Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 488

The Skull is Talking to Me

THE SKULL TALKS TO ME EVERY MORNING!

It says, "As you are now, I once was; as I am now, you soon shall be — remember your mortality!"

No better way to approach Ash Wednesday and 40 days of Lent.

Artists have painted St. Jerome with a skull on his desk. Popes were known to keep skulls in their libraries.  I now have a real human skull sitting next to me in my home office.

The famous Capuchin Church in Rome has a labyrinth of rooms filled with bone which are not just stacked in piles, but are used to decorate. The lamps are made of human bones, designs on the walls, altars, everything is made of bones of the monks who have died there over the centuries. The sign above the entrance says the same thing the skull pictured above is saying to me.

Are Catholics morbid, obsessed with bones and relics, consumed with the thought of death. Yes and  no. We are concerned about these matters, but we are not morbid. We are realistic. We know that life is short and we need to keep things in perspective and our priorities straight.

We also know that life is full of vanities. Much of what vies for our time, energy and money is like a puff of smoke that detracts us from what is really important. Notice the skull to the right, look closely. It is entitled "All is Vanity." If you look closely you can see a picture inside the skull. (You can click on the image for a larger picture.)

I wanted to buy my coffin in advance–one to my liking and made of carved oak–to use as a coffee table in our living room. I wanted it there to remind me that someday my body would spend a lot of time in there–under the ground. But my good wife nixed my plans. She said I could get one to stand upright as a bookshelf, but not to set on the floor looking like a funeral parlor.

My goal is to pour out my life for the Savior in this life and to remind myself every day that from dust I came and to dust I will go. The skull reminds me every moment that "it is appointed for men once to die, and after that the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). I want to be ready.

What is the Chocolate Connection with Lent? Nice article here.

Alexis Love's though

Evangelicals with Statues?

Today I took off running through a commercial area behind the hotel. I discovered a nice jogging trail through the woods so I swung onto the trail and headed through the trees. Soon I came into the open to see a beautiful lake. A sign caught my eye. It had an arrow pointing to "Baptismal Pool." I kept running.

Sure enough a little distance ahead there was an elaborate structure with seats, railings and a ramp down into the lake. It was obviously designed for full immersion baptisms (see pictures).

I was puzzled. Why a baptismal pool in a commercial park? I looked carefully at the large building to the right which appeared to be a large office building – but surprise! it was a large mega-church with a sign "Fellowship Church."

I looked back at the baptismal pool and remembered my upbringing in modest Baptist churches. They didn't have lakes with elaborate ramps down to the ducks and white egrets sharing the water. We had huge bathtubs behind the pulpit where people were immersed after church services – all wearing white robes and holding their noses.

But what does baptism do for these good meaning folks? According to their theology baptism does nothing – it's not even necessary. Jesus commanded it so they do it but nothing happens. It was just an external act we did to show the world (even if it was in the privacy of our little church) that we had believed on Jesus. I know because I was raised this way and later passed on the Baptist tradition myself.

Of course evangelicals condemn Catholics as unbiblical for teaching that obeying Christ in baptism actually does something – bringing about new birth (John 3:5), washing away sins (first words Paul heard from Ananias when he hit the dust, Acts 22:16), and incorporating us into the death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:1-5).

Funny that they make such a costly structure to do something that doesn't do anything. According to most of them – baptism is unnecessary for salvation and is merely optional since we are "saved by faith alone and not by sacraments."

Funny that Baptists are called Baptists even though they consider baptism as unnecessary! Originally, after splitting from Martin Luther who believed baptism did something, even with infants, Baptists were originally called "Anabaptists". "Ana" means again. Since they rejected their infant baptism as Catholics they decided they all had to be baptized again – thus "Anabaptists." it was actually a way of demonstrating their protest against the Catholic Church (thus the title Protestant). Later they dropped the prefix "ana."

I continued running around the next curve and stopped again. There in front of my eyes was was a big outdoor statue. I took a double-take, blinked and looked again. Yup, it was a statue! A statue of Jesus ascending to heaven!

Wait a minute? Aren't Catholics accused of being idolaters because of statues? What is a statue doing in the garden of an

Evangelical mega-church? It brought to mind the inconsistency of Protestants, remembering my Baptist mom's little statue of Mary and Jesus on our table at Christmas, part of the nativity scene.

