The Rewards of Perseverence

Parable of the Sower by Jacopo Bassano

Below is an interpretation of the Parable of the Sower derived from Dr. Tim Gray’s Reflection on the Gospel reading for 29 Sept 2025 (Luke 8:4-15).

I have heard this parable hundreds of times. I understood the literal metaphor that described the different types of soil, or groups of persons who are exposed to the Gospel and either reject it (the first three sowings), or accept it (the fourth sowing). 

 

But Gray makes it so much more personal and applicable to me in my current situation.

 

The fourth sowing.

Of the fourth sowing, Matthew writes: “...they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” (NAB)

 

The Three Metaphor Representations

(1) The seeds represent proclamations of truth. (2) The sower represents the people proclaiming truth (the Good News). (3) The soil represents the people who hear the truth. 

 

1st Level Meaning

Hearers of the word must persevere through trials with good and generous hearts if they are to bear fruit (and be saved). 

 

2nd Level Meaning

The trials or obstacles hearers must persevere through are described by the first three sowings:

 

a. The time and effort it takes to imbue faith in one’s own life in the midst of a pagan society’s bombastic lies and corruption  (the birds of the sky that eat the seeds).

 

b. The time and effort it takes to defend oneself and grow roots in times of persecution and avoiding falling away from the faith (the rocky ground where roots could not grow and faith withered for lack of moisture).

 

c.  The time and effort it takes to weed out anxiety, worry, destructive distractions, worldly pleasures, and false promises (the thorns and thistles that choke off the seed’s growth).

 

This is where it got personal with me. But after years of spending most of my retirement savings developing, producing, and distributing media, I can measure little effect, influence, or revenue. 

 

I believe many, many people (in various industries) are in similar predicaments. 

 

It’s here that the Parable of the Sower may have some meaning. 

 

3rd Level Meaning

Sowers of the word must persevere through trials with good and generous hearts if they are to bear fruit and be a positive influence on the lost. 

 

4th Level Meaning

The trials or obstacles sowers must persevere through are described by the first three sowings:

 

a. It takes time and effort of the sower to influence faith in another’s life, especially in the midst of a pagan society’s bombastic lies and corruption  (the birds of the sky that eat the seeds).

 

b. It takes time and effort of the sower for their efforts to take root in times when the sower’s efforts are hampered by persecution and their faith is challenged (the rocky ground where roots could not grow and faith withers for lack of moisture).

 

c.  It takes time and effort to weed out the sower’s own anxiety, worry, destructive distractions, worldly pleasures, and false promises (the thorns and thistles that coked off the seed’s growth).

Early Reviews for TIGER's HOPE

Here are three early reviews for my short Catholic Edge novel, Tiger's Hope. My thanks to those below and the 15 others who promised to read and review it.  To read more about the novel based on real events, watch the two trailer videos, or to purchase here's the LINK or click on the image at right.

Absolutely Beautiful and Unforgettable.

Tiger’s Hope is one of those rare novels that stays with you long after you finish it. It’s raw, emotional, and deeply human — a story about faith, love, and what it truly means to be a mother. Tiger, a blues singer who can’t have children, finds herself caught in a heartbreaking IVF mix-up that tests everything she believes in. The story moves from tragedy to grace with such honesty that I found myself crying one chapter and smiling the next. Stanley D. Williams writes with warmth, wisdom, and a cinematic touch that makes every scene come alive. The ending is powerful, redemptive, and beautifully earned. If you love stories about hope, courage, and the mysterious ways love finds us, you’ll fall in love with Tiger’s Hope.
—Henry Ede

 

Good Story and IVF Eye Opener

Tiger's Hope handles a difficult and controversial subject with true-to-life characters, woven through an engaging plot that Williams brings to a masterful climax. This book is unique if for no other reason than it tackles the much-debated topic of in-vitro fertilization and does so with great realism. Tiger's Hope is at once entertaining and provocative.
—Dr. Miller

 

Good Characters & Plenty of Twists

Tiger's Hope is an engaging novel about a hot-button topic in today's news--IVF. Along with telling a good story composed of many twists and turns in the plot, it also does a good job explaining the IVF procedure which I daresay most people are unaware of and its far-reaching consequences. The author includes the moral and religious aspects of IVF intertwined in a good read. It is a solid story and is highly informative. It's scary to think that it was based on real life events!
—CL

The Traditional Latin Mass vs the Novus Ordo ... in My Experience

Oct. 26, 2025 TLM at St. Joseph Shine, Detroit, MI. 
This was Christ the King Mass with Perrone
conducting a double-wind orchestra, choir
and five professional soloists. Amazing!

