Commentary 25/08/28 In Catholic communication, the messenger is the message

[성기화 요셉]

Let our words be seeds sown in the hearts of others, nourished by the sincerity of our lives

Catholic journalists celebrate World Communications Day in Ho Chi Minh City on May 31. (Photo courtesy of tgpsaigon.net)

By Michael Nguyen Khac Minh

Published: August 28, 2025 04:14 AM GMT

Updated: August 28, 2025 04:15 AM GMT

In today’s world, we are drowning in information. Buzzwords like Big Data, algorithms, and multi-dimensional interaction dominate discussions about media.

But if we strip away the technological packaging, a more basic question emerges — one that Catholic communication compels us to face: What makes a message trustworthy and life-giving?

At first glance, the question seems simple. Yet it points to something fundamental: how is Christian communication essentially different from any other form of communication?

The answer is not found in tools or techniques but in people.

The heart of Catholic communication is not technical skill but authenticity. In short, the communicator must become the very message they proclaim.

Beyond words and techniques

Communication theory tells us every exchange involves three elements: sender, message, and receiver, along with encoding and decoding. However, encoding is not just about words or content — it encompasses attitudes, gestures, lifestyle, and the entire being of the sender.

That is the key: in Christian communication, credibility comes not from technology but from integrity.

A priest cannot preach chastity and simplicity at Mass if the night before he was seen drinking heavily or keeping questionable company. Nor can he credibly speak of love if his life is marked by jealousy, calculation and manipulation.

When words and actions contradict each other, the entire communication process collapses. Listeners “decode” not only the words but also the character of the speaker.

Trust vanishes when the two diverge. Conversely, even clumsy words can inspire if spoken by someone who lives honestly and loves sincerely.

This is why Christians are called not only to speak the truth but to live it.

Trust as foundation

In communication, trust serves as the bridge between the sender and the receiver. Without trust, there is no listening. That principle runs through the whole of Scripture.

Israel’s story in the Old Testament is essentially a history of learning to trust God. Faith became the gateway to hope and love, and only then could the people truly listen and respond.

The same holds today. If parents want their children to obey, they must be reliable. If schools want to form capable citizens, teachers must be competent. If the Church wants devout members, pastors must be holy. And if holy priests are desired, bishops must set the example.

The reverse is also true. Parents who say one thing but do another lose authority. Priests or religious who preach one way but live another become little more than a public joke.

From information to communion

Our era is facing a profound crisis of trust. People are skeptical because they see a gap between words and actions. And yet, precisely here lies the challenge and the mission of Catholic communication.

The goal of Christian communication is not merely to convey facts, but to foster communion. Pope Francis reminded us that “communication is ultimately a human rather than a technological achievement.” It exists to build relationships, not just to master techniques.

That recalls the essence of Catholic communication:

• Not persuasion through argument but witness through life.
• Not only knowledge but transformation — becoming “friends of Christ.”
• Not possession but self-giving.

For the Christian communicator, it is not enough that the audience “understands” the message. They must also be invited to be transformed by it.

As St. Paul declared: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” The true Christian communicator does not merely speak about Christ — they become a living message of Christ.

A call for today

Ultimately, Catholic communication is a way of life. A genuine communicator does not merely transmit a message but becomes the message.

In an online world saturated with distortions and half-truths, the Church is called back to its core identity: communication as an act of love. That requires every Christian to be a credible witness, someone who dares to live what they say, and say what they live.

Let our words be seeds sown in the hearts of others, nourished by the sincerity of our lives.

As St. Paul wrote: “You are a letter of Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God” (2 Cor 3:3).

That, ultimately, is the definition of Catholic communication: the person is the message.

Michael Nguyen Khac Minh is a priest of Can Tho Diocese. This commentary, first published in the Vietnamese-language publication https://hdgmvietnam.com, was summarized, translated, and edited by UCA News. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.