As disciples of Christ, we are called to witness to the joy of the Gospel, but that involves awareness of our own digital authenticity as well as listening to the needs of humanity today expressed in and through social media platforms. How we navigate the media ecosystem can affect our pursuit of “the good life” along with our missional outreach to those on the digital existential peripheries. Being authentic and responsible disciples of Christ requires the skill of media mindfulness. This methodology is built on the foundation of critical inquiry, bringing one's values and the virtues into conversation with the media messages. Virtues are acquired habits for the good of our whole selves that lead to happy living. We will discuss the virtues needed to engage creatively and constructively within the digital marketplace and the spiritual support we can give for people to reflect on their digital interactions.

1. Living the Good Life in the Digital
Marketplace of Ideas:
Virtues and Social Media
Vatican Dicastery on Communications
SR NANCY USSELMANN, FSP | PAULINE CENTER FOR MEDIA STUDIES | BEMEDIAMINDFUL.ORG

2. Spirit of Wisdom, you breathe life into humanity to discover and create technologies
that promote global communication through the sharing of information and
entertainment. These gifts of God give expression to the desires and yearnings of
humanity through the art of popular culture.
Teach us to engage mindfully with the media, discovering the seeds of grace present
there, while critically examining the needs of humanity today, always ready to propose
Christ as the fulfiller of all our hopes and longings.
Assist us with your grace, O Divine Spirit! Help us to use these means to discern the
signs of the times, to search for a Christian response, and to derive motives for
prayer. We ask this through the perfect Communicator, Jesus Christ our Master and
Lord. Amen.
PRAYER TO BE MEDIA MINDFUL

3. “Communication has the power to build bridges, to enable encounter
and inclusion, and thus to enrich society…Words can build bridges
between individuals and within families, social groups and peoples. This
is possible both in the material world and the digital world.”
-Pope Francis World Day of Communication 2016
DISCIPLES OF
CHRIST

4. mediaapostle.com
BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE, SSP
“Where or toward what is this humanity moving, this
humanity that is constantly 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?”
WHERE IS HUMANITY GOING?

5. NEEDS OF HUMANITY PRESENT ON DIGITAL INTERACTIONS
desire for connection/friendship
POSITIVE FEELINGS
DESTRUCTIVE FEELINGS
diminished humanness and empathy burnout

6. t h e g o o d l i f e
ARISTOTELIAN ETHICS
SEEKING HAPPINESS | WELL LIVED LIFE OF BALANCE AND REASON

7. VIRTUES ARE ACQUIRED HABITS FOR THE GOOD OF OUR WHOLE
SELVES THAT LEAD TO HAPPY LIVING
“Virtue is essential to a well-lived life of
balance and reason.” —Aristotle
VIRTUE

8. “IT IS NOT TECHNOLOGY WHICH DETERMINES WHETHER OR
NOT COMMUNICATION IS AUTHENTIC, BUT RATHER THE
HUMAN HEART AND OUR CAPACITY TO USE WISELY THE
MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL.”
POPE FRANCIS

9. LIVING THE GOOD LIFE
1. What sort of person do I want to become to
be happy?
2. What sort of habits do I want to cultivate in my
behavior so as to develop my reason that lead
to greater harmony in myself and with others?
VIRTUOUS LIVING
FRAMEWORK

10. CATHOLIC RESPONSE
01
02
03
CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT
REFLECTION | EXAMINATION
AWARENESS | VIRTUOUS LIVING

11. c r i t i c a l
i n q u i r y
RESPONSE TO LIVING WELL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

12. INFORMATION | INFOTAINMENT

13. MEDIA MINDFULNESS
CHALLENGE
VALUES:
1._____________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________
GOSPEL VALUES:
1._____________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________

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DOLORE FEUGIAT
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15. MEDIA MINDFULNESS
CHALLENGE

16. r e f l e c t i o n
RESPONSE TO LIVING WELL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

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DOLORE FEUGIAT
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18. “True wisdom is the fruit of self-examination, dialogue and
encountering persons. It is not acquired by a mere accumulation of
data which eventually leads to overload and confusion, a sort of
mental pollution…” —Pope Francis
LIVING THE
EXAMINED LIFE

19. EXAMINATION OF MY ONLINE LIFE
How do I practice balance in my online life?
Is my internet use put at the service of the common good? If so, how? If not,
what do I need to change? Do I respect other people and their opinions?
Does my online activity move toward the integral development of persons,
both myself and others?
Does my online presence reflect my authentic self or do I try to hide behind a
false persona?
What are some of my current online behaviors that I need to re-evaluate at
this time? Do I engage in pornography?
Are there other challenges I face in my online life? How might I practically
address them?
Might I benefit from taking about my online challenges with someone, a
trusted friend, family member or confessor?
INTERMITTENT
MEDIA FAST

20. TIPS TO LIVING WELL WITH OUR DIGITAL MEDIA
DIGITAL
AUTHENTICITY
Discipline and Balance
Responsibility
Discernment
Silence

21. v i r t u o u s
l i v i n g
RESPONSE TO LIVING WELL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

22. be-attitudes of
social media
RESPONSE TO LIVING WELL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

23. in what you post, snap, tweet, or share
BE PRUDENT
T.H.I.N.K. before responding/reacting/
communicating:
T=Is it TRUE?
H=is it HELPFUL?
I=is it INSPIRING?
N=is it NECESSARY?
K=is it KIND?

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feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio
dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue
duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum
soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil
DOLORE FEUGIAT
FACILISIS
Vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu
feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio
dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue
duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.

25. …in your posts, remembering that there are
always two sides to a story.
BE JUST
Justice is about supporting the
dignity of each human being,
who is made in the image and
likeness of God.

26. “Beware of the half truth.
You may have gotten hold of
the wrong half.”
—Anonymous
BE JUST

27. …in your digital media use.
BE TEMPERATE
Use media that builds up. Use
technology, don’t let it use you!
Spend time interacting with people
face-to-face in the physical world
and experience the beauty that is
in our midst.

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duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum
soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil
DOLORE FEUGIAT
FACILISIS
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feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio
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duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.

29. …in your digital media universe.
BE COURAGEOUS
Stand up for those who are being
attacked even if that means risking
persecution by others.
Courageously be authentic
communicators of virtue.

30. PASTORAL CARE IN A DIGITAL AGE
“Listening makes possible an exchange of gifts in a context
of empathy.”
—General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops 2018
SPIRITUAL SUPPORT TO OTHERS - “FIELD HOSPITAL”
“The impartiality of media is merely an appearance; only those who go
out of themselves in their communication can become a true point of
reference for others. Personal engagement is the basis of the
trustworthiness of a communicator. Christian witness, thanks to the
internet, can thereby reach the peripheries of human existence.”
—Pope Francis, World Communications Day Message 2014

31. bemediamindful.org
MEDIA MINDFULNESS CHALLENGE