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Michael_C
Guest
I stand corrected. I have a number of CD’s with Cardinal Arinze. He is dynamic and clear.It could be said that Cardinal Arinze has a compelling style.
I stand corrected. I have a number of CD’s with Cardinal Arinze. He is dynamic and clear.It could be said that Cardinal Arinze has a compelling style.
I wouldn’t say that. He has preached during a time in which the culture is viewed as no longer faithful and hostile to the Catholic faith. He has preached to the people who wanted to listen to him, who bothered to go to his events, who tuned into him on the radio.Father Corapi has preached to a culture that simply is no longer faithful and is quite hostile to the Catholic faith. That makes his preaching far different then those in the past and it will take a strong soul to continue his work.
I disagree. The culture is quite hostile to the Catholic faith, if not then Father Corapi’s preaching would not come across harshly to so many people.I wouldn’t say that. He has preached during a time in which the culture is viewed as no longer faithful and hostile to the Catholic faith. He has preached to the people who wanted to listen to him, who bothered to go to his events, who tuned into him on the radio.
I’m not arguing that the culture isn’t the way you describe (though I would say that your glossover of American spirituality is highly overgeneralized).I disagree. The culture is quite hostile to the Catholic faith, if not then Father Corapi’s preaching would not come across harshly to so many people.
The simple truth is that FC preaches the truth, and does not add to it. The culture does not want to hear the truth. IMO, if the culture was not so hostile to the Catholic faith (the real faith, not the anti-faith most people follow), then Father Corapi would be one of the most known people in the country.
Just guessing here: 10-20% of Catholics truly follow the faith, the rest want nothing to do with the real faith and the large Protestant population wants nothing whatsoever to do with the Catholic faith, they want huge feel-good mega-Churches, not the truth. Therefore, the vast majority of the population rejects Father Corapi’s message out-of-hand and will likely rejoice to know he is no longer going to preach.
I think that’s because Olsteen markets himself and his products. Fr. Corapi is not in the business of marketing himself. Like you said he is presenting truth, and thus takes himself out of the way. Olsteen is marketing what he believes is truth as well, but he’s also marketing his stuff.Father Corapi’s preaching and intellect goes way beyond the Pastor from that Lakewood mega-Church (Joel Olsteen), those two men are not even on the same planet when it comes to speaking the truth. However, Joel Olsteen’s mega-Church/mega–minstry is fantastically succesful in term of worldly success, millions upon millions buy his books and see his garbage each week. IMO, most people do not want authentic Christianity, they want the easy road, not the real path that Father Corapi preaches.
He will be sorely missed and I think it will be very difficult to find another one like him.
I agree that JO markets his work, yet if people did not like his message the marketing would not matter. Conversely, if the culture wanted to hear Father Corapi’s message of truth, then he would sore through the clouds even without marketing. Cardinal Sheen was huge and he was not marketed like JO, rather in those days our culture was far more open to the truth, whereas today it rejects the truth in huge percentages.I think that’s because Olsteen markets himself and his products. Fr. Corapi is not in the business of marketing himself. Like you said he is presenting truth, and thus takes himself out of the way. Olsteen is marketing what he believes is truth as well, but he’s also marketing his stuff.
I disagree. I think it won’t be a huge problem to find a person to “replace” Fr. Corapi in terms of a person willing to speak the truth. Though I would agree there will probably never be another person who presents it in the way he does.
True, though I don’t think most are outright rejecting it in spite of knowing it to be the truth. I think society has conditioned us on may different things that contribute. The first being relativism - what’s right for you may not be right for me. So people don’t necessarily see an absolute truth. The second being a focus on feelings - if it doesn’t make you feel good, then it isn’t right for you. Third a sense of self centeredness - what can it do for me and how does it make me feel? And lastly a sense of right now - everything has to be right now. If I don’t feel good right now, then I’m not sticking around. If it doesn’t benefit me right now, then I’m not interested.I agree that JO markets his work, yet if people did not like his message the marketing would not matter. Conversely, if the culture wanted to hear Father Corapi’s message of truth, then he would sore through the clouds even without marketing. Cardinal Sheen was huge and he was not marketed like JO, rather in those days our culture was far more open to the truth, whereas today it rejects the truth in huge percentages.
I agree with all of your points and will simply add:True, though I don’t think most are outright rejecting it in spite of knowing it to be the truth. I think society has conditioned us on may different things that contribute. The first being relativism - what’s right for you may not be right for me. So people don’t necessarily see an absolute truth. The second being a focus on feelings - if it doesn’t make you feel good, then it isn’t right for you. Third a sense of self centeredness - what can it do for me and how does it make me feel? And lastly a sense of right now - everything has to be right now. If I don’t feel good right now, then I’m not sticking around. If it doesn’t benefit me right now, then I’m not interested.
Sad isn’t it? And what makes it even sadder is that the hurt/conviction we feel from the truth really becomes a greater happiness than the one we are seeking.I agree with all of your points and will simply add:
-When the truth hurts of convicts us, better to reject it then to accept it.
I agree.Sad isn’t it? And what makes it even sadder is that the hurt/conviction we feel from the truth really becomes a greater happiness than the one we are seeking.
Actually, what makes Fr. Corapi ultimately so appealing to many is his personal story. When someone shares that, you can relate to him better and connect. It shows a certain honesty. As Pope Paul VI said, the people of our day listen more to witnesses than teachers and if they listen to teachers it is only because they are first witnesses. Find some honest witnesses and they’ll be able to do every bit of good as Fr. Corapi.I think that’s because Olsteen markets himself and his products. Fr. Corapi is not in the business of marketing himself. Like you said he is presenting truth, and thus takes himself out of the way. Olsteen is marketing what he believes is truth as well, but he’s also marketing his stuff.
I disagree. I think it won’t be a huge problem to find a person to “replace” Fr. Corapi in terms of a person willing to speak the truth. Though I would agree there will probably never be another person who presents it in the way he does.
But, then, if that is where society is, don’t we have an obligation to reach them where they are on their own level in order to take them higher rather than expecting them to respond to our own preferred path of preaching? I don’t know if it is fair to criticize people for not responding when we are speaking a language which they don’t understand.True, though I don’t think most are outright rejecting it in spite of knowing it to be the truth. I think society has conditioned us on may different things that contribute. The first being relativism - what’s right for you may not be right for me. So people don’t necessarily see an absolute truth. The second being a focus on feelings - if it doesn’t make you feel good, then it isn’t right for you. Third a sense of self centeredness - what can it do for me and how does it make me feel? And lastly a sense of right now - everything has to be right now. If I don’t feel good right now, then I’m not sticking around. If it doesn’t benefit me right now, then I’m not interested.
***Yes, look for ***Fr. Donald Calloway !! He is an excellent young priest who also tells the truth and doesn’t tip toe around it!! Thanks be to GOD!:bowdown2:Is there an up-and-coming Catholic preacher in the media with inter/national reach and stature?
Parish priests are stuck worrying about the politic and sensitivities of people who they are stuck dealing with all the time. As a missionary preacher, Fr. Corapi isn’t burdened with such concerns.I don’t know of a parish priest who speaks as directly and urgently as Corapi does. I reject the idea that parish priests are always too busy to do a good job on homilies. I don’t think they even half try.