Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 105

Pilgrimage to Shrines of Wisconsin & “Love Being Catholic” Conference with Cardinal Burke

Join us this July 25-29 for our 2nd Shrines of Wisconsin pilgrimageANDOur 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 this Rock and St. john’s Gospel)

Fr. Chris Alar MIC (author of After Suicide and Understanding Divine Mercy)

Fr. Donald Calloway MIC (author of Consecration to St. Joseph)

This bundled pilgrimage and conference will sell out fast so register soon.

Click HERE for an interactive map, detailed itinerary and on-line registration.

You can also contact our Reservations Team at 866-557-2364, or write them at FootprintsOfGod@ctscentral.net.

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Precious Picture I Couldn’t Help but Share

Two weeks ago our youngest daughter gave birth to our 19th grandchild, a boy named John Paul Solanus Regan.

My daughter took her new son over to visit my mother who is now over 100 years old. My mom sat for 1/2 hour holding and smiling at little John Paul as he slept in her arms.

The passage of time, the goodness of God, the importance of family and relationships — all present in this one picture.

The post Precious Picture I Couldn’t Help but Share appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

Patrick Coffin and his claim that Pope Francis is an Anti-Pope

First, I sadly begin by saying that I have always had great respect for Patrick Coffin and consider him a friend and ally in the culture wars. When he was the host of Catholic Answers Live we probably did 100 shows together. We have traveled together. I consider him a dear friend.

However, I do feel compelled to comment on some of his recent public comments regarding Pope Francis — claiming that Pope Francis is an anti-pope and a dress rehearsal for the antichrist. You can watch his video and read his notes here. I consider these comments very ill-advised, incorrect and detrimental.

His argument is extremely weak and unconvincing, in fact, I am surprised that Patrick would consider himself correct in his assertion based on the weak arguments he makes. He is too smart to fall for this in my estimation. I have sympathy with a person who has problems with this pope, but to claim he is not pope is a whole different matter.

By no means am I personally happy with this pope, and I continue being frustrated with his papacy, but I will never cross the line to reject his papacy or to question that he is the duly elected pope or to suggest that Pope Benedict XVI never really resigned and is still the pope today.

If you want to know my thoughts on Pope Francis and how we should view his papacy and how we should respond, you can listen to my talk “How Does a John Paul II Catholic Survive in a Pope Francis World”  which I gave in the presence of about 10 bishops at a gathering of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

To date, there have been two respectful refutations of Patrick Coffin’s assertions. I consider both of these rebuttals to be accurate, respectful, charitable, concise and theologically correct.

I had thought to put a response together myself, but don’t feel I could do any better than these two rebuttals. Both are about an hour-long, but quick-paced and easy to follow.

Again, I love Patrick and am grieved that he has felt it necessary to take such a leap off the cliff and hope that he recants sooner than later. My prayers and friendship are with him.

1)   Michael Lofton on his Reason and Theology website and podcast HERE.

2)   Catholic Answers Live host Cy Kellett’s interview with Joe Heschmeyer below.

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Catholic Answers Live – Listen Now – “Loving Your Spouse”

On St. Valentine’s Day I was the guest on Catholic Answers Live at 7 PM Eastern.

We discussed “Loving Your Spouse”. I have been married for 47 years and love it.

We discussed the theological issues, but mainly practical issues for making the most out of marriage and loving it!

You can listen to the show below.

https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ca220214b.mp3

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John the Baptist Ate Them…Steve Ate One too!

I was just on the radio and mentioned how I ate a grasshopper in the Holy Land, in honor of John the Baptist. Since we just returned from Israel I thought I would repost this blog entry in honor of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus on January 9 and my appearance on Relevant Radio to discuss this Feast Day. And to celebrate … STEVE RAY LIVING THE BIBLE IN THE HOLY LAND!

While on Pilgrimage in Israel we stopped at Qumran a while back, near the Dead Sea and the place where John the Baptist baptized. John the Baptist ate grasshoppers here (Matthew 3:4).

I mentioned to my pilgrims that if anyone found a grasshopper — I would eat it like John the Baptist did in the desert.  Grasshoppers, locusts and crickets were considered “clean foods” for the Israelites (Lev. 11:22).

Did Jesus eat them? Why not? It was clean food for the Jews specifically mentioned in the Bible. Leviticus 11:22 says they are “clean” and can be eaten.

Well, finding a big juicy grasshopper became the goal for many of the pilgrims. And before long I found myself with a 4 inch long wiggling insect in my hands and only a sense of humor to get me through.

