A Man For Seasons Past
Father John Corapi has led a nearly unparalleled effort leading countless souls from error and into deeper communion with Christ, myself included. Now, here in this latter season of his ministry, after having done so much good, it seems to me that Jesus was giving him an extraordinary opportunity to save even more souls by entering into that part of Christ’s suffering experienced by Our Lord when He stood in humble silence as authorities heaped false accusations upon Him. It was a gift—and Father Corapi rejected it. He chose not to accept Jesus’ Trial. He had the chance of all chances to show Jesus’ obedience, Jesus’ meekness and humility–and he missed it.
I don’t see much good at all coming out of this “Blacksheepdog” thing…when a man who is supposed to be a father decides to become a dog, it is reasonable to suspect that the “roaring lion” had something to do with it.
Thank you for posting this. I had no idea that the situation had reached this point. First, the image in the video is creepy and menacing. It doesn’t not look like a black coloured sheepdog whose sole purpose is to protect and lead its flock; it looks like a very sinister wolf with startled sheep in its sights!
The speech is resignation and well wishes heavily laden with polite and restrained recrimination and derision which undermines the previous sentiments. It really would have been better if he had remained silent even though it would have been a very difficult thing to do.
What a hot mess all the way round. God keep us all. Please!
Your observation about the startled sheep is unnervingly on, my friend. Yeah–silence is just a good default position for everybody, don’t you think?
How come no one ever wants to join MY cult of personality?
I am so dissapointed (I’m a friend of your wife, Hallie
. I’ve been listening to Fr. Corapi for a long time, and just recently his cd’s on suffering as I drive home from Adoration. His talks were so powerful and really helped me, especially in hard times when God seems so hidden (oh who am I kidding..He seems hidden all the time). I just can’t wrap my head around all of this. But yes, the video is creepy. I look at the original picture of him in your post and that’s the priest we enjoyed and loved. Over the years, it seems it’s become more about himself than Our Lord. What a mess…
I’m disappointed, too. I’ve shown his conversion video to more than one of the classes I’ve taught–he’s been a hero to me. Speaking of God being hidden: God stays hidden for now as an act of mercy to us–our crazy, sinful selves would implode if He showed Himself in all His full glory, you know? But He allows us to reveal Him to each other, and that’s what Fr. C always did. That’s what you and I are really missing–the reflection of Jesus that we saw in Father C. The bottom line: chin up, everybody! Pray! Jesus is alive and triumphant!
Fantastic post, Dan. Excellent points.
That picture makes me miss the Father Corapi who helped guide me home to Rome. Very sad.
Mrs. Beguiles I have added you and Mr. Beguiles (Dan) to my blog roll over at Making things Visible. I just posted on the Fr. Corapi mess myself.
Thanks Dan for the post, succinct, clear, and brimming with truth. It is disappointing, nevertheless, we must pray for him with great fervor.
Peace my friends.
Thank you, Ron. God bless.
Thanks for saying what I felt and was not able to put into words….
That is a picture of Father Corapi the way I remember him. When I saw him speak way back in 1996-98 he never pushed people to buy his stuff, so he must have started doing that after he began to gain more fame and his ministry expanded. I am very disappointed in his news, but there is actually still hope. Here is the Bishop of Corpus Christi’s take on it. (He is the bishop who suspended Corapi.) I really hope that his take is correct and Corapi isn’t actually leaving the priesthood.
http://abyssum.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/a-few-thoughts-on-father-corapis-announcement-yesterday
Thanks for that great link, Christina! I appreciate your hopefulness–it occured to me, as well, that things may not be quite as bad as they appear. But then why couldn’t he have been more clear about it? Something like: “I’ll always be a Catholic priest, of course, but in order to continue preaching as I feel called then I’ll have to give up doing so as a functioning, ministerial priest, at least until I’m exonerated.” The way he put it, I don’t see how this can’t lead to division and perhaps even schism–even if that’s not what he intends. At the same time, I’m willing to consider the possibility that he may in fact have invented a brilliant “end run” around a seemingly unresolvable problem. Time will tell. God be with him.
http://www.garabandal.org/News/Father_Corapi.shtml
more…
I have cried over this. My husband and I completely agree with you. He had an opportunity to be humble and passed it up. So, sad. It just proves again that we cannot place our faith or trust in man, only in GOD!