Any Catholic preachers like Billy Graham?

  • Thread starter Thread starter observer333
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
O

observer333

Guest
I was born & raised a Catholic, went to Catholic school, etc. but I have never heard the message of salvation, the Gospel, and the “centrality” of Christ so clearly preached as by Billy Graham (& similar evangelists). It is said that he preached the Gospel to more people than anyone in history and led untold hundreds of thousands to Christ. In my opinion, Bishop Fulton Sheen was the closest, but that was 50 years ago. Are there any recent or current Catholic preachers that can deliver the Good News with such effectiveness?
 
I don’t know about current… but historically there have been great Catholic preachers… St Anthony of Padua, St Francis Xavier, to name two… I don’t get people being impressed with Billy Graham… to me he sounds like fire and brimstone more than anything else… how is instilling fear the best preaching? I don’t get it… just my opinion
 
Bishop Robert Barron is a very popular YouTube priest. He got me hooked.
 
@ Entwhistler: In my opinion, the pope(s) preach in an impenetrable legalese (or maybe its badly translated Latin). In other words-besides the Pope.

@Dan_Defender: In my opinion, Have you actually heard a Graham sermon? Graham didn’t draw such massive crowds preaching a negative fire & brimstone message, his preaching was literally “full of grace” (i.e. unmerited forgiveness for any kind of sin/sinner through trusting in Christ alone for your salvation). Watch Billy Graham rallies on YouTube and you will see what I mean.
 
@rebetta: Yes, I seen videos with Bishop Barron. He is more of a apologist (which is by nature a defensive role) instead of a “soul-winner” that is “on the offense”, for lack of better terminolgy.
 
Truthfully, without going into details I do not see what you see in Graham’s message… but that’s fine we agree to disagree
 
The way he wins souls if by showing people the rich intellectual life of the Church.
 
I agree with misstherese! Fr. Mike is great! Also, he’s not a preacher you know, but Scott Hahn is an awesome apologist. Read any of his books or watch any of his videos with Mike Aqualina!
 
As for a " personality " type - in the last five years or so -
Father Larry Richards - seems to be a sudden ball of fire.

I think both his parents were Police officers too.
His dad died of alcoholism, in Las Vegas, at a somewhat young age.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen…Billy Graham…these men are rare sightings.
 
Father Corapi seemed to have quite a loyal following and I have read here on CAF that many people said they returned to the Catholic faith because of him.
Sadly, shortly after I converted he had his episode. I am sure he is still missed by many to this day.
 
He definitely had a ‘biting edge’ to his testimony which I think forces a response from people.
 
Yes, he had quite a background before becoming a priest. As I was preparing to be received into the Catholic church, I had seen him a few times on EWTN and was very impressed by his preaching and he seemed to be devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary as well. I was sorry to see him disappear from his public speaking.
 
observer333 said:
I seen videos with Bishop Barron. He is more of a apologist (which is by nature a defensive role) instead of a “soul-winner” that is “on the offense”, for lack of better terminolgy.
Click to expand...
To my mind, Bishop Barron is a teacher. Not so much just apologetics, but everything about the faith.

When you say you are looking for a Graham-esque preacher, do you mean style or content of message?
 
Many people I know would cast votes for Father Mitch Pacwa and Mother Angelica.
 
observer333 said:
I have never heard the message of salvation, the Gospel, and the “centrality” of Christ so clearly preached as by Billy Graham (& similar evangelists). I
Click to expand...
I liked Billy Graham. He was very effective and there isn’t anyone, Catholic or otherwise, that I can think of who is even close in effectiveness. It was also a good thing that he directed people to join their own Churches. That’s unusual for fundamentalists/evangelicals to do.

Otherwise, Billy Graham preached a way of salvation (called “decision theology”) which is based on emotion. That theology needs an urgent and emotional style of preaching, urging people to invite Christ into their hearts and get “saved” along with altar calls (and ignoring Baptism and other Sacraments) and isn’t believed in or taught by any of the ancient Apostolic Churches or protestant churches of the Reformation.

As far as Catholic teachers, I like Bishop Barron.
 
There are many.

You might checkout Formed.Org or Lighthouse Catholic Media to watch or listen to great Catholic teachers/preachers.
 
Reverend Billy Graham was called by God to evangelize. He was not called to convert non-believers to any particular sect or denomination. His mission was to spread the gospel. Sin destroys the soul. Repentance from sin, acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and love of God and neighbor leads to eternal life. That’s the essence of the gospel. Everything else enhances one’s relationship with Jesus Christ.

Billy Graham could not have fulfilled his mission as a Roman Catholic. The Catholic Church is too autocratic. It’s bound by rules and prohibitions. It has much to offer, but can be a huge stumbling block to those not from a Catholic background. Catholicism is a religion and culture. The culture can be daunting and off putting to an unbeliever. I’m a convert. It’s taken many years for me to become comfortable with Catholic practices and beliefs, yet I still have difficulty bridging the divide. There are parts of my faith which will always be Protestant.

Billy Graham could not have simply preached the gospel as a Roman Catholic. He would have been required to involve bishops, priests, and the Vatican. It would have included the Mass. In the Pre-Vatican II era that would have required a familiarity with Latin and a style of worship completely alien to someone from a non-Catholic cultural background. As a lay person, his freedom would have been sharply curtailed. He served in the way God desired from his background and millions came to an understanding of Jesus as Lord and Savior. Peace!
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top