John Corapi

Father John Anthony Corapi (born 20 May 1947) is an American Roman Catholic priest with both a television and a radio ministry. He conducts speaking tours in North America. He was ordained by Pope John Paul II. He is member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT).

Biography

John Corapi was born in Hudson, New York. In high school he was a standout football star and considered a career in professional sports.Fact|date=August 2008 He joined the US Army claiming he wanted to become a Green Beret, but was injured before completing training or ever seeing combat. [cite web |last = St. John|first= Kelly|last 2=Martin |first2=Mark|title = Heart patient's many lives / Redding whistle-blower went from riches to rags to robes | work = San Francisco Chronicle| date = 11/10/2002 | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/11/10/MN67216.DTL&type=news| accessdate = 2008-07-20 ] He served in the US Army in Germany as a clerk and typist during the Vietnam war era. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace University during the 1970s. Corapi became a highly successful financial advisor to Tropicana in Las Vegas, then moved to Los Angeles and became a real estate agent.Fact|date=August 2008

According to his own accounts, he began to use cocaine and attend parties with questionable men and women. He counted drug dealers and lower echelon gangsters as his friends. Eventually he had a breakdown of some sort and became homeless.cite news | last = Retzlaff | first = Eric | title = Father John Corapi: From Addict To Evangelist | work = Our Sunday Visitor | date = 1/3/2002 | accessdate = 2008-07-18] He would remain so for almost three years, wandering the streets as a vagrant. His mother sent him a prayer card with the Hail Mary prayer and asked him to pray it once a day. He then changed his life, escaping homelessness, illicit sex and drugs, which he attributes to his mother's prayers and the Blessed Virgin's intercession. At this point, his mother sent him a one-way airline ticket back to New York. He would then live with his mother for some time. After confessing his sins to an elderly local priest during the Sacrament of Confession, he then announced to the incredulous priest, "Father, I think I am being called to the priesthood." He entered studies to be a Roman Catholic priest. As part of his studies for the priesthood, on 26 May 1990, he was ordained a deacon, by the Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas.

On 26 May 1991, Pope John Paul II ordained Corapi to the priesthood. Father Corapi is now a perpetually professed priest member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, and he preaches to missions, retreats, and conferences throughout North America. He has received a Masters degree in Sacred Scripture from Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut, and a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from the University of Navarre in Pamplona, Spain. He lives in Montana.

He is the author of a series of sermons, available on audiotape, called "The Darkness Will Not Prevail". In them, Corapi details his life story. The major theme throughout his preaching career has been the spiritual battle between good and evil that affects each of us. He draws an analogy between the Armed Forces, and the Spiritual Forces, (the Angels), who help us fight the battle against Satan.

Religious career

Father Corapi served as a parish priest in Hudson, New York and Robstown, Texas. He was the Director of Catholic Faith Formation and of the Bishop's Project on the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Sacramento, California.

He has become a popular lecturer and radio broadcaster, and recordings of his addresses are widely sold. He frequently appears at conferences and inspirational meetings. He appears on EWTN Television as well as EWTN's radio network.

Interests

Father Corapi is an avid hunter and fisherman, and has spent a great deal of time outdoors. In his younger days, he would spend days and weeks alone in the woods and mountains of the east.

References

External links

* [http://www.fathercorapi.com Official site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhAyEZR4gUk Father John Corapi's Conversion Story, Short Version (on youtube)]
* [http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=73590 Inteview with zenit.org] (3 July 2005)
* [http://www.frtommylane.com/homilies/year_a/17-2.htm "Father John Corapi found the hidden treasure and pearl of great value" by Fr. Tommy Lane, Ireland]
* [http://www.frtommylane.com/homilies/year_a/17-2.htm Sermon about Fr. Corapi's life]
* [http://www.victoriagazette.com/september2006/page9.html Quotations from Father John Corapi]
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/21/eveningnews/main530362.shtml "Surgery For Profit?" CBS News on the heart bypass issue exposure] (Nov. 21, 2002)
* [http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/redding111505.htm Corporate Crime Reporter "Redding Docs to Pay Millions to Settle False Claims Act Lawsuit"] (November 15, 2005)
* [http://www.geocities.com/seapadre_1999/divinemercy.html Father John Corapi on "Divine Mercy"]