SrSusan (guest): We have all heard it exclaimed: “Who cares what people think!” Based on this reflection, how would St. Francis’s advice move you to respond to such a claim? St. Francis warns us that our own vices can potentially dismantle our reputation. How might your life in pursuit of holiness by marred by your secret (or not so secret) vices? Our Lord is the spotless Lamb; it was through his sinlessness that he was able to redeem us out of our sinfulness. However, he still at times was the victim of a bad rep
SrSusan (guest): bad reputation: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Matthew 11:19). How can this aspect of Jesus’ life shed light on what St. Francis is trying to teach us about virtue and reputati
SrSusan (guest): Sun Nov 6 730pm est
Nov 6 2016, 3:08 PM
Guest8668 (guest): Hi Everyone, it’s Judy. Tonight is the last night of the program I have been attending for the last 7 weeks. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 6 nights and the day long retreat last Saturday. I am sure this last night will be no exception. We are having a pot luck supper in addition to our final reflection on Following Christ. Here are my answers to the questions for this week. I hope that someone will comment on them.
Nov 6 2016, 3:13 PM
Guest8668 (guest): Question 1: In a certain sense the statement “Who cares what people think!” has a certain amount of truth to it. What other people think of us is far less important than what God thinks of ous. But if the opinion of others is in accurate and leads to slander, these opinions spread to others who may adopt them as their own. We may then become objects of contempt.
Nov 6 2016, 3:14 PM
Guest8668 (guest): St. FdeS says that charity requires and humility allows us to desire and to maintain a good reputation with care. And those who spread slander should be corrected.
Nov 6 2016, 3:17 PM
Guest8668 (guest): Question 2: If a person is purportedly striving for holiness but constantly uses foul language or speaks unkindly to others, one might well wonder about the seriousness of his commitment. To continue in such practices will surely erode the individual’s holiness and if not corrected, completely annihilate it.
Nov 6 2016, 3:22 PM
Guest8668 (guest): Question 3: Virtue and reputation do not always go together. The example cited in the Gospel shows the people seeing Jesus’ action of eating with tax collectors and sinners as a sign of failure to adhere to the will of God. In actuality, He acted in such a manner so as to have an opportunity to present the Good News to them with the desire of freeing them from their evil tendencies and admitting them into a good and loving relationship with Father, Son and Spirit.
Nov 6 2016, 3:23 PM
Guest8668 (guest): Let us join in prayer for the coming election. So much is on the line and so many seem to be unaware of the nature of some of the people running for office. “See” you all next week/
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22 PM
SrSusan (guest): It is an interesting time to chat about reputations given our election season!
Nov 6 2016, 7:24 PM
SrSusan (guest): Religious find it challenging to live up to a “pedastal reputation”
PM
Carol Ann: I agree with you Sr. Everyone has an image in their head of what a Religious is, and heaven help you if you don’t meet it7 PM
SrSusan (guest): All Christians though are liable to be disdained if they act un Christ like
Nov 6 2016, 7:27 PM
SrSusan (guest): Hello guest 814..
Nov 6 2016, 7:28 PM
SrSusan (guest): That’s why St Francis de Sales addresses this in his book for laity Introduction to the Devout Life
PM
SrSusan (guest): Brian, you do prison ministry- how does reputation fit into that? Either side!
Nov 6 2016, 7:29 PM
Lisa C: Sins were between anyone and God in confession, and then there were public sins that showed in a lifestyle like being in the mafia or divorce and remarriage which led to scandal in front of others. Now it seems like it makes no difference.
Nov 6 2016, 7:30 PM
Lisa C: Reputation and being a role model for kids
Nov 6 2016, 7:30 PM
Lisa C: Now politicians and anyone can do anything and expect it will be fine
2016, 7:31 PM
SrSusan (guest): With the general public or with the media7:31 PM
Lisa C: With everything and even to some extent with Pope Francis
Nov 6 2016, 7:32 PM
Lisa C: St. John Paul said it mattered, because it was a bad example
, 7:32 PM
Lisa C: All of society is in decline
Nov 6 2016, 7:33 PM
SrSusan (guest): Our individuality structured world no longer cares about examples because everyone does their own thing
Nov 6 2016, 7:33 PM
Dawn (guest): The world has removed God from so much and is tumbling into a great darkness
Nov 6 2016, 7:33 PM
Guest8141 (guest): In Prison Ministry the inmates live in a very hypervigilant environment . They can tell immediately if you are sincere.
