Morality and Social Media

Morality and Social Media

Pastor’s Column

SS Medford

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 28, 2019

This week I am away (see below). We spoke two weeks ago about the first of the four Cardinal Virtues, prudence. Today let us consider temperance before we delve into our scripture (the other two are fortitude and charity).    

Temperance is among the more essential virtues that we can teach our children. We, as God’s children must always be conscious of it to grow in virtue (goodness). A synonym for temperance is moderation. If we acquire the trait of “moderation” than we understand what it means to be temperate. We have probably heard the wisdom and prudence in the saying, “Everything in moderation.”

Imagine if teenagers practiced temperance well (some do I am sure). Parents would never have to ask them to put their smart devices “down.” In a family gathering, let say a family meal at home or with the extended family, a prudent decision would be to leave these devices in the car. The temperate decision would be that if taken with us then they are turned off. Clearly, the wisdom is evident: the greater good is for family and friends to devote their time together in conversation with much joy and laughter.

It is essential that parents are conscientious about when they give or allow access to their children to smart devices like phones or tablets. The longer you wait, the better. Cognitive science studies show that the earlier the child has unfettered access to mobile devices, then potentially there are some serious consequences. It will be more difficult it will be for them in the teenage years and beyond in leading a disciplined life of prayer, studies, and morality with these all consuming distractions.  Without these solid foundational elements in life, then social media as a grounding pillar collapses.

I don’t mean to pick un teenagers here, we were all teenagers once, eh? But we should know better and then apply that wisdom to new media. The landmark moment of “New Media” was 1994 in the widespread use of the simple cell phone and then the internet explosion. These interfaces are not evil in themselves, on the contrary, much good can come from prudent and temperate use of them.  Let us not use them to displace better priorities.

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In our Gospel, Jesus teaches us the Our Father prayer, the only prayer that he teaches us in all of the New Testament. It must be important. Whether we focus on “they will be done,” God’s providence or “forgive us our trespasses” or other excerpts this prayer has profound depth and meaning to our Christian Discipleship. 

Jesus often takes time to pray alone in solitude to God the Father, our Father, and Creator also. How are you doing with your personal prayer? Our faith is always, every day about turning over the best leaf possible. It is never too late to redouble our efforts in prayer, in fact, it is the dynamism that is inherent in individual prayer life. Remain in the battle, so said many of our Canonized saints. We see this is the witness of Saint Catherine of Sienna and Saint Josemaria Escriva’, two of my favorites. Do you have a favorite(s) saint?

Thy will be done….God is in charge. Forgive us our trespasses….I am a sinner, not perfect but always trying for the better!

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I want to express our sincere gratitude to the priests that are covering for me this weekend: Most notably, our Pastor of merit, Fr. Ed Kealey. Fr. Ed and I had lunch a few weeks back, and his fondness for us here at Saint Sylvester’s abounds. Also, to Father Roger Landry and Father Dave Atanasio. Father Roger works for Pope Francis at the United Nations (UN) in NYC, and Father Dave is our Chaplain at Saint John the Baptist Diocesan High School.

I am in the midst of a ten-day retreat/workshop with about two dozen priests from around the country that I have gotten to know from my membership in an international priestly fraternity. I have been involved with this group since 2014 and every summer we make a trip of this length together. Pray for us and be assured of my (our) prayers for you.