The battle to be America's next idol is being waged in millions of living rooms across the country. This season dishes up the usual mix of the good, the bad and the ugly, and Americans are devouring it; the premiere landed record ratings.
Meanwhile, others are vying to be the Next Top Model and the next Top Chef, to be the Survivor and the Apprentice and even the Biggest Loser.
The common denominator: They are all vying to be famous.
The definition of fame, according to dictionary.com, is "widespread reputation, especially of a favorable character; renown; public eminence: to seek fame as an opera singer."
How quaint. These days, having a favorable character has little to do with being famous. Being infamous is just as good — if not better. Just look at Martha Stewart and Kobe Bryant, whose alleged crimes seem to have bolstered their careers.
In researching for his new book Fame Junkies, Jake Halpern surveyed 650 teens. He learned that teens would rather be famous than smart. Given the chance to dine with a star of choice, Jennifer Lopez outscored Jesus.
Naturally, that finding troubles me as vocations director for my religious order, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. And it troubles me as a Christian. I wonder how many people aspiring for fame realize that it can erode health, friendships and faith.
Sylvester Stylone, who has starred in six Rocky movies and been in three marriages, acknowledged the dangerous draw of fame in a recent interview with the Catholic News Service. The weight of celebrity was "very heavy," he said. "I was extremely seduced by the newfound freedom."
Now Stylone is returning to the Catholic Church he was reared in, finding "guidance" and "wisdom."
Our celebrity obsession culminates — ironically — four days after Ash Wednesday with the Academy Awards. The winners and losers and their fashion do's and don'ts are hashed out on TV and online for days.
The display of unadulterated extravagance reminds me that, more than ever, we need Lent. Our souls benefit from fasting and service and prayer, from bowing in humility and chiseling away at faults.
And we've got the perfect Lenten model: Mary. She was crowned with the ultimate honor, far greater than American Idol or Best Actress; she was chosen to be the mother of God.
And when she learned this news, she deflected all the glory to her maker: "For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness. The Mighty One has…dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart."
This Lent, try to resist arrogance of mind and heart. Put blinders on the celebrity culture that misleads. Turn off the TV. Light a candle. Say a prayer. Journal. And contemplate ways you can be a better handmaid of the Lord.
This can start with small steps: holding the door for someone carrying groceries; letting a driver into your lane; celebrating someone else's success. The idea is to shift from the self worship paraded on the red carpet to the self sacrifice modeled by Mary.
Don't be surprised if it doesn't come naturally; we're living in a selfish culture. But you also can expect profound rewards. When you let go of ego, you are free to grasp heaps of joy.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:54 am
I have this litany taped to the side of my monitor, helping me draw closer to Jesus this Lent. It is written by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus
From the desire of being extolled
From the desire of being honored
From the desire of being praised
from the desire of beig preferred to others
from the desire of being consulted
from the desire of being approved
from the fear of being humiliated
from the fear of being despised
from the fear of suffering rebukes
from the fear of being calumniated
from the fear of being forgotten
from the fear of being ridiculed
from the fear of being wronged
from the fear of being suspected
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease
That others may be chosen and I set aside
That others may be praised and I unnoticed
That others may be preferred to me in everything
That others may become holier that I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:37 am
I remember seeing the litany posted by bambushka on catholicdoors.com (there are a LOT of prayers there). It annoyed me then; it does not, now.
God please grant that I may continue to grow in humility, and to hold ever more of Your grace.
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
More on Lenten humility:
http://romancatholicinfo.com/catholic-faith/lenten-humiliation/
http://romancatholicinfo.com/catholic-faith/lenten-humility/
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Dear Sister Diana,
Your article is fabulous, and your points very well taken.
I traveled the road of which you speak. I liked Martha Stewart better after her conviction than before. I want to explain, however, that it was not because of her crime that I liked her better, but because of her courage in facing her conviction.
Because I was newly playing the stock market when Martha Stewart was under investigation, I paid very close attention to her case. It is important to realize she was never charged with insider trading. Instead, she was convicted of lying to investigators.
It must be horrible to be found to have committed no crime, but to be found to have talked to investigators in a way that covered up, well, nothing — no crime, no wrongdoing, yet you're guilty anyway.
Did Martha Stewart use her considerable fortune to file endless appeals? No. She looked at her sick mother and her floundering employees and said, "I'll take my punishment now and be done with it."
It is for this brave action that I have found new respect for Martha Stewart.
Toni Collins
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:17 am
Hmmm….I always find it enlightening, when I visit the website of a Catholic organization, to look at things like links and, of course, statements of "issues" or "where we stand," etc. So The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, according to their website, give annual gifts to some interesting organizations, such as Network and Bread for the World. Bread for the World seems innocuous enough, but I find it curious that they, for some reason, consider Call To Action (http://www.cta-usa.org) to be another "anti-hunger and poverty organization." For those unfamiliar with CTA, their main mission is to lobby for change in the Church…they support women's ordination, contraception, abortion, homosexual relationships, etc. Network (http://www.networklobby.org) lists Call to Action and the Center of Concern (also pro-abortion, etc) among its "Catholic Justice Partners."