Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 51

Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live – on Genesis

My new book was just published by Ignatius Press. It is entitled “Genesis, A Bible Study Guide and Commentary” which is thoroughly Catholic and some have said, “It reads like a novel.”

Buy a signed copy now and receive my talk “Abraham, Father of Faith and Works.”

Today I took questions on Genesis and we had a great time.

During the show we also discussed “Who wrote Genesis?” and “How is Abraham’s offering of Isaac a prefiguration of God offering his own son?”

https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ca230714a.mp315:19 – How liberally can we interpret the first 6 chapters of Genesis? 19:42 – since Jesus was a Rabbi, did the Jews consider him to be celibate? 21:57 – Genesis 3:15, when man betrays God, God says a “punishment” is man having dominion over woman, why is this considered a punishment? 31:54 – Genesis 3:16, what does it mean when it says “God will strike enmity between her seed and the serpent” 47:48 – How does the Catholic Church view the rights of the first born son (according to Genesis) 51:58 – What is the story behind snakes (why does the Old Testament use snakes) and how do they relate to Jesus? 

The post Questions I Answered on Catholic Answers Live – on Genesis appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

My new book on Genesis is finally published by Ignatius Press: “Genesis, A Bible Study Guide and Commentary”

My new very Catholic commentary on Genesis is now for sale! You can get a signed copy on my Web Store.

What is the most important book in the Bible? I would argue that its Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and 2nd longest book in the Bible.

The title kind of gives it away. Genesis means “beginning” and it is a book of beginnings and even before the beginning. The beginning of the universe, the beginning of life on earth and the unique creation of man and woman. The beginning of sin and suffering, of redemption and hope.

It is fascinating to reflect on the first and second times the word love is used, the first time we find the word priest, prayer, angel and death. How does the offering of Isaac prefigure the passion of our Lord?

After many years of research, travel and writing, my new book on Genesis has finally been released by Ignatius Press. The title corresponds to my earlier book on St. John’s Gospel. It is entitled “Genesis, A Bible Study Guide and Commentary.”

I think it is the only recent stand alone Catholic commentary and study of the first book of the Bible. It is thoroughly Catholic, easy to read and full of fun facts and interesting stories. I’ve been told it reads like a novel. Scholars will find it helpful for their research and first timers will find the book a delight to read and easy to digest.

Genesis is a book of divine revelation. Through its pages God informs us of things we could never know with our five senses, the scientific method or speculation. Where do we come from?  Is there anything “out there”? Do we have a purpose? Where are we going? Is death the end? Is there meaning to the universe and our personal lives? Is history going somewhere or is existence only random, meaningless, unassociated events?

The beauty of Genesis is that it opens the vistas of existence and shows us the elegance of God’s creation, the brilliance of his plan and the precision of its execution in space and time.

The stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are dripping with meaning for us today. They show haw God can draw straight with crooked lines and how he brings about his plan of restoration. These true stories are full of rich theology and the whole landscape of the book screams, “God has a plan and it will be fulfilled in Christ!”

Christ can be found on almost every page and the Trinity is already revealed throughout the flow of history. Remember what Jesus said while on the Road to Emmaus? “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself”. (Luke 24:27)

Two of the greatest compliments I’ve received to date are from a reviewer who told me they cried as they read the chapter on the creation of man and women— it was a devotional reflection full of meaning for them.

The second was from one of the editors who told me they got carried away with reading and forgot they were editing the text. They had to go back and start each chapter over again as an editor and not one caught up in the story.

You can purchase of signed copy of my new book on my web store at www.StevesStore.com. I signed each copy that is shipped. Hope you enjoy the book and are edified by its content.

The post My new book on Genesis is finally published by Ignatius Press: “Genesis, A Bible Study Guide and Commentary” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

A Very Courageous and Special Reading at Mass

On Sunday a man was led to the lectern as he carefully navigated the steps. I thought maybe he was unstable and needed the extra support. But then he stepped up to the lectern and placed down and opened his own lectionary. He stared straight ahead and up a bit as he read.

Intrigued, I looked closer and realized he was blind and was reading a braille lectionary with the fingertips of his left hand. He read beautifully without one misstep or pause. I was very moved. In fact, when he closed his braille lectionary I want to stand up and applaud.

