What if St. Faustina had a Facebook??

Last evening I came across the same thing...it gets me every time.  Someone of the Catholic faith misrepresenting it over social media.  A misguided friend on Facebook.  And I came to the same dilemma that I, and I'm sure others, are faced with all the time:  What do I say?  Do I say anything?

Evangelizing over the Internet has some problems and absurdities that saints of the past just didn't have to deal with.  First off is the problem of tone.  For some reason, reading replies over the Internet brings out people's sensitive sides; if they read it slightly the wrong way, it is taken offensively, and their reply is tense, and the whole conversation goes downhill.  Second is misinformation.  Everybody thinks they are the expert at whatever they have started talking about over social media.  It always slightly amuses me how many "experts" there are about the current issues...fiscal cliff, gun control, what have you...in the statuses you read on Facebook.  Everyone has all the solutions. Third is the the ability to be anonymous, or at least hidden, in the world of the Internet.  Even if you say something out in the open on Facebook, you have the luxury of being at the other end of the computer.  You never have to face the person in real life if you really don't want to. 

So, as I looked at this particular post on Facebook, having both these problems in my mind and trying to figure out if/how to respond to this person over Facebook, I started thinking about the saints...if they had had Facebook, how would they have been?  Would they have responded?  What about "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words?"  Would they have been meek or stern?  My thoughts went something like this...:

St. Pio of Pietrelcina would have used the poke button...a lot.
St. Peter would be "that guy" who wrote a comment off the top of his head without thinking about it and then had to apologize.
St. Faustina would have been admonishing of anybody who was misbehaving. (Something I love about St. Faustina is that she wasn't some weakling...the woman knew how to call people out!)
Nobody would want to talk with St. Thomas Aquinas on Facebook...he's always be asking questions and probably winning his argument.
G. K. Chesterton would be making a lot of those "Catholic Memes".
St. Gianna Molla would be all lovey-dovey and super cute on her husband's page on Facebook.
St. Martha would be updating us on her house cleaning.

Yes, the personalities of the Facebook saints would run the gamut, just as the personalities you find on Facebook now-a-days; there are the political activists, the pro-life activists, the ones with all the witty statuses that you wish you could top, the jokesters, the one's who get on barely once a month.  But when I wondered if they would address somebody who was erroneously representing the Catholic faith, I realized the universal response of the Facebook saints would be to address the issue...whether publicly or in a private message, heresy should not stand.

The New Evangelization is a great challenge to today's youth.  In a world that says do not step on toes, the New Evangelization is calling today's Catholics to be involved, even in social media, and not only represent themselves as faithful Catholics, but also address others who are fallen away or who are misinformed about the faith.  In the past, evangelization has been about Christians converting non-Christians...we are the first era of Christians re-evangelizing fallen away Christians.  That is what the New Evangelization is all about.  It's a tall order, and each of us will find our own way...but this way can never be one of condoning misinformation.  We are each called to be bold and stand for the Church against falsehood and slander.  In the Facebook world it might become a war of words (which I personally try to stay away from, as I'm not good at it)...it might mean someone "unfriends" you...it might mean a loooooong private email debate.  It might mean getting off of Facebook, getting away from the temptation to hide behind Internet anonymity, and meeting up with that friend in person to discuss the issue.  It might mean being sneaky and putting correct information on your own wall and tagging individuals that should read the article instead of directly attacking the misinformed.  Prayer, of course, but also proper response.  Evangelization takes on as many faces as their are personalities in the world.  But it is the vocation to which we are each called.

Picture/News item of the day XXV

The Meaning of Being Human Under Attack

Break beginnings

Six finals and one trip to Wichita and back later, here I am, alive and breathing. 

Oh finals week, it's such a funny, interesting week.  When I'm studying I think about other activities I can't wait to do during break, and when taking a study break I'm thinking of studying.  During finals week, studying consumes my life.  I make an hourly (yes, hourly) schedule, dividing up the hours between the classes for which to study, and structure my life in that fashion.  Which is good, in theory.  It's crazy how vital those precious hours become.  At any rate, I had one final on the 6th, two on the 10th, two on the 12th, and a take-home final due on the 12th.

Then I booked it home for a couple of days.  Dear Matt had his last two wisdom teeth removed on the 13th, and so I went to his house for the day to watch movies with him (the man recovered so fast, seriously).  On Friday I went looking for a dress for a couple weddings coming up and for a few Christmas presents and Matt came along that day.  My parents and I met up at a Mexican restaurant that I hadn't been to before and we had a nice meal together.  Saturday I grudgingly came back to KC to work until I leave this Friday for a wedding, and I'll be back to work on the 25th.  That's right, folks, workin' Christmas.  I can't complain too much...I had Thanksgiving off, I'll be home Christmas Eve, my parents will be with me all of Christmas morning...it's still hard to look forward to, though. 

I have my first scheduled graduate school interview!  Yeah, weird, right?  I will be attending an interview session at WSU on the 14th of January.  Oh man, so crazy that this is actually happening.

Well, back to working on my essay for Franciscan...

Song Recommendation of the Day XXIX

Let's just admit it, Straight No Chaser is FABulous...here's some funness:

Happy New (Liturgical) Year

I woke up this morning (technically now yesterday morning since it's past midnight on the 2nd, but who's being picky?) and it was December.  Still trying to figure out just how that one happened...

What news since Thanksgiving?  Well, I came back to KC that Saturday to work the Saturday and Sunday evening shifts, and came down with a nasty cold in the middle of working on Sunday.  Bad enough that I emailed all my professors that I would not be attending classes on Monday.  Which has still put me in a funk ever since...trying to make up a sick day so close to the end of the semester is difficult...

Tuesday I felt a bit better, which was good because it was a day to celebrate for me...2 years ago, we started our courtship on that day!  Cue the "oooohs" and "aaaaaws".  I had the chance to help him become a bit more cultured...we watched The Polar Express, White Christmas, and The Nativity Story, none of which he had seen before.  Perfect.

And  now it is the weekend, and I just got off of work a bit ago and am settling in for the night.  This week will be interesting.  I have two tests and a term paper due on Wednesday, and a lab final on Thursday.   And then I turn around and there'll be finals.  Yeah, it's kind of obnoxious that I have my last tests right before the finals for those classes.  However, if it's one more opportunity to get a couple good grades in before finals, I suppose it has its perks.  Either way, through Thursday I will probably be sorely lacking in some much needed sleep.  Also after Wednesday I will officially pass on my position of president of Students for Life to the next person.  Which is bittersweet, though more sweet than bitter.  I've appreciated my time in the position, but for several reasons am glad to pass it along.  As much as I believe in what I'm a part of, I recognize that I'm not a super charismatic personality.  Meaning I really don't draw people in.  Someone with more sparkle will be able to do more with a president position.  Also...college students are funny.  They really don't return communication of any kind in any suitable length of time.  Naturally, much unnecessary stress ensues.  Yes, I will be happy to pass this on to someone who is not quite so type A as myself.

Welp, that's life in a nutshell.  Happy beginnings to your Advent!