Cellphones at Mass

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LittleFlower said:
I use the Universalis app to follow along during weekday Masses, and I always feel out of place.

My phone is on silent, and I am really reading the readings and responses but dear heavens, the glares I have received. 😐

So, this week I kinda stopped and now I can’t really follow along. 😓
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What is with people?

It’s so easy to tell if someone is surfing or reading.

And furthermore, why on earth would they care? If the phone is silent, it’s not bothering them.

I say use your phone and worry not what others think. You know what you’re using it for.

I swear it seems like most folks have nothing better to do than worry about what everyone else is doing.
 
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well i will just add this

audible ringing/musical cell-phone tones are really distracting during Holy Mass
 
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@LittleFlower I understand…I definitely feel self-conscious about using my phone in church, even when it’s for devotional use. I was in the back of the church once for Adoration and I used my phone to find the Divine Mercy Novena, and I felt like lightning was going to strike me down. Such looks from people! It felt so uncomfortable, like I was causing scandal if people thought I was just surfing the net or something. People do need to mind their own business, though, so I tried to shrug off the feeling and just pray like no one was watching.
🤣 But that’s why I don’t use my phone during Mass…just seems so disrespectful, even when it’s for legitimate uses. I always follow along in the Missal or my Magnificat.

And yes, I always turn my phone to silent mode! I’d die if it went off. 😱
 
@Pup7 and @ShowersofRoses Thanks for the encouragement, I will try again tomorrow. 🌷

I like following the readings, and participating in the Psalms, so it has made me feel a bit lost. I’ll try to sit at the back and not be a distraction to those who may think I am browsing the net.
 
I would hope that most people know that a phone can now be used as a tablet that can be used to access the daily readings.

It is fairly common to add “silence your electronic devices” to the announcements immediately prior to the start of any Mass. I remember one time a phone went off during Holy Communion. During announcements prior to the dismissal, the pastor was quick to “out” the pastor emeritus who was standing next to him. He had been in the sacristy when the “silence your phone” reminder went out.
 
PetraG said:
I would hope that most people know that a phone can now be used as a tablet that can be used to access the daily readings.
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Even my 84 year old, technologically oblivious mother knows this.

And at any rate, why are people watching people in the pew anyway? It’s Mass. That never ceases to amaze me.
 
I go to mass most days at noon so I have noon to one set as “do not disturb” . Never have to worry about forgetting to turn it to silent. My biggest fear had been that it would go off while I was lector or EM and I wouldn’t be near it.

I typically hear 1-2 phones during mass. The biggest offenders here are elderly ladies who don’t know how to handle their new fancy phones. They just repeatedly decline the call or answer it and hang up. So the person just keeps calling back. I regularly get to help people learn how to use their phones at mass :roll_eyes:
 
Years ago the same phone went off twice during the homily. That priest stopped cold, and read the riot act to everyone. It wasn’t my phone but I was squirming too.
And I admired him for it.
 
Can’t have mine on silent or vibrate. I only have 10 minutes to return crew scheduling’s call. When I was flying air ambulance if my phone went off someone else was having a very bad day. Had it go off in the middle of church, school programs Sunday school programs. My sister’s wedding.
 
I saw a Priest give his homily - reading it - from his cell phone -
He was 37 - an ex-chief - with bad eye sight - and sharp sense of humor.
I never went back to that church, after that one.

I saw one Priest raise the chalice - at mass - very solemn moment -
and this goofy ring tone started going off -
and the person wasn’t turning it off !
The Priest remained frozen - with the chalice in the air -
the goofy ring tone - began to sound demonic - sad.
The Priest was livid -
 
Roseeurekacross said:
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FrancisPio:
This is very unusual. I have only heard a cellphone go off a few times a year…Not every mass. Is it the same person?
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I hear at least 1 a mass usually. It’s so disrespectful,
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Well, accidents happen and people sometimes forget…I know that every single one that goes off isn’t always a forgotten one, though. I’m always grateful that we’re reminded (even though I’ve probably checked it at least six times, LOL).
 
Seagull said:
I saw a Priest give his homily - reading it - from his cell phone -
He was 37 - an ex-chief - with bad eye sight - and sharp sense of humor.
I never went back to that church, after that one.
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Why would you not go back because of that? You know he has bad eyesight. Do you really think it matters where he read his homily from?
 
LumineDiei said:
If it’s that bad, speak with the priest to see if he’ll give a quick, friendly reminder before Mass starts to ask people to put their phones on silent. He will not be the first priest that’s had to do it and it does work in reminding people to check their phones.
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This. Our Choir leader makes the announcement before the mass starts.
 
Cell phones are the reason I stopped going to movie theatres. In addition to the ringing iPhones and a few others will also strobe the phone’s flash, making it especially distracting in a dark room. And people’s willingness to have a conversation is also distracting.

I’ve given up.
 
Nobody minds emergency workers keeping their cellphones on. Everybody knows who they are and why they leave so suddenly. Usually the whole congregation is praying for them and for those they help.

Bob who cannot disconnect, not so much.
 
ThinkingSapien said:
And people’s willingness to have a conversation is also distracting.
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That burns me up more than cell phones.

I went to see Chappaquiddick on a Tuesday night because the movies are half price on a Tuesday. It had been running for a while and there were only about ten people in the theater (no kidding). Two of the couples saw fit to discuss most of the movie as it was happening - and finally a guy near the front goes, “This is NOT your living room,” which sort of cracked me up. They were finally quiet.

When the movie was over I thanked the guy. 🤣
 
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