55-536: ACIM may refer to A Course in Miracles , a spiritual book by Helen Schucman An AC induction motor Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title ACIM . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
110-411: A former roommate of Fr. Groeschel who is up for beatification". Doctors informed him that they felt it was inadvisable to attempt to repair the damaged arm (a fractured elbow and shoulder ) as he was already in a weakened condition from the ongoing illness and was unlikely to survive surgery. He returned home but continued to have great pain. He died due to complications from his ongoing illness. On
165-485: A friend of Schucman, Thetford, and Wapnick, Catholic priest Benedict Groeschel criticized ACIM and related organizations. Finding some elements of ACIM to be "severe and potentially dangerous distortions of Christian theology", he wrote that it is "a good example of a false revelation" and that it has "become a spiritual menace to many". The evangelical editor Elliot Miller says that Christian terminology employed in ACIM
220-539: A full schedule. As he told The New York Times nearly four years after his accident: "They said I would never live. I lived. They said I would never think. I think. They said I would never walk. I walked. They said I would never dance, but I never danced anyway." In 1984 Groeschel had heart problems that were addressed by bypass surgery. In 2009 Groeschel, then age 75, suffered a minor stroke overnight March 20–21. The stroke caused temporary cognitive and speech difficulties that were noticeable in his March 29 appearance as
275-514: A good example to people.' That seems to be how God answered that prayer." Members of his order held the timing of his death was providential as that night was not only the vigil before a woman from his hometown was to be beatified, but also because it fell on the vigil of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (their founder) according to the Catholic liturgical calendar. (This vigil is also called
330-419: A monthly basis. His last books included The Tears of God (2008), Questions and Answers About Your Journey to God (2007), The Virtue Driven Life (2006), and Why Do We Believe? (2005) His weekly television program, Sunday Night Live with Father Benedict Groeschel , offered a mix of interviews, answering viewer questions and discussing spiritual and social matters relating to the Catholic faith. Groeschel
385-529: A recent story in the news when he said that the University of Notre Dame was receiving an award from President Obama." It was reported that as the program continued "he was speaking much more normally. He even poked fun at himself for getting Father Andrew’s name wrong: 'I’ll never live that down.'" Since 1973 Groeschel served as the director of spiritual development for the Archdiocese of New York. It
440-591: A recent stroke. On September 3, EWTN announced that Groeschel had resigned from his position as host of Sunday Night Prime and that other members of his order would serve as the show's host. Due to declining health, Groeschel had moved into St. Joseph's Home for the elderly in Totowa run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. He died there at 11 pm on October 3, 2014. He had an ongoing medical condition that
495-422: A stimulus, triggering a series of inner experiences that were understood by her as visions, dreams, and heightened imagery, along with an "inner voice" that she identified as Jesus (although the ACIM text itself never explicitly claims that the voice she hears speaking is that of Jesus). She said that on October 21, 1965, an "inner voice" told her: "This is a Course in Miracles, please take notes." Schucman said
550-422: Is "thoroughly redefined" to resemble New Age teachings. Other Christian critics say that ACIM is "intensely anti-biblical" and incompatible with Christianity, blurring the distinction between creator and created and forcefully supporting an occult and New Age worldview. Olav Hammer locates A Course in Miracles in the tradition of channeled works from those of Madam Blavatsky to Rudolf Steiner 's and notes
605-550: Is a 1976 book by Helen Schucman . The underlying premise is that the greatest " miracle " is the act of simply gaining a full "awareness of love's presence" in a person's life. Schucman said that the book had been dictated to her, word for word, via a process of "inner dictation" from Jesus Christ . The book is considered to have borrowed from New Age movement writings. ACIM has three sections: "Text", "Workbook for Students", and "Manual for Teachers". Written from 1965 to 1972, some distribution occurred via photocopies before
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#1732791186969660-452: Is a channeled text. The course has been viewed as a way that "integrates a psychological world view with a universal spiritual perspective" and linked to transpersonal psychology . Joseph declared: Consequently, new manuscript discoveries, lost gospels, and new “scriptural” revelations represent an effective way of subverting the traditional picture of early Christian origins and destabilizing traditional Christian authority by redefining
