Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 508

Did Catholics Invent Pilgrimages?

No, it was something the Holy Family did at least once a year!

Look what the Catechism says: "[Jesus'] public ministry itself was patterned by his pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the great Jewish feasts" (583). And the Psalmist wrote: "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage" (Psa 119:54 in RSV-Catholic Edition).

Remember when Jesus was lost in Jerusalem and his parents found him in the Temple? They were on pilgrimage:  "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up according to custom" (Luke 2:41-42).

Along the way they sang the Pilgrimage Psalms, the Psalms of Ascent — Psalms 120-134.  Here is one of them:

Psalm 122:1 A Song of Ascents. Of David.

"I was glad when they said to me,

"Let us go to the house of the Lord!"

Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly together,

to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,

as was decreed for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

There thrones for judgment were set,

the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

"May they prosper who love you!

Peace be within your walls,

and security within your towers!"

For my brethren and companions' sake I will say,

"Peace be within you!"

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your good."

Join us on a pilgrimage. Visit www.FootprintsOfGod.com

Pope Benedict Discusses Condoms and the Spread of AIDS

What did the Pope Ready Say? Find out the TRUTH before the secular Media spins it into anti-Catholic hype:

An excerpt from Light of the World, Peter Seewald's book-length interview with Pope Benedict XVI

From Chapter 11, "The Journeys of a Shepherd," pages 117-119:

The Question the Pope was Asked : "On the occasion of your trip to Africa in March 2009, the Vatican's policy on AIDs once again became the target of media criticism. Twenty-five percent of all AIDs victims around the world today are treated in Catholic facilities. In some countries, such as Lesotho, for example, the statistic is 40 percent. In Africa you stated that the Church's traditional teaching has proven to be the only sure way to stop the spread of HIV. Critics, including critics from the Church's own ranks, object that it is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms."

Go here for the Pope's answer and more — the full context of his answer which L'Osservatore Romano failed to provide!

What does the Holy Father really say about condoms in the new book?

By Dr. Janet E. Smith

This week, Light of the World , a book-length interview given by Pope Benedict XVI to journalist Peter Seewald, will be released worldwide. Several of the Holy Father's statements have already started making news, particularly his comments regarding condom usage in the prevention of the spread of HIV.

To the charge that "It is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms," in the context of an extended answer on the help the Church is giving AIDs victims and the need to fight the banalization of sexuality, Pope Benedict replied …

Resources:

For the rest of Janet Smith's article go here.

Especially Good: Jimmy Akin's comments here .

Catholic Vote article here .

National Catholic Registers good article here .

Ed Peter's comments on L'Osservatore Romano here

Archangel Institute here.

Three Tours of Church of St. Paul in Rome

in response to my show today with Relevant Radio, I have posted this blog.Thanks to host Chuck Neff and producer Doug Thompson for inviting me.

Join us on a future pilgrimage: *Egypt & Jordan, *Israel, *Fathers of the Church in Italy, St. Paul Cruise and *Poland! Check out www.SteveGoes.com, or call Suzanne at 800-727-1999.

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls launched a newly renovated Web site to collect prayers, offer a virtual tour, and further the Apostle's worldwide evangelization effort.

Online visitors can read news related to the basilica and the tomb of St. Paul, virtually tour the church, make reservations for guided tours of the building, visit the gift store, and watch a video of Benedict XVI during celebrations in the basilica.

They can also write intentions that will be offered up in the prayers of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls, as well as read the Pope's catechetical texts on the Apostle.

Click here to visit this cool new site.

I recently made a short YouTube video showing the end of Paul's life. It takes you into the Church of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the bones of St. Paul are located. Enjoy!

Inside the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul on our last pilgrimage a few days ago.

Two Tours of Church of St. Paul in Rome

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls launched a newly renovated Web site to collect prayers, offer a virtual tour, and further the Apostle's worldwide evangelization effort.

Online visitors can read news related to the basilica and the tomb of St. Paul, virtually tour the church, make reservations for guided tours of the building, visit the gift store, and watch a video of Benedict XVI during celebrations in the basilica.

They can also write intentions that will be offered up in the prayers of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls, as well as read the Pope's catechetical texts on the Apostle.

Click here to visit this cool new site.

I recently made a short YouTube video showing the end of Paul's life. It takes you into the Church of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the bones of St. Paul are located. Enjoy!