Granted my experience with the Catholic Mass is limited. I've been a Catholic since Easter 1998, after 50 years as a Protestant Evangelical. 

I also came into the Church because I started to attend Mass at nearby St. James C.C. (Novi, MI), where Fr. Jame Cronk celebrated the Novus Ordo (New Order) Mass (NO). It was in English and I understood what was going on. Pam came into the church 9 months later and years later we wrote a mostly humorous memoir about our Catholic journey: Growing Up Christian: Searching for a Reasonable Faith in the Heartland of America. 

A somewhat shorter version and reasons for my coming into the Church is found in this post: Corpus Christi - A commentary on John 6.

The last orchestra TLM Mass
at Assumption Grotto after the
bishop's prohibition. Perrone is
is conducting. 

My closest Catholic friends at the time where "Latin" Catholics who attended the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) at Assumption Grotto Catholic Church in Detroit, and I often attended their Masses, especially the orchestra Masses that their priest, Fr. Eduardo Perrone (a true composter and maestro) conducted with members of the Detroit Symphony and professional soloists.) 

Both my "Latin Catholic" friends have died, and I suspect they are praying for me, because since their deaths I've taken a more intense interest in the TLM, and have grown cold to the NO. In short, I have found the TLM liturgy and rubrics much more reverent than the NO. The TLM also requires a deeper intellectual and spiritual participation. The NO was developed to increase participation by the congregation, but just the opposite has happened. IN the TLM Mass I find myself concentrating on the words in the Missal in my hands, during the time the celebrant is praying quietly before the altar. The Latin responses also require study and practice (since it is new for me). 

Pam continues to attend the NO Masses at St. James and Holy Family where she is involved both a small group leadership, being a lector, and playing her flute in an ensemble for Mass. 

When I attend the NO Masses I miss the reverence that the TLM affords.

I'm also disappointed (and distracted) at the lack of reverence NO congregants demonstrate. At every NO Mass I attend here in Michigan, there is chatting among people before Mass, only the male ushers are wearing suit coats, most congregant men are in casual wear and even shorts and T-shirts in the winter months. Many of the women and girls are wearing slacks, shorts, short-skirts, no head-coverings, and spend their time visiting with friends. I've seen both men and women and kids in flip-flops. After communion in a NO Mass I witness about 10% of the congregants immediately leave the church. And after the recessional only 5% stay behind to pray. 

Teen girls waiting for daily Latin Mass at
St. Joseph C.C. in Jacksonville, FL.
October 4, 2025. 

The Latin Masses see the opposite behavior. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The picture at right does this. I took this during a speaking tour in Jacksonville, FL. I had just left an 8 AM Saturday morning NO Mass attended by the conference attendees that I was to speak to later in the day. These young ladies were waiting for the daily Latin Mass that was to start at 9 AM in the historic St. Joseph Church, a small building next to the massive new church across the parking lot. They are wearing dressy sandals NOT flip-flops. The skirts are long and modest. Their heads are covered.  My friends in Jacksonville told me that the Catholics there are very spiritually oriented, and indeed when I attended the NO Mass in the large church the next day, I witnessed a reverence that I do not experience in Michigan. BUT I took note that St. Joseph in Jacksonville had no trouble celebrating both the NO and TLM side by side. Perhaps the lesson is that the TLM imbues reverence in the Catholic Community that carries over into the NO. 

Lastly, yesterday, I attended the Low Mass at St. Joseph's Shrine, here in Detroit, MI. Gone was the orchestra, choir, and soloists of the previous Sunday's High Mass. Rather than 2+ hours long the Low Mass was only an hour. There was no  processional or recessional. No deacon or subdeacon. No sprinkling. The congregant responses were few and only one was loud enough to hear (Domine, non sum dignus....). The priest rarely turned around to face the people. The Kyrie and Sanctus were not sung. The organist was not the best. Except for the cries of babies (there were many babies and a few crying) the Mass was nearly silent. The only congregational singing was the closing hymn, and we sang all six verses. 

AND YET...

---The church was packed.

Bell Tower, St. Joseph, Detroit

---There was no chatting or visiting before, during, or after Mass

---All the men were dressed in suit jackets and good shoes.

---No one wore shorts, short skirts, T-shirts, or flip-flops.

---Nearly all of the women's heads were veiled and they wore long, floor-length dresses. 

---Children over the age of two (except for two) sat still, eyes front, and some very young ones held missals and pretended to read.  

