World Wide Worship...

The internet often gets a pretty bad rap. And for some good reasons, too. Its expanse and easy anonymity seem to be a breeding ground for all manner of uncouth things-- pornography, pedophilia, bullying... and the list never seems to end for ways to fall in to sin whilst surfing its innumerable pages.

Of course, there are many beneficial uses of the internet (like this very blog, if you can excuse my blatant and unrestrained arrogance) such as social networking and the like, but I've recently been reminded of the wonderful opportunities for spiritual enrichment that can be found on the World Wide Web. As such, I've seen God in the internet. (Or, should I say, ON the internet?)

A few days ago, I was overwhelmed with the urge to pray a novena. I've never done so before on my own, and I was at a total loss. As is my first reaction to anything I don't know, I go straight to Google! I type, "Novenas." First hit is EWTN's site with a catalogue of at least fifty different novenas. Beyond all doubt, that is an amazing resource. With one click, I could see who the novena was to, some history about its origins or common circumstances under which it is prayed, and then the text of the prayer itself.

That minute detail (hah!) about the Catholic Church being universal is exceedingly plain here. When I think of all the people who have viewed these same pages as me, I almost feel that my prayers are strengthened by theirs. I'm sure they are, actually. The Community of Faith is so vast, and so powerful. It is humbling to realize that I am such a small part of something so great-- the Body of Christ.

I recall another instance in which I experienced community with other believers on the internet. I was in the eighth grade, and Pope John Paul II's health had taken a turn for the worst. I remember being exceedingly distraught, and spending a great deal of time talking with a close friend (she is Muslim, actually) about what an amazing and Holy man he was. My memory works in strange ways (I am embarrassingly forgetful) but I'll never forget her talking about how much her mother respected him for being the first Pope to enter a mosque.

So, in my pronounced interest, I somehow found my way to Catholic message boards (at three in the morning, no less) where there were ongoing online Rosaries for the Pope's sake. It was unreal. Hail Mary's were popping up from different people so quickly that you had to type fast to make it before it was time for the next decade. It was intense, and I felt alive. I didn't know any of these people, and I didn't have to. We were praying for the same thing, together, though they were many thousands of miles away from me. Beautiful, I think.

Thinking back to pre-Gutenberg times, people depended solely on the Religious to provide them with prayers and scripture. How lucky we are that we literally have all that at our fingertips at any given time. There is no end to the resources. I think it a shame that they are not utilized anywhere near as much as they should be. I suppose it can be a hard determination to make: "Hmm, Facebook, or looking up prayers?" I think we all know the former is the more common choice.

So, I guess I'll challenge you. I think it is safe to say that if you are reading this, you are probably a common internet user. Today, use it to deepen your faith-- look up a prayer, learn more about a saint, discuss Church doctrine, order religious books, -- anything, really to strengthen your faith, or if you don't have faith, then to learn about it. If you want, you can join me in my novena. (It's to Our Lady of Lourdes, by the by.) What ever you do, find some way to spend some time with God on the internet.

P.S. As a humorous addendum, when I first typed the title of this post, it was titled, "World Wild Worship." I didn't notice until I was about to publish the post. I suppose that in my weariness, the slightly homophonic nature of the two words threw me off. But hey, a little wild worship never hurt anyone, right?