On Relevant Radio & Catholic Answers Live Monday

In the morning (and replayed twice during the day) I will be on Relevant Radio's Sean Herriott's show at 7:00 AM Eastern to discuss We will discuss Peter and Paul since Nov. 18 is the Feast Day of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul in Rome (where I was two days ago and which churches I just visited :-)

We will discuss why we build churches to these saints and why we keep their relics – isn't it morbid? We will also talk about their final days, arrests and executions. If time allows we will also discuss St. Clement who was a disciple of Peter and the third Pope whose feast day is Nov. 23.

In the evening I will join Patrick Coffin on Catholic Answers Live on Monday at 6:00 PM Eastern time. The topic will be "The Power of Kindness in Apologetics." To listen on-line, go to www.Catholic.com.

Geez, and I am just getting home Sunday night at 10:00 PM after being away for 6 weeks!

Priestesses? Why Only Boys Can be Daddies!

This is an excellent audio talk by Peter Kreeft on why the Catholic Church has a male-only priesthood.

Why Only Boys Can Be Daddies

It was only a month ago we were in Israel and a group of Anglican priests and priestesses stayed in the same hotel. Some of the men wore pinkish-purple shirts with white collars and most of the women wore black shirts with white collars. One wanted to be called Fr. Christina.

For dissent Catholics who want no pope, a democratic church that accepts and approves of sexual deviations, homosexual marriages and priests, female priestesses, gay and women bishops — there is a church just for you. The Anglican church is just for you!

But remember, orthodox Anglicans and Episcopalians are leaving their schism by the boatload to find refuge in the Catholic Church.

Can you imagine going to this group of "priestesses" for confession?

Pope Benedict Discusses Condoms and the Spread of AIDS

What did the Pope Ready Say? Find out the TRUTH before the secular Media spins it into anti-Catholic hype:

An excerpt from Light of the World, Peter Seewald's book-length interview with Pope Benedict XVI

From Chapter 11, "The Journeys of a Shepherd," pages 117-119:

On the occasion of your trip to Africa in March 2009, the Vatican's policy on AIDs once again became the target of media criticism. Twenty-five percent of all AIDs victims around the world today are treated in Catholic facilities. In some countries, such as Lesotho, for example, the statistic is 40 percent. In Africa you stated that the Church's traditional teaching has proven to be the only sure way to stop the spread of HIV. Critics, including critics from the Church's own ranks, object that it is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms.

Go here for the Pope's answer and more.

What does the Holy Father really say about condoms in the new book?

By Dr. Janet E. Smith

This week, Light of the World , a book-length interview given by Pope Benedict XVI to journalist Peter Seewald, will be released worldwide. Several of the Holy Father's statements have already started making news, particularly his comments regarding condom usage in the prevention of the spread of HIV.

To the charge that "It is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms," in the context of an extended answer on the help the Church is giving AIDs victims and the need to fight the banalization of sexuality, Pope Benedict replied …

For the rest of Janet Smith's article go here.

Jimmy Akin's comments here .

Catholic Vote article here .

Good News from Rome: Burke, Dolan & Sad News too

From my friend and Canon Lawyer Ed Peters:

"Franz Klein of the Diocese of Lacrosse has a nice spread on Archbishop, and-one-day-shy-of-being-formally Cardinal, Burke in the on-line The Catholic Times (18 Nov. 2010, page 3B). Klein offers a good overview of Burke's typical day at the Apostolic Signatura, and of the esteem in which he is held by those concerned for the proper coordination of law and theology. The essay even features a few quotes by yours truly. So enjoy!

"It's been another good week for the Church: Archbishop Dolan elected president of the USCCB, Archbishop Burke, among others, elevated to the College of Cardinals.

"Let's just remember, though, the trials of the Church in places like China, where bishops faithful to the Holy See are being forced to attend on Saturday an episcopal ordination performed in violation of 1983 CIC 1382. Think of it as two strides forward, one shove back. Oremus pro invicem.

"Speaking of cardinals, I have updated my list of Cardinal Electors."

Interview with Archbishop Burke after announcement of his appointment to Cardinal.

Pointless Family Photo

St. Ignatius Steps on Luther

Today my wife and I are exploring new things in Rome. We again visited the beautiful church dedicated to the founder of the Jesuits. It 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 really 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 the open Bible.

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.

Fr. Fessio likes this statue — and so do I. I know we are in a new era today, and do not necessarily attach to Protestants the schism caused by Luther and we refer to them as our "separated brethren."

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.