The Hour Is Late…

The Hour Is Late… by Father John Corapi
Posted on June 27, 2008 by james mary evans

I have been celebrating Mass at a local parish while the pastor is away the past few weeks. Many of the readings during that time concerned the prophets and their message and trials. I was moved to reflect once again on the prophetic dimension of our Baptism in Christ-Priest, Prophet and King. Several decades ago, the great Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “The prophetic voice of Christ has all but been stilled in the Church today.” To the degree we fail in this prophetic mission, the world will sink into oblivion under the increasing weight of its sins.In my lifetime, the United States has gone from quite a wholesome, rational, and moral country, to one that is largely decadent, irrational, and immoral. Most people seem to be hardened to it, unconcerned that we have a death wish in process.

First it was artificial contraception, then abortion, then partial-birth abortion, then infanticide (all of which have been supported by many liberal politicians at one time or another, even some running for president) not to mention euthanasia, and outright killing of the disabled and sick. Actually, it’s even worse. Terri Schiavo wasn’t sick. She didn’t die from an illness. They killed her by starvation, a very cruel way to die.

Now it’s same sex marriage (no transmission of life, no fruit of natural love) and we call it inclusive and just. It is yet another nail in the coffin of a society that is clearly dying. Every stage of life is under assault by the forces of death. From prevention of life through artificial contraception, to abortion-which is homicide by definition in each case (the taking of the life of an innocent human being), and genocide taken as a whole. Preventing life, ending life from the youngest to the oldest. We call it progress. It is a death wish, and we had better watch what we wish for.

“All that evil requires to prosper is that good men remain silent.” The hour is late. We have had years to change course. Instead, we have obstinately refused and gone from bad to worse. May God have mercy on us, and grant us the courage and strength to act in accordance with that truth.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi

Source

Latest on Fr. Corapi

I got this in an email

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Here is the latest on Fr. Corapi. Some of you had written asking if Fr.
Corapi was really ill.
+++++++


Many of us have been concerned about Father Corapi and his health. The
rumors were indeed true, but thanks to Father Corapi's /Weekly Wisdom/
program, , he addressed the whole health issue on his 29
March program. For non-subscribers, here is an overview.



Bottom line, Father Corapi has a parathyroid tumor and will be going back to
the Mayo Clinic next week for surgery. It's a very rare (1:167,000 men get
it) tumor, which 98% of the time not cancerous. The good news is they ruled
out lymphoma, which is what they thought he had. He goes t hrough great
detail explaining and extolling the Mayo Clinic, his tests, and our
obligation to keep our bodies as healthy as we can. He also said for the
past 7 months he was too sick to get out bed 70% of the time; intense
exhaustion with flu-like symptoms (a result of the excess calcium this type
of tumor causes, in addition to osteoporosis) . Surgery is the only cure.



As you might suspect, he turned his experience into a redemptive suffering
lecture, reminding us that God's true power comes via our weakness. He also
touched on what I've seen more and more recently especially among strong
Catholics close to Mary and who offer their sufferings and that is the
obvious - how much the world right now needs the help of redemption from the
souls willing and able to offer it back to Christ via Mary, united to the
cross. I'm sure most of us figured out it was pretty obvious that God
needed Father Corapi's suffering especiall y during Holy Week.



He talked in fairly great detail about his week of tests; including the
anxiety for his family, about maybe 'checking out,' i.e., having cancer,
etc. With his humor, he joked about the benefit and happiness of dying

(except for the pain to his family), rather than having to endure and see
the face of a certain US Presidential candidate. He quite seriously said
death would be better than having to endure this gentleman for the next four
years, should he become president. Yikes!



Anyway, please spread the world to keep the Padre in your prayers. His
favorite prayer is the Memorare, which is what he asked be prayed for him
when he was first admitted to the Mayo Clinic. He wrapped up his segment
with the profound words from his thesis on redemptive suffering: /To be set
at the foot of the cross is to be set at the pinnacle of all human
possibilities./

Our Sorrowful Mother's Minist ry
www.sorrowfulmothersministry.org

Conversion

H/T Livejournal Group catholic_quotes

I learned something a long time ago: I have no control, nor do I want to, over somebody else's mind.

I can't make anybody else do anything.

You know, we get upset sometimes...oh, I don't know why my grandson or my daughter or my nephew or my husband or my wife or my friend or my coworker...they just don't get it...they live like pagans and...hey--if God leaves them free, we've got to leave them free too. God does not put out contracts with hit men to coerce people into loving Him. Doesn't work that way. Leave 'em alone.

You know what I do? I'll tell you what I do. People think, "Oh you must have converted a lot of people, Father." Nope. Never. In 15 years of constant preaching...over a million miles in airplanes...49 states...over 100 dioceses...never converted anybody.

I don't have the POWER to change a heart. Or a mind.

GOD has the power to change a heart. Or a mind. I just show up for work and open my mouth and then He does the rest!

And you have to come to that understanding! You're not going to convert your children! You're NOT! And you're not going to convert your wife or your husband! You CAN'T!

But God can.

What do you have to do? Show up for work.

And what does that mean?

Be patient. And kind. And loving. And be steadfast in the truth. Love your faith. Learn your faith. Live your faith. That's showing up for work.

- Fr. John Corapi

You have to love the quote from one of my all time favorite people, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, posted in response.

Very recently, a young priest told me in conversation: 'I have already made 72 converts in 6 years of my priesthood.' I said: 'I would advise you to stop counting them, otherwise you might think you made them and not God.'

