Blessing for Digital Media?

[Sonic]

Does anyone know if there could be blessings for digital media?

This question came to mind just a while ago while looking at a graphic of the St. Benedict medal. I’m wondering if sacred images created on digital media are considered physical objects or simply ethereal data with no substance.

Does anyone know the physical status of digital objects and images (especially in relation to sacramentals and icons)?

 

[Joannm]

I would put it in the same category as looking at something on a TV. You can watch Mass but it doesn’t fulfill your obligation. Also think of it this way. I receive a lot of magazines and catalogues with religious images and those would not be considered religious objects in themselves, only depictions of religious objects. I would think the same of something you view on your iPad.

 

[Sonic]

I would put it in the same category as looking at something on a TV. You can watch Mass but it doesn’t fulfill your obligation. Also think of it this way. I receive a lot of magazines and catalogues with religious images and those would not be considered religious objects in themselves, only depictions of religious objects. I would think the same of something you view on your iPad.

Not sure if obligations applies in this instance. I mean, you’re not obligated to have a picture of Christ on your computer or watch EWTN, but you are obligated to go to Mass.

We all know that catalogs and magazines are not blessed when we receive them, but if you couldn’t afford a picture of “Our Lady” you could probably snip it out, frame it, and have it blessed for personal use.

The question is whether there is something physically there in a digital image which can be blessed.

Perhaps the blessing could be written into the data code.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

To the degree that digital media is just electrons arranged in a certain way without an abiding presence or substance, it wouldn’t seem as if there is any there there in the sense of a material object to form the subject for a blessing.

 

[Sonic]

To the degree that digital media is just electrons arranged in a certain way without an abiding presence or substance, it wouldn’t seem as if there is any there there in the sense of a material object to form the subject for a blessing.

Electrons? Are you sure you don’t want to change that answer? I don’t think that’s right. :console:

 

[John_Lilburne]

Does anyone know if there could be blessings for digital media?

This question came to mind just a while ago while looking at a graphic of the St. Benedict medal. I’m wondering if sacred images created on digital media are considered physical objects or simply ethereal data with no substance.

Does anyone know the physical status of digital objects and images (especially in relation to sacramentals and icons)?

The official liturgical book is Book of Blessings, (Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8). It includes Chapter 24 “Order for the Blessing of Tools or Other Equipment for Work”. So the blessing could be done on this basis.

But the question seems to be can it receive the blessing of Chapter 44 “Order for the Blessing of Religious Articles”. The Introduction to this blessing begins:
“1442 The present order is to be used to bless medals, small crucifixes, statues or pictures that will be displayed elsewhere than in a church or chapel, scapulars, rosaries, and other articles used for religious devotions.”

I think it would be reasonable to say that an iPad could be one of the “other articles used for religious devotions.” You can have a physical rosary, or you can have the program that achieves the same thing on the iPad.

 

[Sonic]

The official liturgical book is Book of Blessings, (Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8). It includes Chapter 24 “Order for the Blessing of Tools or Other Equipment for Work”. So the blessing could be done on this basis.

But the question seems to be can it receive the blessing of Chapter 44 “Order for the Blessing of Religious Articles”. The Introduction to this blessing begins:
“1442 The present order is to be used to bless medals, small crucifixes, statues or pictures that will be displayed elsewhere than in a church or chapel, scapulars, rosaries, and other articles used for religious devotions.”

I think it would be reasonable to say that an iPad could be one of the “other articles used for religious devotions.” You can have a physical rosary, or you can have the program that achieves the same thing on the iPad.

Thank you, John! That was an excellent and very thought out answer. I appreciate it!