Pope Benedict on Blogging

Pope Tells Priests: Go Forth And Blog (and get digital fast!)

VATICAN CITY, Jan. 25, 2010, 09.50 Hrs:

Pope Benedict XVI has a new commandment for priests struggling to get their message across: Go forth and blog.

The pope, whose own presence on the web has heavily grown in recent years, urged priests on Saturday to use all multimedia tools at their disposal to preach the Gospel and engage in dialogue with people of other religions and cultures.

And just using email or surfing the web is often not enough: Priests should use cutting-edge technologies to express themselves and lead their communities, Benedict said in a message released by the Vatican.

“The spread of multimedia communications and its rich ‘menu of options’ might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the web,” but priests are “challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources,” he said.

The message, prepared for the World Day of Communications, suggests such possibilities as images, videos, animated features, blogs, and websites. Benedict said young priests should become familiar with new media while still in seminary, though he stressed that the use of new technologies must reflect theological and spiritual principles.

The 82-year-old pope has often been wary of new media, warning about what its tendency to trivialize sex and promote violence. But Benedict has also praised new ways of communicating as a “gift to humanity” when used to foster friendship and understanding.

Monsignor Claudio Maria Celli, who heads the Vatican’s social communications office, said that Benedict’s words aimed to encourage reflection in the church on the positive uses of new media. “That doesn’t mean that (every priest) must open a blog or a website. It means that the church and the faithful must engage in this ministry in a digital world,” Celli said. AP

These are quotes concerning the Word of God—whether referring to Christ himself, the

Scriptures, or the things God has spoken—from

throughout Church History.

Ignatius, A.D. 110

The divine prophets lived according to Christ Jesus. They were persecuted on this account as well, since they were inspired by his grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God who has manifested himself by Jesus Christ his Son, who is his eternal Word. (Letter to the Magnesians 8)

Pseudo-Barnabas, A.D. 120 - 130

You shall not let the Word of God issue from your lips with any kind of impurity. … You shall tremble at the words which you hear. (Letter of Barnabas 19)

Justin Martyr, c. A.D. 150

If we assert that the Word of God was born of God in a unique way, different from ordinary birth, let this … be no extraordinary thing to you who say that Mercury is the angelic word of God. (First Apology 22)

From Jerusalem men went out into the world, twelve in number—and these illiterate and without speaking ability—but by the power of God they proclaimed to every race of man that they were sent by Christ to teach to all the Word of God. (First Apology 39)

Dear Friends

I am a student wondering at the effectiveness of Word of God in the life and mission of everyone who reads or looks at it, for the first time or daily. As new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, I would like to make an attempt to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word. Here through this blog i would like to express myself to the web world my simple reflections on the Word of God which I read, hear and reflect everyday.

Expressions

"My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way."

Ernest Hemingway: Inspirational Quotes on Expression

My aim here is to put down on this blog what i see and what i feel in the best and simplest way

Famous Inspirational Quotes on Expression:

Sophocles: Inspirational Quotes on Expression
Much wisdom often goes with fewer words.

Victor Hugo: Inspirational Quotes on Expression
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.

Epictetus: Inspirational Quotes on Expression

Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak.

Benjamin Disraeli: Inspirational Quotes on Expression
Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for truth.

John-Rogers and Peter McWilliams, You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought: Inspirational Quotes on Expression

Only complain to someone who can do something about it... Effective complaining helps keep your conversations on the positive side of the street. With some people you may find you have nothing to talk about. goes with fewer words.

Victor Hugo: Inspirational Quotes on Expression
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.

Martin Luther King: Inspirational Quotes on Expression

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Pablo Picasso: Inspirational Quotes on Expression
Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.

Percy Bysshe Shelley: Inspirational Quotes on Expression
Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.