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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2017)
Page A-6 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Church News How are saints made? A primer on miracles, martyrs, virtues Nicole Winfield, Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — Lengthy historic investigations. Decrees of “heroic virtues.” Miraculous cures. The Vatican’s complicated saint- making process has long fascinated Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and will be on display Saturday when Pope Francis canonizes two children whose “visions” of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago turned the sleepy farming town of Fatima into a major Catholic pilgrimage site. Francis recently reformed the process to address financial abuses that had long tarnished the Vatican’s saint- making machine, but the basic criteria remain. HOW ARE SAINTS MADE? A postulator - essentially the cheerleader spearheading the project - gathers testimony and documentation and presents the case to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints. If the congregation’s experts agree the candidate lived a virtuous life, the case is forwarded to the pope, who signs a decree attesting to the candidate’s “heroic virtues.” If the postulator finds someone was miraculously healed by praying for the candidate’s intercession, and if the cure can’t be medically explained, the case is presented to the congregation as the possible miracle needed for beatification. Panels of doctors, theologians, bishops and cardinals must certify that the cure was instantaneous, complete and lasting - and was due to the intercession of the saintly candidate. If convinced, the congregation sends the case to the pope, who signs a decree saying the candidate can be beatified. A second miracle is needed to declare the candidate a saint. Martyrs - people killed for their faith - can be beatified without a miracle. A miracle is needed, however, for martyrs to be canonized. THE MARTO CASE, A FIRST Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who will be canonized Saturday, will become the Catholic Church’s youngest-ever non-martyred saints. They are the youngsters who, along with their cousin, reported the visions of the Madonna 100 years ago. Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martians pushed their case through the first phase of beatification when he was in charge of the Vatican’s saint- making office. He says it was the first of its kind. “Before we couldn’t even talk about the beatification of children in the history of the church because the principle prevailed that they didn’t yet have the skills to exercise the heroic level of Christian virtues,” Saraiva Martins said in an interview. But the Marto siblings earned the designation by refusing - despite threats they would be fried in olive oil - to recant their visions. Aged 9 and 7 at the time, they held firm in their faith, and ultimately Portuguese church officials declared the apparitions authentic. AND THE MARTO MIRACLE? The miracle attributed to the Martos’ intercession concerns the inexplicable healing of a Brazilian boy, Lucas Baptista, who in 2013 fell from a window and suffered such a serious brain injury that doctors said he likely wouldn’t live. His parents, Joao Baptista and his wife, Lucila Yurie, broke their silence on Thursday in Fatima to tell the story of his recovery on the eve of Francis’ arrival. Doctors had told them that even if Lucas survived, he would be severely mentally disabled or be in a vegetative state. The boy, however, woke up a few days later and is “completely fine ... with no after-effects,” his father said. “We thank God for Lucas’ cure and we know in all faith from our heart that this miracle was obtained with the help of the little shepherd children Francisco and Jacinta,” he said. “We feel immense joy to know that this was the miracle that led to this canonization, but mostly we feel blessed by the friendship of these two children who helped our boy and now help our family.” FRANCIS’ REFORMS Francis has issued two major reforms to the multi-million dollar saint-making process after the Vatican uncovered gross abuses that were revealed in two books. The books estimated the average cost for each beatification at around 500,000 euros ($550,000), with much of the proceeds going to a few lucky people with contracts to do the time-consuming investigations into the candidates’ lives. The books found that well- financed causes sprinted ahead while poorer ones languished. Francis last year issued new rules requiring external vigilance over individual Vatican bank accounts created for beatification and canonization causes, as well as regular budgeting and