715-623: Is distributed globally, spawning a range of organized groups. Wapnick said that "if the Bible were considered literally true, then (from a Biblical literalist's viewpoint) the Course would have to be viewed as demonically inspired". He also said, "I often taught in the context of the Bible, even though it is obvious to serious students of A Course in Miracles that it and the Bible are fundamentally incompatible." " Course -teachers Robert Perry, Greg Mackie, and Allen Watson" disagreed about that. Though
770-492: The National Catholic Register , leading to the end of his public career. The interview related to the sexual abuse of children by priests, with Groeschel stating: "Suppose you have a man having a nervous breakdown, and a youngster comes after him. A lot of the cases, the youngster — 14, 16, 18 — is the seducer." On August 30, he issued a statement: I apologize for my comments. I did not intend to blame
825-489: The San Francisco Chronicle of revealing anti-Catholic prejudice in their coverage of the sexual abuse scandal that disrupted the church. "Seldom in the history of journalism have I seen such virulent attacks on any institution that is supposed to receive fair treatment in the press", he wrote. In April 2005, following the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI , Groeschel said that
880-645: The Archdiocese of New York , as well as acting as Archdiocesan liaison for St. Teresa of Calcutta's Missionaries of Charity during Mother Teresa's lifetime. At the invitation of New York's Cardinal Terence Cooke, Groeschel acted as Associate Director of the Trinity Retreat House for clergy and executive director of St. Francis House. Groeschel served as professor of Pastoral Psychology at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York , as adjunct professor at
935-440: The "Transitus" by Franciscans where they gather together to "ritually remember the passing of Francis of Assisi from this life into God", it "specifies the living memory of Francis", and "intensifies...commitment to follow Christ in the way of the poor man of Assisi." ) On the memorial page set up by members of his order, Groeschel's quote concerning his attitude about his death was given, "Saint Vincent de Paul said: 'If you love
990-569: The Church's perennial magisterium. Groeschel served as lifelong Chairman of the Good Counsel homes for homeless pregnant women and their babies, which he described as a "work of God," cofounding these with Christopher Bell. This maternity home system offered an "open intake" model, i.e. one which turns no woman away for any reason whatever. Groeschel founded the Office for Spiritual Development of
1045-488: The Foundation for Inner Peace published a hardcover edition in 1976. The copyright and trademarks, which had been held by two foundations, were revoked in 2004 after lengthy litigation because the earliest versions had been circulated without a copyright notice. Throughout the 1980s, annual sales of the book steadily increased each year; the largest growth in sales occurred in 1992 after Marianne Williamson discussed
1100-937: The Institute for Psychological Sciences in Arlington, Virginia , and as an advisor for St. Michael's Institute in Manhattan headed by Dr. Philip Mango. Among Groeschel's close friends were St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Angelica , Christopher and Joan Bell, Dr. Philip Mango, Dr. Paul Vitz, and Dr. Alice von Hildebrand . Some recipients of the "Father Benedict Groeschel Award" awarded by Good Counsel each year have included, but are not limited to: Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan; Laura Ingraham; Michael Knowles; Larry Kudlow; Jeanne Mancini; Rev. Gerald Murray; Rev. George Rutler; William Simon, Jr. and Peter Simon. Born Robert Peter Groeschel on July 23, 1933, in Jersey City, New Jersey , he
1155-498: The U.S. rather than Rome ). Both Demjanovich and Groeschel had been born in Bayonne, New Jersey. Mencer had the relic of Demjanovich (a strand of her hair) that he had carried with him when he felt his vision problems lift and loaned it to Groeschel who blessed himself with it. Br. Shawn Conrad O'Connor, C.F.R. was with Groeschel at the time of his death. O'Connor stated that after "kind of a rough day" of pain, Groeschel and he prayed
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#17327911869691210-495: The Universe , published in 2003 by Fearless Books, was republished by Hay House in 2004. Publishers Weekly reported that Renard's examination of A Course in Miracles influenced his book. Benedict Groeschel Benedict Joseph Groeschel , C.F.R. (July 23, 1933 – October 3, 2014) was an American Franciscan friar , Catholic priest , retreat master, author , psychologist , activist , and television host. He hosted
