What about going online in the cloister?

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ocleirbj

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Good morning!

As I read through various Catholic blogs and news sites, I occasionally see comments from self-identified cloistered religious on the subjects of the day. I have been wondering whether being active in the online world is ever thought to be incompatible with a vocation to the cloistered religious life. On the one hand, I can see that it is just the same as reading newspapers and writing or receiving letters from people in the world, and can be very useful for prayer - and how the world needs prayer! But there is so much going on online these days that “leaving the world” may be more difficult than it used to be, especially with e.g. personal websites, blogs and forums like this one! 🙂

I confess to just being curious, but the issue of how to manage an internet presence can be a real challenge in itself, and I wonder if the subject ever comes up amongst those who are living in a cloistered community. What to renounce completely, how to find balance with the rest? Maybe it’s not an issue at all? I’d be interested to know how people approach this.
 
Hi,

How one uses the internet will determine how much value it will be for the one who uses it. A cloistered religious can use it with profit depending on how he or she uses it. Actually, this is true for everyone. Common sense should rule. This means that one must discern honestly–which should come easily to a contemplative person whether in the cloister or outside of it.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
 
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