 |
the Two Francises, from Michael O'Neill McGrath, OSFS,
via James Martin, SJ on Twitter |
"We must do all by love, and nothing by force."
~Francis
de Sales,
patron
of writers,
journalists,
bloggers,
podcasters…
Today is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), a French bishop whose writing had a profound influence on people
like Therese of Lisieux and John Bosco.
I am continually surprised by Francis de
Sales’ insight, depth, and humility in his writings, and I’m thankful for his prayerful backing as the official patron of
writers and journalists—and I would add, bloggers, podcasters, publishers,
and all communicators.
In his message for the 48th World Day of
Social Communications, dated and released for today’s memorial of St. Francis
of Sales, Pope Francis calls the Internet a ‘gift from God,’ which should be
used for solidarity.
“Let us
boldly become citizens of the digital world. The Church needs to be concerned
for, and present in, the world of communication, in order to dialogue with
people today and to help them encounter Christ. She needs to be a Church at the
side of others, capable of accompanying everyone along the way. The revolution
taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents
a great and thrilling challenge; may we respond to that challenge with fresh
energy and imagination as we seek to share with others the beauty of God.”
The more
I read, the more I see that these two Francises must already be tight friends,
which is to say, they are both clearly close friends of Jesus!
In honor of St. Francis the Sales, I’ve taken
the liberty of making a Top 10 list
of Pope Francis’ statement, because, who
doesn’t like a Top 10 list? [a link
at the bottom will take you to the full text].
Pope Francis on true communication as encounter,
my Top 10 List:
- #10 [M]edia can help us to feel closer to one another, creating a sense of
the unity of the human family which can in turn inspire solidarity and serious
efforts to ensure a more dignified life for all.
- #9 The
internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and
solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.
- #8 The
speed with which information is communicated exceeds our capacity for
reflection and judgement, and this does not make for more balanced and proper
forms of self-expression.
- #7 The
world of communications can help us either to expand our knowledge or to lose
our bearings. The desire for digital connectivity can have the effect of
isolating us from our neighbours, from those closest to us.
- #6 We
should not overlook the fact that those who for whatever reason lack access to
social media run the risk of being left behind.
- #5 While
[social media] drawbacks are real, they do not justify rejecting social media;
rather, they remind us that communication is ultimately a human rather than
technological achievement. We
need… to recover a certain sense of deliberateness and calm. This calls for
time and the ability to be silent and to listen.
- #4 Jesus
shifts our understanding: it is not just about seeing the other as someone like
myself, but of the ability to make myself like the other. Communication is
really about realizing that we are all human beings, children of God. I like
seeing this power of communication as 'neighbourliness'
- #3 It
is not enough to be passers-by on the digital highways, simply 'connected'; connections
need to grow into true encounters… We need to love and to be loved. We need
tenderness. Media strategies do not ensure beauty, goodness and truth in
communication. The world of media also has to be concerned with humanity, it
too is called to show tenderness. The digital world can be an environment rich
in humanity; a network not of wires but of people.
- #2 Christian
witness, thanks to the internet, can thereby reach the peripheries of human
existence
- #1 Those
'streets' are the world where people live and where they can be reached, both
effectively and affectively. The digital highway is one of them, a street
teeming with people who are often hurting, men and women looking for salvation
or hope… Keeping the doors of our churches open also means keeping them open in
the digital environment so that people, whatever their situation in life, can
enter, and so that the Gospel can go out to reach everyone. We are called to
show that the Church is the home of all. Are we capable of communicating the
image of such a Church?
+ + + + +
Coincidentally, did you know that World Day
of Communications was the only world day established by
Vatican Council II (Inter Mirifica, 1963)? We won’t officially celebrate it until
the Sunday before the feast of Pentecost (which falls on 1 June 2014)—our “world
wide” proclamation of the Gospel! Isn’t
that appropriate?
 |
| this one of St. Francis de Sales hangs in my office wall! |
