As Paulines, we not only "use" communications technologies, we are called to consecrate the world of communications, and to offer reparation for the sins that are committed because of the misuse of communications. It is easy to think of the more explicit ways in which human dignity is threatened or undermined through exploitative media. But in her letter, Sister Anna Maria reminded us that " Experts
have said that 'a specific feature of terrorism is that it is a
communications phenomenon'."Somehow that reality never hit me in my Pauline gut before. The ideological corruption of minds and the physical destruction of lives, property and social structures that we have witnessed in an increasing number of events this year call for a supernatural intervention. We are called to make specific reparation for communications that (in the words of a Pauline prayer) "warp the minds, the hearts and the activities of men and women," as well as for all the death, destruction and displacement that has been "spread throughout the world by the misuse of the media."
I am sharing a part of our Superior General's anniversary letter in order to invite you to share this August 20 day of prayer with us:
....it
seems that in these days more and more space is being given to every
kind of violence, to frequent and sudden terrorist attacks, to the
mass migration of peoples: phenomena to which we cannot and must not
remain indifferent…. It is truly a challenging time–one that can
be compared to the period of “serious upheaval” (Alberione's memoirs)
during which, with extraordinary faith, our Founder laid the
foundations for what would become the Pauline Family. The date was
August 1914, the eve of a horrendous world war.
But
for the Pauline Congregations, tragic moments such as this have also
been occasions for growth in faith, in reciprocal communion, in a
spirit of atonement, in a more conscious apostolic participation “in
the many sufferings of the world” (Mother Thecla).
Today
too, the response to the darkness that surrounds us is faith and a
reinvigorated witness to communion. Let us ask ourselves: “How can
we, all together, try to conquer
evil with good? How
can we make our voice heard in this time in which millions of our
brothers and sisters are suffering?” The Pope reminded us that “our
response to a world at war has a name: its name is fraternity, its
name is brotherhood, its name is communion, its name is family.”
We have a tremendous responsibility to
pray that communications will offer people increased opportunities to
meet one another and manifest solidarity in our divided and war-torn
world. And since our 230 communities
extend from the Far East to the Far West, from Australia and Papua
New Guinea to Hawaii, we are assured of 24 hours of uninterrupted
prayer before Jesus in the Eucharist. Let us spend the day in active
and heartfelt mercy toward one another, putting into practice the
invitation of the Apostle Paul:
“Let no offensive talk pass
your lips, only what is good and helpful to the occasion, so that it
brings a blessing to those who hear it. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit
of God, for that Spirit is the seal with which you were marked for
the day of final liberation. Have done with all spite and bad temper,
with rage, insults and slander, with evil of any kind. Be generous to
one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ
forgave you” (Eph. 4:29ff.).
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