Catholic blogger par excellence -- as well as brilliant apologist, urbane raconteur, great wit, and lovely, ardent, and compassionate woman -- Dawn Eden has written what she intends to be her last blog post.
Dawn is a dear friend of mine. She is also my son's godmother. When I first started writing this blog two years ago, I intended it to be read only by a few close friends, including her, and when she linked to it, I was devastated at first. But her publicizing my blog has given me the opportunity to make other wonderful friends, an experience that has enriched my life. And, while some readers who found me through Dawn complained that she shouldn't link to me (it appears that some who consider themselves orthodox Catholics believe that others, apparently more sinful, don't deserve to be called penitents), Dawn always defended me.
I pray that Dawn will find in her life and work the connection and engagement she facilitated for others through her storied blog. Godspeed.
Posts
6 comments:
Who could complain about your blog? It's wonderful. I don't get some people.....
Thanks, Elena! I have had my detractors and even my attackers, though . . .
I don't understand why.
Some people just don't like the tone of this blog, i.e. the examination of the past in the light of an ongoing conversion, which is often accompanied by sorrow, regret, and even nostalgia. Then others have outright accused me of evil -- you and I have discussed this a little in our private correspondence.
It reminds me of a recent online mini-tempest in a teapot on The Anchoress's blog, when she wrote about St. Mary Magdalene on her feast day:
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/theanchoress/
2009/07/22/july-22-st-mary-magdalene/
Many commenters were relieved that there is no "evidence" proving that St. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute.
I think the sort of people who are relieved by this are the sort of people who would hate my blog, because it's the record of a life brought low by sin and subsequently healed in Christ (unfortunately, a great many people profess to love Christ while unconsciously wondering how he could show such a marked preference for the company of flagrant sinners rather than for that of virtuous types like themselves. They also appear to believe that the Catholic Church confirms them in their holiness rather than calling them to conversion).
I agree with Elena Maria Vidal. Who could complain about your blog? But I understand what you mean. I joined the Church several years ago and naively assumed that Catholics welcome converts with open arms and hearts. I was shocked and yet not shocked to later learn that there are many cradle Catholics who don't feel joy at a convert's homecoming. So we are not always welcome by our own so to speak. Anyways, I enjoy reading your blog for the exact reason others may not, because you examine your past and sometimes with sorrow and regret. I do that often - still grieving because my past still impacts my present. I'm glad you kept blogging despite the amazingly shallow criticism you received.
Wow, Baltimoremom -- thank you so much for your kind words! They really touched my heart.
I'm a cradle Catholic from a liberal-progressive Catholic family, who lapsed in a big way and then came back, which gives the Catholics of whom you speak ample reason on many levels to criticize me even without this blog. As I mentioned in my post, some people think that penitent sinners don't "deserve" to be penitent, because human nature believes some sins can't be forgiven. Luckily God's nature does not agree.
Post a Comment