How courageous and dedicated was this man. Many of us refuse to do our share or get involved in the ministry of the Church. But this noble man, even though he had every reason to decline the call to service, he stepped up and with his limitations brought great glory to God – and a blessing to everyone who witnessed his dedication.

God bless him and I hope he doesn’t mind I share this picture of him – I do so out of the greatest love and respect.

The post A Very Courageous and Special Reading at Mass appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

July 4th: America the Amazing!

By THE EDITORS

July 4, 2022 6:30 AM

For all the pomp and circumstance of its presentation, there is something admirably humble about America’s national anthem.

Britain’s anthem is cartoonish, with its repeated entreaties to “save” an already-well-secured monarch and its insistence that God is destined to “scatter” the “knavish” enemies of the crown.

France’s anthem is utopian, with all those references to the “child of the fatherland,” the “day of glory,” and the prospect of “impure blood” watering the fields.

But America’s? America’s has about it that quality of the unknown. From the outset, it poses questions. “O say, can you see?” it inquires. “O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave / O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” Eventually — when the “rocket’s red glare” gives “proof through the night that our flag was still there” — the answer is “Yes,” and yet, implicit in the inquiry is the notion that if things had gone a little differently, the flag and all that it represents might well have ended up in tatters.

And well they might. Today, we celebrate July 4 in the knowledge that the nation it birthed has been a smashing success. When they began their journey toward independence, though, the Founders enjoyed no such guarantees. Benjamin Franklin’s quip that his comrades must “all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately” was meant literally: As Lincoln would later observe, Thomas Jefferson’s document did, indeed, contain “an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times,” and “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of re-appearing tyranny and oppression,” but it was also treason — and the penalty for treason was death. Then, as so often afterwards, “does that star-spangled banner yet wave?” was an open question, for it was not guaranteed that the new nation would survive its push for independence, or that it would survive its first properly contested election, or that it would survive the War of 1812. The Civil War could well have ended the United States, as could have the Great Depression, World War II, and the rise of global communism. Eschewing principle, the colonists could have succumbed to the Declaratory Act. Rejecting Cincinnatus’s example, George Washington could have chosen to stay in office. Ignoring Matthew 12:25, Abraham Lincoln could have forsaken Fort Sumter. We are here because they all took a different course.<

The post July 4th: America the Amazing! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

Martyrs of Rome: Are You Prepared to Witness for Christ?

One of the talks I give while we are in Rome with our groups is about the Apostolic Fathers and Suffering for the Faith. It is dear to my heart since we just traveled all over following the footprints of St. Paul and the Apostolic Fathers. I will be speaking on the suffering and martyrdom of early Christians. (We will be doing our “Saints & Shrines of Italy Pilgrimage” during the Jubilee Year in 2025).

We visited the Church of Santo Stefano Rotundo (picture to right). Many people think the church is morbid, disgusting and even gross. As you can see in the picture it is a round church with all the walls covered with paintings of the tortures and martyrdoms of the early Christians. They are graphic and detailed.

The two pictures below are from the walls of the church (man with molten lead being poured down his throat and woman with her hands cut off and hung around her neck). These are only two pictures of hundreds. You will see them in our next DVD. (Thanks for the correction below in Comments.)

But back to my question: Are you prepared to Witness for Christ?” Be careful before you say YES! In Acts 1:8 Jesus said to the Apostles, “You will be my witnesses.” By virtue of our baptism, we are ALL called to be witnesses for Christ. But when Jesus used the word “witness” he may have implied more than we think. We tend to think he meant to give testimony for Christ with words alone. But the early Christians gave witness to Christ with much more than their words.

The New Testament was originally written in Greek and the Greek word used for “witness” is martur. Sound familiar. Say it to yourself out loud a few times and see if it sounds like an English word we use. I bet you guessed it. The English word “martyr” derives from the Greek word martur meaning witness.

The Catechism states, “Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death . . . ” (CCC 2473). When we traveled to the sites of the Apostolic Fathers and the place where they and many others spilled their blood on areana floors, it was a sobering trip.

Are you and I really prepared to be witnesses for Christ in the full sense of the word? The early Christians suffered horrendously to pass the faith on to us. Would we have the faith and fortitude to follow in their steps? For myself, I like to think I would. But I also know I don’t like pain–I avoid it like the plague.

