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NeedImprovement
Guest
My comments in green.
Sounds like God was listening to his sermons.
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KingAlfred
Guest
Amen. He works hard, does a good job, but should end his sermons just before the customary ‘second part’, where he habitually says, “I just finished a very insightful book, which said…”It seems like there is a correlation that people who speak off the top of their heads or with minimal notes are dynamic speakers. Also, boring speakers tend to read from notes, but that still leaves a middle section of speech-readers who are not monotonous, and can hold a room’s attention. (I hope i fall in this category)
The language speedbump you’ve described is a really unfortunate one, and I think perhaps that’s most of the problem. If your priest was speaking Polish, perhaps he would be better at it, having a firm command of the language. Similarly, it’s not his fault that most of the congregation can’t understand him. The accent is the hardest thing to grasp in a second or third language. However, if his homilies are taking up the bulk of the Mass, he should probably cut down, if only to simplify the message he wants to get across.
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HelenRose
Guest
For a priest to give fire and brimstone homilies, he has to know exactly what he is doing. Fr. Corapi knows exactly what he is doing. He has that gift. It sounds as if your priest knows his special charism and is wise to remain true to himself.
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historyb
Guest
I personally don’t care for those type. I like the ones that are really strong and make you think, fire and brimstone.What do you folks think of homilies that always come in the form of long, typed scripts, which are calmly read to the congregation, word for word, without exception, for years at a time?
That being said we have a priest just like that but he is not boring and there is always something to learn in his sermons.
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NeedImprovement
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One of my deacon friends told me when they were teaching him homiletics, they had this saying : When you’re preaching a sermon, “If you haven’t struck oil within 8 minutes…quit boring.”
Something that works consistently for me - no matter who is preaching the sermon: I say, “Holy Spirit speak to me through your priest/deacon…and please open my ears to hear what you’re saying.”
After that it doesn’t really matter what the priest/deacon’s approach is; I always find something in the sermon which applies to me personally if I pray that prayer at the beginning.
Something that works consistently for me - no matter who is preaching the sermon: I say, “Holy Spirit speak to me through your priest/deacon…and please open my ears to hear what you’re saying.”
After that it doesn’t really matter what the priest/deacon’s approach is; I always find something in the sermon which applies to me personally if I pray that prayer at the beginning.
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NeedImprovement
Guest
Here is something we haven’t considered so far in the thread regarding Father Corapi’s apostolate:
Excessive fire and brimstoners try to scare the living grapes out of you and are generally found to be poverty stricken in the sense of humor department.
That certainly can’t be said of Father Corapi. Surely any of us who have listened to his preaching at length have periodically burst out laughing or at least chuckled hartily.
Bishop Fulton Sheen was another who would give us the no nonsense truth, in a straight line, yet he could leave people rolling on the floor laughing too. His sense of humor used to keep many of his listeners’ attention riveted on what he was saying because nobody wanted to miss the next one.
I remember my father watching Bishop Sheen on tv when I was just a tiny guy. I had no idea what he was saying (I was far too young-just started walking about a year or so earlier) but I expressly remember my father bursting out laughing from time to time as he watched. Later on when I’d had a chance to sample some Bishop Sheen videos for myself. I discovered what it was my dad had been laughing at.
Youtube has some free clips of Bishop Sheen available for viewing. Unfortunately one needs to navigate around several videos placed within proximity which are somewhat mocking to the faith in order to view the Bishop Sheen videos. That being said, the following link would connect you right to several of his clips.
youtube.com/watch?v=W4xFwSxGeH0
Excessive fire and brimstoners try to scare the living grapes out of you and are generally found to be poverty stricken in the sense of humor department.
That certainly can’t be said of Father Corapi. Surely any of us who have listened to his preaching at length have periodically burst out laughing or at least chuckled hartily.
Bishop Fulton Sheen was another who would give us the no nonsense truth, in a straight line, yet he could leave people rolling on the floor laughing too. His sense of humor used to keep many of his listeners’ attention riveted on what he was saying because nobody wanted to miss the next one.
I remember my father watching Bishop Sheen on tv when I was just a tiny guy. I had no idea what he was saying (I was far too young-just started walking about a year or so earlier) but I expressly remember my father bursting out laughing from time to time as he watched. Later on when I’d had a chance to sample some Bishop Sheen videos for myself. I discovered what it was my dad had been laughing at.