---Most of the Mass we were on our knees, reading our missals, or heads bowed in prayer.

---NO ONE left after distribution of communion

---After the final hymn, 90% of the congregants stayed in their pews to pray.

---And most miraculous, during the consecration, (when even during a High Mass there is no music and no singing) and the only sound is the bells ringing continuously from the bell tower outside, EVEN THE CRYING BABIES WHERE SILENT.

AND YET, THE LAST TWO POPES (FRANCIS AND LEO) AND A GROWING NUMBER OF BISHOPS (INCLUDING THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN DETROIT - Archbishop Edward Weisenburger) ARE REPRESSING OR PROHIBITING THE LATIN MASS. They have their reasons, but I wonder if they are aware of the unintended consequences. Pray the TLM is made available to everyone all the time. We need to return to the worship of God with all due reverence. Traditionis Custodes is a huge mistake being used by Satan.

For me, my intentions are never again to attend a NO Mass. Only Latin. I have much to learn.

A well-produced and eye-opening documentary about the origins of the NO Mass and the depth and beauty of the TLM is the trilogy MASS OF THE AGES. Watch it for free on Youtube.  

(L to R) Pam Williams, Fr. Eduardo Perrone, Stan Williams
following the Christ the King orchestra Mass at 
St. Joseph Shrine, Detroit, MI Oct. 26, 2025.

(See also: The Latin Mass My Story - Feb. 22, 2025)

Today we Celebrate the Crux of Human History

My father, Ben Williams, was the Sunday School Superintendent of the Ferndale Free Methodist Church for many years from 1930–1950. During that time he also taught an adult Bible class based on a monthly periodical called The Sunday School Times.

The Sunday School Times was published from 1859–1966. In 1859 it was the size of a regular newspaper.  After the turn of the century it was reduced to the size of a magazine, although very thin. It ceased publication in 1966 (https://www.loc.gov/item/sn97067021/)

My father had stacks of these valuable periodicals around the house. Their gold mine was the expository teaching of the weekly and daily Bible readings. Included were DAILY lesson readings that led up to Sunday.  Included were Lesson Plans, a Lesson Story, Teaching Points, Illustrations, Teaching Hints, Lesson Analysis, and notes by scholars, etc.  (On-Line Google Books has the older issues on line for viewing.)  The lessons were on a 3 year cycle, meaning that every 3 years a teacher would teach on the same Bible passages, but from a different perspective, particularly as it related to current events.

Vol 67 Issue 33, August 15, 1925

As a child I knew that the Bible lessons had been pre-established years before and that they were repeated in a cycle to reinforce Biblical truths. Dad was “religious” in his application of the strategy. 

What I don’t remember, but was true, is that four Bible Readings were included, from:

• Old Testament
• Psalm
• New Testament Epistle
• Gospel.

These were not randomly selected, but were interrelated. Today they’re collected in a book called the Lectionary.  Most denominations have a lectionary. The idea comes from the Jewish community which had a standardized schedule of readings from the Torah. We read of Jesus reading from this selection in Luke 4:16-21 when He began his public ministry.

14th century Lectionary giving the prologue of 

John in Greek and Arabic followed by a commentary

That practice carried over to the Christian Church. There are ancient lectionary lists of readings. But until there were printed Bibles and a literate population (beginning in the 15th century), the Lectionary Readings were known only to the well-educated and those who had access to a Bible, which were rare and expensive. 

Today’s Lectionary Readings was amazing to me, especially their interrelationship. Each morning before I get out of bed I listen to several devotion audio. The daily Mass Readings come from Augustine Institute's AMEN app. Then I listen to Dr. Tim Gray's reflections on those readings. Fascinating insights.

Here are today's readings and Gray's insights (abbreviated)

But, first you need to know that today is March 25…exactly nine months (per the Gregorian Calendar) before the Birth of Christ. It is the solemn celebration of the Annunciation of the Lord. It is the curx of history, the INCARNATION, when God became man. 

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!”

Psalm 40:7-11

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave ME (Jesus is referenced here). Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.” 

The response to this Psalm (said antiphonally by the congregation is “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”

WHAT I MISS IN THIS RESPONSE AND PSALM IS THAT THE INTERPRETATION OF THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME OR YOU SAYING TO GOD "I WILL DO YOUR WILL," but THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS SAYING TO GOD, “HERE I AM LORD; I COME TO DO YOUR WILL.”  Jesus says to God, “I will do your will and become a human being.”  This interpretation is clear in the next reading.

