign of the Cross prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in ad 70.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we learn: “The Christian begins his day, his prayers and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.’ The baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior’s grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The Sign of the Cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties” (CCC, no. 2157; see also CCC, no. 786).
The writings of the Fathers, as authentic witnesses to the apostolic teaching in the early Church, are replete with references to the Sign of the Cross. The practice is already well established in the 2nd century as attested to by Tertullian (ad c. 160-c. 225). He writes of the wife who “signs” her bed and body (To His Wife 5).
He also writes, “At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on couch, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign. If, for these and other such rules, you insist upon having positive Scripture injunction, you will find none. Tradition will be held forth to you as the originator of them, custom as their strengthener, and faith as their observer” (The Chaplet 3, 4).
Origen (ad c. 185-c. 284) wrote, “This [letter Tau] bears a resemblance to the figure of the cross; and this prophecy [Ezek 9:4] is said to regard the sign made by Christians on the forehead, which all believers make whatsoever work they begin upon, and especially at the beginning of prayers, or of holy readings” (Selections in Ezekiel. c. ix).
St. Augustine (354–430 AD) wrote: “What else is the sign of Christ but the cross of Christ? For unless that sign be applied, whether it be to the foreheads of believers, or to the very water out of which they are regenerated, or to the oil with which they receive the anointing chrism, or to the sacrifice that nourishes them, none of them is properly administered” (Tractates on John 118).
There has never been a time in the flow of historic Christianity that the Sign of the Cross has not been devoutly practiced. Only recently, since the Reformation, has the Sign of the Cross (along with the Crucifix, holy water and other visible signs) been rejected as idolatrous by many Protestant traditions. However, even Martin Luther in his Taufbuechlein retained the Sign of the Cross in the baptismal service and used the Sign of the Cross as one of his last gestures before death (H. Grizar, Luther, 3:435).
Quotations:
Tertullian: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Philip Schaff, ed., Eerdmans, 1980, vol. 3, p. 94–95.
Origen: The Faith of Catholics, Rev. Chapel, ed., Fr. Pustet & Co., 1885, vol. 3, p. 424.
St. Augustine: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1st series, Philip Schaff, ed., Eerdmans, 1983, vol. 7, p. 432.
Grizar citation: Luther, Hartmann Grizar, B. Herder Book Co., 1919, vol. 3, p. 435.
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There are a lot of discussions about the Pope’s comments a while ago on the wording of the “Our Father” prayer, especially the line “Lead us not into temptation” (Matt 6:13). He said it gives the wrong impression — that God Himself leads us into sinful temptations. Of course, taken at face value without understanding the nuances of the wording, it could be incorrectly understood that way.
To be clear, the Pope did NOT say he was going to change the Sixth Petition of the Our Father Prayer in the Bible. The news media again went overboard exaggerating the whole situation. Another example of not trusting the mainstream media. But subsequently, the bishops of several countries, including France, have actually changed the wording in the Mass.
First, it could never be the case, that God leads us to temptation or into sin, since we learn elsewhere in Scripture that God tempts no one. James 1:13 tells us, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one.” Along with other similar verses, it is clear God could never tempt us with sin nor lead us into an alleyway to push us into sin.
The UBS Handbook on Matthew, a series I find especially helpful, states, “This final petition is especially difficult to interpret. The Greek word translated temptation may also mean “trial, persecution”… the sense here can be either “to tempt to do wrong” or “to test or try.”
For me, this line in the Our Father has never been a problem. The same Greek word for temptation used in the Our Father (peirasmos) is also used for testing in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Second, Jesus himself had just been led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. St. Matthew tells us, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt 4:1).
The Sermon on the Mount follows Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. He had been led by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. I have always thought the two were related. We pray that what happened to Jesus does not happen to us. We pray that we will not be put to the test or subjected to trials like the temptations Jesus experienced. He taught us to pray that we not be subjected to the same kind of testing.
