Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 61

Day 8: Mass inside the Tomb! Western Wall & More

We walked the Via Dolorosa and then a very special Mass inside the tomb, with the door closed for just us. Amazing and you’ll like the video of it.

We touched the top of Calvary and went to the Western Wall and saw some brand new art here at the Notre Dame. Powerful, very good!

We are making a second video today which will come out tomorrow about farewells and comments and the people departing for home.

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St. Polycarp’s name does not mean “many fish”

Today is the Feast Day of the Great Bishop and Saint Polycarp on February 23. When we converted to the Catholic Church my son Jesse chose St. Polycarp as his patron saint because of his great heroism.

We filmed the whole life of St. Polycarp on location. I feel like I know him.

The name Polycarp sounds funny to our English ears, but in Greek it comes from two words “poly” meaning many or much, and “carp” meaning fruit. Obviously his Christian parents named him Polycarp along with a prayer that he would bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God — which he did.

To learn the whole story of St. Polycarp, on location, watch our new DVD “Apostolic Fathers: Handing on the Faith” along with a 28-page Study Guide.

Download a Free Copy of the
Apostolic Fathers Timeline

This amazing Timeline drives home the point of how close these men were to Jesus and the Apostles.
It demonstrates how Catholic the first Christians really were!

 

 

The Apostolic Fathers faced Emperors, heretics and lions but these heroes of the Catholic faith never lost courage. Chains, prisons and blood-soaked arenas did not stop the early Christians from witnessing for Christ and handing on the Apostolic Tradition.

Strap on your sandals and step back in time to discover the “Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith”

Comprehensive 28-Page Study Guide
Behind the Scenes: The Making of Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith
Bloopers and Outtakes
Conversation with Steve Ray and Fr. Benedict Groeschel
English and Spanish subtitles
Feature running time: 90 minutes, extras 30 minutes

Buy it NOW here

Link to Eyewitness Account of his martyrdom. Link to Letter he wrote to Philippians. Link to letter St. Ignatius wrote to Polycarp.

Fascinating Quote from St. Irenaeus about St. Polycarp

“When I was a boy . . . I remember the events of that time more clearly than those of recent years. For what boys learn, growing with their mind, becomes joined with it; so that I am able to describe the very place in which the blessed Polycarp sat as he discoursed, and his goings out and his comings in, and the manner of his life, and his physical appearance, and his discourses to the people, and the accounts which he gave of his [interaction] with John and with the others who had seen the Lord.

And as he remembered their words, and what he heard from them concerning the Lord, and concerning his miracles and his teaching, having received them from eyewitnesses of the ‘Word of life,’ Polycarp related all things in harmony with the Scriptures. These things being told me by the mercy of God, I listened to them attentively, noting them down, not on paper, but in my heart. And continually, through God’s grace, I recall them faithfully (Irenaeus quoted in Eusebius, History of the Church 5, 20 in NPNF 2nd, 1:238-139).

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Day 7: Ash Wednesday at Notre Dame, Israel Museum, Jordan River, Jericho, Camels, Dead Sea

Today is Ash Wednesday and we’re navigating the special requirements during a pilgrimage. Mass at the Notre Dame Center with ashes, then a drive to the Israel Museum to see the model of the city in the 1st century and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Then we descend down 4,250 feet to the lowest place on the face of the Earth. That would be the Jordan River near the northern tip of the Dead Sea. We renewed our baptismal vows and prayed the 1st Luminous Mystery.

A visit to a Hebron glass shop in Jericho and we saw a sycamore tree (remember Zacchaeus?) We also saw the the Mountain of Temptations where the devil offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Then touring and lunch at Qumran.

Then all the real fun begins with floating in the Dead Sea and the camel rides before coming back up to Jerusalem for the exquisite and elegant dinner on the roof of the Notre Dame at the cCheese & Wine Restaurant.

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Day 6: Gethsemane, Mt of Olives, Upper Room, Peter in Gallicantu

Cloudy and cool today, but very delightful. Better than hot! We started out at Gethsemane for a very emotional Mass at the rock where Jesus sweat drops of blood. The medical term for that is hematidrosis. We saw the 2000 year old olive trees.

Then up to the top of the Mount of Olives for the Paternoster Church where Jesus taught his disciples to pray the Our Father, and from which he ascended into heaven.