Nov 6 2016, 7:33 PM
SrSusan (guest): Read about Eastern Christians during Communist era Their saints It will help
Nov 6 2016, 7:33 PM
Carol Ann: And the thinking is there is no universal right because there is no universal religion to dictate it
Nov 6 2016, 7:34 PM
Lisa C: People should be required to take Philosophy in school to learn what truth and logic are and that truth is absolute
Nov 6 2016, 7:34 PM
Dawn (guest): its a challenge to talk with young people young adults who have not lived in another time
Nov 6 2016, 7:35 PM
Lisa C: We have 2 more days to know whether the supreme court will be destroyed forever.
Nov 6 2016, 7:35 PM
Lisa C: Hillary wants to allow abortion until the last day of birth.
7:36 PM
SrSusan (guest): Yes Dawn That is why history is so important
Nov 6 2016, 7:36 PM
Dawn (guest): other times in history have gone through similar,
Nov 6 2016, 7:36 PM
Guest8141 (guest): With great darkness people see the light of Christ in us immediately . It could be the greatest time for us to assist God in bringing others to Christ !
Nov 6 2016, 7:36 PM
Dawn (guest): crossed msg!!
Nov 6 2016, 7:36 PM
SrSusan (guest): Many people are doing vigils Lisa around here
Nov 6 2016, 7:36 PM
Carol Ann: Here too.
37 PM
SrSusan (guest): There is no country that has not gone thru a trial- we are in ours
6, 7:40 PM
Carol Ann: We must pay attention to reputation because whispers can tell us if we are wandering off but the opinion we must heed is Christ’s
Nov 6 2016, 7:41 PM
Dawn (guest): Good question Sr Susan. I believe it is most important that we can share even through our life the Gospel Of Jesus. more important now maybe
Nov 6 2016, 7:41 PM
Lisa C: Matthew 5:14-16New International Version (NIV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Nov 6 2016, 7:42 PM
Dawn (guest): the perfect scripture for now Lisa
Nov 6 2016, 7:42 PM
Guest8141 (guest): We live in a world consumed with gossip but people really respond to seeing us live out true Christian Action !
Nov 6 2016, 7:42 PM
Dawn (guest): Hi Ruth
45 PM
Ruth (guest): We have a new — relatively new — couple in our Lake Placid parish — St. Agnes — who’ve started a Catholic Radio Station called Light of Truth. Maura is a theology teacher. They are really letting their light shine.
Nov 6 2016, 7:46 PM
SrSusan (guest): just as the leaves of a tree are valuable, not merely for beauty’s sake, but also as a shelter to the tender fruit, so a good reputation, if not in itself very important, is still very useful, not only as an embellishment of life, but as a protection to our virtues, especially to those which are weakly. Sfds
Nov 6 2016, 7:46 PM
Ruth (guest): Trouble is there are a few websites with the same or almost the same name and I can tell promptly that they are NOT Catholic, and not the one I was looking for.
Nov 6 2016, 7:46 PM
Carol Ann: I’ve wrestled with it too. It is such a part if ordinary conversations that no one recognizes it or sees it as sin
Nov 6 2016, 7:46 PM
SrSusan (guest): We don’t want to lose whatever virtue we have attained
46 PM
Guest8141 (guest): Remember also Jesus said that when you get picked on for living out your Faith Rejoice and be Glad . I see a lot of brothers and sisters who do the opposite they complain . We miss the opportunity to share the Joy of the Lord ! 7:48 PM
SrSusan (guest): Divine Love is the main thing which keeps us in the ways of holiness, we may also find help from the effects of a good reputation. (SFDS) :49 PM
SrSusan (guest): What’s happening now is that the reputations of our candidates have been smeared by each other which is a terrible example, even if the truth is there. · St. Francis warns us that our own vices can potentially dismantle our reputation. How might your life in pursuit of holiness by marred by your secret (or not so secret) vices? 9 PM
Ruth (guest): Rejoice and be Glad, for your reward in heaven will be great. Tough to share that sort of joy with someone who has no appreciation of the eternal.
Nov 6 2016, 7:50 PM
Dawn (guest): it is violence
Nov 6 2016, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: The candidates who were chosen are not the ones who should have been chosen. There were better choices.
Nov 6 2016, 7:50 PM
Ruth (guest): It also becomes an abominable example of public discourse.
Nov 6 2016, 7:50 PM
Guest8141 (guest): When conversion takes place it is amazing to see how God takes someone from an awful reputation to an amazing reputation ! St Augustine St Paul !
Nov 6 2016, 7:51 PM
SrSusan (guest): That’s the scary part Lisa
:53 PM
Lisa C: I think disappointing God would be worse than losing a reputation.
