Conferences #167 – Bp. James D. Conley ( 45min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Most Reverend James D. Conley gives the opening keynote address at the 2012 Courage Conference held in Emmitsburg, MD. The talk is titled: “Friendship, Modern Isolation and the New Evangelization in the Thought of Bl. John Henry Newman“. And he bases it on Newman’s motto “Cor ad cor loquitur” or  “Heart speaks to heart” which Bp. Conley has taken as his own episcopal motto since Newman so profoundly influenced him. Newman says, it is friendship that was neglected in his isolated, individualistic society whereas Jesus wants us to become friends with him and with each other. Bp. Conley says this is all the more true today as we have become more materialistic and secular and how we must get back to true sacrificial charity exemplified by the crucified Christ. This will do more to reverse the moral decay of our society than anything else. This process starts with the gift of supernatural charity and faith in ourselves and spreads truth and charity which is then passed on, person to person, as heart speaks to heart. A hearty thank you to the Daughters of St. Paul for providing the audio of the second half of the bishop’s talk which they recorded separately after the power went out.

Ave Maria!

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Conferences #168 – Melinda Selmys gives The Straight Story ( 51min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Melinda Selmys gives her talk at the 2012 Courage Conference titled, “The Straight Story” where she gives an account of her life where lived the lesbian life style and then came to God and became wife and mother of six children. She then gives her assessment of the origins and ramifications of her same sex attraction, discussing whether it is intrinsic to  a person’s nature as many would have us believe today or whether it is simply a temptation for some people which can be resisted like any other temptation as part of one’s overall effort to conform their will to the will of God. She includes many references to philosophy, theology, psychology and to her own personal experience to form an intelligent, Christian, broadminded view of a very complex issue.

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Conferences #172 – Fr. Jeffery Keefe on the Varieties of Guilt ( 82min) >>> Play

Fr. Jeffrey Keefe, O.F.M. Conv., director of Courage in Syracuse, NY, gives his talk at the 2012 International Courage Conference on the “The Varieties of Guilt” which we face on our pilgrimage to God and the appropriate pastoral approach to cope with them in a world where temptation and sin are increasing. In the process he explains the nature of shame and how shame and guilt are our built in monitors of our behavior. Yet, no matter how bad we mess up, we should look to God to help straighten out the mess and so find peace.

Ave Maria!

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Conferences #169 – Dr. Timothy Flanigan ( 68min) >>> Play

Dr. Timothy Flanigan gives an inspirational presentation titled “Providing Hope in the Midst of Despair: A Person Centered Response to AIDS” at the 2012 Courage Conference in Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. He draws heavily on his vast experience as Director of Infectious Diseases at The Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals as well as at Brown University Medical School. He also draws on his knowledge of theology and Church social teaching that he has gained from his studies to become a deacon for the Diocese of Providence. Listen to this hope filled, informative presentation of a most compassionate response to the AIDS epidemic and the dignified treatment of those who suffer from it. Ave Maria! Audio (MP3) +++

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Conferences #171 – Andrew Comiskey at the 2012 Courage Conference  ( 73min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Andrew Comiskey, Executive Director and Founder of Desert Stream Ministries, gives his talk at the 2012 Courage Conference at Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. The talk is titled “Naked Surrender – Coming Home to our True Sexuality” based on his book of that title. He covers his long journey from a homosexual lifestyle to becoming a Christian and the long healing process involved in shedding the brokenness of a sin and coming to the wholeness of Christ and helping others to do the same in his ministry. He stresses that the process of healing is never finished here on earth and key to remaining fruitful both for healing oneself and others is to continually acknowledge one’s own brokenness before God and men in all humility. He intersperses references to his recent conversion to the Catholic faith and how this has integrated with his overall journey. Listen to this heartfelt talk, filled with pastoral wisdom and understanding for those suffering from same sex attraction.

Ave Maria!

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Conferences #170 – Fr. James Livingston at the 2012 Courage Conference ( 48min) >>> Play

Fr. James Livingston, Courage Chaplain for the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis gives his talk at the 2012 Courage Conference at Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. It is titled “The Goodness of God: Reclaiming the Gift of Hope”. He explains that hope is a supernatural appetite for God’s goodness that works primarily through the memory and employs many virtues of the intellect and will and thus shows the connection between faith and reason. It is memory of the good things God has done for us that will help us to maintain hope in the difficult times. He draws deeply from theology, scripture and the spiritual traditions of the Church, including Benedictine and Carmelite.

Ave Maria!

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Conferences #173 – Fr. Joseph Klee at the 2012 Courage Conference ( 45min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fr. Joseph Klee of the diocese of Columbus gives his talk at the 2012 Courage Conference at Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. The talk is titled “A Simple Plan: Blessed Mother Teresa’s Perspective of Life” where he outlines her simple but radical remedy to the materialism of the modern world based on poverty, chastity and obedience. He points out how her solution which seems to be so restrictive, in fact, leads to true freedom in that it gives the strength to simplify life, reject vice, embrace virtue and how this is so effective for resisting same sex attraction.

Ave Maria!

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Conferences #174 – ( 49min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Audio Only – Karl gives his inspirational testimony of his experience with SSA at the 2012 Courage Conference at Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. He relates how getting involved in a life of sin, including drugs, alcohol, and pornography lead him away from the Church and into a homosexual lifestyle with all its loneliness and despair. He then shares how he came back from this darkness into the light of faith as he started to attend Courage meetings, which gave him the much needed support of spirituality and friendship.

Ave Maria!

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Conferences #175 – Rilene at the 2012 Courage Conference ( 38min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Adult themes discussed.

Rilene gives her testimony at the 2012 Courage Conference at Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. With candor and humor she relates how she got involved in a life of sin during her youth which led her away from the Church that she once loved. She then got involved in a long term relationship with another woman. This was ultimately unsatisfying for her, starting a deep search that led her into the loving arms of God in the sacramental life of the Church.

Ave Maria!

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