This document discusses practicing a spirituality centered around media. It provides guidance on praying with, through, and for various media forms and professionals. Some key points include:
- Praying the news by watching and reflecting on news stories with Scripture.
- Using films for spiritual reflection through practices like "Cinema Divina".
- Praying for those who work in media like writers, artists, and celebrities.
- Recognizing various Catholic saints as patron saints of different media like radio, television, and the internet.
- Reciting prayers and litanies to cultivate mindfulness of media's role and become more discerning media consumers and producers.
The overall message is that
2. prayer for media and
new evangelization
O God, to communicate your love to all, you sent your only
Son, Jesus Christ, into the world and made him our Master
and Shepherd, the Way, Truth, and Life of humanity.
Grant that all means of communication—print, film, radio,
television, the Internet, and all new media—may be used for
your glory and the good of all people.
Inspire everyone of good will to assist with prayer, action, and
financial support, so that through these powerful means the
Church may preach the Gospel to all peoples. Amen.
3. Blessed James Alberione
“We should always lead people to paradise, but we have to lead there not those who lived ten
centuries ago, but those who live today. In order to do good today, we have to take the world and the
people as they are today. Stretch forward. Always keep in mind what is wanting in us. There is no
time to congratulate ourselves on the past.”
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5. Paul in the Areopagus
altar to an “unknown god”
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6. Media
Spirituality
• Needs of Humanity
• Word and Eucharist
• Evangelizers in a Media Culture
• Transforming Culture from
within
6 PAULINE CENTER FOR MEDIA STUDIES
7. Blessed James Alberione
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“How often to you ask yourselves: Where is humanity
going? This humanity that is renewing itself on the
face of the earth. It is like a great river flowing into
eternity. Will it be saved or will it be lost?”
Media Apostle, Founder of the Pauline Family
Media Apostle
8. Word & Eucharist
• Knowing Jesus, the way, Truth, and Life in his Word
• Loving Jesus in the Eucharistic Presence
• Adoring the Word and the Body of Christ
• Living the Word
• Transforming the world
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11. Media
Spirituality
• Pray the Media
• Praying with the Media
• Praying for Media
Professionals
• Praying for Celebrities
• Litany of Saints to be Media
Mindful
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12. Pray the
Media
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• Praying the News
• Be-Attitudes of Social Media
• Examination of Conscience for
my Online Life
• Cinema Divina / Film Retreats
13. Pray the News
• Open with Scripture reading/
Prayer
• Watch the News together
• Intercessions for what was
heard; response: Lord, hear
our prayer.
• Close with Our Father or
another prayer
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14. Pray the Media
• Be-Attitudes of Social Media
• Examination of Conscience for my Online
Life
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bemediamindful.org
27. MOST HOLY TRINITY
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Your inner life of love is the essence of
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HAVE MERCY ON US.
28. MARY,
QUEEN OF
APOSTLES
you help us respect the
dignity of every human
person and reflect that
dignity in the media we
produce and consume.
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PRAY FOR US.
29. SAINT
GABRIEL
you brought God’s invitation to Mary
and announced that Jesus would
save us from our sins; you who are
the patron of radio,
telecommunications and
communication workers…
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PRAY FOR US.
30. SAINT
PAUL
you are the apostle who
proclaimed Christ to all
peoples through your
preaching, example and
letters, you who are a patron
saint of the Catholic press
and a patron of writers…
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PRAY FOR US.
31. SAINT
CECILIA
you loved Jesus above all
things and brought joy to your
friends and family in the faith
through beautiful sounds; you
who are the patron of music
and musicians…
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PRAY FOR US.
32. SAINT
BERNARDINE
OF SIENA
you proclaimed Jesus to
everyone you met; you spread
the devotion to the Eucharist and
the holy name of Jesus; you
created a logo for Jesus’ name
and you are the patron saint of
those who work in public
relations…
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PRAY FOR US.
33. SAINT
CLARE
you loved Jesus and dedicated
your whole life to Him and the
Church as a nun; you who saw
the Mass appear on your wall
when you were too sick to attend,
and are now the patron saint of
television, television workers, and
all those who watch television…
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PRAY FOR US.
34. SAINT
GENESIUS
you who became a
Christian when acting in
a play about Jesus, and
are now the patron saint
of actors…
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PRAY FOR US.
35. SAINT
FRANCIS
DE SALES
you wrote many books
about Jesus and how to
live the spiritual life; you
who are the patron saint
of journalists and the
good press…
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PRAY FOR US.
36. you loved art and gave
us images of what is
true, good and
beautiful; you who are
the patrons of artists…
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PRAY FOR US.
SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST
AND
SAINT CATHERINE OF
ALEXANDRIA
37. SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES
SAINT MARY MAGDALENE AND
VENERABLE PIERRE
TOUSSAINT
you who are the
patrons of hairdressers
and therefore those
who create special
effects in media…
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PRAY FOR US.
38. SAINT
ISIDORE OF
SEVILLE
you wrote the world’s first
encyclopedia and created
the first “database” of
information. Perhaps you
will one day be named
patron of the internet…
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PRAY FOR US.
39. SAINT
ALBERT THE
GREAT
you are the patron saint of
science and technology.
Pray for all those who use
science and technology to
communicate information
and entertainment stories to
us…
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PRAY FOR US.
40. SAINT
THOMAS
AQUINAS
you were a great thinker and
philosopher; because of your
great faith, there was never any
question of which you were
afraid; give us the wisdom to
always ask questions of the
media so we can be mindful of
media messages…
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PRAY FOR US.
41. BLESSED
JAMES
ALBERIONE
you used the media to
communicate wholesome
messages to the human family,
especially the Good News of
Jesus. We pray you will one
day be named patron saint of all
the media and digital media…
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PRAY FOR US.
42. Blessed
Carlo Acutis
you who were a gamer and computer
programmer, creating a website to
document Eucharistic miracles from
around the world, inspire all those who
work in computer science and
information systems, that they may use
these technologies to uplift the human
spirit. You who may one day be named
patron of programmers, coders and
gamers…
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PRAY FOR US.
43. ALL SAINTS
you once lived among us and witnessed to the love of Christ for everyone in your
18 PRAY FOR US.
45. May you be
praised
Lord God,
for the printed word—
bread for our minds,
light for our lives.
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46. We give
Thanks
for the talents and
dedication of all who serve
the truth in love, and for all
whose technical and
professional skills make
possible the production of
books, newspapers,
magazines, and reviews.
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47. We celebrate, lord,
the modern marvel of television,
which brings into the heart of our
homes the joy and the pain of all
human living. Music, drama, and
laughter are shared in ways
undreamed of in the past.
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48. May you be
praised, Lord God,
for the radio,
which soars on the wings of
the wind and provides for
each nation an immediate
channel for news, views,
and entertainment, and a
means of offering to the
listening world its own
distinctive voice.
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49. We celebrate, Lord,
the writers, artists,
directors, and all those
whose gifts light both
theater and cinema and
provide audiences with
a heightened awareness
of their human
condition.
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50. We celebrate
the wonder of digital
communications,
which manifest a
new iconography that
links people around
the globe in solidarity
of faith, hope, and
love.
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51. We thank you, Lord God,
for the unending Pentecost of your creative Holy Spirit, which
enables your sons and daughters to be afire with your truth, beauty,
and goodness.
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52. May the
blind see,
the deaf hear, and
the poor receive
justice through the
proclamation of
the Good News
via today’s media.
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53. Together let us rejoice
in the God-given talents and the creative gifts of those who promote the
dignity of the human person and who build communion among peoples the
world over through their dedication and love. AMEN.
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54. praying for celebrities
1. Ask the students to think of one of their favorite celebrities. It could be an actor, singer, musician, dancer, tv show host, artist, comedian, famous chef… any celebrity they like and admire
2. When we like a celebrity, we might follow their work, or follow them on social media. We might even try to meet them one day at a concert, conference, or convention… or get their picture
if we see them in the street.
3. But have you ever thought about how you can pray for your celebrity?
4. Your favorite celebrity is a real person. A real person with likes and dislikes, with wonderful qualities and faults, with talents and limitations, with personal joys and struggles. Have you ever
noticed or thought about what some of these might be? Have you ever brought these to God for them?
5. Even if you never meet your favorite celebrity, you are connected to them through prayer. You can lift them up to God, and intercede for them.
6. Hand every student a piece of colored paper and a writing utensil. Have each student write down the name of the celebrity that they wish to pray for today. It might be their favorite
celebrity, or maybe it’s a celebrity that God is placing on their heart today for them to pray for.
7. Once the students have chosen a celebrity to pray for, have them write out a prayer for their celebrity. Encourage the students to include an element of thanksgiving (thanking God for the
life, talent, inspiration, etc. of their chosen celebrity) and an element of petition (interceding for a particular need of this celebrity, or a hope that they have for their life, or asking that their
celebrity come closer to God, etc.).
8. After students have written their prayer, provide them some time to pray with it quietly (1-2 minutes of silence). If strapped for time, pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be on behalf of
all the celebrities chosen, and encourage the students to pray their written prayer on their own at home.
9. Challenge the students to take up this prayer as a novena: to pray their prayer for their chosen celebrity each day for a 9-day stretch.
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