The Unprofitable Servant: The Egotistic World of Catholic Bloggers

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Egotistic World of Catholic Bloggers

Allow me to be up front and say right off the bat that we Catholic bloggers are a puffed-up lot. It takes a certain amount of hubris to put the things out there that we do for the world to see, and an even bigger amount of hubris to assume anyone reads it or that we're in a position to tell other Catholics what they should and shouldn't do.

Let me be even more up front and say that I don't care much for Patheos. I have a problem with Catholics who blog for profit. I know that some of the folks who visit me here are faithful readers of that site and I'm not knocking you, believe me. It's just that I am not inclined to help lay people profit from that which many fine bloggers do for nothing except their own personal satisfaction and the off chance that a soul may be helped by what they write. I haven't read a word on Patheos that could hold a candle to the gems one Mr Richard Collins puts forth on an almost-daily basis.

Every so often, there is a dust-up. It seems to involve a gentleman named Mark Shea quite frequently. I honestly would not know him if I fell over him. (Nothing personal Mark, but there are many other fine but less notorious Catholic bloggers and only so many hours in a day.) Anyway, I saw from a link somewhere that there was something Mark posted about Father Corapi. But when I read Mark's piece, it contained no news at all, so why did he go there? What purpose does it serve, except to fire more potshots at a man who clearly is in need of our prayers?

I don't care for Michael Voris, but I know nothing of what kind of Catholic he is outside of The Vortex. No one's ever forced me to read or listen to him, so except for mentioning here and there that I personally don't find him useful, what more is there to say? I don't care for some of Father Z's politics, but so far as I can tell, he's a sound priest in good standing. No one has ever held me at gunpoint and made me read what he writes. If he and Voris hang out together, why should I care? Don't we all tend to gravitate toward those with whom we think we have something in common? And if someone finds what they say and do offensive, like when they look longingly to the day when the biological solution takes out some hippie priests, why go on about it? Repeating this stuff only gives it credence it may not deserve.

There are clearly bloggers who get under my skin. That's why you don't see their blogs listed here. I don't devote blog posts to them, mock them or otherwise call attention to them. I don't respond to them or their loyal followers when I'm the subject of their derision. I never understood why people would profess to dislike or be offended by a blogger and then call more attention to them simply by writing a post about them, even if it is denigrating. For some, negative attention is better than no attention at all. It boggles my mind.

When I decided to start blogging again, I honestly thought about not allowing comments, lest I become obsessed with stats and the like. To do so, however, would deprive me of the friendship I enjoy with a small but faithful group who visit here. I am trying to keep the blog posts down to a minimum. There are many more things I'd like to write about but then I think there is a danger in making this about me and not about my struggle to do His Will. Does that make sense?

I enjoy the insight that other bloggers share about their journey to Heaven. At Terry Nelson's urging, I have discovered Heather King. I don't get the artsy part so much but anyone who quotes Matthew Chapter 6 AND spent a year walking the streets with the Little Flower is at least partially simpatico with me. Far as I can tell, she writes what she does without taking aim at other bloggers. And Magnificat thinks enough of her writing to have used her work in this month's issue as the reflection on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul.

That's the kind of achievement more of us should work toward.

6 comments:

KellyFebruary 1, 2013 at 6:12 AM
Joyce--how on earth anyone could make you the subject of their derision boggles MY mind!

I concur about only having so many hours in a day in which to read blogs. There are so many, you could go from blog to blog for hours! As to the dust-ups, I only seem to catch wind of them after the fact because someone mentions said dust-up. I must be dull witted I guess.

You know I do not like seeing Fr. Corapi attacked repeatedly. Especially now, when he is completely out of the public eye, and it's all speculation and opinion. Frankly, I think it is PURELY for attention. My few little Fr. Corapi posts back when STILL pull readers, simply because his name must be searched frequently.

So I tend to think folks stir the blog-pot for the exact same reasons, just to increase their stats.
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TLWFebruary 1, 2013 at 5:44 PM
Well, Kelly, you might be surprised LOL. It used to get under my skin but now I consider mockery an even higher form of flattery than imitation. And me too about the dust-ups. I'm usually on the periphery of them.

