Since the inauguration of the official web site of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects, four years ago, this web site has taken on time the message of the pope for the World Day of Social Communications. The purpose of offering this information is closely related to the journalistic activity that the Order exercises through institutional and digital means.
Benedict XVI presents the world of communication as an ecosystem harmonized by silence: “There is a need to create a appropriate atmosphere, almost like that of an “ecosystem” that knows how to balance silence, word, images and sounds”. He does not describe the reality of the world where we live; his message is positive. But, yes he insinuates it when he talks of “certain bewilderment”, of a “climate of indifference” when silence is wanting and the stimuli – be graphics or sounds- are not assimilated.
Then he explains how and why silence and word form the “way of the evangelization”. He starts with a very sagacious observation: “Great part of the actual dynamic of communication is oriented by questions in search of answers”. This is especially true in the network, in the internet that “is more and more being converted to a place of questions and answers”.
In the millions of pages the network purifies the vital restlessness of so many persons. Here they find, some form of acceptance, respect, company and response, when there are. Together with all these brothers we sit down listening to St. Augustine, he with a restless heart, the master of the responses and lover of silence that allows to tune in with God.