Pearls before swine.
More reflections on blogging.
Continuing to reflect on the art of web logs, it seems to me that some writers may indeed be newbie’s to the Church, hence their enthusiasm and absolutism when it comes to morality, worship, liturgy, spirituality, and so on. Spiritual writers often refer to these as beginners, or those in their first fervor. It is a lovely time in the spiritual life, and our souls are fired with zeal.
We can’t forget those who have been around a long time either – the faithful brothers to these prodigals. As in the parable of the Prodigal Son, these can become a bit indignant with their “revert” brothers and sisters lack of experience or knowledge in the spiritual life.
For myself, I’m learning the need to be discreet in my writing, reigning in any tendency to rash judgments or sweeping generalizations about people, places, and things. I hope I am becoming more discerning in the process, and avoiding the critical spirit that can be so offensive. (I believed I have always tried to do this, yet I recognize I have failed in the past, while I suspect I will again.)
Deception.
It seems to me, after writing several blogs for well over a year now, I have, and I’m assuming everyone has, encountered a few people who may or may not be the people they represent themselves to be. (They are practiced at the art of deception – as the Stone’s lyrics say.) Call me naïve, but I doubt any are actively out to deceive; it may simply be attributed to a lack of experience and first or second fervor that they come off as genuine, even authoritative regarding “Church Stuff” as I’ll refer to it hereon in.
I often tell the tale of an acquaintance who was a recent convert, turned Trad, extremely knowledgeable about dogma, discipline, etc., who eventually returned to Wicca. Anyone listening to her in her uber-orthodox stage would be convinced the woman was on her way to sainthood, and as wise – well she would have said, wiser than the Pope. I’m certain everyone has received edifying comments from this or that blogger, convinced they are very good Catholic, spiritual people. And hopefully they are. Sometimes they are not.
Even saints can be duped.
This brings my post to the story I wanted to tell in the first place. (Yeah Ray, I go on and on and on. LOL!)
In the life of St. Therese, actually, shortly before she died, she, along with her community were taken in by a hoax. A man by the name of Leo Taxil perpetrated a hoax concerning the conversion of a woman from Satanism to the Catholic Church. The woman’s name was Diana Vaughan. Her conversion was said to have taken place while praying before a statue of St. Joan of Arc. (I believe the beatification or canonization of St. Joan took place around this time, hence the added sensationalism of the story.)
The nuns and especially Therese were so impressed with the story, Therese was inspired to write a play celebrating Diana Vaughan, whom Therese hailed as the new Joan of Arc. To make a long story short, Leo Taxil declared the entire story a hoax, seeking to make fools of those who believed in faith. Strangely enough, the Carmel of Lisieux, and Therese especially became a mockery of sorts because Taxil made his revelations before the now famous photograph of Therese dressed as Joan of Arc. Needless to say, the community was rather embarrassed about the entire matter. Therese died shortly thereafter.
Discernment and prudence.
The story illustrates my point better than all my stammering regarding web logs. It seems to me we need to be careful, not only with our own presentations, but as regards those we read on other web logs as well as opinions and judgments expressed in our comment boxes. Sometimes people are out to discredit the Church, or the faith of others, deliberately or inadvertently – we have to be careful.
Today’s Gospel says it best: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” – Matthew 7
I’ve seen it happen on the Internet.
That’s all.
