Be Selective of the Media Messages You Consume

by Dr. Rose Lugo, Founding President, Media Education Society

Holiness is not accidental. It requires intentionality, vigilance, and formation. Every Christian is called to grow in Christlike virtues. Fasting, prayer, and charity are essential elements of spiritual discipline. However, in the media age, an often-overlooked aspect of personal sanctification is the selection of media content. The messages we choose to absorb through screens, speakers, and headlines form our thoughts, habits, and desires. The media we consume either draws us closer to Christ—or pulls us away from His purpose for our lives.

Saint Paul urges believers to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This command demands discernment, especially in an era where media saturates our consciousness. Content is not neutral. Every narrative carries a message, every image a worldview, every influencer a set of values. It is the responsibility of the faithful to filter these messages through the lens of scriptures and the tradition of the Church.

Evaluating the Media You Consume

Pornography, the glorification of violence, and explicit immorality are obvious threats. Yet the enemy often works through subtle forms of pollution. Consumerism masked as lifestyle inspiration. Cynicism disguised as comedy. Envy packaged as ambition. These media distortions create a false gospel—one that promotes self over sacrifice, pleasure over purpose, and fear over faith. As Christ said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). What we see shapes who we become.

Evaluate what you watch. Does the true crime show you binge immerse you in a dark worldview? Do violent video games normalize harm and dull your conscience? Do social media influencers provoke feelings of inadequacy, or prompt material cravings that displace spiritual hunger? Examine your screen time. Ask sincerely: Is this leading me closer to Christ or further from God’s plan for me?

Pope Francis has warned of this subtle shift in values. “The digital environment is also one of loneliness, manipulation, exploitation and violence, up to the extreme case of the ‘dark web.’ Digital media can expose people to the risk of addiction, isolation and the loss of contact with concrete reality” (Christus Vivit, 2019, para. 88). Spiritual decline often begins not with sin, but with distraction. Not with denial of the faith, but with the slow numbing of one’s spiritual senses.

Media that Supports Your Walk with Christ

There is another way. Holiness can also be nurtured through media. Powerful documentaries on saints, reflections from Catholic teachers, sacred music, and podcasts that unpack Scripture are widely available. Choose to form your soul with these offerings. As Pope Benedict XVI explained, “The Church and her institutions must ensure that the content and methods of evangelization correspond to the contemporary media culture” (Message for the 42nd World Communications Day, 2008). The faithful must not only resist harmful media but also cultivate and consume content that uplifts the heart, sharpens the intellect, and honors God. Even so, media consumption must be moderate.

Reflect often on this question: What media would Jesus consume? How much time would Jesus spend on media versus interacting with people? One must not romanticize this query, but allow it to convict. In moderation, content that promotes truth, love, mercy, justice, and beauty can serve as a tool for spiritual growth. Make these selections with confidence and consistency.

The journey to holiness includes choosing not only what we do, but also what we allow into our minds and hearts. When guided by the Gospel, our media habits become acts of worship. Our screens can become sanctuaries—if we choose wisely.

Join Our Apostolic Movement

The intersection of faith and media presents a profound opportunity. It allows believers to address ethical concerns, promote social justice, and model compassion. The Media Education Society exists to equip individuals to engage with media through a faith-formed conscience. This empowers communities to uphold values that strengthen the social fabric, enriching public discourse and ensuring that Catholic voices shape the media landscape with clarity, dignity, and grace. Your tax-deductible gift makes an impact today. Donate.

References

Benedict XVI. (2008, May 4). Message for the 42nd World Communications Day: The media: At the crossroads between self-promotion and service. Searching for the truth in order to share it with others. Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20080124_42nd-world-communications-day.html

Francis. (2019, March 25). Christus vivit [Post-synodal apostolic exhortation]. Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20190325_christus-vivit.html