7:53 PM
Lisa C: Disappointing family too would be worse
Nov 6 2016, 7:53 PM
SrSusan (guest): Yes He is the only one we ultimately are living for
54 PM
Dawn (guest): did anyone here see EWTN Wolf In Sheeps Clothing? I missed most but had immpression it was history about our present time
Nov 6 2016, 7:54 PM
SrSusan (guest): No tell us about it
Nov 6 2016, 7:54 PM
Guest8141 (guest): It’s good for us when we are communicating with those with very bad reputation to see them like they will be when they are saved by God and living with Christ . We have opportunity to talk with them as if they were already with God forever !
55 PM
SrSusan (guest): You have agreat perspective there Brian
Nov 6 2016, 7:55 PM
SrSusan (guest): We are praying for conversions
Nov 6 2016, 7:55 PM
Dawn (guest): I did not see all of it, but they have run several oncores
Nov 6 2016, 7:56 PM
Lisa C: I think the atheism caused by Communism and by people who decided there was no God, because of the holocaust, invaded secular colleges and spread to all of society. I think that is why Blessed Mother was so upset about Russia in the Fatima visions.
Nov 6 2016, 7:57 PM
Lisa C: A disconnection from God is causing all of this.
8 PM
Guest8141 (guest): Please keep upcoming Kairos Men and Women who will be attending Kairos for first time in your prayers God will be providing them a great opportunity for conversion !
Nov 6 2016, 7:58 PM
Ruth (guest): And that’s the problem, Lisa, Sr. Susan, with the American (US) form of democracy of majority rule, two parties; if the wrong candidates are presented and the options are effectively non-existent. I think it would make sense to have more than two parties (Washington warned against parties, and no presidential candidates campaigned for themselves until the mid-1800s.) If there were multiple parties or candidates and even the smaller minorities had some representation, that
Nov 6 2016, 7:58 PM
Carol Ann: How do we go about reconnecting the world to God with our unique viewpoint while allowing others to grow at their own pace?
Nov 6 2016, 8:00 PM
Ruth (guest): would be more “democratic” in the long run. If no one had a majority for an office like President, we could have run offs. For congress, representatives could be proportionate to the popular vote.
Nov 6 2016, 8:00 PM
Lisa C: Carol Ann, I am afraid that we are going to be dependent on the prayers of new places where the Church is growing. It seems like the US and Europe are losing their connection to God.
Nov 6 2016, 8:00 PM
Lisa C: In Europe the Churches are empty and most are locked
:02 PM
Ruth (guest): “See them like they are when they will be saved . . ” Beautiful, Brian!
Nov 6 2016, 8:02 PM
SrSusan (guest): Faith is alive in parts of Africa and simple people in Europe have the faith- maybe not intellectuals I saw it myself in Rome
2 PM
Dawn (guest): Africa is alive. My son lived in Ghana for a year. He said (today) people do not gossip about one another there. the most they may say about someone when necessary is “watch your association with this person…”
Nov 6 2016, 8:02 PM
Ruth (guest): The St. B’s prayer group prayed the “Patriotic Rosary” last Wednesday night.
Nov 6 2016, 8:03 PM
Guest8141 (guest): I remember Ruth hearing Holocosr survivors speak about what happened in Germany . There were many parties and vote was soo divided that it gave opportunity for Nazis to win election with minority vote . Once they took power all hell broke out overnight .
Nov 6 2016, 8:03 PM
Carol Ann: That is the way talk should be, the way it used to be5 PM
SrSusan (guest): Goes back to protecting some one else’s reputation
Nov 6 2016, 8:07 PM
Carol Ann: Hard to do when the people you are trying to protect don’t do the same
Nov 6 2016, 8:07 PM
SrSusan (guest): “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Matthew 11:19). How can this aspect of Jesus’ life shed light on what St. Francis is trying to teach us about virtue and reputation?
5 PM
SrSusan (guest): Goes back to protecting some one else’s reputation
Nov 6 2016, 8:07 PM
Carol Ann: Hard to do when the people you are trying to protect don’t do the same
Nov 6 2016, 8:07 PM
0 PM
Ruth (guest): Clearly, Sr. Susan, we sometimes see only “the surface.” We need to judge as God judges IF we need to judge at all. And we need to be keenly aware, that try as we may, we do not see as God sees.
Nov 6 2016, 8:11 PM
Guest8141 (guest): We used to have more cooperation between parties that was evidence of true Christian Action ! As our culture shifts away from Christ you see deeper divisions . Each side just beats up on the other side no cooperation no love just division . When we return to Christ we see greater cooperation listening working together on important issues and Love !
PM
Dawn (guest): so true Brian. it seems the best prayer now is for conversions…
Nov 6 2016, 8:13 PM
SrSusan (guest): Our own too
Nov 6 2016, 8:13 PM
Ruth (guest): Yes!