You may have a point about the posts being for attention or maybe even blog traffic, I don't know. I think we have to be careful about what we get drawn into and I know I can look back at things I've said or posts I've published that I would probably not repeat. I know sometimes these dust-ups happen because people see blasphemy or heresy or feel Christ is being dishonored, so they feel an obligation to respond. But really, if someone is depending on a blogger like me to teach them the faith or show them Christ, they're in big trouble. You and I know there is nothing any of us can say that hasn't already been revealed in Sacred Scripture. All things in moderation and with all humility. Peace Joyce
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MannyFebruary 1, 2013 at 9:34 PM
LOL, it's not just Catholic bloggers who are a puffed up lot. I would say almost all bloggers are puffed up. Just think about it. One gets to write about anything they want and act like they're some expert and there's not even a college professor to grade what they wrote. It's perfect to feed the ego. As to my blog stats, they are quite humbling. ;)

Heather King is great. I have her on my favorites, but I have to admit I don't go there very often. Her blogs are so long I don't usually get through them. She's got a fascinating story. I think she's got an extensive bio linked in there that I spent some time reading through.

I hear what you're saying about people who earn money through their blogs. But most of those people don't have other jobs. It's how they earn a living, and what they have are writing skills and a love of their religion. I don't see what's different about that then writing a book and earning money from it. Someone has to write those books we buy. Someone wrote it and is earning money from it. All those Catholic journals and publications (and even people who are on EWTN), someone had to write the articles, make the TV shows, and they deserve something for their labor. It's not lucrative. None of them are getting rich. I would venture to bet that I as an engineer and you as a nurse are making more than they do as writers. It also spreads the faith. Our blessed Papa has been pushing evangelizing through the internet.
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Richard CollinsFebruary 2, 2013 at 3:29 AM
Joyce, I am both humbled and grateful that you should have included me in your post. The Mass of Candlemass will be offered for you and your family. KTF! Richard
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Comments which reflect true Christian charity are always welcome. Comments which attack the Pope, the Church, priests or other bloggers will go in the dustbin, especially if they are anonymous. Thank you and God Bless you!

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Mary, Queen of Peace

Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls, through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart whilst thine only Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love He had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from His cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His beloved disciple, St. John, take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of every kind whatsoever. Thou art the Mother of Mercies, the sweet comforter and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted. Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, wither can I fly for more secure shelter, O amiable Mother of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection? Attend, therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion, to my humble and earnest request. I ask it, through the bowels of mercy of thy dear Son; Through that love and condescension wherewith He embraced our nature, when, in compliance with the divine Will, thou gavest thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of nine months thou didst bring forth from the chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit the world, and bless it with His presence. I ask it, through that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on the Mount of Olives, when He besought His eternal Father to remove from Him, if possible, the bitter chalice of His future passion. I ask it, through the threefold repetition of His prayers in the garden, whence afterwards, with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany Him to the doleful theatre of His death and sufferings. I ask it, through the welts and bruises of His virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith He was bound and scourged, when stripped of His seamless garment, for which His executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it, through the scoffs and ignominies by which He was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which He was condemned to death, and which He bore with heavenly patience. I ask it, through His bitter tears and bloody sweat; His silence and resignation; His sadness and grief of heart. I ask it, through the blood which trickled from His royal and Sacred Head, when struck with the sceptre of a reed and pierced with His crown of thorns. I ask it, through the excruciating torments He suffered, when His hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it, through His vehement thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it, through His dereliction on the cross when He exclaimed, "My God! my God! why hast Thou forsaken me?" I ask it, through His mercy extended to the good thief, and through His recommending His precious soul and spirit into the hands of His eternal Father before He expired, saying, "It is consummated." I ask it, through the blood mixed with water, which issued from His Sacred Side when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it, through His immaculate life, bitter passion and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the Temple, the earthquake, and the darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it, through His descent into hell, where He confronted the Saints of the old law with His presence, and led the captivity captive. I ask it, through His glorious victory over death, when He arose again to life on the third day, and through the joy which His appearance for forty days after gave thee, His blessed Mother, His Apostles, and the rest of His Disciples; when in thine and their presence He miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His Disciples, when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it, through the awful appearance of thy Son, at the last dreadful day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world, by fire. I ask it, through the compassion He bore thee in His life, and the unspeakable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy supplicant, by obtaining for me, (Mention your prayer intention here...) And as I am persuaded my Divine Saviour doth honour thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing, because thou asketh nothing contrary to His honour, so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and His filial loving heart, who mercifully granteth the requests and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear Him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, beside the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God and my neighbour, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for love of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of God, perseverance in good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self-will, a pious conversation through life, and, at my last moments, strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively and attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last Sacrament of the Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and favour. Lastly, obtain through thy Son, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relatives and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting, from the only Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Lord God Almighty, to Whom be all power now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.

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God Bless You!

The Unprofitable Servant

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Egotistic World of Catholic Bloggers

6 comments:

Mary, Queen of Peace

St Michael the Archangel

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Teresa Benedicta of The Cross