Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications,
has sent a message for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe to media workers in Latin
America. "The continental mission which is taking place in Latin America", Archbishop
Celli writes, "is leading many people to a new awareness of what it means of be disciples
of Jesus. The local churches enthusiastically encourage this undertaking, reminding
people that being Christ's disciples means having experienced an authentic encounter
with Him. ... This experience permanently marks and transforms life, and for this
reason we wish to communicate it to others, thus becoming missionaries ourselves". The
meeting with the Lord, the prelate continues his message, "has many aspects. It is
a personal but also a community experience; it comes about in solitude and silence,
but also and especially in liturgical celebrations and family life. It draws nourishment
from dialogue and community prayer, ... and culminates in activity and service". The
archbishop then goes on to invite people "to enjoy moments of silence during these
days of Advent, so as to listen to the voice of Jesus which speaks to our hearts.
... Let us stem the flood of daily cares and noises which so often overwhelms us.
Silence is like a white screen upon which we can project the film of our daily life
so as to see it more clearly. If we projected it on a wall full of pictures, books
and other objects, and with a background noise, we would perceive little. Only in
silence can we make our choices with greater awareness. In silence we hear the voice
of God, and thus become genuine bearers of His Word". "This is, perhaps, difficult
advice to follow at a time in which we are constantly bombarded with information,
a time of pastoral needs and of hard work in our families, communications media and
parishes. Yet, ... should we not also prepare the contents of what we are to communicate
via radio, newspapers, television programmes and websites? What satisfying message
can we give if our lives are full only of repeated words, with little substance and
scarce content. Let us dedicate time to the Lord Whom we await in this period of Advent". Archbishop
Celli concludes his message by asking Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is also patron of
RIIAL (The Information Network of the Church in Latin America) that "to obtain for
us the gift of inner silence from God, ... that He may make our words, texts, images
and music fruitful vehicles of the Good News".