24 January.  St Francis de Sales.   SEE: St Francis de Sales was an important and powerful church leader after the time of the Reformation and was able to help Catholics, while also keeping a good relationship with Protestants. He is a patron of some of religious orders, a doctor of the Church and also the patron saint of journalists and writers, addressing himself to the ordinary persons’ daily life.

JUDGE, reflect and share:   From the Introduction to the Devout Life   He who unjustly takes away his neighbour’s good name is guilty of sin, and is bound to make reparation, according to the nature of his evil speaking; since no man can enter into Heaven cumbered with stolen goods, and of all worldly possessions the most precious is a good name. Slander is a kind of murder; for we all have three lives—a spiritual life, which depends upon the Grace of God; a bodily life, depending on the soul; and a civil life, consisting in a good reputation. Sin deprives us of the first, death of the second, and slander of the third. Pope Francis. Efforts need to be made to help the media become sources of new cultural progress for humanity. LS 47.   Pope Leo: The response to new challenges seems to involve not only enormous economic investment in rearmament, but also a shift in educational policies. Rather than fostering a culture of memory that preserves the hard-won awareness of the twentieth century and the millions of victims, we now see communication campaigns and educational programs – at schools, universities and in the media – that spread a perception of threats and promote only an armed notion of defence and security.   Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion. Believers must actively refute, above all by the witness of their lives, these forms of blasphemy that profane the holy name of God.  PM 1 Jan

ACT: Decide on possible appropriate action.   Conclude with prayer