Nov 6 2016, 8:14 PM
Lisa C: Speaking of our own conversions we only have about 2 weeks to go through the Holy Doors, just a reminder
Nov 6 2016, 8:14 PM
Dawn (guest): yes,these times call for our own deepening conversion
Nov 6 2016, 8:14 PM
Ruth (guest): Yes, Lisa, I was thinking of that — and talked of it this week.
Nov 6 2016, 8:15 PM
Carol Ann: Because if we do not continue to pray for our own conversion whIle praying for others, we may end up imitating the pharisee rather than the tax collector
18 PM
Ruth (guest): I understand that we can also gain plenary indulgences for OTHERS. Not sure though, if that can be for the still living, or only for souls in purgatory.
Nov 6 2016, 8:18 PM
SrSusan (guest): Ultimately no matter our reputation, our soul will shine eternally if we do God’s Will
Nov 6 2016, 8:18 PM
Lisa C: Only dead
8:20 PM
Lisa C: We cannot get indulgences for another living person
Nov 6 2016, 8:20 PM
Ruth (guest): I think it is interesting that toward the end of Paul’s life he was clear that a great reward awaited him. The early martyrs were too.
M
Carol Ann: So to protect our reputations we must discern God’s will in all our thoughts and actions
Nov 6 2016, 8:20 PM
Dawn (guest): about the upcoming elections..I have to pray and watch the amount of time I take in “news” it is easy to be drawn in esp having have young family and considering their future.
Nov 6 2016, 8:21 PM
Guest8141 (guest): I invited a friend who recently retired to early mass on Sunday he has attended two weeks in a row after mass we do brief Bible study at coffee shop with Christian from Ethiopia . To see the people listening to study you can see God working on their conversion!
Nov 6 2016, 8:21 PM
Dawn (guest): thank you for sharing that Sr Susan!
Nov 6 2016, 8:22 PM
Ruth (guest): Great move, Brian.
Beautiful
Nov 6 2016, 8:24 PM
SrSusan (guest): Yes Guest 8074- YES
Nov 6 2016, 8:25 PM
Lisa C: Let’s try before Tuesday
Nov 6 2016, 8:25 PM
Ruth (guest): And to Mary Immaculate!
Nov 6 2016, 8:25 PM
Guest8074 (guest): Yes, indeed
Nov 6 2016, 8:25 PM
Ruth (guest): That’s what the “Patriotic Rosary” does.
Nov 6 2016, 8:25 PM
Carol Ann: That is an excellent idea
Nov 6 2016, 8:25 PM
Dawn (guest): For we are not given a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind 2 Tim 1:7
M
Guest8074 (guest): Amen
Nov 6 2016, 8:26 PM
Lisa C: Maybe we can squeeze the world into the wound in His Heart
Nov 6 2016, 8:26 PM
Guest8074 (guest): Beatiful
Nov 6 2016, 8:26 PM
Ruth (guest): Yes, the whole wide world!
Nov 6 2016, 8:27 PM
Lisa C: Then ask Him to hug it
8:27 PM
Ruth (guest): He died for our sins, to free us; but freedom requires conversion.
Nov 6 2016, 8:27 PM
Lisa C: Have the Holy Spirit wrap His wings around it
Nov 6 2016, 8:28 PM
Guest8141 (guest): Please pray for Joe and Sami they are gifted teachers and evangelist .Joe who is retired is substitute teaching in city of Buffalo and having great impact on youth . Sami has started house church and is helping many people to know Jesus . He ministers to people throughout city with his cab service . Both men have been good friend to me through difficult trials .
Nov 6 2016, 8:28 PM
SrSusan (guest): Maybe now the Bishops will be open to this idea- I know 2 people who would love to convince our country to consecrate
28 PM
Carol Ann: And we will all continue to do our own small parts
Nov 6 2016, 8:29 PM
SrSusan (guest): Yes Peru! and Diocese of Bridgeport just consecrated
Nov 6 2016, 8:29 PM
Ruth (guest): Joe and Sami and the many people to whom you and they minister, Brian.
Nov 6 2016, 8:29 PM
SrSusan (guest): Let’s keep this in prayer this week
Nov 6 2016, 8:29 PM
SrSusan (guest): God bless and stay true to the Faith
Nov 6 2016, 8:29 PM
Lisa C: http://static.trinityroad.com/prod/250/2032093.jpg
static.trinityroad.com/prod/250/2032093.jpg
Guest8074 (guest): Yes.
Dawn (guest): thank you Lisa!
Guest8141 (guest): God Bless You All !
Lisa C: God be praised!
Carol Ann: Good night!
Dawn (guest): Lord have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Dawn (guest): ruth,
Ruth (guest): For the sake of His sorrowful passion,
Ruth (guest): Yes.
Ruth (guest): Good night,