From Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, CHAPTER VII:
(I would have simply provided a link, but didn't know how to get to the relevant portion -- sorry for the lengthy post)
How to combine due care for a Good Reputation with Humility.
PRAISE, honour, and glory are not bestowed on men for ordinary, but for extraordinary virtue. By praise we intend to lead men to appreciate the
excellence of certain individuals; giving them honour is the expression of our own esteem for them; and I should say that glory is the combination of praise and honour from many persons. If praise and honour are like precious stones, glory is as an enamel thereof. Now, as humility forbids us to aim at excelling or being preferred to others, it likewise forbids us to aim at praise, honour, and glory; but it allows us to give heed, as the Wise Man says, to our good name, and that because a good name does not imply any one particular excellence, but a general straightforward integrity of purpose, which we may recognise in ourselves, and desire to be known as possessing, without any breach of humility. Humility might make us indifferent even to a good reputation, were it not for charity's sake; but seeing that it is a groundwork of society, and without it we are not merely useless but positively harmful to the world, because of the scandal given by such a deficiency, therefore charity requires, and humility allows, us to desire and to maintain a good reputation with care.
Moreover, just as the leaves of a tree are valuable, not merely for beauty's sake, but also as a shelter to the tender fruit, so a good reputation, if not in itself very important, is still very useful, not only as an embellishment of life, but as a protection to our virtues, especially to those which are weakly. The necessity for acting up to our reputation, and being what we are thought to be, brings a strong though kindly motive power to bear upon a generous disposition. Let us foster all our virtues, my daughter, because they are pleasing to God, the Chief Aim of all we do. But just as when men preserve fruits, they do not only conserve them, but put them into suitable vessels, so while Divine Love is the main thing which keeps us in the ways of holiness, we may also find help from the effects of a good reputation. But it will not do to be over-eager or fanciful about it.
* * *
Reputation, after all, is but a signboard giving notice where virtue dwells, and virtue itself is always and everywhere preferable. Therefore, if it is said that you are a hypocrite because you are professedly devout, or if you are called a coward because you have forgiven an insult, despise all such accusations. Such judgments are the utterances of foolish men, and you must not give up what is right, even though your reputation suffer, for fruit is better than foliage, that is to say, an inward and spiritual gain is worth all external gains. We may take a jealous care of our reputation, but not idolise it; and while we desire not to displease good men, neither should we seek to please those that are evil.

Jimmy
God bless you as you deserve all of the awards you get and you have my vote, you are an inspiration
John

Anon:
Further to my Feb 17, 2007 9:25:25 PM post:
If you really believe that an award or any such recognition in this life is such a bad thing and that we should only reap our rewards in the next, then the next time your employer offers you a raise and/or a promotion for a job well-done; then I hope you will practice what you preach and tell your employer that such things are unnecessary and that you do not seek glory in this life and that, therefore, you reject such self-congratulatory nonsense!

Anon,
If you believe that posting anonymously will remove the possibility for confrontation, then I'd say you clearly proved yourself wrong.
I'd like to ask you a question. when talking to people in public, do you wear a mask so that you won't be praised?
Your fear that posting a fake name will provoke undue adulation towards you is baseless. First, it assumes that your brothers in Christ are so stupid that they will heap sinful levels of praise upon you. Secondly, it assumes that one's post are sooooooo good that, by posting your name, you are tempting people to praise you for your 'selfgiven' 'wisdom.'
With all due respect, I dare to believe that you have not given such a cause for temptation.

James to Jimmy
Protestant to Catholic
Jimmy Akin has been changed

Anonymous (whoever you are):
I'm curious --
If names really didn't matter at all, why is it that God often changed the names of significant figures in the bible such as Saul to Paul; Abram to Abraham; Simon to Peter??? If names really don't matter, what's up with God's seeming obsession with changing people's names if, in fact, names are indeed of such great import and denotes a certain significance?

Another website and blog that deserves an award is
www.fisheaters.com

By writing that I don't mean to defend this anonymous person's posts.

Also occasionally there may be a good reason for being anonymous. I once posted anonimously here because it involved something very personal. I think something about sins. I forget now. Still, there is no reason to not put something in the name section, if only anon. or something.
Oh, also I just thought, maybe some people are paranoid about any information they give over the internet period, even a name. Not a smart reason but could be an honest one nonetheless.

I am anonymous because I do not seek glory for myself; I do not need to be a name.
Not seeking glory is one reason for namelessness.
Trying to slough off shame is another.

Congrats, Jimmy.
I personally don't read anonymous posts anymore, unless someone else's response to them gets me so curious I have to find out what was said. Therefore, whatever point anonymous posters might try to get across are generally nonexistant to me.

um, I meant Tim's 10:03 post.

Tim, well said.
Jimmy, congratulations!