accounting to make sure the donations from the faithful are being used as intended. The second reform concerned the miracle certification process: One new rule stipulates a potential miracle can no longer be presented for consideration if it fails to pass before the board of medical experts three times. Secrecy must be respected at all times. Medical experts can’t have any contact with the postulator. Another rule says experts can be paid only via bank transfer, no longer in cash. BUT HASN’T FRANCIS DONE AWAY WITH MIRACLES? In his zeal to give the faithful even more role models, Francis has on several occasions done away with the Vatican’s rules requiring two miracles. His most famous waiver involved St. John XXIII, whom Francis canonized along with St. John Paul II in April 2014. The Vatican said Francis had the authority to dispense with the miracle requirement for John. He’s not the only rule-breaking pope, however. John Paul waived the normal five-year waiting period for Mother Teresa’s beatification process to begin and launched it a year after her 1997 death. Pope Benedict XVI subsequently waived the five-year waiting period for John Paul in launching his beatification process weeks after his 2005 death. In the end, John Paul beat Mother Teresa’s record-fast beatification by just a few days when he was beatified May 1, 2011. Seventh-day Adventist Church Hidden Treasure One of Jesus stories was about hidden treasure. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field; which when a man has found, he hides it, and for joy goes and sells all he has, and buys the field.” Mathew 13:44 Back in Bible times it was common for people to hide their treasures in the ground. This prevented thefts and robberies. In Christ’s day it was not uncommon to discover in neglected land, old coins and ornaments of gold and silver. A man leases land to cultivate and while plowing he discovers a treasure, he sees a fortune is within his reach. Quickly he restores the gold to its hiding place. Then he goes home and sells all that he has, so he can buy the field containing the treasure. His family and friends think he is acting like a mad man. Just looking at the field, they see nothing special in the land. In his parable story Jesus told the hid- den treasure, the Gospel (Good News) is found in the Holy Bible. God does not conceal His truth from people. By their own course of action they make it obscure to themselves. A lot of times people are looking for earthly treasure. Their minds are filled with selfish and ambitious thoughts. For the sake of gaining worldly riches, honor, or power they place these over the requirements of God. From them the trea- sures of His words are hidden. “The natural man receives not the things of God; for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually dis- cerned.” 1 Corin. 2:14 Jesus said, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Matt. 16:26 He takes us from the earthly to the threshold of the Infinite, flushed with the indescribable glory of God, and shows us the treasure there. The value of this treasure is above silver or gold. The riches of earth’s mines cannot compare with it. This is the treasure found in the scriptures. The foundation of all true science is contained in the Bible. Every branch of knowledge may be found by searching the word of God. And above all else the bible is the conscience of salvation and the mine of unsearchable riches of Christ. The true higher education is gained by studying and obeying the word of God. So let’s uncover the treasure in our homes and open God’s word and read and receive this most valuable treasure. Community Bible Church Storms Luke 8:22-25 (NKJV) 22 Now it happened, on a certain day that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” It’s hard to imagine the contradiction Jesus must have created in His disciples’ minds. One minute He was sleeping in a rocking boat in the midst of a churning storm, and the next moment He was calming the storm. Jesus must have been truly exhausted to sleep in that storm. Several of His disciples were fishermen and acquainted with the storms on the Sea of Galilee. They had probably been out in storms, so it must have been a severe storm for the disciples to be so fearful. The disciples at least knew where the solution to their storm was – they went to Jesus! I believe all of us face storms, problems, difficulties, and struggles in our lives. It is the common lot of all mankind to have trying circumstances come their way. In John 16:33, Jesus plainly told us, “In the world you will have tribulation,” so it is to be expected. Too often as I have talked with people I have found that they have brought their problems upon them- selves by their own actions. But