I AM

HERE.

(new blog post forthcoming...sorry...life is very busy)

Why St. Rose of Lima is the Patroness of My Family

This was originally published June 13, 2011.

This is a picture of St. Rose of Lima--the patroness of the Americas. I would like to share with you the special story that explains our decision to entrust our family to her prayers. If my last sentence makes you uncomfortable, I recommend you read this, followed by this, and then this.

An Oklahoma sunset--A metaphor
for our life at this point

Two years into my marriage with my amazing, wonderful and adorable wife Danielle, we found out she was pregnant. We were so excited! About 3 months into the pregnancy, we went into the doctor to have an ultrasound. I'll never forget that day or the days that followed. When we looked at the ultrasound screen, we could see a beautiful little body. The only problem was that there was no pulsing heart beat. Our daughter was dead.

Without trying to write a book in this post, let's just say that the next year was the darkest of our life. A few days after the horrible news, my wife had to undergo a procedure to get the baby out (D&C). Sadly, the doctors refused to call our baby a "baby", but rather "products of conception". The culture of death does not let life even have a cameo appearance.

I'll never forget when I went to pick up the remains of our daughter, I came to a room in the hospital where it was obvious they kept biological waste. The technician knew why I was there, but looked at me as if I were from another planet. No one did what we were doing.

I drove to the funeral home, my daughter sitting in a white container next to me in the driver's side seat. Dead. I was numb. I'll never forget the feelings I had that afternoon, and even as I sit here and type this now a little tear wells in the corner of my eye.

We had a funeral. I wrote a song. We passed out roses to everyone; even bought a rose covered gravestone. Her name was Grace Elaine and she lies in a plot in Broken Arrow, OK.  I can close my eyes and vividly imagine being there, with her, amongst all the other little fallen angels. I love her. I will always love her for she is a part of me. Due to the stress of the situation, I contracted shingles (a more painful version of chicken-pox for adults), not to mention that the whole scenario plunged my wife into a mild depression.

Even worse, now we were afraid we would never have children again...

Almost two years later, Leah Elaine Stubbs was born, and everything changed. If you've read my conversion story you know that it was when Leah was born that my spiritual journey that led us to the Catholic Church began. In some sense it began when Grace died because it was around that time that we began questioning the licitness of birth control. When we came into the Church in 2008, Danielle and I decided to give our already born children their own special saint. We prayed about it, and Dean, our second child, was given to the care of St. Sebastian. Leah received St. Rose of Lima.

Fast forward 3 years. Our dearest friends, David and Kendel Williams, are visiting us for the baptism of our daughter Gemma (child number 5--living child number 4). The kids are in bed, and we are about to present them with some godparent gifts. I have a knack for the theatrical aside, so I begin to express to them both how much they meant to us and how much it meant to Danielle and I both that they cared so much about our children. Specifically, I reminded them about how 3 years ago when we visited them in Oklahoma, they still had the rose from Grace's funeral up in their house. That meant so much to us that our daughter's memory was alive somewhere.

Suddenly my wife jumped out of her seat and dashed into the kitchen--pale faced. When she came back, she had this look like she was going to say something important and her countenance was almost eerie.

"Brent, do you remember when Grace died?", she asked.

"No, I can't," I replied (I'm awful with dates just awful).

"August 23," she said adamantly, "The Feast of St. Rose of Lima".

And then I knew. Our little rose--the one whose grave we had adorned with roses 3 years before we even knew a St. Rose of Lima existed--Grace Elaine, had made it before the face of God. St. Rose of Lima, the patroness of the Americas, had met my daughter maybe even held her in her arms. I'm not sure. Either way, God had assigned her a task. Bring them home to His Church. What had seemed so meaningless now had meaning. We already believed that our daughter was in heaven praying for us, but now we knew.

August 23 was a date that had been shrouded in tragedy and heartache. Somehow by God's amazing grace, it is now a day that is adorned with the glory of God. Isn't that just like the Good News?

"The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us." -Romans 8:16-18

St. Rose of Lima, pray for us!

St. John on the Eucharist

The Bible we use

Last night, before my children dove into their respective beds and attempted to stay there, I read aloud St. John's short account of Jesus walking on the water. My two oldest children, now fully alive with inquisitiveness, could not help but wonder both how and why Jesus did it.

Because you do know, don't you, that walking on water is a real miracle?

While my children were taken in by this small but grandiose detail, I was struck by the context of the story. If we truly believe that St. John had a purpose, and that the purpose was divinely inspired, then we can see that there is a lot more going on than just Jesus deciding to take a mid-night, stormy stroll across Lake Kinneret. Instead, God wants us to notice something. He wants to give our carnal eyes the horizon of the Spirit. Namely, He wants us to see what He is capable of doing, so we will believe what He says He will do.

You see, the story just before the mid-night stroll across the top of the lake would seem out-of-place if there were nothing right after that starry night lake walk. However, there is. Thus, the almost incredulous story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with a few loaves and fish makes perfect sense. We would not expect it, but given its context we can understand it.

The Biblical Context

As we enter John 6, let us remember from where we have come. In the beginning of John 5, Jesus re-writes the rules of the Sabbath to include miracle working (vv.1-17). Then, we find out that He is claiming to be God, and that He has authority (vv.18-29). Jesus ends this chapter with a sharp rebuke against those who do not listen to Him. Here's the re-cap: He's God, He has authority, you should listen to Him. Got it? So, as we turn the page to chapter six, we can hardly imagine what will come next, but what comes next does not disappoint.

"Do what?
Are you serious, Jesus?"

