I only really got into smartphones a couple of years ago. I am way behind the times. But as far as Facebook is concenred I only realy use it to spread spiritual stuff. But even as I walk around the rpay I can see there is a problem. I saw alady a young girl walking round the park the other day pushing a pram the other day. She never glanced at her baby who should ahve been the cnetre of her world. All the time she was staring at her phone.
The electricity went here yesterday evening and the first thing I thought is what will I do without the internet, but I soon realised I needed to make the most of the situation and dusted off a few old music instruments and annoyed my family with good old Irish music. But this situation is bad, I see one girl at work and even when I drive past here as she walks to work she is staring at her smartphone, I don't think I have ever seen her not looking at the screen. I am trying not to end up like that. God help all these and all us. I guess people glued to the smartphone are not going to be saying too many Rosaries. Or maybe they are using a Rosary bead app. hmm
I actually do use my phone to pray the Rosary sometimes. (Fr Peyton)and to listen to Sensus Fidellium. But I fast from it and the internet periodically. No question it can be addictive. And isolating.
I used my phone to learn to pray the rosary and other prayers. Also, I love having apps that I can read the daily Mass readings from for both the ordinary and Latin rites. Always seems weird to do this in Church though so I avoid that. Moderation in all these things is the key. I tend to not enjoy carrying my phone around with me and find it to be more a nuisance than anything because it is one more thing to have in ones pocket. But, on the other hand I enjoy having it to easily communicate with my children and wife. Now I can find them in the grocery store.
There is an excellent app called, 'Universalis'. I ise it to follow the mass each day. It also has the offices of the Church which I use from time to time when I have space. It is very easy to use. One time though a priest saw me at mass using my phone to follow the amss and glared daggers at me. I meant to go after mass and explain to him I was following the mass on my phone but was not sure if he was simply in bad mood. Actually it has occured to me thay priests could better say the mass themselves if they had this app, but priests using a smart phone to say mass would maybe not be so good. One good thing in following the mass so closely each day is I have a better sense of what is going on. But it asotnishing how foten priests change things ad hoc...for isntance changing words to be gender neutral or simply changing things that cause them discomfort.
If enough people talk about it and acknowledge it, we can change it. It starts with you & I! it requires putting real limits on kids and well as our own screen time. When you're out with family or friends, leave it in your purse or pocket until you, as a group, need one person to look something up. Unless you have a terminal family member, leave it on vibrate when put away. Always silence in meetings and Mass!
Oh I don't know Joan, you could talk it to death. But I suppose it's good putting it out there. I just listen to so many Cahtolic Talking Heads. everything they say is quite true... but then.. I think we come back to what Our lady keeps saying, .Pray pray, pray the rosary..... we must just pray , pray pray, penance, panance , pennaace.... I just ove listenancing to people like Dr Marshall , Patrick Coffin., Michael Voris et al.. Ttey are right on the button.....but talking about things and putting your finger on it is brillaint..but the real answer is that , as Our Lady keeps saying over and voer and over again is that we must pray, pray pray, that we must beomce personally holy. not that we must keep becomae talking heads. So many talking heads.. talking and talking and talking..
Talking about things is great to an extent. But when Our Lady appears she has a different direction, she asks us to pray, pray , pray... .. not talk, talk, talk...
Pope St John Paul said and I believe Pope Benedict said what will save the Church is saints. The call to hoilness. Our Lady keeps saying the same thing at her apparitions....It is the call of the Gospel... I love brilliant people and brilliant expalnations...but what will save the Church is Holiness.....the path to prayer... I do love very clever, very educated, brilliant poeple..they have their place too.... but people like my parents, my grandparents..ordinary good people of prayer...some of them saints. We need saints.. we need prayer Pope St John Paul 2 and Pope Benedict were right on the button with this. So is Our Blessed Lady
What I meant to say was live it, be the example, remind people. Always pray! I had a particularly good spiritual evening last night. During bible study it occurred to me we have so many allies from the Old Testament. I know I don't ask them to intercede for me. Saint Noah, Saint Moses, Elijah, pray for us!!! I feel they are exactly where we are in our time. They've lived this in their own time.
Yes, just a mistake to get stuck on the New Testament... but the parents.. the old. I wish I had read more of the Old testatment when I was young. But then again it is such a HUGH joy to hear things now. Recently I have been listeing so much to Jeremiah I adore \Jermeiah So apt for our times..
I have a real problem with distractions so i use youtube and play the rosary and say it along with Father Peyton or another one i enjoy. Everyday.
In fairness though the internet is amazing when used correctly and with moderation, so much information and at least you can with care guide your viewing instead of the propaganda being forced on people who sit in front of mainstream TV stations every evening.
The cell phone systems will add to all the confusion, fear and desperation around the world, when it all collapses. Not just the fact that instant communication will be lost, but it is all the world today knows.... all their social media's, Twitter, Facebook etc..... all gone in an instant at some point. How? Solar flares, EMP, nuclear war or any other number of conditions that will stop or at least pause the world we now deal in. I would have no problem without it all, but not this generation. It is consumed by instant this and instant that. The only thing I grew up on was instant spanking for misbehaving and you can't even do that today without a social worker knocking on your door.
