Universalis

Monday, August 30, 2004

So folk like me are wacko, eh?

I take a look at my site meter a few days ago, and I see a great flock of referrals from this comment string. Apparently there are priests in a diocese near here who are a mite aggravated because their recently-transferred-away bishop invited to the diocese many consecrated virgins and widows, hermits, and tiny new religious societies. At least one priest was willing to speak attributed and on-the-record, to say that, though the newcomers agreed theologically with the former bishop, that they were wackos.

Are we? For real? Maybe it comes with the vocation? Look at our predecessors.....

The Desert Christians --- lots of things were said about them, good and bad, but "sane" and "normal" and "average" were never on the list. And they said embarrassing things often enough, when they deigned to talk at all .....

My name-saint Caterina Benincasa, alternately reading the riot act and whispering sweet nothings to popes, teaching priests and theologians, and having visions .....

Benedict Joseph Labre, Trappist dropout, Roman street person who wouldn't sleep in the same doorway twice lest he get too attached .....

Xenia the widow of St. Petersburg, living in the cemetery wearing her late husband's uniform jacket, praying for his poor unprepared soul and doing secret useful things .....

Rosa of Lima and Kateri Tekakwitha, the two scariest saints there are, innocent girls who penanced themselves into early graves for the sins of their peoples (the Conquistadors and the Mohawks, respectively; two groups I have to admit had plenty to repent for) .....

Charles Eugene, viscount de Foucauld, another Trappist dropout, the Trappists were not strict enough (!), who began a missionary order to evangelize the Muslims, moved to the middle of the Sahara, had exactly one convert who was a baby abandoned on his doorstep, and died the only member of his order .....

And then, how can I really defend myself on this one? Here in St. Blog's and at my Legion of Mary meeting I get told that I live in an alternate universe. Steven Riddle keeps saying I'm "daunting" and the ever-tolerant Abigail of FreeCatholic says this blog is "scary". Even my archives testify against me, since I wrote about the priest-friend who showed me how to enjoy being abnormal, or at least non-average, and about how much I'd like to live with the Pariahs.

So maybe the priests of LaCrosse have a point. We may be a bit wacko. But I hope we can grow in faith to be the holiest wackos we can be!
.

7 comments:

Julie D. said...

Hmmmm, so far "scary" and "daunting" are not words I'd use to describe your blog although I've only been a regular visitor for maybe a month or so. If being a holy wacko leads to such good reading ... oh, right, and also heaven ... well then keep it up! (I don't fit into the specific category you are writing about but may start using that "holy wacko" term anyway ... Jesus freak is sooooo dated.)

Julie D. said...

Hmmmm, so far "scary" and "daunting" are not words I'd use to describe your blog although I've only been a regular visitor for maybe a month or so. If being a holy wacko leads to such good reading ... oh, right, and also heaven ... well then keep it up! (I don't fit into the specific category you are writing about but may start using that "holy wacko" term anyway ... Jesus freak is sooooo dated.)

Anonymous said...

Karen, for all my life you have been my nerdy sister, who has shown me that "normal" is not "normal". You have shown me faith and prayer is the way to a "normal" spiritual life. Growing up you would send me letters from college, with words to look up and learn (of course I was 8yrs old at the time), always teaching, always patient. You are the wierdest person I know and I am sooooo thankful that I have you as one of my sisters (gotta love that big family thing). You just keep putting those "normal" people where they belong.
Love, Hugs and Kisses, Chrissy

Steve Bogner said...

'wacko' is in the eye of the beholder.

Connecting 'wacko' with 'Karen Marie' never entered my mind!

Anonymous said...

Dear Karen,

Seems to me that keeping company with St. John the Baptist and Jesus Himself (both Holy "Wackos") is far preferable to the company of those who have nothing better to do with their time than critique people who are doing no harm. Keep at it! From you I learned a great deal about patience, kindness, and being prudent and reserved. God bless your continued endeavors.

shalom,

Steven

Mark Windsor said...

Well, the wackiest thing I've ever seen you write is the link to my site...

Todd said...

Peace, KM.

I say keep up the good stuff, with these observations:
- Busybodies always seem to bored, so maybe they have to work on making judgments and poking into business not their own.
- And regarding the link, an anchor hold makes much more sense to me than a salmagundi, however saintly it might be.