Hebrews 10:4-10

It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins: Therefore when Christ came…he said….Here I am, I have come to do your will.

Luke 1:26-28

This is the story of Gabriel appearance to Mary, and Mary saying “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”  THE INCARNATION HAPPENS. BANG! HISTORY WILL CHANGE DRAMATICALLY, FOREVER AND EVER. 

Here’s what caught me by surprise.

In these readings we have TWO Fiats.  (I don’t mean Italian cars). Fiat is a Latin word that means “LET IT BE DONE” as an authoritative order or decree.

Yes, we’ve all heard of Mary’s FIAT, “Let it be done unto me…..” but I never realized until this morning that just as Mary gave her FIAT to God, Jesus does the same in Psalm 40 as interpreted in Hebrews 10… “I will come to do your will.”  There is Jesus’ FIAT to God.

Not that we, as Christians, would expect anything else, but that these FIATS which changed all of human history are together in the readings for one day, March 25…a day in the middle of Lent when we suspend our fasting and celebrate  the Incarnation.

The INCARNATION is so important, that many Christians around the world pray the Angelus every weekday at Noon. If you’re in many European cities at noon, and here the church bells, it’s not to mark midday, it’s to mark the Incarnation. Look around you. You’ll see people kneeling in the middle of the street, bowing their heads and praying the Angelus.  I had one friend who did this all the time, even in a public restaurant. It was shocking at first, but when taken against the backdrop of eternity, it is very meaningful. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelus

Finally, below (the image) is a 3 min clip I produced a while back based on a short segment of Stan Walter’s Basic Christianity Lecture No. 4 Getting Information About God. This 3 minutes is excerpted from the longer lecture that is linked here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zty5cyR_OdM

Click image for 3 min excerpt

The Latin Mass - My Story

Actually, my story is not important, although the short essay below is how I came to discover an extraordinary documentary series on YouTube. So, skip my story and link here to the documentary. Discover what makes the Latin Mass unique, why everything changed after Vatican II, and how Catholics worldwide are striving to restore Tradition.

(See also: The Traditional Latin Mass vs Novus Ordo ... in My Experience - Nov 3, 2025)

I resisted Catholicism for the first half of my life, and the Latin version of it for years after I became Catholic.

Yet, long before I became Catholic I had two close professional friends who were Latin Catholics. Ray Long Jr. was a writer/producer on my staff, and after we parted he often freelanced for my production company. Ed Wolfrum was the token white engineer at MoTown Records and a genius in all things audio. As a freelancer, Ed often was the sound engineer and recordist on my film crews. 

Assumption Grotto C.C. - Detroit

But Ray and Ed had another thing in common. They were what I called Latin Catholics. They attended Assumption Grotto Catholic Church in Detroit, where Fr. Eduardo Perrone was pastor. Perrone was unique among Catholic priests, at least in Detroit. Not only was he a weekly celebrant of the Tridentine Latin Mass in the basilica-plan Neo-Gothic limestone and marble church, but he's a world-class composer and conductor, having occasionally directed the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and having composed many sacred, classical, modern, and Mass compositions. Several times a year he will conduct DSO musicians, professional soloists, and the Grotto choir and organ in one of the world famous Mass settings by Mozart, Bach or his own Mass compositions, while at the other end of the church a High Solemn Tridentine Mass is celebrated, complete with bells, incense, 14 altar servers, candles and sacred altar choreography. These were/are heavenly experiences not to be missed.  Ed often made professional recordings of the music which today are available on CDs, of which I have five. 

Ed was my sponsor when I came into the Catholic Church, although it was not at Grotto but at St. James of Novi, miles to the West. Ray was a close friend, and between the two they occasionally corralled me to Latin Masses, especially if the orchestra was present. I loved the mystery and aesthetic of the Latin Mass with the dramatic classical, live orchestra, Gregorian chant and organ. 

I claimed that the Novus Ordo (New Order) Mass (aka the English Catholic Lite Mass) was instrumental in bringing me into the Catholic Church because of its emphasis on Scripture, it's orientation to the people (like Evangelical churches) and that I could understand the liturgy. But there was always an attraction to the mystical Latin worship of God that took me out of my everyday environment and forced me to focus on God and not the personalities of the priest, deacon, cantors, or readers.

