Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 33

Day 6: Divine Mercy Sunday from Santiago to Burgos

Fun on the bus since to is 285 miles along the coast of Spain today to reach our destination of Burgos with its stunning cathedral dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary for our Sunday Divine Mercy Mass.

Guided tour of Burgos with the very funny Gloria who is also devout and passionate about her city. We always request her as guide. Dinner at Restaurante Don Nuno.

We prayed the Divine Mercy and the Rosary on the bus along with several talks, time for naps — and we did our mock “Catholic Answers Live” show on the bus. We did questions of stump the priest and stump the apologist. Fun time!

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Day 5: All Day Santiago de Compostela Spain

It was supposed to rain all day today, but it didn’t, and it was a lovely day! The Lord is always very good to us.

We started out first thing in the morning with Mass at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This is where the El Camino ends with pilgrims from all over Europe traveling by foot to this shrine of the tomb of the Apostle St. James, who was a disciple of Jesus. Half of our group got up early this morning so they could walk the 3 miles into the city center and experience a bit of the El Camino.

We had a beautiful Mass in the impressive cathedral, followed by a tour of the church, museum and the local market. Everyone had the rest of the day free to enjoy the marvelous restaurants, copy, shopping, religious sites, and more.

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Day 4: To Coimbra for Mass, Bom Jesus, into Spain to Santiago di Compostela

Early departure as is our custom to beat the crowds. Celebrated Mass in the Carmelite cloister where Sister Lucia (from Fatima) lived for over 50 years.

Visited the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus with its spectacular altar of the Passion and breathtaking landscape in full bloom.

Continued on to Santiago de Compostela, the destination of the important medieval pilgrimage route, the El Camino, the Way of St. James. I gave my talk “The 12 Unknown Sorrows of Mary“ along the way. Dinner at Parador de Santiago.

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Twenty Things I Want My Kids to Know

This is excellent Jewish wisdom gleaned from the Torah. The Jews are such amazing people — I am glad to be a bit Jewish, even if only 0.6%. Thanks to the Jewish website Chabad.org.

1.  The key to all success is the constant awareness that the Creator is making it happen.

2.  Think for yourself. What would the world look like today if Noah and Abraham hadn’t thought for themselves?

3.  Trust me, but don’t rely on me. When we’re crossing the street together, look both ways.

4.  People are more important than things.

5.  It’s OK to make mistakes. Forgive yourself and others.

6.  You can use your thoughts to control your feelings.

7.  Don’t allow anyone to manipulate your feelings, or G‑d forbid, drag you so low as to act out of anger.

8.  Kindness is not doing a favor for your friend because she did a favor for you. That is business. Kindness is just doing a favor.

9.  Your talents are a G‑d-given gift, not an achievement. Be grateful and humble.

10.  Talents are like a birthday cake; they are given to you to share with others.

11.  There is nothing wrong with owning nice things. Just make sure the nice things don’t own you.

12.  I like it when your room is neat. If it’s not, it’s not the end of the world. I like it when you get great marks at school. If you don’t, it’s not the end of the world. But acting unkindly to others is absolutely unacceptable.

13.  Teachers are your fellow people, too. You must be kind to them when you like them—and even when you don’t.

14.  This is how to make dinner . . . cook eggs . . . shop for fruits and veggies . . . do laundry . . . sew a button. First, we’ll do it together. Then, you can practice next to me. After that, you can try it on your own.

15.  When cooking for Shabbat, let’s put on music and dance. We are preparing to host the Master of the Universe. That is a great privilege. Let’s celebrate!

16.  Let’s be ready and start Shabbat early. This shows G‑d that we love Him so much, we can’t wait for our special time together!

17.  This is how the world works: Get up in the morning, give tzedakah (thanks), pray and learn Torah. Tell G‑d what you need and ask for His help. Don’t waste your precious energy on worry. Trust that He will help—and He will.

18.  I always love you. Even when I don’t like something you did, I love you just as much as always.

19.  Learning Torah is my greatest pleasure. The only possible upgrade is learning Torah with you.

20.  Only once I was a mother was I able to understand why “love your fellow as yourself” is a main principle in the Torah. A parent’s greatest joy is seeing their children love and help each other.

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Day 3: All Day Fatima

Today we spent all day in Fatima, covering everything in great detail. Our day started with a visit to the village of Aljustrel where the children lived, which has been kept pretty much in its pristine state. We visited the homes where they lived and to get a sense of their daily life.

We also visited the sites where our Blessed Mother met with the children and also where they had the visits from Angels.  We prayed the rosary as we walked back-and-forth to the place where the angels gave the children Holy Communion in the countryside.

After a lovely lunch and time for shopping in a huge Fatima store, we had Mass at the place of the miracle of the dancing sun. Janet and, I explained to the group our experience of watching the dancing son in the Philippines, which was quite amazing.

We visited the tombs of the three children in the basilica church and people had the rest of the day free  to explore further on their own, go to confession, and enjoy the village and the shrine. The day ended with a lot of our folks again attending the Rosary and the procession.