Youtube has some free clips of Bishop Sheen available for viewing. Unfortunately one needs to navigate around several videos placed within proximity which are somewhat mocking to the faith in order to view the Bishop Sheen videos. That being said, the following link would connect you right to several of his clips.
youtube.com/watch?v=W4xFwSxGeH0
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Genesis315
Guest
The best “fire and brimstone” homily I have heard was after a Gospel reading where Jesus says “Woe to you Copernaum” (sp?) and our priest started with “woe to you” by said our town’s name and then went from there.
(as an aside, I think sometimes priests who offer the TLM are stereotyped by some as giving harsher sermons, but I have yet to hear such a one at a TLM).
(as an aside, I think sometimes priests who offer the TLM are stereotyped by some as giving harsher sermons, but I have yet to hear such a one at a TLM).
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Genesis315
Guest
Usually I don’t like these, however, one of the priests who offered the TLM where I used to live had homilies like this, but their content was so good that I didn’t mind them!What do you folks think of homilies that always come in the form of long, typed scripts, which are calmly read to the congregation, word for word, without exception, for years at a time?
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una_fides
Guest
One thing that the Church is seriously lacking today is good, solid, balanced catechesis. Many priests are so afraid of “offending” someone that their homilies are just generalized, off the top of the head, blah, or are feel-good warm and fuzzies. The result is millions of Catholics who do not know their faith and worse who are committing sacrilegious acts as a result.
I have been Catholic for years now and have been to many different parishes and am yet to hear ONE priest explicitly state that if one is conscious of grave sin, he or she should not receive Communion without prior sacramental confession. As a result, millions of Catholics receive Communion outside the state of sanctifying grace and actually do more harm to their souls than good.
In addition, many Catholics no longer believe in hell. “The Devil a person? Hell a place? The Church no longer teaches that sort of thing,” they say. And to some extent they are correct in that very many priests have stopped preaching the fullness of the truth for the sake of not offending. I am not saying it’s easy to be a priest or bishop, but what I am saying is that the Church is in a state of a catechatical crisis, and it is up to faithful priests to stand up and preach as did Peter and the apostles. All one needs to do is read Scripture to see how St. Paul said to deal with heretics, “if any man preach any other gospel to you than that which you have received, let him be accursed (anathema).” Scripture is full of harsh firm words of admonishment and it is the duty of pastors to preach the gospel message, which is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who receive it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18).
I have been Catholic for years now and have been to many different parishes and am yet to hear ONE priest explicitly state that if one is conscious of grave sin, he or she should not receive Communion without prior sacramental confession. As a result, millions of Catholics receive Communion outside the state of sanctifying grace and actually do more harm to their souls than good.
In addition, many Catholics no longer believe in hell. “The Devil a person? Hell a place? The Church no longer teaches that sort of thing,” they say. And to some extent they are correct in that very many priests have stopped preaching the fullness of the truth for the sake of not offending. I am not saying it’s easy to be a priest or bishop, but what I am saying is that the Church is in a state of a catechatical crisis, and it is up to faithful priests to stand up and preach as did Peter and the apostles. All one needs to do is read Scripture to see how St. Paul said to deal with heretics, “if any man preach any other gospel to you than that which you have received, let him be accursed (anathema).” Scripture is full of harsh firm words of admonishment and it is the duty of pastors to preach the gospel message, which is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who receive it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18).
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KingAlfred
Guest
I hate to admit it, but the best sermons I ever heard were given by an ex-Baptist preacher-turned-priest. Man…that guy had his act together. He’d belt out a great speech and sit down, within ten minutes. And guess what? I would remember for the entire week everything he said.
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DavidW
Guest
I love Fr. Corapi’s sermons. I have 10 on my DVR right now and I watch a bit every day. His sermons are grounded in love though and not the fire and brimstone of the Baptist preachers of my youth that drove me away from a relationship with God. Fr. Corapi simply makes absolute and obvious moral judgments. He clearly states the positions of the church. His sermons are 95% love and 5% jerking you up by the short hairs with a smile and a joke.
In my own parish the homily is very brief and soft. That is good for me in my situation, though I do understand others might find it wanting. The Mass here is very Christ oriented and structured. It is worshipful and contemplative. I can imagine it getting boring at some point but right now, for me, it works very well.
