The Sound of Silence - Pope Benedict XVI's Message for World Communications Day 2012 will be on the theme of silence and evangelisation

St Anne inviting us to be silent

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications revealed yesterday that "Silence" will be Pope Benedict XVI's theme for the 2012 World Communications Day. Already, some commentators seem puzzled by this contradictory theme, as many now assume that effective modern communication implies being able to make the greatest noise amidst the bustle and confusion that is the world's 24-hour rolling-news circus. But silence, as the Holy Father will probably remind us in his next message for World Communications Day, is an extremely important part of communication - for without it, who could listen properly to what is being said?

Silence is one of the greatest gifts we've been given by God. Sacred Scripture and many of our greatest saints often praise the value of silence, telling us that it is a most beautiful doorway into prayer, peace, contemplation and true wisdom. Silence is also a discipline that leads to humility and to a love that does not seek to possess, which is why the Rule of St Benedict counsels that "it is better to be silent than to speak". Only the person who is truly silent can hear the whisperings of God's love deep within his or her heart. Silence is also needed for the soul to be receptive to the Word of God, as well as to the pleas of one's neighbours in distress. Without silence we who claim to believe in Him would never know God or be able to discern His will for us. And a humanity that refuses to hear its Creator will never be able to communicate anything of any real worth, and will also be deaf to the cries of its members in need.

Here is part of yesterday's Vatican press release, which reflects on Pope Benedict XVI's theme for the 2012 World Communications Day, "Silence and the Word: path of evangelisation": -

"In the thought of Pope Benedict XVI, silence is not presented simply as an antidote to the constant and unstoppable flow of information that characterises society today but rather as a factor that is necessary for its integration. Silence, precisely because it favours habits of discernment and reflection, can in fact be seen primarily as a means of welcoming the word. We ought not to think in terms of a dualism, but of the complementary nature of two elements which when they are held in balance serve to enrich the value of communication and which make it a key factor that can serve the new evangelisation. It is clearly the desire of the Holy Father to associate the theme of the next World Communications Day with the celebration of the forthcoming Synod of Bishops which will have as its own theme: 'The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith'." (emphasis mine)

St Ambrose is reputed to have said that "in some cases, silence can be dangerous". Many would agree that these words of his are both important and wise, despite the monastic Christian ideal of silence. Not everyone is called to the desert or to the life of the cloister, where silence gradually becomes part of one's vocation, and a means of salvation for some. Also, it is not always good to be silent or detached from the world in a way that can be so selfish or spiritually proud that we are of no earthly - or heavenly - use. In fact, to be silent in the face of sin is tantamount to giving one's consent or approval to it - qui tacet consentire videtur. The same is true, of course, when we hear error being propagated and do not respond, or do not offer the message of eternal life to those who need it - "woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel" (1 Cor 9:16). Although some very devout men and women would rather save souls through being silent and withdrawing from the world, most have a duty to speak the truth in love (cf Eph 4:15) without expecting that God will send legions of angels to do this human work for us.

Having said that, yesterday's press release from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications has made me appreciate, once more, the value of silence. As one who blogs, I can often fall into the delusion that my words or the clattering noise of my laptop's keypad is somehow necessary or good, or that my blogging is sometimes indispensable. Maybe, then, silence is a discipline I should re-embrace, for I am sure that I can be of more use to the world as one who weeps silent tears over it than as one who is eager to subdue it with my all too fragile thoughts and words - even if they are, hopefully, in line with the Gospel. Now and again, then, it might be good for some of us who blog to keep a "blogging silence", so to speak. It is sometimes good to allow God Himself to speak directly to humanity without explanation, as the psalmist says: -

"Day unto day takes up the story and night unto night makes known the message. No speech, no word, no voice is heard, yet their span extends through all the earth, their words to the utmost bounds of the world" (Ps 19:3-5)

The Pope's message for World Communications Day 2012 will be published on the feast of St Francis de Sales, patron of writers, which is celebrated on 24 January. The Day itself is the only worldwide celebration called for by the Second Vatican Council ( cf Inter Mirifica, 1963), and is celebrated in most countries on the Sunday before Pentecost, which next year will fall on 20 May.

[Image: An 8th century Coptic depiction of St Anne, originally from Farras; National Museum of Warsaw; source: Wikimedia Commons]