tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post115480376140325314..comments2024-03-25T06:39:42.081-04:00Comments on Bonfire of the Vanities: The Transfiguration shows us Who Jesus IsFr Martin Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1154899621439256092006-08-06T17:27:00.000-04:002006-08-06T17:27:00.000-04:00Anonymous:Whenever you see a post or comment that ...Anonymous:<BR/><BR/>Whenever you see a post or comment that you think is "angry," "cynical," "strident" or "lashing out at a large variety of people and situations," please don't hesitate to comment <I>at that time</I>.<BR/><BR/>To ask me now about comments I made here and there doesn't strike me as very appropriate. <BR/><BR/>And, I think it would be far more appropriate to couch your statements in terms of what you perceive, rather than simply characterize me as "angry." I do not accept that characterization; but I cannot contest your perceptions.Fr Martin Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1154899102555939162006-08-06T17:18:00.000-04:002006-08-06T17:18:00.000-04:00Father Martin,Come back to the south of Dayton. Ve...Father Martin,<BR/><BR/>Come back to the south of Dayton. Very rarely have I found a Bible Study led by a priest. We missed our chance at St. Albert's.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>My take on Fr. Martin's posts, comments, etc. is that he is not angry but passionate. He is passionate about his beliefs and about the Truth. I have met Father as I was member of one of his parishes. He tells it like it is. Father Martin is also humble and merciful and human. (He can be funny, too.)<BR/><BR/>I was thrown by the comment that the typical Catholic attitude is one of anger and hostiliy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1154892341087464162006-08-06T15:25:00.000-04:002006-08-06T15:25:00.000-04:00Thanks for your comments, Jackie, and they are wel...Thanks for your comments, Jackie, and they are well taken.<BR/><BR/>I think my concern about Fr. Fox's anger could be influenced by the expectation I have regarding Catholics, that Catholics in general are quick to express anger about a variety of things. But another part is taken from remarks contained within some of his postings, not necessarily in his own blog but in other Catholic blogs which I scan and where I happen to view his comments among those of others.<BR/><BR/>It is true that sometimes people are just being funny but in print it looks sarcastic, etc. Maybe you know Fr. Fox personally and thus have a different interpretation. I have never met him. On the surface it often seems like he is being typically Catholic in his attitudes toward the nonCatholic world. (Yet where have Catholics developed their frequently-hostile attitudes toward "outsiders" - have they have absorbed it from the clergy?)<BR/><BR/>What you say is true, that we all have cause to feel righteous anger at times. But there are so many things we could be angry about that anger could turn into a habit, esp where it is turned outward toward groups other than our own. That is kind of where I see Fr. Fox acting annoyed. But I agree with you that he's a great priest!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1154878188993402182006-08-06T11:29:00.000-04:002006-08-06T11:29:00.000-04:00Dear Father,Another fabulous homily. You have exp...Dear Father,<BR/><BR/>Another fabulous homily. You have explained the event not only in its historical context - using our Jewish roots - but also addressed the 'And so what?' part - what should this mean and do for me - today in 2006 in America. You have given examples of 'actionable items' to help me strive for being transfigured myself. All of this was done on a level that a group of many different people would understand, in language that is rooted in Scripture but not a masters level course and short enough so that people's attention span is not hugely challenged. I always look forward to your homilies. Thanks for posting on Saturday - so I can read along with the readings before Mass.<BR/><BR/>Annoymous<BR/><BR/>I completely agree with your comments about Father's homilies but I was a bit surprised by you comments about the rest of his posts. I hadn't gotten that at all so I went back and read/scanned several weeks worth of 'non - homily' postings and still don't see it. What I do see, however (and this was the overarching feeling I had prior to going back to read) is that Fr. Fox is very masculine in his approach. I'm glad he shows anger when the item he is posting about should bring rightous anger to our minds - especially the minds of our leaders and fathers. He is very direct (that doesn't mean he is not sensative) and again - that tends to be a very masculine trait (not that women don't have that too). So - I guess my reading is that he is very masculine in his approach which doesn't always fit into the current secular - 'let's all sit in a circle and share our feelings' approach. Just my read on the other postings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1154841120112485932006-08-06T01:12:00.000-04:002006-08-06T01:12:00.000-04:00Father, there is something I don't understand abou...Father, there is something I don't understand about you. In your sermons you expess your ideas so eloquently, and the ideas are noble ones with the clear ring of truth. You really get the message of Jesus across powerfully. You seem like a spiritual and pastoral leader. <BR/><BR/>Yet in many of your other postings you sound angry, cynical, and strident, lashing out at a large variety of people and situations. I know there is alot going on in the world that we can be upset about, but who is served when one is so angry so often and with so many? If you act in this dual nature within your parish, will your flock mirror your anger instead of radiating the love of Christ? I wonder if someone important to you modeled anger and cynicism, then you absorbed it without being aware of its negative character?<BR/><BR/>My words do not in any way constitute criticism, but merely bafflement. I so admire your knowledge and energy, and you are most articulate as well.<BR/>You have the tools for accomplishing grand opbjectives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1154835312307360992006-08-05T23:35:00.000-04:002006-08-05T23:35:00.000-04:00Father, I don't use this word too often but this w...Father, I don't use this word too often but this was awesome!! You explained the Transfiguration of our Lord in a way that finally made sense to me. Mahalo nui loa!EC Gefrohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06821950576683551325noreply@blogger.com