I needed to be drawn to Christ, not driven with a lash. I am so grateful that’s what I experienced.
In my own parish the homily is very brief and soft. That is good for me in my situation, though I do understand others might find it wanting. The Mass here is very Christ oriented and structured. It is worshipful and contemplative. I can imagine it getting boring at some point but right now, for me, it works very well.
I needed to be drawn to Christ, not driven with a lash. I am so grateful that’s what I experienced.
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Jesus_N_Cherie
Guest
I remember one Sunday afternoon, I attended a Mass where the Celebrant was a young Vietnamese priest.
And he got up there and told us what for. He pulled no punches. He mentioned the grave sin of abortion. He spoke the words of Truth with the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
I was flabbergasted. I sat with elbow on knees, eyes straight toward him. I probably didn’t blink for fear that I would miss something.
It was awesome. He didn’t raise his voice once. He just told it the way it was. And he had my attention at least. I was probably in the front row. I have NO idea how he was accepted by anyone else.
I just remember saying to myself…Wow, that was brutally honest, and I feel so blessed to have heard it.
After Mass, I heard him ask a fellow parishoner if they thought he had been to rough. I don’t remember the reply given by that person, but I made a special effort to thank the priest profusely for telling us the truth, no matter that it might not “feel” good to our flesh. Our spirits need to hear the truth!!! And I told him that I hope he keeps up the good work.
He did.
Unfortunatly, he was just an assistant pastor, so within a couple of years he was off to a new parish.
I don’t believe it was a fire and brimstone homily, but there was plenty of truth about Jesus and social justice and our moral compasses. And he set our moral compasses pointing toward Jesus. And he told us what our responsibilities were to the women and girls who are pregnant without being married. And he told us that abortion is murder, without exception. And it was good to hear the Truth of Jesus.
So, fire and brimstone…I don’t think we need someone to scream at us that we are all going to hell…unless they can also lovingly tell us how to avoid it. And I would sit and be loving every single minute of it…especially as it applied to me.
And then I would probably tackle the priest…literally if need be…to hear my confession. And he would do so…if he had been the one to do the preaching.
God bless,
cherie
And he got up there and told us what for. He pulled no punches. He mentioned the grave sin of abortion. He spoke the words of Truth with the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
I was flabbergasted. I sat with elbow on knees, eyes straight toward him. I probably didn’t blink for fear that I would miss something.
It was awesome. He didn’t raise his voice once. He just told it the way it was. And he had my attention at least. I was probably in the front row. I have NO idea how he was accepted by anyone else.
I just remember saying to myself…Wow, that was brutally honest, and I feel so blessed to have heard it.
After Mass, I heard him ask a fellow parishoner if they thought he had been to rough. I don’t remember the reply given by that person, but I made a special effort to thank the priest profusely for telling us the truth, no matter that it might not “feel” good to our flesh. Our spirits need to hear the truth!!! And I told him that I hope he keeps up the good work.
He did.
Unfortunatly, he was just an assistant pastor, so within a couple of years he was off to a new parish.
I don’t believe it was a fire and brimstone homily, but there was plenty of truth about Jesus and social justice and our moral compasses. And he set our moral compasses pointing toward Jesus. And he told us what our responsibilities were to the women and girls who are pregnant without being married. And he told us that abortion is murder, without exception. And it was good to hear the Truth of Jesus.
So, fire and brimstone…I don’t think we need someone to scream at us that we are all going to hell…unless they can also lovingly tell us how to avoid it. And I would sit and be loving every single minute of it…especially as it applied to me.
And then I would probably tackle the priest…literally if need be…to hear my confession. And he would do so…if he had been the one to do the preaching.
God bless,
cherie
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redrosetea
Guest
I never implied fire and brimstone was screaming, nor does it have to be delivered in a hateful fashion, but it should be given in one that make us ponder the gravity of sin
I have heard some sermons that are more like a psychology class than a homily about the dangers of losing your soul
I have heard some sermons that are more like a psychology class than a homily about the dangers of losing your soul
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NeedImprovement
Guest
The expression fire and brimstone is kind of difficult to define by todays linguitsic standards because it has evolved as we’ve gone along.
Formerly, it could even imply someone who preached damnation instead of salvation. Over time, especially recently, it seems to have been given a new face; that of a homily/homilist who gives us the no frills truth and isn’t afraid to make sure we hear it.