If I was staying over the weekend I'd have visited this "church" just as an observer out of curiosity. I'd follow the arrow to "worship space." I'm not sure whether I'd buy a cappuccino or an espresso to enjoy while watching the worship show entertainment. I would not want to be the only one with an empty cup holder in my theatre-style seat.

After shaking my head and wiping the sweat from my brow I ran back to the hotel to pack and fly back home after giving a Catholic Parish Mission. I prayed a quick prayer along the way – while huffing and puffing – and thanked Our Lord for His Catholic Church and for opening the eyes of one more unworthy servant.

If you don't like goofey family videos, "run" for your life…

…but if you don't mind silly movies Grandpa makes for his sick grandson in the hospital, you might be able to tolerate it.

Free Catholic Bible Study & Apologetics Resources

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A great Catholic Bible and Catechetical Downloadable Resource & Study Software Program, and best of all its Free.    From:  http://www.esnips.com/web/CatholicApolegetics

Controversial Talks in Dallas

Ran 6.2 miles this morning in Dallas. Seems that my talk on Peter and the Papacy offended Baptists last night. Tonight I speak on Mary at St. Francis of Assisi in Grapevine. Can't wait! Tomorrow I speak on the Eucharist.

For those who love Rosiland Moss

An Invitation to bid Farewell to Sister Rosalind Moss.

You're Invited to come and celebrate with us as we bid farewell to Sister Rosalind Moss, as she continues her

journey to begin her new community in Tulsa, OK.

Coming up soon! 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday March 13th Sister Rosalind will be giving a short talk at 3:00 p.m.

We know this is such a short notice but if you are available we would love to see you at: Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 17 Hawkesbury Drive

Ferguson, MO 63121

For those who have asked how they might assist in any way, here are two major needs that Sister Ros mentioned in her recent email:

1. Financial support – that will enable her to buy, renovate or rent a suitable facility in Tulsa.

2. Prayer support – for the move to Tulsa, for the finding of a facility, the needed finances, and the discernment of the women who will join her in the work.

God bless you and hope to see you there!

P.S. There are many who might like to come next Sunday who may not receive this email. Please feel free to spread the word. There will be plenty of room and food! All are welcome! Those of you who live out of the St. Louis area are welcome to contact Sister Rosalind at the St. Louis address below or via email. All mail will be forwarded to Tulsa!

Our mailing address is:

Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Hope, 4950 Heege Road, St. Louis, MO 63123

Good News; Bad News!

Good News! Just arrived at Columbus Airport to fly home after amazing day with 2,000 fired-up Catholic men with 54 priests hearing confessions. I was the first speaker and made grown men cry. Now on my way to Dallas for big parish mission.

Bad News! Grandson Dominic rushed in for emergency surgery – exploded appendix. Looks like he'll be alright, thank God, but it will take a week to recover and come home. Family all pulling together to help.

What About the Pope's Comments on the Jews and the Death of Christ

I was asked: I would like to ask you to please comment on the Popes recent statement that there is no scriptural basis that the Jews killed Jesus. http://www.examiner.com/jesus-christ-in-national/jesus-christ-not-killed-by-jews-says-pope-benedict-xvi

My answer: It is not time to comment yet. Experience tells that when we read a media review of the Pope's words it is usually twisted or sensationalized by the media. It is best to wait until the book comes out and read this passage in context.

I trust that the Pope said what is exactly correct: the Jews today, and Jews in history, are not to be held responsible for the killing of Christ. It was their leaders, the mob and the Romans at that time — the contemporary Jewish leaders and Romans did kill Christ in the first century. We must remember however that MANY Jews — including priests (Acts 6:7) — followed and believed in Christ, then and thereafter. Jews today and throughout history are obviously not morally responsible for the death of Christ any more than an American living today is personally responsible for the slavery of the 19th century.

Blessed! Recovering!

At home catching up on family, mail, exercise, computer, e-mail, reading, prayer. 13 speaking venues in next 5 weeks. Yikes! Www.StevesSchedule.com.

Like No Other Trip to Rome!