Third, remember when God approached Abraham in Genesis 22 and told him to offer up his son Isaac as a burnt offering? The conversation between God and Abraham begins with, “After these things God tested Abraham.”
The Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament was the primary translation used by St. Paul and the early Church. The Greek text of Abraham’s test uses this same Greek root word (test, trial, temptation) when referring to God testing Abraham by asking him to offer up his only son. It was a test of Abraham, not a temptation to sin. After testing the faith and obedience of Abraham, God proclaims, “now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
The books of Hebrews, when describing this testing of Abraham, use the same Greek word peirasmos.
Fourth, the Catechism makes it clear that “lead us not into temptation” does not mean God tempts us. It states, “[I]t is difficult to translate the Greek verb used by a single English word: the Greek means both “do not allow us to enter into temptation” and “do not let us yield to temptation.” … We ask him not to allow us to take the way that leads to sin. We are engaged in the battle ‘between flesh and spirit’; this petition implores the Spirit of discernment and strength” (Catechism 2846).
Finally, what is needed here is not to change the wording of the prayer—which would be difficult and problematic on many fronts. To change the words “lead us not into temptation” to “do not abandon us in temptation” is simply a manipulation and alteration of the original biblical text. Instead of changing our Lord’s words, it is best to educate and teach the meaning and nuances of the actual wording of the petition so people understand the meaning of the prayer.
For Catholic World Reports article “Should the Sixth Petition be Translated, ‘Do Not Let us Fall?’” click here.
For Jimmy Akins article on this topic here.
For Msgr. Pope’s article on not changing the petition, click here.
Catholic On-line here.
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Infant Baptism is discussed and argued about quite a bit in some circles.
I was raised Baptist and taught that Infant Baptism was a man-made tradition invented by the heretical Catholics who abandoned the Word of God to follow ill-advised tradition.
(Picture: My granddaughter Elizabeth Arabella Rose Ray is baptized.)
But not all Protestants reject Infant Baptism. My favorite theologian during my later years as an Evangelical Protestant was Dr. Francis Schaeffer. He actually wrote a booklet on Infant Baptism. Granted, they do not accept the full Catholic understanding, but they did teach and practice infant baptism. Another author that I read was R. C. Sproul.
Protestant Reformed theologian R. C. Sproul writes, “The first direct mention of infant baptism is around the middle of the second century A.D. What is noteworthy about this reference is that it assumes infant baptism to be the universal practice of the church. If infant baptism were not the practice of the first-century church, how and why did this departure from orthodoxy happen so fast and so pervasively?
“Not only was the spread rapid and universal, the extant literature from that time does not reflect any controversy concerning the issue. . . . Those who dispute the validity of infant baptism make it less inclusive with respect to children, despite the absence of any biblical prohibition against infant baptism” (Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, [Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1992], 228).
For my simple article on Infant Baptism, click here. For my blog on Baptism in general, click here. The whole middle section of my book Crossing the Tiber goes into the biblical and early Church teaching and practice of baptism, including that of infants.
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Emmaus Road has recently published two new books on current culture and how to navigate as Christians in this strange and rapidly secularized world. Both are worth a read.
My mom is now 100 years old and told me she doesn’t like the changes in our country. She doesn’t like what America has become: abortion, LGBT, cancel culture, lost religious freedom and you know all the rest.
These books help us understand the situation and give us help in the battles which we face – and help us prepare the next generation.
The first is Calming the Storm: Navigating the Crises Facing the Catholic Church and Society by Fr. Gerald Murray, Canon Lawyer, and an outspoken, eloquent priest often on EWTN’s The World Over.
The second teaches us how to give 30-second answers to pro-abortionist arguments. The title is Speaking for the Unborn: 30-second Pro-nice Rebuttals to Pro-abortion Arguments by Dr. Steven Christie. He is both a medical doctor and a lawyer.
The post Two New Books for Catholic Cultural Warriors – which includes all of us! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.