Turning the News, Noise, and Disruption off to Regain Recollection (the need for prayer)

Even without big, breaking news hitting our phones, the invasion of noise and media consumption triumphs over our minds and hearts most days. We now get to know what everybody has said, and what everybody else has said about what they said. My husband were struck by this in particular way when President Trump's social media post about Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV hit the news. As we read different articles together (avoiding simply getting our information from IG reels and what others were sharing on their stories), we were struck by that fact that no article simply shared what Trump initially posted, and no article shared or fully quoted Pope Leo in his response. All of the articles were snippets of quotations, and other people's opinions and takes on the matter. Likewise, social media posts are going viral just by different influencers or public figures sharing their own two cents about and stance over the situation.

While I have no intention of writing a journal entry directly in response to this whole circumstance, I do want to write a few words about knowing when to turn it all off. What I don't mean is that we should be ignoring the current times and what is happening. What I do mean is that we are too quickly gluttonous and indulgent over meaningless chatter and other's opinions over news and gossip when the Lord ultimately invites us in moments like these to pray. If we are filled with just anger over wrongs or blasphemy, then our hearts should turn to prayer, intercession, and penance, not gorging ourselves on what the algorithms are feeding us; which is just more and more content that inflames our frustration, loss of peace, and the fog that comes with numbing our souls to the Lord's movements and presence.

There is power in prayer. Over and over again Our Lady asks us to pray the Rosary for peace in the world. She doesn't ask us to share more reels on our stories to prove a point. She asks us to turn our hearts to the Lord and pray.

I invite you today to turn off your phone. Choose God's presence in your soul. If you encounter stories and opinions on social media that disturb your heart's peace, don't go further into the rabbit hole from where it came. Pause, step back, and turn your heart to the Lord in prayer and petition. Reclaim your recollection in His presence which is the very thing this world is starving for and the lack of which leads to all sin, chaos, and pain.

Pick up your rosary and pray for peace. Go to Adoration and open the cares of your heart to Jesus, Face to face. Open Scripture and read the living Word of God. Abide in His presence within your soul throughout the day, and know that the loss of it is not worth the cost of more time of on your phone.