Christmas High Mass at Grotto

I came into the Catholic Church in 1998. Now, 26 years later, the mystical, and historic Mass of the ages is attracting me with its mystery, history, and intellectual fervor. Lately, I've been attending, but not understanding, except for the subjective sense of worship that accompanies the reverence shown about the altar and the Gregorian chant and organ that comes from behind in the balcony. So, I purchased a 1962 Daily Missal, and spent a half day understanding how it works. 

Roman Catholic Daily Missal (English/Latin) - 1962

Many people at Latin Masses use these thick interlinear (Latin & English) books throughout the Mass. I'm looking forward the my first Sunday with the Missal in hand and following along with the priests, attendants, choir, and organ. 

Then I discovered something extraordinary, on YouTube of all places.  Cameron O'Hearn's three documentaries (48m, 71m, & 88m) tracing the history of and details of how the Traditional Latin Mass was sidelined (mostly, but not entirely) by Vatican II modernists in favor of the newly created Novus Ordo Mass that jettisoned 2/3rds of the Traditional Latin Mass developed over the centuries from the time of the Apostles. Although I consider the changes sad, if not scandalous, the message at the end of Episode 3, draws hopeful parallels to the story of Jesus sleeping in the back of Peter's boat during a storm. It has convinced me that Satan has infiltrated the Church and continues to attempt to marginalize and dumb it down so fewer and fewer people will embrace the historic truth of Christianity. I encourage all to watch the series and start attending the Latin Mass. 

God Will Come to Us When We Obey

 

Second reading from the Office of Readings 4 Dec 2024

From a sermon by Saint Bernard, Abbott

God’s Word will come to us

THREE COMINGS OF THE LORD

We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two; it is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among men; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on him whom they pierced. The intermediate coming is a hidden one; in it only the elect see the Lord within their own selves, and they are saved. In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming he comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming he will be seen in glory and majesty.

THE MIDDLE IS A ROAD BETWEEN

Because this coming lies between the other two, it is like a road on which we travel from the first coming to the last. In the first, Christ was our redemption; in the last, he will appear as our life; in this middle coming, he is our rest and consolation.

CAUSE AND EFFECT

In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself says: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. There is another passage of Scripture which reads: He who fears God will do good, but something further has been said about the one who loves, that is, that he will keep God’s word. Where is God’s word to be kept? Obviously in the heart, as the prophet says: I have hidden your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. Keep God’s word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.

If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you. The Son with the Father will come to you. The great Prophet who will build the new Jerusalem will come, the one who makes all things new. This coming will fulfill what is written: As we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, we shall also bear the likeness of the heavenly man. Just as Adam’s sin spread through all mankind and took hold of all, so Christ, who created and redeemed all, will glorify all, once he takes possession of all.

An Instagram follower asked some questions (in red below) about Catholicism. I asked that he write contact me via email, since the answer was too long for an IG comment. He did. Below is my answer.

Hi JR,

A bit about me and then I’ll try to answer questions you posed.  This will be long…but no apologies…well, it is an apology, of sorts…a defense of the Catholic faith.

My comments below, aside from my personal story, are the teachings of the Church, as best as I can explain them. They are NOT MY personal opinion. I hope to only convey what the Church teaches, not my own interpretation of Christianity. IMHO the buck stops with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), which is on-line and searchable ( https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/

Paperbacks and hardbacks are also available from most booksellers.

The CCC documents the centuries old evolved theology of the Church, it can be complicated, although historically well footnoted and referenced, and so there are trustworthy organizations who can explain Catholic teachings in plain language, and better than me, such as: https://www.catholic.com/

My  wife and I were born and raised in functional Evangelical Christian homes in Michigan. Our relationship with Christ has always been very personal from childhood. We raised 3 children and now have 10 grandchildren. All but one of our children and grandchildren and still Evangelical Christians. The story for our switch to Catholicism is long and humorous. I’m a writer and filmmaker and together Pam and I wrote a book about it. https://stanwilliams.com/NINEVEHSCROSSING/Order-GUC.php

I don’t need to sell the book to you. If you like I’ll give you a paperback or PDF.

The switch to Catholicism had all the normal doubts, as you expressed in your Instagram post: “I just don’t get the whole Pope obsession and worshipping Mother Mary aspect of Catholicism. Focus on Jesus.”

Those are honest issues and ones both Pam and I had, originally. 

But to back up, for me, I didn’t come to Catholicism because I “got” the Mary thing or the Pope thing. I have always been trying to figure out what church was the true Church. Being raised in a Bible believing (Jesus) home, I never doubted the authenticity of Christ as God incarnate, or the Gospel message, or the trustworthiness of the (Protestant) Bible. My faith was always strong, and even today as a Catholic my trust in the Bible or Christ has not wained, but in fact (as a Catholic) grown stronger. 

