The digital world is profoundly changing the way we are and how we perceive ourselves. Lytta Basset, in Je selfie, donc je suis, analyses how contemporary society is marked by a frantic quest for identity through the image we project. In the age of the selfie, we exist in the eyes of others, dependent on their approval.
In this dynamic, Vincentian spirituality offers us a liberating response: an identity that is not based on the image we project, but on the gift of self in the encounter with others and with God. Saint Vincent de Paul reminds us that true greatness is not found in self-dramatisation, but in humble and gratuitous service.
How, then, can we embody this spirituality in a world dominated by appearances and social networks?
In her book, Lytta Basset criticises a society in which identity is constructed through the projected image. Social networks, selfies and filters give us the illusion of controlling our existence, but in reality they lock us into a dependence on outside views.
In this fragile quest for identity, Vincentian spirituality offers a radically different response:
· Far from seeking to construct themselves through image, Vincent’s disciples receive themselves from God and from others.
· Instead of seeking virtual recognition, the Christian is called to an identity based on real relationships and concrete service.
· Far from narcissistic delusion, charity makes us authentic, because it pushes us to go out of ourselves.
Vincentian challenge: How can we help young people not to let themselves be defined by their virtual image, but by their real commitment to the service of others?
One of the key concepts of Christian spirituality is kenosis (Philippians 2:7): ‘He emptied himself’. Jesus did not build himself up in apparent glory, but in humiliation and self-giving.
Saint Vincent de Paul embodied this kenosis in a profound attitude: not seeking to exist by oneself, but in the service of the poorest.
In a digital world where we constantly seek to exist through our image and the staging of ourselves, Vincentian spirituality reminds us that true fulfilment is not found in appearances, but in giving:
· Emptying oneself of the obsession with image to fill oneself with the love of Christ.
· Detaching oneself from external recognition to anchor one’s identity in an inner relationship with God and with others.
· Replacing self-exposure with the discretion of service, in the image of Vincent and Louise de Marillac.
Lytta Basset warns against digital alienation: by dint of wanting to be seen, we end up losing our interiority. The challenge is therefore to find a balance between digital presence and inner life, mission and contemplation.
Vincentian challenge: How can we help believers to practise a ‘digital kenosis’, to be present without trying to impose themselves, to bear witness without putting themselves forward?
Lytta Basset emphasises that our era is producing a crisis of compassion: the more connected we are, the less we are really in touch with others.
Saint Vincent made affective and effective compassion the core of his commitment:
· Affective compassion, which consists of letting oneself be touched by the suffering of others.
Effective compassion, which translates into concrete acts of service and justice.
In the digital world, this compassion is often replaced by false solidarity:
A ‘like’ or a ‘share’ replaces real help.
Opinions are expressed without ever taking any concrete action.
Vincentian challenge: How can we relearn embodied compassion, which goes beyond simple emotion and is translated into action?
Digital technology is not bad in itself; it can be a powerful tool for evangelisation and service. Today’s Vincentians are called to be active witnesses on the networks, but with a view to mission and not self-promotion:
· Use digital tools to raise awareness and educate about charity.
· Create spaces for online dialogue and support.
· Bring a message of hope to those who suffer from loneliness and isolation.
But it also implies asceticism:
· Detach oneself from the temptation to be influential in order to remain faithful to the Gospel.
· Maintaining a balance between digital presence and inner silence.
In the face of the challenges of the digital world, Vincentian spirituality is more relevant than ever:
· It frees us from the obsession with image by rooting us in an identity received from God.
It teaches us to empty ourselves instead of seeking to exist through the eyes of others.
It pushes us towards compassion in action, which is not limited to words, but translates into concrete actions.
It helps us to see the digital world as a place of mission, but in a posture of service and not of self-promotion.
Ultimately, the digital world needs Vincentians who are capable of embodying a humble, servant and contemplative presence.
In the age of ‘I selfie, therefore I am’, St Vincent reminds us that our true identity is not built on image, but on giving.
Daring compassion, daring love, daring to empty oneself, daring to contemplate and serve in the digital world: these are the challenges of Vincentian spirituality today.
May the Spirit give us the courage to be authentic witnesses, at once present and self-effacing, bold and humble, so that Christ may be seen through us, even on screens.
Fr Michel IBRAHIM, CM
(Province of the Orient)
