Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 499

Official Blessed! John Paul the Great!

It's official: Blessed John Paul II, Pope Benedict to declare predecessor Blessed

Pope Benedict XVI approved the miraculous healing of a French nun on Friday, paving the way for his predecessor to be officially declared Blessed, the final stage on the road to sainthood. The beatification will take place at the Vatican on May 1. Read more. Pope's body will be moved to Basilica.

We are going for the beatification!! Join us! Call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, extension 121, or write at sparran@ctscentral.net.

Infant Baptism

Infant Baptism is discussed and argued about quite a bit in some circles. I, of course, 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.

Good Movies for Catholic Families; Good Way to Start a New Year

Janet and I got rid of television years ago. We called the cable company and canceled our service. We began reading more and renting movies for the family to watch together. It have been a huge life-changer and has had a noticeably positive effect on our family.

We put up a list of the Ray Family Favorite Movies on our website along with other resources for Catholic families. We have to admit that much of our culture is shaped by movies. But not only movies. Our kids are also shaped by what they watch on TV. As parents we have to protect and educate our children — preparing them for heaven.

And I don't miss being insulted by stupid commercials and commentaries. TV aims at the status quo or lower, and helps shape peoples' minds to be status quo or lower. Not for ME!

Another great source for information is the Decent Films website. This is a goldmine of information for Catholic families who want to know what their kids are watching and what they should be viewing together in the home.

I strongly suggest that families cut the ties with the TV and start watching wholesome and wonderful movies together as a family. Netflix is one way our family has selected movies to watch.

There may be other rental services available as well (let us know in the Comments below if you know of any). [Thanks to Kevin Lay of Scepter Press another good site is www.piusmedia.com.]

It is smart to set up a movie night and make a family affair out of it. Kids love such family events and might not even realize that we are shaping their morals and values at the same time.

Popcorn anyone?

Update on Two Things

Here in Pune India I have no Internet access. I am doing everything with my iPhone. Soon I will upload more when I get Internet access.

Join us in Rome with 2 million others to witness the beatification of John Paul the Great! Call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, ext. 121 or at sparran@ctscentral.net – for more info or to register! We are taking a great group with a full tour of Rome with daily Mass and General Audience with the Pope!

Update on Three Things

Here in Pune India I have no Internet access. I am doing everything with my iPhone. Soon I will upload more when I get Internet access.

I will be on Relevant Radio Monday morning at 7AM Eastern time and repeated throughout the day.

Consider joining us in Rome with 2 million others to witness the beatification of John Paul the Great! Call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, ext. 121 or at sparran@ctscentral.net – for more info or to register! We are taking a great group with a full tour of Rome with daily Mass and General Audience with the Pope!

Running 5 Miles thru Pune India – better video and pictures than yesterday

Just posted a Running trip, "2011-01-16 Puna India 4.8 miles", to @everytrail. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/gMqbw6.

Video of our First Day in Bombay

See our first day in India:

india

4 Mile Run thru Pune India – Amazing

Today I took off tuning thru the city of Pune. The GPS struggled since the is no 3G and spotty Internet access. I also took lots of pictures and videos.

Unbelievably poor and filthy. Breaks your heart seeing dying people and animals lying on the sidewalk, children used to perform or spending their day rummaging through rotten filthy trash dumpsters.

Sacred cows, cats with rats, children sleeping on street corners, Muslims, Hindus, Christians – mosques, temple and churches. It's another world. I love being here sharing the truth of the Catholic faith and sharing the adventures with you.

Just posted a Running trip, "2011-01-15 Pune India", to @everytrail. Check it out here: hereg.

Fun Bible Riddles

What biblical saint died and was buried twice?

Who was the first man that broke all Ten Commandments?

What biblical character killed one quarter of the population?

What prophet anointed two kings who lived simultaneously?

Born once, die twice; born twice, die once. What does it mean?

DON'T LOOK AT THE COMMENTS WITH THE ANSWERS UNTIL YOU'VE TRIED :-)

DON'T GIVE UP TOO EASILY!

Zenit.org – Benedict XVI to Beatify John Paul II

Benedict XVI is planning to preside over the beatification rite for John Paul II on May 1, Divine Mercy Sunday, in the Vatican.

A communiqué from the Congregation for Saints' Causes announced that today the Pope, in an audience with the congregation's prefect, Cardinal Angelo Amato, "authorized the dicastery to promulgate the decree of the miracle attributed to the intercession of Venerable Servant of God John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla)."

This was the final step in the process preceding the beatification rite, which will be celebrated on Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast day instituted by John Paul II.

The communiqué noted: "It is well known that, by pontifical dispensation, his cause began before the end of the five-year period which the current norms stipulate must pass following the death of a Servant of God.

"This provision was solicited by the great fame of sanctity which Pope John Paul II enjoyed during his life, in his death and after his death.

"In all other ways, the normal canonical dispositions concerning causes of beatification and canonization were observed in full."

The diocesan investigation into the cause for beatification of the Pontiff took place between June 2005 and April 2007. On Dec. 19, 2009, Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of the decree on his predecessor's heroic virtue.

Miracle

The congregation then examined the report of a miraculous healing through the intercession of John Paul II: the cure from Parkinson's disease of Sister Marie Simon Pierre Normand of the Little Sisters of Catholic Motherhood.

The reports of medical and legal experts on the French nun's healing were submitted to the dicastery for scientific examination last Oct. 21.

The congregation noted that its experts, "having studied the depositions and the entire documentation with their customary scrupulousness, expressed their agreement concerning the scientifically inexplicable nature of the healing."

Thus, on Dec. 14, the theological consulters began an evaluation of the case, and "unanimously recognized the unicity, antecedence and choral nature of the invocation made to Servant of God John Paul II, whose intercession was effective in this prodigious healing."

On Tuesday, during the ordinary session of the congregation, the members expressed their "unanimous approval."

The prelates expressed belief in the miraculous nature of the recovery of Sister Marie Simon Pierre, "having been achieved by God in a scientifically inexplicable manner following the intercession of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, trustingly invoked both by Sister Simon herself and by many other faithful." The conclusions were then submitted to Benedict XVI for approval.

Article found at http://www.zenit.org/article-31450?l=english