In my hands is a tool that I can use to look up anything about everything.
This unprecedented access to a whole world of information has indisputably changed the whole world. The Greeks of B.C. — no not British Columbia, but rather before 0 A.D. — knew that our greatest attributes are our tragic flaws. In other words, dump the separate lists of strengths and weaknesses. In the list of our strengths will be our weaknesses. And in the list of our weaknesses, by the grace of God, will be our strengths.
I was a speech class dropout in high school. In college, the professor for the mandatory public speaking class told me not to go into a profession that required public speaking. I don’t know whether my trembling knees or facial tics confirmed his opinion. That I would be today a good preacher and publicly proclaim the mysteries of faith in a variety of sacramental celebrations for hundreds and even thousands of people, is my example of finding strength in my weakness, by the grace of God.
The same is true with today’s technological achievements. They are truly among the greatest attributes of the world, and the tragic flaws in the world. Over a century ago, our world was changed dramatically with inventions such as trains, planes and automobiles, the telegraph, the telephone and television. Today, the life-changing inventions are the internet, cellphones and artificial intelligence. We are figuratively the astronauts of cyberspace. There are many ways this has changed our lives for the better. Yet the flaw is growing isolation, misinformation and a vulnerability to predatory manipulation. The internet may be the window to the world, but the eyes are still the window to the soul. We need face time even more than we need Facebook.
As part of the great gift of technology, the internet can be a tool for evangelization, devotion and social outreach to those most in need. Fortunately, we have a wonderful example of using technology for the good of our faith and Church. Recently, many in the world welcomed the news that Blessed Carlo Acutis was on the path to sainthood. Nicknamed “God’s influencer,” the young Blessed Carlo used the internet to create a website that documented Eucharistic miracles and the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary inspired people throughout his home country of Italy and far beyond.
Nevertheless, we do need to balance our face time with screen time in our families and parishes. To be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, whether in adoration or at Mass, is still to be strengthened by the grace of the person and real presence of Jesus Christ. To be in the presence of one another is still to be supported by a family of faith in which we are all sisters and brothers in Christ.
At the same time, we have an incredible opportunity to benefit from today’s ability to access reliable information from around the world. If we are reading this article on the digital version online, we can, in the example of Blessed Carlo, share the inspiring stories of our faith. Perhaps in this edition of The Catholic Spirit, it is one of the jubilarians that influenced our faith or one of the other featured stories. We can post it, forward it or provide a link. If you are reading this in the printed newspaper, you can always cut an article out of the newspaper and thumb tack it to a bulletin board or tape it on to the door of your refrigerator.
In a world where our greatest attributes are also our tragic flaws, the internet can be a gifted tool to share inspiring and trusted information about our Church. Through social media, we can share the good news of our faith on anything about everything.
