Silence is an integral element of communication; in its absence, words rich in content cannot exist. In silence, we are better able to listen to and understand ourselves; ideas come to birth and acquire depth; we understand with greater clarity what it is we want to say and what we expect from others; and we choose how to express ourselves. By remaining silent we allow the other person to speak, to express him or herself; and we avoid being tied simply to our own words and ideas without them being adequately tested. In this way, space is created for mutual listening, and deeper human relationships become possible. It is often in silence, for example, that we observe the most authentic communication taking place between people who are in love: gestures, facial expressions and body language are signs by which they reveal themselves to each other. ...
Word and silence: learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak. This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization: both silence and word are essential elements, integral to the Church’s work of communication for the sake of a renewed proclamation of Christ in today’s world.
It's a good reminder everyone. Even in Church circles, there is sometimes an overemphasis on the dazzling effects of social media with all its potential, while silence, patience and the cultivation of those habits are overlooked.
Social media has its place, and the Holy Father has made that clear. At the same time, it cannot be ignored that inner silence and stillness, and the contemplative lifestyle that flows from these habits, run quite contrary to the sometimes frenzied demand for the flashy, the immediate and the instantaneous 'I need it now and I refuse to wait!' attitude that the social media bandwagon encourages.
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