there are many who – through no fault of their own – are faced with difficult circumstances: financial stress, physical problems, or struggles with inter- personal relationships at home, at work, at church or in social relationships. These are those “storms” of life, and if we allow them to they will consume us. There is One who would willingly go through those storms with us, and sometimes He would even deliver us from those trials. The disciples experienced two kinds of fear that day: the fear of the storm, and when Jesus calmed the storm with a simple rebuke, they experienced a greater fear – the holy fear of the great and awesome God – Jesus, the Messiah. May your hearts find peace in the Lord of lords and King of kings, Jesus. Come to church this Sunday, I believe you will be blessed. In Christ, Pastor Dave Ministry at CBC Sunday, May 21 Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Praise and Prayer 6 p.m. Wednesday NO AWANA -See you in September Community Christian Academy Preschool – High School Senior Exercise Class Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9-10 a.m. in Dining Room Places of Worship BRIDGEVIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH 5181 Holland Loop Rd., CJ 541-592-3923 “Come Join the Worship!” Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Pastor Sonny Moore www.bridgeviewcc.org * * * 7th DAY ADVENTIST 265 S. Old Stage Rd., CJ Sabbath School - 9:30 a.m. Saturday Worship 11 a.m. Pastor Christian Martin Church (541) 592-3218 Madrone Adventist School 541-592-3330 * * * IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 200 Watkins St., CJ Phone 541-592-3876 Pastor Charles Chase Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship - 9:15 a.m. Child-care for small children *** Illinois Valley Praise Center 28569 Redwood Hwy. CJ Non-denominational Bible-believing Church Sunday school - 9:30 a..m. Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. Thursday Seekers 7 p.m. Youth group Thursday - 7 p.m. www.ivpraisecenter.com COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH Pastor Dave Gordon 113 S. Caves Ave., CJ Office: 541-592-3896 Email: cbccca@gmail.com Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m. Christian Academy Pre-K to 12th grade Awana - Wednesdays - 6 p.m. * * * ST. PATRICK OF THE FOREST CATHOLIC CHURCH 407 W. River St., CJ 541-592-3658 Fr. William Holtzinger, Pastor Mass - Sunday 11 a.m.. Sacrament of Reconciliation Sunday - 10:30 a.m. Holy Days TBA * * * TAKILMA BIBLE CHURCH 10343 Takilma Road, Takilma Pastor Dan Robinson Bible Study / Prayer Time 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m * * * First Baptist Church of Selma 18285 Redwood Hwy., Selma 541-597-4169 Pastor Monty Pope Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Worship - 11 a.m. GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH East River Street & Lewis Court, CJ Annemarie Richardson Lay Pastor. Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship - 10 a.m. Church Phone: 541-592-2290 www.goodshepherdlutheraniv.net * * * VALLEY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 498 Laurel Road, CJ P.O. Box 1248 Pastor Marvin Porter Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Worship Service - 11 a.m. evfree@frontiernet.net 541-592-6160 * * * FOUNTAIN OF LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 451 S. Junction Ave., CJ 541-592-3956 Pastor Mark McLean Morning Worship 9:30 & 11 a.m. Wednesday - 7 p.m. Adult Bible Study * * * ST. MATTHIAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 25904 Redwood Hwy., CJ 541-592-2006 Rev. Bryant Bechtold Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 209 S. Junction Ave., CJ Sacrament Meet - 10 a.m. Sunday School - 11:20 a.m. Priesthood, Relief Soc. - 12:10 p.m. Bishop Larry Hammersmith 541-592-3919 * * * Illinois Valley Baptist Church 541-592-6149 102 S. Redwood Hwy. (in the County Building) Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Wednesday Bible Study, Prayer & Youth Program 7:00 PM Friday Ladies Bible Study 11:00 AM * * * Wonder Bible Chapel 11911 Redwood Hwy. Wonder, Ore. Sunday worship 10 a.m. Non-denominational Bible believing Church Sunday School Nursery Youth group meets Sunday 6:30 p.m. Join us in celebrating our new home! Saturday, May 20th 12 Noon - 4:30pm Our Mission is to: • Inspire life-long personal and spiritual growth • Embrace diversity; and • Nurture well-being, peace and justice throughout the community. • Learn About Us! • Community Groups we support • Information about UU adult services • Rec./Ent. room for kid activities • Art exhibit representing world religions Enjoy Free Refreshments and Live Music Unitarian Universalists of Grants Pass 129 NW E Street • In the heart of downtown Grants Pass
