Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555) had every quality that saints should have (his first words as a baby were “Jesus” and “Mary”; he shunned attention; he prayed and fasted and abstained; he started a hospital; he earned the respect of everyone). What draws my attention to Thomas, however, is one particular practice he instituted in safeguarding the spiritual and communal well-being of his religious order. Butler states:

He was most zealous to maintain regular disciplines in his order, and a great enemy to discourses of news among his brethren, or whatever else might dissipate their minds, or introduce the world into their hermitages.

Thomas was dead-set against the brothers of his order talking about the news!

For those of us who struggle with the onslaught of news coverage that disheartens, infuriates, polarizes, or paralyzes us, I ask the question in all sincerity: What would happen if we decided to take a sabbatical from discussing the news with anyone (either in person or via social media)? What would happen if we gathered back all of the time and attention that we have scattered over news-related matters, withdrew our focus from them, and instead used that time and energy to create the beloved community (or a blessed hermitage)? What if we took a more or less Buddhist approach of non-attachment, where the news comes up, we acknowledge its existence, we do not hold onto it in any way, we let it go? What if we just simply stopped our “discourses of news”?

I see the toll that the news takes on good people. Until reading about Thomas of Villanova, it had never occurred to me even to consider how much attention and energy go forth from me on a daily (even hourly) basis in ways directly linked to news.

I get how news dissipates minds and drives the spirit out of our lives and communities. Was Thomas onto Something Truly Worthy of our consideration?