Just about everybody on the Catholic Internet knows Michael H. Brown and his website SpiritDaily. His website is the first stop for thousands of Catholics for links to news and commentary. Michael Brown turned from being a Pulitzer prize nominated journalist for his work in uncovering the Love Canal scandal to writing many books with Catholic themes. His latest book, “The Seven”, is his foray into fiction writing.
Brown describes his new novel as “prophetic fiction” about which he comments on his website.
“It’s to be kept separate from my other work,” says Brown, who has published twenty non-fiction books. “It is what it says: fiction. Are there elements relevant to the current prophetic pulse? That’s up for readers to determine. It does state certain concerns and ideas that I have about the future, and it is certainly the account of good against something very, very evil. I hope it demonstrates the power of Mass and the Eucharist.”
CMR took the occasion of the release of Michael Brown’s new book to ask him a few questions.
CMR: SpiritDaily is one of the most visited sites in the Catholic Internet. Why did you originally start the web site? Did you think it would grow to be so large?
MB: I started the website in 2000 when during prayer I felt the Blessed Mother “ask” if I would take on one more mission. I wasn’t sure at the time what it was, but immediately after saying “yes,” a secular project fell through and I was looking for a way for my wife to work at home in the realm of Catholicism. Plus, I’m an old newspaper reporter; it just came naturally. The first day of full operation — coincidentally — was the day the Vatican released the third secret of Fatima. It was our first full headline as sole operators of the website.
CMR: How has working on “Spirit Daily” affected your own spiritual development?
MB: Yes, I feel that when I write “spiritual” advice, I take that advice myself! The Holy Spirit has been generous with ideas.
CMR: Some people may not know about your past as a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist who uncovered the LoveCanal scandal. How do you compare the types of investigations you do now as opposed to then? Is there more satisfaction now?
MB: I don’t investigate much any more, in the sense of an investigaive reporter — but rather function as a headline writer and editor and columnist and occasional reporter. When I worked in the newspaper business, I also had a column, as I did too on the campus newspaper at Fordham University.
CMR: While you are always clear about the need for discernment, do you ever worry that some Catholics who are not well formed in their faith might be confused by some of your links or stories?
MB: That’s always a concern, although less so than I originally feared.
CMR: In all your work do you sense there’s an ebbing to the tide of secularism in this country or do you think it’s still on the march?
MB: I believe there is a steady subtle oppression of Catholicism building.
CMR: As a writer of many non-fiction books, is writing fiction very different for you? Why now?
MB: That’s a novel I first started in the 1980s, before I began writing Catholic books. The Holy Spirit stopped it from being finalized until it was properly and totally Catholic! It had started as a secular suspense novel.
CMR: What do you think about the state of modern day Catholic/Christian literature?
MB: It’s very hard finding interesting Catholic books. Most are stuffed with theology, which no one wants to read.
CMR: What should people expect from your newest book “The Seven?”
MB: I hope to see how evil something can be but that no matter how evil, the Eucharist dispels any darkness. I hope it also shows the power of priests. It’s truly a fictional location, with some imagery borrowed from one part of the country, including a shrine that is the “hero” of the story. All the characters and companies are totally imagined, but the shrine does exist, in a manner of speaking (albeit greatly fictionalized), and I hope this novel makes people aware of its power.
You can find out more about Michael H. Brown’s new novel “The Seven” here.
November 5, 2009 at 11:33 am
Faithless generation always looking for signs.
November 5, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I've never heard of Michael H. Brown or SpirtDaily. I'll check it out, and his new book. Thanks!
November 5, 2009 at 2:24 pm
What's ironic is his constant defense of the supposed apparitions at Medjugorje and his dimunition of the local bishop(s), when just this week, he put up a story about the false visionary in Knock, Ireland and how terrible it was that the people who flocked there dared to defy the local bishop. The short answer is, if it refers to Medjugorje, it's okay for visionaries to defy the local bishop. Anywhere else, and it's a scandal to Mr. Brown.
November 5, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Chris
We do not discuss the M-word here.
November 5, 2009 at 2:35 pm
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November 5, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Thanks for running this interview, because it gives me a chance to thank Michael Brown for all he has done. I love Spirit Daily, and I love Brown's regular essays. I check Spirit Daily several times a day and I am grateful for it.
November 5, 2009 at 7:00 pm
You've just lost any credibility you ever had by posting this interview. Most of his website is a work a fiction, so what's the deal with the book?
November 5, 2009 at 8:24 pm
TNP, Spirit Daily has been a part of my day since almost 2000. It is mostly news reports from various parts of the country, not fiction. Mr. Brown does usually every day write a piece based on what is newsworthy for the time. I am absolutely grateful for this website and Mr. Brown, as it keeps me in touch with what is happening in the Church around the world. Sheila
November 6, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I generally look at Spirit Daily every day. There is usually something of interest on the site.
I don't like how the headlines can be changed sometimes from day to day, for example:
yesterday's headline:
PRAYER NEED: FIRM IN ARIZONA IS FREEZING HEADS OF DECEASED, SEEKING IMMORTALITY
today's headline:
Prayer need: heads are decapitated in Scottsdale
These headline links are for the exact same article, and yet their wording is distinctly different. When I see the first headline, I think of some kook outfit trying for immortality. When I see the second headline, I think of Mexican drug crimminals killing each other by decapitation and it spreading to the U.S! I can understand the concept of refreshing the headline, but it would be nice if the meaning and implication of the headline remained the same from day to day. Looking at the above headlines, one would almost think that they linked to two distinct articles.
December 15, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Chris said, "The short answer is, if it refers to Medjugorje, it's okay for visionaries to defy the local bishop. Anywhere else, and it's a scandal to Mr. Brown."
That's an unfair statement, Chris. Michael Brown caveats any unapproved apparition, including Medjugorje, as "for your discernment" and has stated that if the Vatican declares Medjugorje false, he will comply. He has written many articles about the difficult task of discernment of the allegedly supernatural, and has reported positively about Our Lady of America, Maria Esperanza, and recently about apparitions at a Canadian Indian reservation, and the lifting of the ban on Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace in the Philippines, to name a few. But if his editorials and links show positive things about Medjugorje, so what? He is the editor of his site – the man is allowed to express opinions, and there's nothing the Vatican would scoff at.
January 29, 2010 at 5:05 am
Having attended the Phoenix retreat in December 2009, Mr. Brown was clear in stating that once an official church declaration concerning Medjugorje is given, he will abide by it. "For your discernment" means just that. Very interesting perspectives, and honsetly Catholic.