Lunch of beef Shawarmas overlooking the city of Jerusalem, and then to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room and the prison where Jesus was kept in Saint Peter in Gallicantu. A little free time this afternoon for everyone, much deserved I must say.

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Frank Pavone Update

Crisis Magazine has published today an excellent article on Frank Pavone. Not only was he defrocked by the Vatican but now has been charged with sexual harassment allegations.

This article is a detailed assessment of the credible charges against him, how he has failed to respond appropriately, and what he should do for the good of the Church and the pro-life movement.

https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/what-should-we-think-about-the-pavone-affair

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Day 5: All Day Bethlehem and the Birth of Our Lord

Today is always a favorite for a lot of our pilgrims. At 8 o’clock we drive through the “security fence“ into Bethlehem. It’s really not a fence, but a 30 foot wall. Israel built that wall to protect themselves from terrorists who came into Jerusalem from Bethlehem — and since they built the wall, the terrorism attacks with bombs have stopped. It’s been over 10 years.

We arrive at the olivewood store where people love to do their Christmas shopping and bring back religious items as memories of the trip. Mass in a cave at Shepherds Field and then Shawarma sandwiches.

From there we go to the Church of Nativity and jostle with the crowds to touch the birthplace of Jesus in the grotto below. We pray the Mystery of the Nativity there.

Next is our whole lamb dinner, which is always quite an event for our folks. Then the young Christian Dabka dancers come out in their traditional dress and do a performance for us before all of us get up and dance with them. It’s a hilarious and rumpus good time. (The dancing is on a separate Vimeo video) Then back to the hotel in Jerusalem.

DINNER AND DANCING

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Hair Cut only Once a Year

David had a very handsome son. His name was Absalom and he betrayed his father the king and led a rebellion against him. The Bible says that Absalom was “beautiful“ and he only cut his hair once a year. Here is what the Bible says about him:

“Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his beauty as Absalom; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight” (2 Sam 14:25-26).

The pile of hair left on the floor each year, after Absalom’s haircut, weighed 200 shekels. How much is 200 shekels? It is an amazing 4.4 pounds!

Now, do you remember how Absalom died in his fight against his father, King David?

“Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging [presumably by his hair] between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on….

“Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him” (2 Sam 18:9, 14-15 ).

What was Absalom thinking about as he was hanging between heaven and earth?  I have to believe he was wishing he’d gotten his hair cut a bit earlier that year!And notice, the Scripture says Absalom was left hanging between heaven and earth — almost a implication that the traitor was condemned and unworthy of heaven or earth.Remember Judas? What did he do to his king, Jesus? And how did Judas die?

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Day 4: Mass at Capernaum, Boat Ride, Peter’s Fish, Visitation & Jerusalem

Today was the big move from our hotel in Tiberias to Jerusalem. We started the day getting everything loaded up on the bus and we headed to Capernaum for Mass at the House of St. Peter. Very unique glass floor looking down into the area where Jesus lived for three years with Peter. I gave my talk “Defending the Eucharist“.

We took a boat ride out on the sea of Galilee, which is a favorite for everyone. I share my experience of fishing all night with two Jewish fishermen. Then we ate St. Peter’s fish at the German Benedictine retreat center.

Drove to Jerusalem with a stop along the way and I told my conversion story on the bus. and we arrived at the Visitation to talk about Mary and the special event that took place with Elizabeth in Ein Kerem, a subdivision of Jerusalem. People are always amazed that Mary walked almost 100 miles to visit Elizabeth

Then we arrived at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem and settled in for the night.

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Protestant Heaven vs. Catholic Heaven – Simpson Style

This got a chuckle out of me so I thought you might like it to.

In a dream Marge sees Bart and Homer convert to the Catholic Church and go to Catholic heaven, leaving her behind in Protestant heaven, to her chagrin.

Click HERE.

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Day 3: Beatitudes, Banias, Syrian border, Tabgha, Primacy, Dinner in Nazareth

Busy day today in northern Israel and around the Sea of Galilee. Beatitudes for Mass, up to Caesarea Philippi where I give my talk in titled “Peter: the Rock, the Keys and the Chair.“

Druze Bread Sandwiches in the Golan Heights, then overlooking the border with Syria, explaining the situation here in the Middle East, then down to the Sea of Galilee for the Primacy of Peter and the Multiplication of loaves at Tabgha.

Some free time and then a fantastic dinner at an upscale restaurant in Nazareth overlooking the Church of the Annunciation.

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