My break from Evangelicalism came in my late 40’s when I decided to resolve a life-long Christian contradiction. The problem I had, and had recognized from my teen years, was that there were multiple Evangelical and Protestant faith traditions (Baptist, numerous varieties), Methodists (several different kinds), Lutherans (there are 120 different Lutheran groups), and then a horde of different other Evangelical groups (my family was Free Methodists, which is very similar to Wesleyan Methodists, and Nazarenes.) 

What I realized in my teen years is that THEY ALL DISAGREED WITH EACH OTHER ON THE ESSENTIALS OF SALVATION, WORSHIP, DOGMA, AND PRACTICE. Yet, they all claimed to be led by the Holy Spirit in interpreting the Bible. But their detailed interpretations were all subtly different and fights and divisions broke out among the groups over these things. They didn’t disagree on the “non-essentials” as they often claimed. They refused to fellowship and worship with each other. Their disagreements were essential issues, to them. They disregarded Jesus’ prayer in John 17 that Christians all be ONE so the world would know that God the Father had sent his son into the world. But we weren’t one. We are separated and fighting. In my first 50 years of life I lived thorugh several church splits, mostly among independent churches, when the people and the pastor disagreed on what the Bible taught. It was an amazing contradiction to me, and not a paradox.

The disagreements continue to this day and are exacerbated on social media posts like TikTok and IG.

When our children became adults, moved out, got married, and had children of their own... I had time to contemplate and research the Protestant (protesting) problem. I decided the Holy Spirit was not schizophrenic; we Evangelical Christians were. But who was right? As I had before, I started church hoping, talking to theologians, and reading various protestant church documents. I was amazing how they all disagreed and yet claimed to only disagree on the non-essentials. I did that for 2 1/2  years, each Sunday always going to church (somewhere), always reading my Bible and praying, et al. My wife, Pam, continued at the independent church we had raised our children at…two of them ended up marrying out of the teen youth group there, and where the still attend yet today. 

One day, (during my 2 1/2 years of research) out of frustration, and having avoided Catholicism, I walked into the local Catholic Church. Actually, there were 5 nearby Catholic parishes. I walked into the closest one and attended Mass. What happened in the next three weeks surprised me. Several of the things I had been told about Catholicism were clearly false. 

(1) They didn’t read the Bible….yet the first half of every (Novus Ordo) Mass is all Scripture from the OT, Psalms, NT Epistles, and a Gospel.   

(2) Catholics don’t know what they believe…yet everyone in the congregation (which was large) recited the Nicene Creed without having to read the text….except me. I was familiar with the Nicene Creed (which is longer than the Apostles Creed) but I didn’t know it by heart and I was embarrassed. 

(3) Catholics worshiped saints (and Mary) and not Jesus…except the entire Mass was centered around the person and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was invoked more than 50 times during the Mass 

 

(4) Catholics are into repetitive ritual and just go through the motions…I think this can be true for many Catholics, just as it is for Protestants, the rituals are just different. Some Evangelicals today will sing the same 8 word lyrics in a praise song, 50-60 times, invoking the idea of “vain repetitions.”  But the second half of the Mass, while all ritual, caught my attention because it was essentially a 30-minute prayer (of articulate and uplifting words) in worship to Jesus Christ... for his sacrifice, his salvation, his grace, and God’ mercy, all ending in communion ("For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he comes again"  - 1 Corinthians 11:26… and yes, the second half of the Mass is almost all Scripture as well.) 

That began my 8-month investigation into the dogma, doctrine, practices, and devotions of the Roman Catholic Church. I won’t go into it all now, of course, but there was an evening when I realized that Catholicism was Church Jesus founded, and everyone else (including the Orthodox) was protesting something that was taught by Christ and the Apostles from the first century. While I had found numerous logical and linguistic contradictions in Evangelical and Protestant Christianity (between what they stated doctrinally and how I interpreted the Bible), I FOUND NO LOGICAL OR LINGUISTIC CONTRADICTION between the Bible and Roman Catholic doctrine. 

(This all happened as I was writing my doctoral dissertation that involved a deep analysis of logical and linguist fallacies…which I was able to identify in Protestantism and yet could not find in Catholicism.)