Here are 3 examples of fire and brimstone from the Book of Revelation. It’s pretty serious stuff because biblically it always implies what happens after one has refused God’s Mercy…and it’s eternal.The examples are taken from the Douay Rheims bible because it is faithful to use of the word “brimstone” whereas many other translations use brimstone’s synonym - “sulphur”.
Fire and Brimstone
Rev 19: 20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who wrought signs before him, wherewith he seduced them who received the character of the beast, and who adored his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire, burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:9-10
And there came down fire from God out of heaven, and devoured them; and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone, where both the beast And the false prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
The above scriptural quotes support well what St. Alphonse Liguori said about Hell : “Just the thought of Hell itself should be enough to deliver us from it.”
Formerly, it could even imply someone who preached damnation instead of salvation. Over time, especially recently, it seems to have been given a new face; that of a homily/homilist who gives us the no frills truth and isn’t afraid to make sure we hear it.
Here are 3 examples of fire and brimstone from the Book of Revelation. It’s pretty serious stuff because biblically it always implies what happens after one has refused God’s Mercy…and it’s eternal.The examples are taken from the Douay Rheims bible because it is faithful to use of the word “brimstone” whereas many other translations use brimstone’s synonym - “sulphur”.
Fire and Brimstone
Rev 19: 20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who wrought signs before him, wherewith he seduced them who received the character of the beast, and who adored his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire, burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:9-10
And there came down fire from God out of heaven, and devoured them; and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone, where both the beast And the false prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
The above scriptural quotes support well what St. Alphonse Liguori said about Hell : “Just the thought of Hell itself should be enough to deliver us from it.”
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BeansOnToast
Guest
Fr. Isaac Relyea is probably one of the most hardcore orators I’ve ever heard, both in the Catholic Church and elsewhere. He can seem a little out-to-lunch at times, but his devotion is outstanding. Plus, his New York Italian-American accent gives him an extra tough-guy aura to him that really instills attention within his congregation:
audiosancto.org/categories/mission-2007.php
audiosancto.org/categories/mission-2007.php
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anamchara
Guest
I like to hear a bit myself. We had a visiting missionary (not sure if he is from a certain order) priest on Sunday and man he was on fire
I actually liked what he had to say and my kids sure listened. He was really fast though. 
I thought we would be done in 30mins at the rate he was going. Those visiting priests are always very inspirational.
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Coleski
Guest
We hear countless sermons on Gods’ love and acceptance; and of course He does, but what of His eternal judgment? I see deliberate failure by priests to speak of sin and damnation as Missals place our Lords hard sayings in [option brackets] for easy removal. Priests from Africa, I notice, mention, sin, satan, and damnation. Material ease, it seems, causes spineless liberalism to run amuck, in a rebellion of good little boys and girls filled with limitless toleration, a sin, confused with virtue. We love and tolerate our way to Hell, a Hell that doesn’t exist for apostate clerics like Richard McBrien who impose their errors upon us in Catholic Newspapers controlled by Cardinal Mahoney and his kind. What of the ultimate suffering for those led astray by these false teachers of omission? I seek not fire and brimstone, but the whole Gospel, from ’ you are forgiven ’ to 'go and sin no more’]. [Leave the hard parts in!]
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averheyen
Guest
I like them, and you don’t get to hear them NEARLY as much as I think is due.
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redrosetea
Guest
I recommend listening to some of the Homilies from the link Beans on toast supplied
I listened to the one on judgment and it was very good
I listened to the one on judgment and it was very good
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Sailor_Kenshin
Guest
I first heard Fadda Corapi about a year before I entered RCIA and he stopped me in my tracks and I haven’t veered off yet!My pastor is a mini-Fr John Corapi. He calls sin…well, sin. And he mentions hell as much as heaven. He does have a special gift in preaching and does not read one note. You can tell it was prayerfully prepared.
That being said, Fr John Corapi is my hero. I love his preaching and he himself said that he had a special charism of apostolic preaching. Although, this has gotten him into trouble and people want to hurt him. I have seen him a couple of times, and he had heavy bodyguards, espceially in Buffalo. He has around 4-5 of them. He speaks the truth and that is disconcerting to many, I fear. I can hear his preaching forever.
God bless Father John!
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