The good news for anyone praying for less online bullying,
assistance when zoom goes wrong or a much faster internet connection is that
the Vatican may well be declaring that there is a Saint to assist us in our
prayers. Showing that the Church is in touch with the 21st century, the Pope is
putting forward a 15-year-old computer whiz to become the first patron saint of
the internet.
Carlo Acutis, an Italian schoolboy who helped spread
Roman Catholic teaching online before he died of leukaemia in 2006, is to
become the protector of web surfers. “That’s my hope — he would be an ideal
example for all young people,” said Cardinal Becciu, the Vatican spokesman
whose post is head of the Congregation
for the Causes of Saints.
Carlo became deeply religious during his childhood in
Milan and would donate his pocket money to the city’s poor residents. He used
his talent to set up websites for priests. At the age of 10, he began to create
an online exhibit about religious miracles, which has gained huge popularity
since his death.
"Integrating technology and understanding the
digital 'landscape' is new mission territory for the church” a leader said. Last
year, Pope Francis paid tribute to Carlo, declaring that his use of the
internet to “communicate values and beauty” was the perfect antidote to the
dangers of social media. In a document he wrote after a synod on youth, Francis
quoted a phrase coined by Carlo warning other youngsters not to lose their
individuality on the internet: “Everyone is born an original, but many die
like photocopies.”
As Carlo’s fame spread, people started to pray and in
February, the Pope attributed a miracle to the teenager, triggering his
beatification, the first step toward being made a saint. The beatification
ceremony will be held Oct. 10 in Assisi.
When he was close to death, Carlo had said: “I want to
offer all my life and my suffering for the Lord and I want to be forgiven” The
Vatican said: “He said that at 15! A little boy who talks like that strikes us,
and I think it encourages everyone not to joke with our faith, but to take it seriously.”
Declaring a patron saint for web surfers is in keeping
with the Vatican’s push to promote an online presence. The pope’s digital
outreach efforts include his popular Twitter accounts, which boast more than 50
million followers, including 900,000 of his feed in Latin.
Most churches turned to Zoom and live streaming during
this pandemic the Church of England said that more than 17,000 services and
events are being provided parishes and 3,000,000 views of national on line
services! Apparently one in five viewers are not church attenders so the internet
has become more important to us all than ever.
Pope Francis has described the internet as a “gift from
God” but has also warned that hours spent alone online “can have the effect of
isolating us from our neighbours, from those closest to us.” In 2016, he said
nuns should be allowed to surf the internet in their convents but should not
let online time become “occasions for wasting time or escaping from the demands
of fraternal life in community.”
If Carlo does become the patron saint of the internet, it
is hoped that he can steer users away from loneliness and turn their surfing
into a social, life-affirming experiences.
Heavenly
Father,
Thank
you for the good gift of the Internet and social media through which we can
create, communicate, learn, and worship you.
Thank
you for the ways you have blessed our world and made our lives and
communication easier because of the Internet.
May
my words and action build others up and point them to your love, my
relationships through technology communicate your kingdom,
Through
Jesus Christ. Amen
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