Integrity Restored

Okay, so you knew I would be back.

Welcome to the new home of Integrity! Back in April of 2002, I joined the emerging St. Blog’s community. Although I wandered from the original vision significantly towards the end, my purpose of beginning Integrity was to offer a forum for reflections on the character and vocation of the laity. My tool for doing that was a paragraph by paragraph reflection on Pope John Paul II’s wonderful Apostolic Exhortation entitled, “Christifideles Laici,” or CFL, per my shorthand.

Well, along the way, I succumbed to the same temptations that all bloggers face: the desire for a large readership and kudos and notice from other bloggers. No, it wasn’t all about that. At times, the desire for more readers (and commenters!) was driven by me wanting to see other lay Catholics reflecting on something that is very important to me, namely, our calling as laity. I firmly believe, even among knowledgeable Catholics, there is a lack of understanding of the lay vocation. To an extent, this isn’t surprising. Ask someone to describe the vocation of the priest and they can give you a pretty good description by talking about the things a priest does. Not exactly the same thing as the vocation itself, but a rough proxy that has its uses. But the laity fill all of life’s spheres and occupations. Accordingly, it is significantly harder to back your way into an understanding of the character and mission of the laity by trying to identify things that all laity do. Yet, that presents quite a dilemma, because at the end of the day most of us are struggling with connecting who we are to be with what we do. The need for support and encouragement, I think, at times may be more needed for the laity than for other states of Christian life, due to the nature of being on the front lines in living in and dealing with a secular world.

But I must admit that I succumbed to punditry like so many bloggers. It wasn’t all bad; I think on the topic of the war in Iraq and in some other areas, there were some fruitful discussions. However, blogging on current events tends towards the sarcastic, critical, and cynical. Given that my original vision was to focus far more on the spiritual, the more I found the change in focus of Integrity unsatisfactory, even if it meant some comments were left on some posts, for a change. And I found as time went on that I was slipping into that “culture of complaint” so many Catholics striving to be faithful to the Church’s teachings find themselves in. It’s not a fun neighborhood to live in. I was neglecting prayer and felt that I was spending more time thinking about all that might be going wrong within the Catholic world than trying to be Catholic. I also think I hampered Integrity by focusing so much on methodically working through CFL. As much as I think every lay person should read CFL – and clergy once a year – the Pope does have a tendency to say the same thing for pages. I wasn’t sure if I could post on another section of CFL without just repeating what I had previously said. All of that led me to shut down Integrity in June of 2003.

Why resume Integrity? Well, I’m not resuming Integrity, but trying to restore it. Restore it to the original vision. The main reason is that I feel compelled to. I’m not an expert on the subject of the laity, nor a theologian or a saint. But I know an important subject when I see one. And I’m willing to risk being wrong in posting my own thoughts – good, mediocre, insightful or inaccurate, as the case may be -- if, together, there’s a chance we might learn more of what it means to be a lay person living witness to the Gospel. There are also two recent events from my life that caused me to consider this endeavor again. First, I agreed to help coordinate a dinner in Chicago for a Christian organization that tries to bring Christians of all denominations together in the hopes that relationships might blossom of benefit to the Body of Christ. The chosen theme for these dinners to be held all across the country (chosen well after I agreed to co-chair the Chicago dinner)? “Integrity: Defined By Our Commitments.” Similarly, I recently attended Mass at Holy Name Cathedral and heard a homily by a priest who spoke of the universal call to holiness, the need to let Christ impact all areas of one’s life, the need to transform the world to the Gospel, that heroism isn’t found just in the big things (founding a church, religious order, etc.) but also can be lived in the ordinary areas of life. He basically touched on many things that I have thought about over the past six years. His word to summarize all of these things: integrity.

That was powerful to me. When I was in college, and was considering leaving the Catholic Church, God used another priest’s homily to keep me in the fold. I was struggling deeply at the time with the faith versus works question and had the issue on my mind before Mass one Sunday in particular. Just after Mass began the priest broke with his normal greetings and told everyone that tonight’s homily – it was an evening student Mass – was going to be significantly longer than usual because he wanted to talk in depth on the Catholic view of justification, faith and works. Needless to say, I gathered from that moment that maybe God didn’t want me to leave the Catholic Church just yet. (Never, as it turns out.) So to hear this priest summarize my thoughts and use the very same word I had linked to them, I figured that maybe I needed to give Integrity another shot.

So that’s what I am doing. I am going to try mightily hard to stay true to the original vision behind starting this blog. Don’t expect much beyond weekly posts. All will try and focus on some aspect of the calling of the laity. There will be reflections on CFL, but also on other writings and different approaches at getting at the same topic. I again hope for interaction with readers, but I’m going to resist letting the quantity of comments (or lack thereof) to a post impact my mood. (But if you like what this blog is all about an occasional email saying so would be greatly appreciated!) Another change I hope to implement is having another blogger join me in creating Integrity. If someone shares the vision outlined above and would be willing to contribute reflections once a week or every other week, please email me at integrityblog@bigfoot.com. Do not be offended if I ask you some questions and push a bit. There are plenty of other avenues for those interesting in just blogging; I’m looking for a good fit with the mission of Integrity. Although I think there is something to lay folks carrying out this task, don’t hesitate to email me if you are a deacon, priest, bishop or religious.