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Day 1 & 2: From NY to Lisbon, Eucharistic Miracle of Santorem, Arrival in Fatima

Our new adventure begins!  Portugal, Spain, and France. Our goals are the major sites of Fatima, Santiago, de Compostela, and Lourdes — with lots in between.

Today the Lufthansa flight arrived in Lisbon Portugal where all 40 of us boarded our beautiful bus and took off to see the Eucharistic Miracle of Santorém on the way to Fatima.

This Eucharistic miracle is one of the most well-known and recognized Eucharistic Miracles in the world, which occurred in Santarém, Portugal in the 1200’s, and is a miracle of national and international veneration today.

The Miracle of Santarém, along with the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, in Italy, are considered among the most important Eucharistic miracles.

They also both contain the same DNA along with the  Shroud of Turin and the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano. With the emphasis on the Eucharist for three years established by the US bishops, this is a great way to start our Marian and Eucharistic pilgrimage.

We celebrated Mass with our wonderful lchaplain, Fr. James Conlon in the presence of this Eucharistic miracle.

Arrival at Fatima to our lovely Santa Maria Hotel for dinner and bed. But first many of us went over to the shrine for the rosary and the procession. Fr. James led the 4th Mystery of the Rosary.

Our hotel is only a five minute walk from the main church of Fatima and the tombs of the three children: Lucia, Francesco and Jacinta.

 

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Podcast Discussing “Objections to Mary” we had as Protestants – and how our minds were changed

Since I am currently leading a group of enthusiastic pilgrims through Lourdes and Fatima, it is a good time to present my recently recorded interview with Bryan Topham about Objections to Mary. Both of us are converts and held the same typical “Evangelical Protestant” uninformed ideas of the Blessed Virgin.

What did we used to believe and teach and why did we come to accept the profound teaching of the Catholic Church on so many of the issues.

 Protestant views of MaryThat she was not ever virgin,Don’t call her the Mother of God,Just a girl and didn’t play an important partThe biblical case for how Catholics view MaryEver virginThe new Ark/EveWhy she is the Queen of HeavenHow the Old Testament is full of gems on MaryWhat Changed our minds about Mary

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Today is the 19th Anniversary of Pope St. JP II’s death – Two videos of Steve Ray on Fox News back then

I had been a Catholic about 10 years, and Fox News contacted me to discuss the life and death of the great Pope John Paul II. Kind of fun for me to watch/listen to these again. I wanted to get the news out about his great life, but also how I discovered the beauty of the Catholic Faith.

Each one is about 4 minutes.

 

 

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Did Jesus Raise Himself from the Dead?

Today I received an e-mail with this question:

The other night, in one of the RCIA session for which I am responsible, we looked at Who Is Jesus? In that video, some thing was said that struck a very wrong cord. It said that “Jesus raised himself from the dead.” I had never heard that before.

I did check out a few things. I looked up the CCC. It does say that because of His divinity, Christ in union with God and the Holy Spirit was raised from the dead (638). However, our local bishop frowned on this statement. My local Jesuit school President frowned on this statement.

Therefore, Steve, is it OK to make that statement that “Jesus raised himself from the dead.” I do know the New Testament has many, many quotes that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. How do I revisit that question with the RCIA participants?

Here is my response: 

It is not a phrase we hear often. We know the Trinity works in harmony and  in union together — in creation, for example.

We know the Father raised the Son, no issue there. We know the Spirit raised the Son as St. Paul tells us in Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (cf. Rom 1:4; CCC 695)

Regarding the Son raising Himself up I would suggest these verses in the Gospel of St. John:

John 2:19–21  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 10:17–18  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.”

These two paragraphs from the Catechism are also quite clear.

CCC 648    “Christ’s Resurrection is an object of faith in that it is a transcendent intervention of God himself in creation and history. In it the three divine persons act together as one, and manifest their own proper characteristics. The Father’s power “raised up” Christ his Son and by doing so perfectly introduced his Son’s humanity, including his body, into the Trinity. Jesus is conclusively revealed as “Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his Resurrection from the dead.” St. Paul insists on the manifestation of God’s power through the working of the Spirit who gave life to Jesus’ dead humanity and called it to the glorious state of Lordship.”

CCC 649    “As for the Son, he effects his own Resurrection by virtue of his divine power. Jesus announces that the Son of man will have to suffer much, die, and then rise. Elsewhere he affirms explicitly: “I lay down my life, that I may take it again.… I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” “We believe that Jesus died and rose again.”

 

 

Might I suggest that you get Verbum which is a Catholic and Bible Software program which I “live on.” I’ve been using it for over 20 years. It makes this kind of research a breeze. You can see it at www.Verbum.com/Steve. If you use the Promo Code STEVERAY8 you will get 15% off. I highly recommend it.

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Cute 30 Second Clip – Two Kids with favorite Bible Verses

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