1265-415: The book on The Oprah Winfrey Show , with more than two million volumes sold. The book has been called everything from "New Age psychobabble" to "a Satanic seduction" to "The New Age Bible". According to Olav Hammer , the psychiatrist and author Gerald G. Jampolsky was among the most effective promoters of ACIM . Jampolsky's first book, Love is Letting Go of Fear , based on the principles of ACIM ,
1320-455: The close parallels between Christian Science and the teachings of the Course. Hammer called it "gnosticizing beliefs". In "'Knowledge is Truth': A Course in Miracles as Neo-Gnostic Scripture" in Gnosis : Journal of Gnostic Studies , Simon J. Joseph outlines the relationship between the Course and Gnostic thinking. Daren Kemp also considers ACIM neo-Gnostic and agrees with Hammer that it
1375-557: The cultural boundaries of Christianity in contemporary culture. [...] Since the Course’s redefinition of terms is so offensive to its critics, [...] the Gospel narrative that the Course subverts and redefines is the suffering, death, and crucifixion of Jesus. Another dismissal of ACIM and claim for its subversiveness comes from some on the political left, who note that William Thetford , who encouraged and helped bring Schucman's work to press,
1430-705: The day of his death Groeschel met with Michael Mencer who as a child had his juvenile macular degeneration reversed, which he and his family accredited to the intercession of Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich , S.C. This event was accepted by the Vatican as a miracle that qualified Demjanovich to be beatified—this was set to be declared at a Mass the next day at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark (the first such beatification Mass to be held in
1485-569: The history of EWTN, Father Benedict was a strong and vocal supporter of Mother Angelica." In 1985, Groeschel co-founded, with Christopher Bell, the Good Counsel Homes for homeless pregnant women and children. In 1987, responding to the call of Pope John Paul II for religious orders to renew their communities, Groeschel and seven Capuchin colleagues broke away from their order "to follow a more traditional religious life that highlighted communal living and traditional garb while serving
1540-467: The host of EWTN's Sunday Night Live With Father Benedict Groeschel , where he made the condition public. During the show Groeschel stated the stroke was the reason Father Andrew Apostoli (also from his community) had replaced him the previous week and stated that he had decided to return so soon "so that viewers who may be suffering in some way won’t give up." Notably during the broadcast Groeschel misspoke Apostoli’s name as "Father Augustine" and "confused
1595-421: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ACIM&oldid=974833719 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages A Course in Miracles A Course in Miracles (also referred to as ACIM )
1650-577: The new pope had "been very badly abused by the American media". He thought that the pope's experiences during World War II had been distorted and his personality misrepresented. On January 11, 2004, Groeschel was struck by an automobile while crossing a street in Orlando, Florida . He "suffered numerous broken bones and intracranial bleeding", and over a four-hour period, he had no blood pressure, heartbeat or pulse for about 20 minutes. A few days later
1705-482: The order's friary in the Detroit Province in 1951. The following year, he was admitted to temporary profession of vows and given the religious name of Benedict Joseph, after a Franciscan saint, Benedict Joseph Labre . In later life he would often comment that he felt it significant that his patron saint in the order was most likely schizophrenic. Groeschel made his perpetual profession in 1954 and
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1760-768: The poor and needy." They formed the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal with the mission of preaching reform and serving the poor. At the time of his death the order had grown to "115 brothers and priests and 31 sisters in nine friaries in the U.S., four in Europe and two convents in Central America." After joining the Institute of Psychological Sciences in 2000, Groeschel taught an annual intensive course focused on how to give practical assistance to people experiencing trauma, extreme stress, and sorrow, while at
1815-659: The poor, your life will be filled with sunlight, and you will not be frightened at the hour of death.' I wish to witness that this is true." Groeschel's remains were placed in a simple pine casket (in accord with the rule of his community) and entombed in the crypt of the Most Blessed Sacrament Friary on October 12, 2014, following a funeral Mass at the Basilica Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. Groeschel made many audio recordings. Among them are two rosary recordings with
1870-406: The position of promoter of the cause of canonization of Cardinal Cooke. (Cardinal Cooke is recognized as a Servant of God as of May 2015.) In the 1980s Groeschel became an early supporter and a popular weekly host for the Catholic television station Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Michael Warsaw, the chairman and chief executive officer of EWTN stated "In many of the most difficult days in