Integrity’s doors to re-open soon.

Comments

[David Morrison]

Jack. I would add that integrity and authenticity among all Christians, clergy and laity, (but particularly the laity because we are the Salt that I believe Christ meant would season our worlds) are more important now than ever.

We are the most cynical and lied to culture in the history of the world. We expect people to lie to us, particularly those in authority, and we question all claims to both truth and Truth.

The only way to break through this cultural wall of distrust and cynicism is through a witness of authentic, intregated Catholicism (and other stripes of Christianity). It's up to us to do it, with God's help, as lay people, in the course of daily lives. Here we are Lord, how can we help?

[Chris]

As a relatively new Catholic blogger (one month now), I am finding that many of my contemporaries have fallen into the "culture of complaint" that you mentioned. While addressing current problems in the Catholic Church and the world is certainly valid and expected on a Catholic blog, it seems that many of them have begun to dedicate themselves exclusively to what I indelicately call "whining". I'll admit that I whine from time to time on my blog, but I am trying valiantly not to move into that "neighborhood" you alluded to in your post. There's a lot of good and interesting things going on in the Catholic Church around the world, and they deserves attention. Blogs are also useful for sharing knowledge of, or related to, the Faith as well as personal prayers and reflections on the scriptures. There is also a light side to Catholicism (like the frustration of the votive candle vendors outside the St. Anthony's Shrine in Padua having their wares distorting into unrecognizable blobs in the recent heat) that add a little fun to one's day.

[Frank Tassone]

Thank you for your honest post. I, too, am a new blogger. I've allowed the lack of comments on my blog to affect my mood. Suddenly, my purpose became less clear to me as well. Punditry has its allure. Thank you for reminding me why I blog: To reflect on life, culture, and the world--and to try to do so the best I can through the eyes of Christ.

As far as the role of the laity is concerned, here's my thought so far. As a cursillista, I've come to see the opportunity I have to "Christianize" the environments I am a part of. I can be Christ's sacrament to the people in my family, my workplace and my association of friends and aquaintences. By bringing Christ to them through my own honest witness--preaching through my actions first, I help to evangelize these environments. As Christians, we all share through our Baptism Christ's roles of priest, prophet and king. The laity, through our call to live in the world, exercise our priestly role most effectively when we sanctify the world we live in.

I'd appreciate any feedback you have. Thanks again for an inspirational post!

[Davey's mommy]

I'm glad to see your blog back, and really glad to read of your renewed purpose. I have the same problem with the critical nature of so many blogs, but mostly with myself for reading them and eating it all up. I have stayed more trivial and personal than I like on my own site because I just can't stand the thought of being the arrogant know-it-all that I often am in person, but even more proudly and deliberately in a public forum that claims to represent a Catholic viewpoint.

Anyway, I'll be reading!

[Elizabeth]

I haven't read your blog before, but your description sounds great. This has been something I've wanted to ruminate and discuss, but don't really have takers. Not even at the parish; there, it's all about lay ministry in the parish, so everyone's really just staring at their own navels. There is nada about lifting up and sanctifying the world. Pope John XXIII wanted to throw open the windows of the Church to the world, but we only really do that if the air conditioning isn't working properly. I don't think that's what he meant.

I agree about the whining, and mea culpa, too. Where's my hairshirt?

BTW, have you seen "The Universal Call to Holiness" in marble at the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in DC? (Installed 1999.)

[Peg K]

I have recently been blogging on a site called pew-fellows.com. It is a group of young christians who are for the main part Protestant. Althought I have tried to represent the Catholic Church to them, I seem to have failed. I hope some faithful young Catholics will help them see the truth and beauty in our church. I love your blog and have added it to my favorites. Thank you, In Christ

[Steven Riddle]

Dear Sir,

It is very easy to get off track. I have thought about it alot as I do tend to swerve back and forth within my lane of the superhighway. It takes reevaluation, discipline, and sometimes starting a different blog to get all those other things off your chest.

However, you have my prayers and my interest. I will look forward to what's next.

shalom,

Steven

[KTC]

Good to be here. Your visual format is as stellar as your content!

[John]

I fell to the comment and hit count quickly. I've become a tad jaded with the over-critical blogs and commenters of late however, and, like you intend to attempt to corral my need for speed with a little Catholic care!

Back soon!

[Christopher]

Haven't had the pleasure of seeing your earlier blog, but given the importance of the topic I'm pleased to see you've re-started it. I confess that I've indulged in the "culture of complaint" as well; as one reader has noted, it's easy to wander off track, but perhaps we can motivate each other to stay the course. God bless you with your new endeavor!

[sandhya]

I am sandhya and i am deeply in love with a boy called jayesh.We really love each other deeply and we both totally trust and love Jesus.We want to have a happy married life and be together for ever with the grace of God.Please pray that God showers his blessings on us and gets us married to each other.I beg you to pray for us because we are really hurting.Please pray for a miracle to happen.