Fr. Corapi Facts

I love the Chuck Norris ones. And the Vin Diesel ones. But now we have Fr. Corapi Facts.

Father Corapi does not know where you live, but he knows where you will die (in order to administer Viaticum...duh).


Every time Father Corapi says Mass, an angel gets its wings.


Father Corapi and God once shared a high-five. The wind that was created caused Hurricane Katrina.


Father Corapi, when he was in the military, once shot down an enemy plane by pointing his finger and shouting, "Bang!"


They say lightning never strikes the same place twice. Neither does Father Corapi. He doesn't have to.


"Abortion clinics, pornography stores...I would move my artillery into place and light 'em up! I would totally liquidate them...speaking metaphorically, of course"


The Soldier's Creed states, "surrender is not an option...except when Father Corapi is in town."


The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The only thing fear has to fear is Father Corapi.


Regardless of race, gender, location, or education level... at one point in your life you have underestimated Father Corapi. You will live just long enough to regret this.


"I am ready and willing to destroy my enemies in close and mortal combat."


Father Corapi's statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary wears combat boots.


Father Corapi's Rosary is made of spent .54 caliber bullet shells. No, really.


When Satan goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet to make sure Father Corapi isn't there.


An apple a day does not keep Father Corapi away. Only going to Mass and confession every day keeps Father Corapi away... sometimes.

Father Corapi

Wow. What a past few days. I started my new job on Thursday and then last night and today I got to see Fr. Corapi speak in Arlington Heights, IL.

Before Fr. Corapi came out there was a sneak preview of a new DVD coming out in a month or two called Champions of Faith: Baseball Edition. The few minutes that they showed us were incredibly moving. The documentary is talking to various baseball stars about their Catholic faith and how it inspires them. Some big names on there too, you know they have to be if I recognize them and they aren't on the White Sox: Mike Piazza, Jeff Suppan, Ivan Rodriguez, Craig Biggio, Juan Pierre, Mike Sweeney, and my very own AJ Pierzynski and Ozzie Guillen were among some of those interviewed. It was just really touching to see how they make their faith such a part of their life. They were accepting pre-orders there so we ordered two of them, one for Dad and one for me. If you have a baseball fan in the family I highly recommend it, but even if you don't or aren't I still recommend it. Mom is not a baseball fan, but she was really moved by it too.

After the Champions of Faith preview was a quick little plug for the movie Bella, which looks really good. Not much was said about it, but they said that if we wanted Hollywood to change and reflect our Christian values that we would have to support good movies when they come out and Bella is one of these. I already wanted to see Bella whenever it comes out so he was preaching to the choir with me, but I'm glad to see that they are getting it out there.

First off for those who may not be completely familiar with Fr. Corapi here is part of his official biography...

Father John Corapi is what has commonly been called a late vocation. In other words, he came to the priesthood other than a young man. He was 44 years old when he was ordained. His experiences prior to ordination have been termed simply astounding, but that is probably somewhat of an overstatement. They might be called extreme, however. From small town boy to the Vietnam era US Army, from millionaire businessman in Las Vegas and Hollywood to drug addicted and homeless, to religious life and ordination to the priesthood by Pope John Paul II, to a life as a preacher of the Gospel who has reached millions with the simple message that God's Name is Mercy!

I saw Fr. Corapi speak in person once before at St. Thomas More parish in Chicago back in, I want to say, 2004. Fr. Corapi comes out and one of the first things we notice is the amount of security he had. There were these big burly guards all around him that reminded me a lot of the secret service guys when we went and saw President Bush. Sadly, it appears that this is indeed necessary because of the many death threats and false accusations made against him. This is something I have heard of him having to deal with before, but still it was rather shocking to see. And since I was sitting directly in front of one of the security guys it was sort of a part of my evening.

He then gave his lecture about leadership. I suppose there really isn't any point in my trying to resay everything he said, because I could never do it because he's too awesome at speaking and I'm too crappy at speaking and remembering what he said. Suffice to say it was very stirring. One thing that stood out to me both last night and today was how much his speech and his phrasing and comparisons are made using military terms and imagery.

After his lecture there was a concert by Tajči. We actually didn't stay for this. Although her voice was beautiful, we had a long day and were tired and were aware of the long day ahead of us.

Waking at 5:50 this morning we made our way to Arlington Heights again. We were standing in line in the cold again by 6:30 (Fr. Corapi was to speak at 9:00). They let us in by 7:30, 8:30 was the rosary and 9:00 was Fr. Corapi. The format of todays talk was Q&A. He covered just about every topic you can think of; Iraq, terrorism, abortion, euthanasia, the priest abuse scandal, crazy "Catholic" antics, "Catholic" politicians, the lack of response from the bishops, drug abuse, media Jesus controversies (the "finding" of Jesus' bones and Jesus' "wife"), where our nation is going, and many more. All of these were discussed with the humor and ability of Fr. Corapi that many of us have grown to love. There was going to be a mass after Fr. Corapi spoke, but we have to go to mass tomorrow for Dad's RCIA, and since I was really uncomfortable from sitting all day long we decided to leave. Inbetween some of Fr. Corapi's lectures Tatiana (Tajci) came out and told her conversion story and what it was like living under an athiestic communist regieme.

It was a really great day. If you have a chance to see Fr. Corapi in person go if you can. If not he's always on TV and the radio preaching and teaching.