Now, that realization did not come quickly. It took me 8 months of reading dozens of books (by Catholic theologians and apologists), studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and comparing it all to the Bible and Evangelical and Protestant teachings.  There was a moment, however, when the scales fell off my eyes, and I turned from skeptics to advocate, and became anxious to come into the Catholic Church. My wife and I have a large blog of many articles and essays. Here in the one that explains the turning point for me; it’s a commentary on John 6.

https://ninevehscrossing.blogspot.com/2016/08/corpus-christi-commentary-on-john-6.html#more

The realization of what Christ taught in John 6 was very surprising to me, because as a teen I had memorized large portions of the Gospel of John for Bible Quizzing, in which I was active for years. But I had been blinded about understanding John 6, as the link above reveals.

Okay, enough for now. This is long. Let me comment on your post’s concerns:

1. Pope Obsession.

“Obsession" is perhaps an appropriate word for folks outside the Roman Church. I don’t obsess about the pope, but I can see how others see see it that way. Here are some thoughts:

The pope’s job is not to declare doctrine or dogma, although historically that does happen, but in a very collegiate way. Never has a pope declared a doctrine all by himself. Doctrines are decided in a council of hundreds of bishops and priests from around the world who are brought together to decide what is true because of a perceived heresy that is spreading through society and the church. The first example of this is the Jerusalem Council documented in Acts 15. There, you will see discussion about the issue of circumcision the church was struggling with, and how they arrived at a decision…under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They were very much aware that Christ left them an infallible guide (the Holy Spirit) as to what was true and false. What Christ said about their search for what is true is still in every Christian Bible today. Christ tells his disciples in John 16:13: “When the Spirit of truth comes (the Holy Spirit) he will guide you into all the truth.”  and then in Matthew 18:18 “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall  be found in heaven; and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  and  Matthew 16:19 Jesus is speaking to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be found in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Notice Christ isn’t saying this to every Christian, but to his Apostles and those they laid hands on to ordain and to carry on leadership of the Church. 

There are other Scriptures, too, but those three will suffice for now. Never in the history of the Church has the Pope unilaterally declared a doctrine without the whole  “church” discerning the will of the Holy Spirit, and coming to a decision that often has taken decades to decide. The church moves slow and always as a whole.

Consequently, it is claimed that no doctrine has ever been declared that:

a. contradicts an earlier doctrine….although there are decrees and administrative and legal decisions that are reversed once their error is recognized. But none of those are declared doctrines or teachings, but rather practices, e.g. the Novus Ordo vs the Latin Mass. (There is a hierarchy that goes like this: (1) Dogmas, (2) Doctrines/Teachings, (3) Legal Administrative Rules, (4) Local Practices, (5) Personal Devotions. )

b. contradicts the approved canon of the Bible, when taken as a whole...the Church decries the Protestant practice of taking “proof texts” to proclaim a doctrine when there are other Scriptures and contradict the proof texts.

c. contradicts what was taught in the Early Church as documented in the record of Early Church teachings found in the writings of the Early Church Fathers, and of course conforms to a. and b. above.

So, what is the Pope’s job and why is he important.

a. The pope administers the church organization as the president of a country might, sometimes with the approval of councils, and others. But he cannot legislate dogma or doctrine.

b. The pope is the chief pastor, and in so doing decides on the teaching emphasis for a period of time, sometimes focusing on a series of teachings for weeks on end, like a pastor might from a pulpit, or declaring a spiritual emphasis for a year (e.g. The Year of Faith, or The Year of Mercy). The pope will also write major documents (Encyclical  letters to the churches) that clarify church teaching in the current cultural climate.  (e.g. a favorite of mine: "Fides Et Ratio, on the relationship between Faith and Reason" by John Paul  II. These are often written by the pope in cooperation with theologians on his staff or advisors.)

c. The pope reflects the hierarchy of Christendom. He is the vicar of Christ. He represents Christ on earth. EXCEPT the pope is not God, he is not worshiped, he sins, and goes regularly to confession. 

d. The pope like all CEO’s appoints bishops, cardinals, and makes administrative decisions that coordinates, and (hopefully) makes the world’s largest and longest surviving institution function smoothly.  But in the end, all popes are imperfect. Some do a better job than others. Some are clearly in hell. (my opinion)

In the case of Pope Francis, we have an example of how NOT everything he says (as reported) even agrees with Church teaching. He has been roundly criticized for this spiritual and practical emphasis and his writings. John Paul II was an exceptional pope and was declared a saint soon after his death. Like many bad popes in the past, I doubt Francis will every be declared a saint.  (In the USA we have had good and bad presidents, but the institution, so far, is robust enough to still exist and function.)

