Friday, November 25, 2011

Opinions Please

Does anybody like Old Monk? What do you like on the blog? What do you dislike? What would you like more of? What would you like less of? Do you follow me on Twitter? Do you want more tweets or fewer? If you like the blog and tweets, then please help expand the readership by being active. If you re-tweet or share a post it helps get the word out there.

Thanks for your feedback!

36 comments:

  1. I love old monk! I also follow you on twitter, tweets are good - you could even do a few more.

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  2. I love Caitlin O'Rourke (did I spell that right?)! :) Greetings from Austria

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  3. I like Old Monk. I don't read the Caityln O' Rourke's and the liberal dude--just too long.

    I'm not a Twitter person, so no following you there.

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  4. you could choose a 'guest' blogger once a week- I always enjoy those

    I know you keep your family life pretty private, but it is still interesting- a post on the Anglican Ordinate would be educational to us all

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  5. I do like old monk and the other personalities on the blog.

    My favorite posts, though, are the more straightforward articles that explain the why behind some of the more traditional stuff. I like traditional architecture and music and such, but your articulate explanations of the reasoning behind such things have been super-helpful.

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  6. I love Old Monk too! I just read in my RSS feeder mostly so I don't comment much. I haven't followed your twitter because I've ditched (effectively) my private one to tweet about human trafficking and genocide, so I keep it thematic (news + human rights tweeters/orgs + followers), but I'm sure it's good.

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  7. I tend to skip your personalities such as Old Monk. I do love your posts on issues in the church and issues of theology. You have put into words things I have tried to tell people. For example: your blog on the resurrection of the body, explanation of why you are a conservative, etc. I also enjoy your not so politically correct sense of humor and your ability to tear apart liberal theology. I'm not a twitter follower.

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  8. Bible commentary on the daily readings once or twice a week would be fun and instructive. I do like the Old Monk. It would be fun to have 'advice' from an Old Nun, too! I especially love your inspirational articles! Posts on the new evangelization, and basics for new or returning Catholics, maybe monthly would be helpful.

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  9. I want to hear more about the Saints, especially your favorites such as St Benedict and St Therese. And if your son is doing well at college. And what is true ecumenism or outreach to other Christians, would you say, and how do we do it, and give examples (they could even be fictional dialogues/monologues). The personality posts such as Caitlin O'Rourke are sometimes excellent, but I don't always read them.

    I confess (don't get offended) that Old Monk makes me think of Fr Z's "platitude cookies" entries. Which are funny because there is some tension about whether there will be a good one, but they never, ever satisfy. Old Monk always says things that are perfectly valid and good in a standing on his head way, but there is a tension about whether he will say something as wonderful as real monks of old (whose sayings have their peculiar force or delight precisely because they are real monks). I have thought of this dialogue during the night office which reads like a 4 panel cartoon, from an old monastic manuscript and appears in Jean Leclerq's "The Love of Learning and the Desire for God":

    The abbot says: My son, bow your head at the Gloria Patri.
    The Devil says: He will not bow before he has broken his fetters.
    The abbot continues: Lord, so that this lamb shall not perish, deliver him from his bonds and from his enemy.
    God declares: I free the captive, it is up to you to chastise the negligent.
    The monk concludes: Sooner would I have my head cut off than fall asleep again.

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  10. I like Old Monk.

    I think Tweeter is silly (sorry), so I won't be following you there.

    I'm not a big fan of Todd, Mantilla, or some of your other sarcasm that seems to confuse me more than teach me (which is probably just because I jumped to your blog late in the game and didn't get the joke in the first place).

    I really, REALLY like your Screwtape Letters-esque postings. I've saved 'em all and have found them very useful in my own journey to sainthood. Would LOVE to see more of the same!

    I also really enjoy your commentary on the liturgy and church architecture. You have a great knack of putting words to what my heart always feels. Thanks for putting some theology on these gut instincts of mine. It's helpful for apologetics but also gives me peace of mind knowing that I'm not just being biased based on my own tastes.

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  11. I really like the old monk. I also enjoy Mantilla the Hon; she's one of my favorites. The old lady is fun, too. I'm beginning to discover the other personalities. I enjoy your articles on the new church and Anglican Ord. Thank you for a wonderful, informative blog.
    God bless
    +JMJ+
    amr

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  12. Oh and Mrs Brady! I love her too :)

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  13. I don't like Old Monk as much as your other features. But I do like the painting of him.

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  14. Anonymous9:39 AM

    Hi Father,

    Love your blog and always look forward to reading it. I especially like Mantilla the Hon, Caitlin O'Rourke, and Duane Mandible. I especially like watching the comments on Duane Mandible to see if you have fooled anyone into thinking that it's a serious post; the parody is so good that it's convincing!

    I am not so crazy about the Old Monk--at least not yet, anyway. Maybe that takes time. I don't care for the Vicar, I think because I don't understand that whole English attitude. It just goes over my head.

    Your regular posts are excellent, too. Keep up the good work!