But I commit myself to this, and ask you to join me — if martyrdom is required of me, I will trust God to give me the grace and strength to go down heroically with these words on my lips:

“I am a Christian! Lord Jesus, receive your servant!”

“And they have conquered [the Devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (martur), for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:11, RSVCE)

The post Martyrs of Rome: Are You Prepared to Witness for Christ? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

Update on My Knee Surgeries at 12 Weeks

My Double Knee Surgery and Recovery —  An Update after 12 Weeks with Complications

A lot of friends and good folks have asked me, “How are things going with your knees now that its been almost 3 months?” So, here is a short update.

Knowing that it takes one year for the full benefits of knee surgery, I have to be patient (which I am not). I’m the kind of guy that tells the Lord, “I want patience — and I want it now!” I know the whole operation and everything leading up to it were completely divine providence, so I am waiting to understand why there are recent complications.

My left knee is doing very well with good mobility and only minor  pain and discomfort. I can now consistently get a 120° bend which is quite good. That means it bends back more than 90° which is as good as can be expected.

However, my right knee is the “problem child” and has caused me a good bit of pain and discomfort. I can get around, but this knee makes it difficult. The scar tissue and other complications brought me back to the hospital June 14 (one week from this update) for a further procedure.

The knee was not bending like the other one — I could only get about a 90° — 105° bend and with pain. It was always stiff like a piece of wood — and sore. The doctor does not know why this knee is responding differently.

So on June 14 he put me under anesthetic and did a non-surgical “manual knee manipulation” which means he pushed my leg from a 90° angle backwards to 120°. Yikes indeed!

Wow — I was glad to be out cold and unaware. The nurses said they could hear the cracking and grinding and crunching as the scar tissue and obstructions were broken away in the new titanium knee joint. Happily, there was no resulting pain the following day other than the normal swelling.

I can get more motion now with the right knee but it is still swollen and sore. They assure me the joint will improve with time.  Today I was measured at 113° bend after a lot of massaging and the therapist’s magic hands.

We all have an IT Band that runs on the outside of our leg from hip to ankle which stabilizes our legs as we walk. I learned that this IT Band is inflexible and can withstand 2000 pounds without stretching. It runs over the outside of the knee joint.

For some reason my IT Band is either rubbing the titanium joint or is inflamed but with certain movements it feels like a red hot poker jabbing me on the outside of my right knee. The therapists are massaging and kneading  with it but it has not helped for the last six weeks. I’ve learned to grit my teeth, grin and bear it. But they assure me this too will fade away with time.

I am doing physical therapy every day day for two weeks since the knee manipulation. But normally three times a week. The wonderful therapists are very encouraging, but I have to admit it is difficult. I am offering up the pain when I remember and continuing on with daily life. It is the uncertainty that drives me crazy. I meet the doctor again on June 29 for a medical update and we leave with 60 pilgrims for Poland on August 2.

Thanks for continued prayers for my patience, endurance and eventual full recovery in this right knee.  I know many other people are suffering far more than me with much more serious matters so I am not going to be a whiner, but I am learning empathy and sympathy for those who suffer. Until now I had no clue.

One last thought. I have learned a lot more of God’s marvelous handiwork. Our bodies are so complicated and wonderfully made. Each detail was careful designed by a incomprehensible Artist. It takes a lot more faith to be an atheist than it does to be a theist.

Psalm 139:14  “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

The post Update on My Knee Surgeries at 12 Weeks appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

Article and Video to Debunk: “The Trail of Blood: Baptist Successionism”

The Trail of Blood

by Steve Ray

What is the history of Baptists? Can they trace their roots back to the 1st century? Many “fundamentalist” Baptists believe they can. Are they correct?

There is a booklet that is very popular among this fundamentalist crowd. It is entitled “The Trail of Blood“. The booklet claims that Catholics persecuted the true Christians — the Baptists — leaving behind a trail of blood.

I used to believe this premise and now that I have looked more carefully I wrote an article about this booklet and this the idea Baptists are the true Christians that have survived Catholic attempts to destroy them. Here is how my article begins:

“When Baptists attempt to discover the origins of their tradition they are faced with a historical dilemma. The search for Baptists roots hits a dead end in the sixteenth century.

Most acknowledge that Baptist tradition is a tributary flowing out of the Protestant Reformation, but others attempt to discover a line of historical continuity, of doctrine and practice, back to Jesus and even John the Baptist. These Baptists are commonly referred to “Baptist Successionists”. . . “

Audio Podcast here.

