My Experience with Fr. Groeschel, a Roman Catholic Friar

Fr. Benedict Groeschel is one the founders of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, which was started in 1987, in the Bronx of New York. He is a catholic priest and an elderly man that is probably in his mid to late 80s. He is also a regular on EWTN with his show, entitled Sunday Night live. I had the pleasure to attend a one day retreat with him on the topic of modern psychology.

He began with discussing Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta. He said that he had known her for fifty years. It's surprising that he knew her for so long, but it makes sense because his order and hers were so focused on helping the poor. He said that she was given an honorary doctorate at Harvard where she gave a speech about the importance of chastity. There was thunderous applause for ten or so minutes. He explained that it was because she was different, that she got a standing ovation. The field of psychology seems to be focused on finding what's new and exciting.

He then talked about the 1998 President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Martin Seligman. He said that after his daughter confronted him for being mean and that he should be nice, it directed him to the discovery of the virtues. He then wrote a book that was based on the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas pertaining to the virtues. He was trying to write a book that deals with positive character traits and how they're beneficial to a person and society. The main virtues being humility, chastity, meekness, diligence, temperance, liberality and brotherly love. Unfortunately, Fr. Groeschel didn't disclose the book title or even say if the book was published already.

He then talked about the crisis of the Catholic colleges in the United States. He said that a vast majority of them are not even Catholic. They aren't faithful to teachings and are overrun by false teachers. Something that isn't apparent in other private universities. You don't see Christian universities with professors that don't believe in the bible. He joked that a certain college's nunnery should be renamed to the Sisters of the Broken Heart of Jesus.

After his first talk was done it was time for lunch. He had a really long line for people that wanted to talk to him. He has about thirty or forty published books and they were all on sale at the back table. I got to talk to him for about thirty seconds, which was enough time to give him a letter. The letter was to have him invite my step father onto his program so that he could get exposure to his book.

Overall, the day was pretty insightful. He has, what he calls, a Jewish sense of humor. It's quite witty and made the audience laugh a couple of times. It's his 11^th or so year, in a row, doing a retreat in Modesto, California for the Sisters of the Cross. It was hosted by Marie Gallo, who is married to someone in the Gallo Winery business. For more information on Fr. Groeschel and his order, please visit http://www.franciscanfriars.com.