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  15. please please please do not stop the Vicar, coming from a family of in laws of Pentecostal, Baptist Methodist and Jewish faiths, I love it. my own brother became a practicing Jew, yes a blue eyed, blonde haired, German Jew, keep telling him it does not compute but oh well. My wife's brother in law is a self taught Evangelical Minister, travels 300 miles a week to preach to his flock, plus his day job. (Rick Warren wanna be), his wife claims he is so well educated, "unlike your Catholic Priests who only know some incantations and nothing of the bible". Please keep it up. to stop some of your alter egos is not healthy or respecting life ;) I will admit Todd is a pain in the bum.
    Bless ya

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  16. Anonymous10:42 AM

    I like Old Monk because he gives me little tidbits to think on through the day. I registered to follow you on Twitter, but haven't actually figured out how to use it. I'll keep working on it. Since I have Plain Catholic leanings and Mennonite background, I'd enjoy more of your reflections along those lines. I also enjoy your memories of English life. One of my dreams is to travel there someday and immerse myself in anything Jane Austen, garden, and tea related! My whole family enjoys your blog, so please keep doing what you're doing. Keep up the good work, Father!

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  17. I like all your posts, but I especially look forward to the ones that are illustrated with the light shining through an opening above down onto a stone floor.

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  19. Love all the guest bloggers, especially Caitlin O'Rourke, Mantilla the Hon, and Mrs. Brady. I also love the knowledgeable and well-reasoned explanations of scripture, Catholic beliefs, and the Catholic world view -- the why behind the what. You give clear explanations of, and reasons for, the things I've been struggling to explain to the friends and relatives who are scratching their heads and wondering why I "turned Catholic" in my mid-sixties, four years ago. I love the unabashed conservatism and gleeful disregard for “political correctness.” (Who decides what is PC and what isn't, anyway, and why does “political correctness” always favor the liberal view?) Thank you, thank you, and keep up the good work!

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  20. My only recommendation is: don't change a thing. It's your blog. I could tell you what bits I like the best, and which ones turn me off. But if you changed your blog to suit my tastes more, then it would become more or less my blog, and I would be lesser for the change. I visit a host of blogs on Catholica. They are similar in a broad sense, yet each has its own flavor. And that's good.

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  21. I like Old Monk because he is pithy. I like all of your "Guest Bloggers," especially Mantilla and Rev. Blytherington. I am hoping for his conversion ;)

    I don't tweet anymore; no time.

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  22. I like the Old Monk. Please continue to blog about the faith and courage of the saints. Your blog is excellent!

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  23. I would have said don't change a thing but wouldn't want you to take it literally since I enjoy new things on your blog every day.

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  24. I follow this blog since a short time. I am german speaking, I really enjoy the short Monk impulses, but also the longer texts when I find the time to read.
    I am no tweeter, so I do not follow you there.

    Greetings and blessings from Switzerland!

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  25. Old Monk = short & profound = perfect.

    No twitter.

    Characters - good insight & humour, but I'm afraid if things are too long, I do skip them. Such is our culture. More snacks than meals!

    UNLESS, of course, it is one of your essays on spirituality, which are easily the best thing on the blogosphere. Make those several thousand words, no worries ;)

    With grateful thanks & prayers.

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  26. More liturgical dancing, pleez.

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  27. Fr. L, whenever I get to the compluter, I love reading Mrs. Brady, Mantilla the Hon, the Chust for nice photos and Rev. Blytherington. Duane Mandible is one I skip. I don't twitter, but enjoy your reflections on the liturgical year. Follow His Spirit in all things and you won't go wrong!

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  28. No Twitter here.

    I enjoy old monk. Would love to see more on spirituality, prayer-life, confession.

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  29. As a PS to my earlier comment, I would love to hear more about the early Church fathers, like the item you posted on Clement of Rome. If my education in church history had started with people like him instead of with Martin Luther, it might not have taken me 64 years to find my way home to the Catholic Church!

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  30. I am wondering if i will miss the monk, Yes! Keep Old Monk please. I follow the personalities (guests) at times. With a busy house I only can read so much. But I check your blog pretty frequently.
    You also need to push your rosary for healing book. It is quite a gem!
    Thank you for keeping us in your hearts as you blog.

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  31. Anonymous8:56 PM

    I like everything on the blog. Don't change a thing. I read everyday, but I don't have time to comment all the time, but I am reading.

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  32. What I dislike about the blog is that it is almost impossible to read because of the dark brown background, there is almost no contrast between the text and the background. It has been this way for several months. On a Macintosh computer the site is fine, but under Windows there is some problem with the CSS. I can't believe I'm the only person who has this problem!

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  33. Anonymous9:43 PM

    Lewis, I had the same problem on my older computer. I had to highlight the text to be able to read it.

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  34. One suggestion is a column showing which posts (with their link) have seen the most recent additions to their commbox. It's a way of knowing which posts are still generating discussion even though they might have moved to the bottom of the page.

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