1925-407: The queen of disco music paid tribute to Groeschel in the liner notes of her studio album Cats Without Claws originally released in 1984, when it became available as a compact disc a few years later. She said, "To Father Benedict Groechel, and father Glenn Sudano - for the inspiration on the line "Cats Without Claws." Fr Sudano is one of eight original Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and Summer
1980-521: The rosary accompanying the recording of Mother Angelica on EWTN. After the prayer O'Connor noticed that Groeschel was unresponsive and he could not find his pulse. After a few times asking for a response O'Connor noticed his mouth and eyes move, and felt that Groeschel was either asleep or in a "little trance" that he had been going into lately. O'Connor then laid down. A few minutes later a nurse came in and determined that Groeschel had died. O'Connor stated that Groeschel's last conscious action had been to pray
2035-571: The rosary and held that it was "a beautiful way to go." O'Connor noted that due to illness and pain Groeschel "for the last two years and especially the last month...he really suffered...It seemed like he was doing his Purgatory right there in front of you...he really suffered and took a lot of time off Purgatory I think". Father Andrew Apostoli, noting this pain, recalled that Groeschel had told him "'I prayed to God that I would be able to suffer some great suffering before I die so that I could give
2090-722: The same time integrating religious values with counseling and psychotherapy. Groeschel was Chairman of St. Francis House and the Good Counsel Homes. He was on the board of Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida, and was a member of the American Psychological Association. He was also involved with the Padre Pio Shelter, St. Anthony Residence, St. Francis Youth Center, and St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center in Honduras. The late Donna Summer ,
2145-781: The staff of St. Joseph's Seminary. He has taught at Fordham University , Iona College and Maryknoll Seminary. In 1967, he founded the St. Francis House in Brooklyn, New York , which provides a safe haven for young men looking for a new start in life. In 1974, Cardinal Terence Cooke , Archbishop of New York, asked him to establish the Trinity Retreat in Larchmont, New York , which provides spiritual direction and retreats for clergy. In 1984, Archbishop (future Cardinal) John Joseph O'Connor , Cardinal Cooke's successor, appointed Groeschel to
2200-422: The teachings are not original but culled from "various sources, east, and west". He adds that it has gained increased popularity as New Age spirituality writer Marianne Williamson promoted a variant. Two works have been described as extensions of A Course in Miracles , Gary Renard's 2003 The Disappearance of the Universe and Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love published in 1992. The Disappearance of
2255-575: The television talk program Sunday Night Prime (originally Sunday Night Live ) on the Eternal Word Television Network , as well as several serial religious specials. Originally a Capuchin friar, Groeschel cofounded the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (or CFRs), intended as a reform branch for the Capuchin charism stressing a renewed emphasis on poverty, service to the poor, Eucharistic and Marian devotion, and loyalty to
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2310-425: The three main sections of ACIM was completed, with some additional minor writing coming after that point. For copyright purposes, US courts determined that the author of the text was Schucman, not Jesus. Kenneth Wapnick believed that Schucman did not channel Jesus, but was describing her "own mental experience of divine 'love ' ". Since it went on sale in 1976, the book has been translated into 27 languages. It
2365-483: The trauma triggered a near-fatal heart attack. While he was recovering from his injuries, he collaborated with John Bishop on the book There Are No Accidents: In All Things Trust in God . He broadcast his first live program on EWTN on October 24, 2004. Although the accident left him with limited use of his right arm and difficulty in walking, he resumed preaching and giving retreats by the end of 2004 and he continued to keep
2420-494: The victim . A priest (or anyone else) who abuses a minor is always wrong and is always responsible. My mind and my way of expressing myself are not as clear as they used to be. I have spent my life trying to help others the best that I could. I deeply regret any harm I have caused to anyone. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal organization also apologized for Groeschel's remarks, noting that they were out of character for him and stemmed from infirmities due to his 2004 car accident and
