Fr. James Martin’s Top Five Takeaways from ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’

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I think oftentimes Father James Martin writings are unclear and incomplete.
 
I think I may misunderstand #1 (Didn’t read the article). Because I’m a jerk. Being like Christ is the way for me to be Holy. Being like me is a way to be damned LOL.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
From the Merriam Dictionary
Definition of weasel word
: a word used in order to evade or retreat from a direct or forthright statement or position
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NO, it’s not.

Weasel words are problem with writing. It’s not an attack on the person, only his writing. Weasel words DO call the person’s thesis, and therefore his credibility into question, which is why editors always note them in feedback to the author.

And just so we’re clear, here are examples:

“Many people say that…”, “according to several sources…”, “it is generally accepted that…”, “some say…”

These are weasel words because they are imprecise and lack forthrightness. If you just look carefully at them, they do not paint a negative picture of the author himself, only his writing style. His editor will tell him to tighten his writing by advising him to say, for example, “In a 2008 study, 75% of respondents said…”, “Ninety-five percent of all American Catholics surveyed agreed that…”

If Fr. Martin in any of his writings used such phrases like “many Catholics…” or “some said…” or “many disagree” or something similar, then he used weasel words. The term does not insult the author. It’s either the weasel words were used or they weren’t, and all one has to do is check his writing.

It is NOT an attack, otherwise, editors will be “attacking” their authors all the time.
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Then you’re tap dancing around the definition given by the Merriam Dictionary.

The person has an agenda of their own which is why they use evasive language from the topic.

Fr Martin did not do this in his article.

Remember this when people tell you that you’re using “weasel words,” in your post. 😃

Jim
 
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Lol Father Martin needs to stop saying things like “holiness MEANS being yourself.” No that’s not what holiness means. Holiness would be too easy if thats what it meant. It’s like he’s trying to get his followers to click on his articles by saying imprecise statements like this. It’s clickbait for his audience. It’s better to be clear about things, than get a confused person hoping the Church will change to suit them or their family member’s preferred lifestyle.
 
“holiness MEANS being yourself.”

That’s what Pope Francis stated in Gaudet Et Exsultate.

Being yourself, means being your true self which God had in mind when he created you. It means being detached from creating false images of yourself which the ego does.

Self knowledge is how God leads us in the spiritual life.

Jim
 
Well the writing is fine such as it is, even with its vagueness and the pop psych phrases. I can see why it attracts some.

But take the point a bit deeper…how does one know what one’s “deepest self” is?

The Catholic approach would be comprehensive, and it would go FAR beyond one’s feelings.

The Catholic approach would use

Scripture
Natural Law
Biology
Genetics (x,y)
Prayer
Spiritual direction
frequent and good use of the Sacraments, clearing away sin that can cloud the intellect and dull the will
Intellect, rationality
the movable will
all converging on a consistent, best fit truth.

but the drive by readers, fueled by self-esteem parse that sentence far more superficially, leading to what feels comfortable!
 
Who is to say what God’s intention for our true self is though? People could say living a gay lifestyle or living as a gender opposite of the one they were born as is being their true self.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Then you’re tap dancing around the definition given by the Merriam Dictionary.

The person has an agenda of their own which is why they use evasive language from the topic.

Fr Martin did not do this in his article.

Remember this when people tell you that you’re using “weasel words,” in your post. 😃

Jim
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No tap dancing. Here’s a good discussion on “weasel words”

www.thoughtco.com

What Is a Weasel Word?

A weasel word is a modifying word that undermines or contradicts the meaning of the word, phrase, or clause it accompanies.
www.thoughtco.com www.thoughtco.com

You don’t merely stick to a dictionary definition when discussing a concept.
 
People, please. Get your minds out of the gutter. Explanations and context have been provided. Please show that there is still some reason left in you, or the men in white coats are going to come take you away. 🤨
 
Edward_H said:
Well the writing is fine such as it is, even with its vagueness and the pop psych phrases. I can see why it attracts some.
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Edward_H said:
Well the writing is fine such as it is, even with its vagueness and the pop psych phrases. I can see why it attracts some.
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You can say that again!

I am curious what you mean by vagueness and pop psych phrases. Could you point out where you discerned that in Fr.Martin’s essay or Pope Francis’ exhortation?
 
I could post two thousand such sentences.

“Certainly this is a superficial conceit: there is much movement on the surface, but the mind is neither deeply moved nor affected.”

It’s riddled with strawman arguments.
 
Edward_H said:
I could post two thousand such sentences.

“Certainly this is a superficial conceit: there is much movement on the surface, but the mind is neither deeply moved nor affected.”

It’s riddled with strawman arguments.
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Edward, for the benefit of those who just don’t or won’t understand that you’re not attacking the author, rather than the writing, can you cite the weasel words you came across?
 
You can’t be serious using that article to support your statements here. LOL

JIm
 
Well, St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross to mention a few, plus of course Pope Francis.

It’s obvious that the spiritual life has an element of which the those who follow religion alone are unable to understand.

Jim
 
Father Martin is misleading a lot of people and not helping them to leave their lives of sin.
 
Back to the topic, I only have one criticism. I fear summaries (all, not just this) might provide an easy shortcut that should not be taken. The letter is readable for all and is worth the time. I agree though, as above the 2-5 seem solid. I would change one to something like, “The call to holiness is universal.”
 
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