"Congratulations, Jimmy & Tim!"
Thanks, Cajun Nick, but this is 100% Jimmy's baby. I am grateful to be invited to play in his sandbox.

Tim J.,
Thanks for reminding me that in my 2 posts I neglected to do a very important thing:
Congratulations, Jimmy & Tim!
Both of you, and the assorted cast of characters who ramble through these comboxes easily make this the best blog - Catholic or otherwise.

Jimy, I think you should refuse to accept the Best Apologetics Blog award the same way Blessed Mother Teresa refused to accept the Nobel Peace Prize!
Oh, wait...

Oh, and Congratulations, Jimmy!

Anonymous, you have utterly failed to convince anyone of anything except the probability that for some hidden, personal reason, you can't stomach anyone getting public recognition for their good work.
Your posts come off as bitter, envious sniping and have no basis at all in either scripture or in authentic Catholic thought. Period.
We can play "dueling scriptures" and "my saint can beat up your saint" all day long, but you're just wrong. I am deeply saddened that you seem to lack the charity that might enable you to rejoice in the accomplishments of another.
I pray God helps you get over that soon.

In Anonymous' defense: whether or not s/he posts a handle could become irrevelant. I post as Cajun Nick. Is it my real name? Do I also post here under a different handle? Would the content, the meaning, of my posts change by naming myself Anonymous#1 or anything else?
No.
However, Anonymous really needs to understand that handles are important, as Mary Kay has rightly pointed out. Many people come here and follow the discussions. Handles are extremely important in making a conversation fruitful.
If no one wants to respond to you on the merits of your message, Anonymous, then it is because you are intentionally making it hard to carry on a conversation. That's not constructive, and will not win people over to your side. Call it whatever you want, but people like to deal interpersonally - not with some nameless ether.

If I understand this correctly (maybe I've got some facts wrong):
The Catholic Blog Awards have been underway for days (if not weeks); Jimmy posts a link to it on the LAST day of voting; despite which he wins veeery convincingly; and he is accused of seeking glory on earth.
Now, if these facts hold up, Anonymous, then I don't understand your argument. Even if Jimmy had posted a link every day reminding his readers to vote, I still wouldn't agree with your argument.
However, given the fact that Jimmy really didn't even try to sway the outcome - He didn't even ask us for our vote! He pointed us to the voting, and thanked those who have already voted! - I don't see how your thoughts reflect the reality of the situation here at jimmyakin.org.
Jimmy won and will receive the recognition he deserves, not because he sought it out, but because his readers use it as an opportunity to thank him for his terrific work.
It is rather important, given the nature of the internet, that people are given some kind of assurance that the sites they visit can be trusted.
I know that a popularity contest doesn't necessarily indicate that a Catholic website will publish authentic, orthodox views - but at least it is some kind of a signal to surfers, like me, who need to find a place to help them in their faith.
Anyone who is attracted here by the award, stops by this blog, and spends a couple of weeks poking around, will be rewarded by a strengthening of his faith.
And that is a good thing.

Or even a cowboy hat.

Congrats on being voted "Best Apologetics Blog" (by an almos 3-1 margin over the runner-up), Jimmy. Let your light continue to shine before men. Don't ever put it under a bushel.

Bill, I forgot to tell you that I thought "Bushel Award" was a great thought. LOL. In re-reading the posts, I think Tim's nailed our anonymous poster: jealousy, envy, sour grapes, etc.
His/her anonymity certainly is not humility, despite protestations. Sniping the way this poster does not fit the definition of humility.
Guess I should meander over to the Blog Awards and check the results.

I agree wholeheartedly with your last line, Mary Kay. Rationality cannot penetrate irrationality.

And I would like to see where you get this idea as being theological "On a theological level, naming is a form of ownership." Please elucidate where one finds this in theological writings.
"In the Bible ... a name signifies first and foremost existence..."
Eerdman's Bible Dictionary p. 747
Names signify more, but existence suits the occasion. You've just indicated that you don't exist.
If you want a discussion on the merits of anonymous writings or your distorted spin, that's another matter, but I'd request that you choose some way to identify among the the various anonymous posters. For example, Pipe Jr. would do fine.
You can choose to not honor that request. You can choose to continue to post anonymously.
I also have the choice of not responding to anonymous posters.

Let me get this straight: you refuse to answer Tim's and my questions and then accuse me of trying to "silence" you?

Did Jesus tell you to ignore questions that make you uncomfortable?

Speaking of "instead of look(sic) at the message": So you *are* going to continue to ignore these questions.