So, that’s a take on our “obsession” with the pope. Someone needs to be in charge. Ultimately, it’s Christ. Christ needs a head on earth to avoid wide spread confusion…as in Protestant denominations. When everyone decides for themselves we end up with thousands of denominations, doctrines, and disunity…reinforcing to skeptics that perhaps God did not send Christ to save the world (c.f. John 17)

2. Why do we worship Mary?

We don’t. We greatly honor her as the key human in the crux of history, the incarnation of God. God became man through Mary’s willingness: “Behold I am and handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38)… upon that declaration of her will all history changed. Catholic doctrines teach that we are only to worship and adore the Trinity (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  We honor Mary as she and Elizabeth prophesied in Luke 1. Elizabeth calls Mary the Mother of God, and Mary tells us she will be called “blessed” by future generations. These words are partially reflected in the prayers of the Rosary.

But, some will say, “You pray to Mary…that’s worship.”

No, that’s equivocation. That’s defining “pray” or “praying” two different ways. Protestants (mostly Evangelicals) will define “praying” as “worship.” But the historic definition in Catholic theology, and the one used the courts of law, is to “request something of another in higher standing,” not worship.

Thus, in the Catholic sense, praying to a saint in heaven is not worship. It’s communication with those in heaven. Besides, the saints and Mary are not dead. The Bible teaches us this. Here’s an answer from perhaps the best source of answers on Catholicism. I know several of the men who run this long trustworthy organization, and am friends with their internet answer man: https://catholic.com

This from: https://www.catholic.com/qa/does-the-bible-teach-that-the-saints-in-heaven-are-alive

The Bible does teach that the saints are alive. Consider, for example, that Jesus teaches that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is “not God not of the dead, but of the living” (Matt. 22:32; see also 22:23-33). In addition, Moses and Elijah are alive to Jesus at the Transfiguration and converse with him, even though their earthly deaths had occurred many years before (see Matt. 17:1-8). 

We pray to the saints in the same way we ask a fellow Christian to pray for us. 

To be clear, there is a common misunderstanding of what Catholic believe — that by praying to Mary she takes the place of Christ as our intercessor before God. That is a wrong understanding. JR, as I may ask you to pray to Jesus for my need, and as you may ask me to do so for you, so we can ask saints in heaven to pray to Jesus to intercede before God for us. We say Mary is the Mother of the Church, reflecting when the Apostle John was given Mary by Christ at the foot of the cross to care for. “Behold your son, behold your mother” (John 19:26-27). The analogy is of a child who goes to his mother and asks her to intercede to the child’s father. Mary asks Jesus, Jesus is the ONLY way to God the Father. 

The charge is often made that the saints are dead. But this is hardly true. Revelations 5:8 speaks of how the saints are offering our prayers before the throne of God…so they must be aware of our prayers. 

Another charge is that there is only one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5). But this in no way means I can’t ask you, or a saint, to pray for me. Christ is still the only mediator to God the Father. 

Your last note was

3. Focus on Jesus

You are totally right. And the more you know about Roman Catholicism, the more you’ll discover that focus is the sole role of the Pope, bishops, and priests, and people like me who defend the Catholic faith. It is all about Jesus, his life his passion, death, resurrection, and reigning with the Father today. I would encourage you to attend Mass on a regular basis and discover how the Mass is entirely dedicated to Christ. But be wise. Occasionally, like today,** the Mass celebrated Our Lady of the Rosary...and to the uninformed it may appear as if the Mass was all about Mary and our worship of her. WRONG!

We honor Mary greatly because everything MARY DOES POINTS TO JESUS. Remember at the Wedding at Cana, she tells the servants who were serving the wine, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Mary tells us the same thing. DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS YOU TO DO. 

Also, although you didn’t ask, the Rosary prayers are all about mediating on the life of Christ through the eyes of Mary. More about that another time, or you can look up on the Internet how to pray the Rosary. The repetitive “Hail, Mary” (which is found in Scripture) is only a pacing device while in our minds we contemplate being with Jesus and learning what Mary learned at His side. It’s about Jesus.

Notice this important thing about Mary. God came to man in the form of Jesus Christ THROUGH Mary. Mary was the conduit, the vessel God chose to present Jesus to the world. So, it would seem natural that Mary would be a conduit for us to approach her Son, and through her Son...God. 

 ** We typically go to Mass most days of the week…weekday Masses are shorter than the Sunday Mass, which are also shorter than special festival Masses like at Easter and Christmas which are hours long.

Blessings,

Stan WIlliams

https://stanwilliams.com