2475-408: The writing made her very uncomfortable, though it never seriously occurred to her to stop. The next day, she explained the events of her "note-taking" to Thetford. To her surprise, Thetford encouraged her to continue the process. He also offered to assist her in typing out her notes as she read them to him. The process continued the next day and repeated regularly for many years. In 1972, the writing of
2530-520: Was ordained a priest in 1959. He received a master's degree in counseling from Iona College in 1964 and a Doctor of Education (D.Ed.) degree, with a specialty in psychology, from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1971. In 1960, Groeschel became the chaplain for the Children's Village, a facility for emotionally disturbed children based in Dobbs Ferry, New York . In 1965, he joined
2585-467: Was a CIA operative and psychologist. In Harper's Magazine , Sheila Heti quotes a post asserting the CIA sought "to infiltrate and dilute the American left with New Age ideas and inwardly-focused, anti-rational religious movements". The Skeptic's Dictionary describes ACIM as "a minor industry" that is overly commercialized and characterizes it as "Christianity improved". Robert T. Carroll wrote that
2640-629: Was a highly visible Catholic activist, firstly in the Civil Rights movement. He publicly criticized insulting depictions of the Catholic Church in popular culture and the media. In September 1998, he led protests outside an Off-Broadway theater in New York City against the production of Terrence McNally 's play Corpus Christi . In his 2002 book, From Scandal to Hope , he accused The Boston Globe , The New York Times , and
2695-545: Was grave enough that preparations to memorialize his life, including a Facebook tribute, were begun on September 9, 2014, by members of his religious order. On September 30, 2014, the Cardinal Newman Society announced on their Facebook page that they had received word that Groeschel "fell and re-injured the same arm that was hurt in his accident ten years ago" and asked for people to request prayers of intercession for his health from "Venerable Solanus Casey ,
2750-435: Was in this capacity as a "defender of the priesthood" that he was drawn into the sexual abuse scandals that came to light in the early 2000s. Groeschel's expertise was focused on clarifying critical psychological issues pertinent in the screening of stable and orthodox seminarians. The goal of this process was to identify those able to stand up to the tremendous pressures of the work to which they are called. The aim of this work
2805-510: Was married to his brother Bruce Sudano . Throughout his career, Groeschel was "an outspoken opponent of abortion and was quick to defend the church against what he saw as unfair criticism, which endeared him to conservative Catholics in particular." Groeschel received wide public attention through his preaching engagements, writing and television appearances. He was the author of over 30 books and recorded more than 100 audio and video series. He published articles in several Catholic magazines on
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#17327911869692860-457: Was one "many church officials concurred in", The New York Times would later report. Groeschel also told the Yonkers audience that "I've met with some of those people [the accused priests] and they are among the most penitent people I have met in my life. When you pick up the media, you don’t hear about the penitence." Groeschel also made controversial comments in a 2012 interview published by
2915-595: Was published in 1979 and, after being endorsed on Johnny Carson 's show, sold over three million copies by 1990. A Course in Miracles was written as a collaborative venture between Schucman and William ("Bill") Thetford. In 1958, Schucman began her professional career at Columbia–Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City as Thetford's research associate. In 1965, at a time when their weekly office meetings had become so contentious that they both dreaded them, Thetford suggested to Schucman that "[t]here must be another way". Schucman believed that this interaction acted as
2970-700: Was the eldest of the six children of Edward Joseph Groeschel and Marjule Smith Groeschel. Groeschel attended Catholic elementary and high school (Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, New Jersey) and then in 1950 he entered the Capuchin Order 's St. Felix Friary in Huntington, Indiana . As a novice at St. Felix's Groeschel met and was deeply impressed by Blessed Solanus Casey . After nine months in Indiana, Groeschel completed his novitiate at
3025-430: Was to protect both potential victims as well as clerics. In 2002 with large numbers of public allegations arising accusing priests of sexual abuse against minors, Groeschel caused some controversy during a sermon at a Yonkers church. He described the news reporting on the matter as a "media persecution" against Catholicism intended "to destroy whatever public influence the church might have." This perception of persecution
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