Anonymous, the people on this site have been through the "anonymous" discussion at least once before.
On a pragmatic level, it's is unreasonable to expect others to mind read to know if you are Anon #1 or Anon #578. It has indeed happened before that someone responded to who he thought was one anonymous poster and it turned out to a different anonymous poster. Again, it is unreasonable to expect others to be mindreaders.
On a theological level, naming is a form of ownership. How can you expect any of us to take you seriously if you are not serious enough to take responsiblity, to take ownership of your words?

BTW, anonymous sniping is gutless.

So you are going to continue to ignore these questions.

Evidence?

And you got yours: your self-congratulations at your own perceived holiness. Now, do you want to tell us what your sin is that's got you so bugged about the Blog Awards? Or was Tim J right about your sin being Envy? Or are you just going to continue to ignore these uncomfortable questions as your cowardly anonymity suggests?

Jimmy Invicta!
Did I say it right?
Congratulations!

It looks like the voting is over. Congratulations to Jimmy for winning Best Apologetics Blog and Smartest Catholic Blog.
I haven't heard of many of the other blogs, and I think I go browsing to see if there are any I'll want to add to my daily lurking!
Tim

You have my name now.

Well, could you at least give yourself a name like ~<>/ or :;> ?
David B.:
That reminds me; I will no longer be Esau.
I will be "?" (the Artist formerly known as Esau).

Well, could you at least give yourself a name like ~<>/ or :;> ?

In my best Ralphie Wiggim voice: My bushel smells like burning.
Tim J: One of my friends (who'd been in the military) used to carry a wallet that just had his license and old military ID in it. When he'd get pulled over (which happened pretty often), he'd just hand the cop the wallet.
Never, ever got a ticket.
My experience with Chicago area (it was actually a suburb) cops was ... different. I lived in Wisconsin, got caught in a speed trap (the lower speed zone sign was partially behind a tree at the bottom of a hill) and was pulled over for going 7 over. However, rather than just giving me a ticket and sending me on my way, the cop asked if I could post $100 bond ... in CASH. I didn't carry cash at that time, just a credit card. He made me follow him to the police station and wait (for two hours) while they called in my credit card number to try to extract the money.
Anyway, there's more to the story but I'm rambling about non-award type stuff, so I'm just gonna go put out someone else's lamp.

Oh, Great. Either Anonymous is arguing with himself (Gollumesque)or there are *2* Anonymouses.

Is there any media that does NOT have some sort of awards? Art? Literature? radio? TV? music? Of what does anon approve?

I nominate anonynmous for the Bushel Award, in honor of where he wants others to hide their light.

"People voting them as being the best does not confirm that they are"
How many visitors do you normally get to YOUR blog?

I reitterate: "What's your sin?"

Esau: I plan on posting my 2006 awards. In part, circumstances beyond my control made that difficult, but the situation has now been resolved. The situation resolved so recently, though, that I wanted to wait until after the current awards, though, lest it seem that I was grandstanding.
Thanks Jimmy for the Info!
Continued blessings on you and everyone there at Catholic Answers! You all are truly doing the Lord's work in such marvelous fashion!
May our Lord and Saviour reward all of you there for all your tireless efforts and dedication to Our Lord; that you may all be richly rewarded for the good you all do in the lives of both Catholics and Protestants alike (as well as Non-Christians); that Catholic Answers may flourish into a prodigious and highly prosperous monolith that help folks all over the globe in their journey to the Catholic Faith and in coming to know Our Lord and His Teachings, so that all may be saved; that Our Lord may bless you, personally, and that you may reap the rewards of doing the Lord's work both in your personal life as well as in the life hereafter; that all of you at CA may bear successful fruit now and into the future!
God Bless!

I will be putting together a little radio show soon, about Catholic websites (among other things) and having some kind of authoritative list of the best Catholic blogs will be helpful in recommending sites to those who hear the show.
There is a world of difference between saying "These blogs were voted the best by a huge reader poll" and saying "these are the blogs I like the best". I want to be able to give people SOME assurance that these sites have earned broad respect among readers of Catholic blogs, rather than just throwing a handful of my personal favorites out there.
For that reason alone, the blog awards are a good thing.

I will be putting together a little radio show soon, about Catholic websites (among other things) and having some kind of authoritative list of the best Catholic blogs will be helpful in recommending sites to those who hear the show.
There is a world of difference between saying "These blogs were voted the best by a huge reader poll" and saying "these are the blogs I like the best". I want to be able to give people SOME assurance that these sites have earned broad respect among readers of Catholic blogs, rather than just throwing a handful of my personal favorites out there.
For that reason alone, the blog awards are a good thing.

I agree with you , Tim. We certainly don't want to advertise that these blogs exist. Why, that might get more people to read them and learn more about the Faith! It might even cause conversions! Why, some souls might even be saved! Heaven forbid!

Maybe you're right, Anonymous. What good could possibly come from recognizing hard work and encouraging excellence?

As Bishop Sheen used to ask: "So what's your sin?"