Reconnecting with the Beauty of the Night Sky
Do you ever find yourself gazing down at your phone screen, consumed by the digital world at your fingertips? Perhaps it’s time to look up, quite literally, and reconnect with the beauty of the night sky. Brother Guy Consolmagno, Director of the Vatican Observatory, emphasizes the importance of stargazing as a daily spiritual practice that can awaken our souls.
As we anticipate the upcoming supermoon illuminating the night sky on 17 October, Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, invites us to reflect on humanity’s relationship with the heavens. While the supermoon may only appear slightly larger than a typical full moon, its significance has been magnified by the digital age, which loves to showcase special celestial events.
Enough Phone, More Sky
In a conversation with Vatican News, Brother Guy Consolmagno emphasizes the need to shift our focus from screens to the splendor above. “We’ve spent too much time looking at our cell phones and not nearly enough time looking at the heavens,” he remarks. Despite our technological distractions, the beauty of the night sky, especially the moon, serves as a timeless reminder of something greater than ourselves.
Blinding Ourselves
Brother Consolmagno draws attention to light pollution, highlighting how our artificial light often obscures the natural radiance of the night sky. By encouraging us to engage in the simple act of stargazing, he suggests treating it like a form of prayer: a daily ritual rather than a sporadic occurrence. “You can’t do it just once; it’s much better if you practice it every day,” he adds.
Become Familiar with What is Normal
By taking a minute or two each evening to step outside and observe the celestial expanse, we become attuned to the subtle rhythms and changes of the cosmos. “Once you become familiar with what is normal,” Brother Consolmagno concludes, “you can truly appreciate what is new and changing, such as the exquisite phases of the moon that evolve each month.”
So, let’s make a conscious effort to lift our gaze from our devices and gaze at the mesmerizing night sky above. Through the practice of stargazing, we can deepen our connection with the universe and nurture our spiritual essence.
