By Br. John Eudes, M.I.C.M., Tert.

Theme: Catholic Saints & Heroes: Models for our Modern Age

Title: All About Apostleship

The talk explains how Father Feeney left a successful public career to found St. Benedict Center as a “school of thought” whose primary aim is forming true apostles—people who know both what to say and how to say it. The speaker contrasts two bad extremes in sharing the faith (brutal challenge with no psychology vs. mere psychology with no challenge) and insists that real apostles must unite clear doctrine with wise, charitable presentation so that people are not just intellectually convinced but truly converted in their will. He illustrates this with historical and contemporary examples, stressing that the difficult dogma “no salvation outside the Catholic Church” must be presented as a serious challenge but always undergirded by visible charity, prayer, and a deep interior life. A major theme is that Catholics must avoid harshness, pride, and perpetual polemics; instead they should study the key writings of the center, know their limits in theological debates, adapt to their audience, and keep the focus on conversion and hope rather than despair. Finally, he urges laypeople to stay in their proper vocation—building the reign of Christ in their families, work, and daily life—rather than obsessing over scandals or trying to “run the Church,” trusting that God will renew the hierarchy from above while they faithfully do their part below.

(From 2002 SBC Conference)

File Size: 36 MB