-For my full article on the Trail of Blood, click here (pdf).
-For more such articles and letters, click here.

The post Article and Video to Debunk: “The Trail of Blood: Baptist Successionism” appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

Back to conferences with new knees

I gave talks at my 1st conference since my knee replacements. I stood for 2 hrs giving talks plus meeting with people without too much discomfort. Couldn’t be happier!

Caught up with my friend Dr Ted Sri.

There were 1500 people at the Marquette Michigan Eucharistic Congress. Delighted so many people came to this Eucharistic Congress in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior.

The post Back to conferences with new knees appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

Meaning of Sacred and Immaculate Hearts – Feast Days are Upon Us!

This is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and June 19 is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Saturday, June 20 is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

A non-Christian friend found two paintings at an art show and asked me, “What in the world are these? They seem to have pagan elements. What do they have to do with Jesus and Mary?”

Here is my explanation. If you readers have anything to add, please post it in the Comments below. Thanks.

Thanks my friend. Beautiful images. Full of biblical representation — NOT pagan influences. They are devotional images to remind Catholics of the sorrows of Jesus and Mary and the resultant purification, joy and new life that come from them.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Hearts represent love and life as the center of our being. Jesus’ heart beats with the fire of love (at the top of the heart) which was demonstrated at the cross. The fire also represents the purifying fire of God by which he purifies men. It exudes the transformative power of divine love.

The crown of thorns brought suffering which was endured for the love of man to redeem him — to bear man’s pain in his own heart. The cut in the heart is that made by the lance that was thrust through his heart when he was on the cross.

The blood dripping represents the new life secured through his death (life came through dead). The Blood of Jesus also cleanses us, washes us from sin. The result is the heart of man (below surrounded by flowers) is given new life. The flowers represent a garden of delights, new life, freshness. The Garden of Eden which brought about death by sin is now replaced by the Garden of Heaven which brings new life because of holiness and the work of Christ.

Adam and Eve experienced death at the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden; The New Adam (Jesus) brings about life at the Tree of Death (the cross) in another garden (John 19:41). This cross is at the top of the heart. Heaven and the glory of God are represented by the clouds and the blazing sun or heavenly light from God behind the hearts.

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary:
This one is similar to the Sacred Heart. The roses surrounding Mary’s heart represent her sinlessness and purity, sweetness and new life. The seven swords piercing the top of the heart represent the “Seven Sorrows of Mary,” (“Mater Dolorosa”).

The first of her sorrows was the Prophecy of Simeon that a sword would pierce her soul because of her son’s death (Luke 2:35), 2) their flight into Egypt, 3) the loss of Jesus in the Temple; 4) the fourth sorrow is Mary watching Jesus carry the cross, 5) the crucifixion imagining a mother watching her son die this way; 6) receiving his limp, cold body after the crucifixion, 7) the body of her son buried in the tomb.

When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple as a baby the prophet Simeon said that the life and death of Jesus would be like a sword that would pierce her soul (Luke 2:35). The 2nd heart, the one of Mary surrounded by roses, shows a cut in it which is symbolic of her sorrows. But her sorrows have brought us new life and pure hearts represented by the garden of roses below.

The Mystic Rose:
The mystic rose, symbolizes Mary’s mystical participation in the Holy Trinity as Heaven’s Rose or Mystical Rose. In medieval times the mystic rose symbol was drawn with four petals on a stain glass background or on a multi-colored background like a popular quilt pattern which is still stitched today.

Conclusion:
It is a very popular and insightful devotion to Jesus and his mother — the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Every aspect is taken from the Bible and nicely illustrated in the pictures. This is a marvelous Catholic devotion.

The post Meaning of Sacred and Immaculate Hearts – Feast Days are Upon Us! appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

What do I think about LGBT and the Transgender Movement?

What do I think of the Transgender Agenda and Preferred Pronouns?All of us will have come to grips with this issue since it is not going away any time soon AND it is going to eventually confront you whether you like it or not.You certainly already know what I think but Megan Kelly, once of Transgender proponent, tells it like it is. I agree with almost everything she says. It is worth a listen, and definitely worth sharing.

The post What do I think about LGBT and the Transgender Movement? appeared first on Defenders of the Catholic Faith.