I promised the group if they found one I’d eat it — never believing they’d find one. They found a BIG one. What to do?

I ate it — live and wiggling — very crunchy. Now I know what a locust tastes like and I know why John the Baptist ate them with wild honey!

Living the Bible here in the Holy Land!

You can see all our past videos of our pilgrimages at www.SteveGoes.com. Go to Pilgrimages > Past. See our current trips at www.SteveGoes.com/pilgrimages.

Pictures 1 and 2: Birthplace of John the Baptist in Ein Kerem Israel, just west of Jerusalem. Picture 3 is overview of Judean Wilderness near Jordan River where John was baptizing. Picture 4 is a statue of John’s father Zechariah.

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Tonight on Catholic Answers Live – “Loving Your Spouse” for St. Valentine’s Day

This evening I will be the guest on Catholic Answers Live at 7 PM Eastern.

We will discuss “Loving Your Spouse”. I have been married for 47 years and love it.

We will discuss theological issues, but mainly practical issues for making the most out of marriage and loving it!

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Absent from the Body = Present with the Lord?

I realize now — that as a Protestant — I misquoted the Bible when challenging Catholics about Purgatory. Catholics taught that there may be a “transition” between earth and heaven—a place or state of final purification called Purgatory.

“But how can there be a Purgatory?” I asked. “Doesn’t St. Paul teach that ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’?  Since ‘absence from the body’ means that we are immediately in ‘the presence of the Lord,’ there can’t be anything called Purgatory. Catholics deny the clear teaching of the Bible!” 

Whoa! Slow down! Is this really what the Bible says?

First, that is a misreading of the Bible—a twisting of Scripture to score a point. The Bible does NOT say “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Rather it says,

“So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:6-8).

This is very different from my old argument. Paul would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord, but certainly doesn’t say it the way I twisted it in my old anti-Catholic days.

If I want to be away from Michigan in the winter I might say “In the winter we would rather be away from Michigan and present in Arizona.” It does NOT say that to be away from Michigan that I am instantly or automatically in Arizona. 

My in-laws go between Arizona and Michigan twice a year and they stop a lot along the way. It usually takes them 3-4 weeks to get from one to the other as they visit and camp along the way.

We understand that this language leaves room for a transition period—especially in an automobile or plane with a possible motel or visit along the way. Paul’s words also leave room for such a transition; it does not exclude Purgatory.

Second, Paul teaches that we will pass through fire. Notice what he says in 1 Corinthians 3:15: On “the Day” if “any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”  Sounds like Purgatory to me.

Third, Purgatory is not “away from the Lord” strictly speaking. Those in Purgatory—whether it is a place or a state of transition—are not apart from the Lord. 

In fact, it is the love of God that is purifying them. I have always said that Purgatory is like the front porch of heaven. Those who are in Purgatory know they have arrived! But you can read more about that in my article on Purgatory here.

So, don’t let someone trick you with the old “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” argument. It is fallacious and deceptive. Again, the Catholic Church is correct.

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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas explains his return to the Catholic Church

This marvelous Supreme Court justice explains why he returned to the Catholic Church.

Justice Clarence Thomas’s talk, as usual, is brilliant and timely. It starts at 10:10 minutes into the video. It is an hour testimony, but well worth watching!

Long live Justice Thomas, and may he serve long on the bench!

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A Prudential Decision made by St. Paul Applied to Covid Vaccines

I’d like to share a few thoughts on the covid vaccine since we are resuming our pilgrimages to Israel and other biblical and Catholic sites.

Most countries, including Israel are currently mandating the vaccine as a prerequisite to enter the country. We will need to inform pilgrims that at this time they will need proof of being fully vaccinated.

We will also inform them that it is the best possible time to visit the Holy Land without the crowds and long lines, with more time for prayer and immersion in the holy sites.

I found what I think to be an interesting biblical parallel about us making prudential judgments to lead people through the Holy Land even under these current conditions. We have no doubt of our calling to lead pilgrimages and the great good it does for pilgrims—all the deeply spiritual effects it has on pilgrims.

First, in 49 A.D. the Apostles gathered together for a council in Jerusalem which is recorded in Acts 15. It was a contentious gathering with some insights gained from the books of Acts and Galatians.

The council debated the issue of circumcision and whether the surgery was necessary for salvation among the Gentiles. The Council of Jerusalem declared against the surgical mandate.

For the whole article, click HERE.

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Classic Fundamentalist Tradition – Claiming to NOT be Tradition :-) You Analyze It

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.

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