Jesus performs what would be by any account two very gratuitous, almost superfluous, miracles: the feeding of the five thousand and walking on water. For my purposes, I will simply ask the question: did anyone see how Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes? Notice in the story that no one says, "Look! My loaf is growing," or, "Wow, that fish just multiplied!" No, instead the people just know that it has happened. I'm not saying there is not any physical evidence, but the point is that the people's reaction is not to emphasize it as if they could understand the "how" of the miracle. 

Fresh off-of putting Walmart out of business, next Jesus decides to turn to Evinrude -- He's going to walk on water. Again my question: did anyone see how Jesus walked on the water? Notice in the story that no one says, "Look! I can see that Jesus's feet are just slightly over the water, he is clearly hovering." There was no physical explanation, although there was a tangible miracle. Also, it was dark, and no doubt the disciples' fear was justified. Yet there only response upon hearing that it was Jesus and not a ghost?

They were glad. That's it.

Joy.

The Bread of Life

The flesh will not help
you understand this

And then we get to The Bread of Life discourse -- equally gratuitous and seemingly superfluous. The Protestant objector, more than once, will be quick to point to verse sixty-three:

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all."

And I agree but for just the opposite reasons. The objector to the Catholic Eucharistic doctrine, citing this passage of Scripture, fails to appreciate what Jesus is communicating. He is not saying that His flesh and blood are not true drink. He just said that (v.55)! He is saying that by the flesh, you will not understand this teaching. A carnal mind will be of no help at all in understanding the Eucharist. It is the Spirit who gives life.

And this makes perfect sense given the context. In the mind of God, before all time, it was well pleasing to have the story of His Son feeding the five thousand and walking on water just before His Son's words to "eat his flesh and drink his blood". Who can believe that Jesus can do the other two miracles? Really, how could He? Certainly, the flesh is no help at all! While one can put the fish and bread to his lips, and see that Jesus walked upon the water, I say (and someone else does too) it is more blessed for those that believe who do not see (hint: Eucharist)! Moreover, neither do we, as Catholics, know how the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a mystery. Yet, like the disciples, we do not see that it is Jesus, we hear that it is Jesus. And upon hearing, what is our response?

Joy.

We have seen the loaves and fish. We have seen Him walk on water. Why should we doubt Him now? And so I ask you, who would you expect to follow our Lord onto the water? None other than the one, who upon hearing the "hard saying" of our Lord, said:

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

And if He's the Holy One of God, then I say the Eucharist just makes perfect sense.

The Assumption in 29 Words

If Mary was not assumed into heaven, she was lost.

She was not lost.

She was Assumed.

It is only fitting. 

And there is no evidence to the contrary.

__________________

Also see:

The Assumption of Mary: Is it against Christian sensibilities?

The Assumption in the Bible

The Assumption in Church History

Sacred Scripture on Tradition

I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you. -1 Corinthians 11:2 (notice that his letter is referencing what he had previously “delivered”)

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. -2 Thessalonians 2:15

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. -2 Thessalonians 3:6

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:9

Up next...a review of Dave Armstrong's book 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura.

I think he should have just titled it:

Why I Still Can't Find Sola Scriptura in the Bible

or

Doctrinal Hanging Chads: Why Scripture Presupposes Sacred Tradition

or

Sola Scriptura, Spaghetti Monsters, and Other Loch Ness Arguments

New Media Godfather

Stubbs & Vogt Families

Besides being a new media guru, did you know that Brandon Vogt is a godfather? That's right! That's his crew next to mine. We figured out we lived close to each other about two years ago and developed an on-ground friendship. Brandon and Kathleen both are great people, and we are confident they will be prayerful support for Luke's journey to heaven.

Is the Church Subordinate to the Gospel?

Or, is the Church a part of it?

In one sense, the answer to both questions is "yes". In another sense, the answer to both questions is "no". The sense in each case is different, and different not just for the case but for the type. For starters, let us define our terms.

The Culmination of the
"Good News"

The Gospel is the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.

The Church is the Body of Christ.

Is the Church subordinate to the Gospel? If by subordinate, we mean "a servant of," then yes. She is a servant of the Gospel because she receives the Gospel from her Divine Head. Just as all the parts of the body "serve" the head, so too is the Church subordinate to the Gospel.

However, does the Gospel -- in certain cases or in some sense -- negate the Church? Of course not. Why? Because the Church is a part of the Good News. Some believe that the Gospel is a very narrow, redacted message. However, let me ask you a question. Are the "Beatitudes" of Jesus a part of the Gospel? I don't think the answer to that question is in the negative. If you do, I will let you explain your reasons to Jesus on the judgement day (awkward moment). What I mean, or at the least am implying by this, is that the Gospel includes the complete and total message of Christ.

Regarding this message, the idea of "saving the world" is good news, but God did not stop there. The idea of "dying on the cross" is good news, but God did not stop there. The idea of "rising again" is good news, but God did not stop there. No. He proceeded to found a Church, gave that Church the "keys of the kingdom", and organized her and provided for her in such a way that she would exist until the end of the earth.

That is the Gospel. The "full Gospel", as we used to say. It is what I like to call the "better news", in relationship to a Gospel that presumes ecclesial deism. No. God did not leave us to our own devices. He did not put on a billboard a simple message and then fly away into the clouds, offering only the gnosis of salvation. There is message, but there is also a means. Christ is the Truth, but He is also the Way and the Life.

As St. Cyprian aptly put it:

"You cannot have God for your Father unless you have the Church for your Mother."

On Being A Man Part 2

Go here.

(If the last post proved to be read worthy, this one will too)