Communicators invited to Advent silence

(December 15, 2010) The president of the Vatican's media council is inviting social communicators to take this time of Advent to be silent. Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said this in a message to communicators of Latin America on the occasion of last Sunday's feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He noted how local Churches are promoting the continental mission, recalling that to be disciples means to have lived a genuine encounter with Christ, to have experienced his goodness, his love and his mercy in our personal history. The prelate said "This experience marks and transforms life in a permanent way, and that is why we wish to communicate it to others, thus transforming ourselves into men and women missionaries." Archbishop Celli said “I invite you therefore, to live moments of silence during these days of Advent, to hear Jesus' voice who speaks to our heart. Holding Mary's hand, let us meet with him without haste, as he always awaits us.
Archbishop Celli acknowledged that his exhortation is difficult in times of news bombardment, bustle in families, in our media and in parishes, not to mention purchases, gifts, parties and celebrations. "However," he said, "if we dedicate time to prepare dinners and meals we will share over the holidays, must we not also prepare, what we will communicate through radios, newspapers, television programs and Web sites? What can we give that is substantial, if our life is filled only with little depth and contents? Let us therefore, dedicate time to the Lord whom we are awaiting this Advent," Archbishop Celli concluded.