Handheld Devices at Mass & Adoration

[mick321]

On this, I agree. I think you would agree with me too that the best defense is a good offense. When a local priest celebrates the Mass with deliberate holiness, when the people are well catechized as to the substance behind the sign and when proper reverence is observed at all times in the Sanctuary, the problem of distracting device is solved without comment.

Teach what is proper and you need not worry about the improper intruding.

Absolutely.
.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Does the same reasoning, then, apply to parents who have to bring very young children to Mass? After all, they have to pay attention to them, try to keep them quiet, and even be prepared to get up and walk out if the child’s needs require it.

I’m glad you addressed that, Mark, because I was going to, and yes I thought of it, too.

My answer is, mostly, Yes. That’s why I myself tried to find Mass situations when my children were toddler-preschool age (especially) where they could be entertained off-site (many churches, not all, have young-child care during Mass). Or I tagged team with hubby. (As many other couples do, too, until the kids are old enough where the discipline is much less a full-time occupation during Mass, and most can enjoy both the togetherness and the celebration simulataneously.) But the difference in that case is that the parents have no control over the fact. They need to deal with the omnipresence of their own dependents, who are hardly inanimate objects like electronics that can be shut off for an hour.

 

[nannymar]

when i got my first web-enabled smart phone with slide-out keyboard, i was excited bringing it to PREP class, and i was telling my class about it that i can access the online CCC, as this was weeks before being given the book version (i still prefer the online version, easier to search)

of course, why can’t we bring technology into mass? in the Philippines where missals get “lost” all the time, a lot of parishes equipped themselves with projectors for the prayers and hymns. and this started like 20 years ago when projectors first became common.

so yes, why not? it would be great if missals can be accessed as an app or though a website

The Mass to me is a celebration of the passion death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is directed to our heavenly Father and is a huge Thanksgiving to Him for sending Jesus Christ into our midst in order to open the gates of the heavenly kingdom to us poor sinners. The Old and New Testament are referenced in to simply show the workings of God our father and His plan which Jesus, being one with the father, followed with utmost precision. The Mass is a “composite” It is not a Liturgy Class or a Bible study. You can do that at home or in a classroom. To me it is so important to “be with” the priest or be focused on the Lord in offering first our poor miserable selves, now saved by this Beloved of the Father through his death and resurrection and who again in an unbloody way is offered on the altar of sacrifice. Not that it has to be repeated for of course it doesn’t. But because we need to be at “this” sacrifice once again to say our Thanksgiving and to implore the present graces that are made now available in a profound way by being partakers and offering “with” the priest to the Father this thanksgiving and consuming along with the priest the living presence of the ‘Beloved’ of the father and our Savior,Jesus Christ, at His command. Could you really have a desire not to be “in this moment” which happens for most once a week. Perhaps some are able to straddle this event with a device, I myself do not have that ability.

 

[LilyM]

Following this logic then one can not go on a date because many people will “know” that the date will end in sex.

Not a bit of it. People ‘know’, on the contrary, that many many people go on a date, or multiple dates, with someone with no sex resulting. They ‘know’ that not very many people have sex on a first date, and fewer still on each and every date they go on thereafter. So your premise that people ‘know’ that a date will end in sex is not factual.

If they see two people who have BEEN dating check into a hotel room together, on the other hand …

 

[roveau]

I don’t see anything wrong with an electronic missal as long as it didn’t flash or make any sound. There would be problems if electronic devices were given to kids to amuse themselves with.

 

[choy]

i have an Xperia X1 with Windows Mobile

is there an app with common Catholic prayers?

 

[sbl11798]

I’m so glad you brought this up. My weekly holy hour is from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. There is a great deal of traffic in and out of the chapel, along with coughing, page turning etc. So, there are LOTS of distractions. I find it hard to concentrate on the Rosary or Chaplet. So, I downloaded an awesome rosary complete with meditations to my Itouch. I do get some funny looks from people but it allows me to immerse myself in the mysteries and prayers instead of being distracted. (for anyone who is interested I went to Itunes and downloaded from totus2us).

I had a friend who used her Iphone during mass to follow the readings via IBrevary. A woman confronted her after Mass to tell her how rude she was playing with her phone. Once she was shown what it was, she backed off.

I see the use for these, convenience, etc but there is a great possibility for abuse. Prudence is key.

 

[Sancta_Rosa]

Call me old fashioned if you wish, but I cannot see the need for any electronic device during Mass, Adoration, Rosary or any other time.
I really do have to say I cannot even begin to see how the Rosary could be prayed with an electronic device and I fail to see how it’s easier to carry an electronic ‘thing’ instead of a traditional Rosary. Beads and string, knotted string or even the fingers of your hand and you always have the means to prayer right there with you. And as for needing to read the Mysteries in order to meditate! - whatever happened to knowing them by heart and in your heart.

The same goes for liturgy and the Mass, you should know it. If you don’t know it by heart, then you should be taking steps to know it. Nothing should be seperating you from the presence of Christ and the intimacy of prayer; - not even a traditional Missal and having to turn pages.
Adoration. It’s simple, you are with Christ. You don’t need anything else except yourself and your own human heart. I do realise this is a fault of mine for which I continuely ask forgiveness, but I cannot abide anyone fluffing about during adoration with books or talking or clattering about.

Being on call: Before I was called to religious life I worked in a number of different sectors including a Mental Health Clinic. Being on-call where it is a matter of life and death or serious injury, harm and the like is fair enough. Christ healed on the Sabbath and to ignore suffering for the sake of piety is not a Christian act. In such a case work is prayer and what we do for others we do for Christ. Quietly leave Mass taking care not to disturb anybody and the blessing of Our Lord goes with you.
Being on call for any secular reason, especially if it is anything to do with money, the aquisition of money, trading money, usury and the like - they can wait until after Mass and like it.

 

[KarenElissa]

Call me old fashioned if you wish, but I cannot see the need for any electronic device during Mass, Adoration, Rosary or any other time.

I’m all for the more traditional using of an actual Rosary and book and such, but there are times that electronic devices are more convenient. For instance I pray the LOTH. I also ride the bus. When I have stuff at church in the evening the choice is to pray in between things at church or when I get home late and am half asleep. If I’m going to pray at church I can either haul around a big book all day or I can use my small little phone. I carry around enough stuff all day, I’m not adding to that load when I have another option.

The same goes for liturgy and the Mass, you should know it. If you don’t know it by heart, then you should be taking steps to know it.

There are parts of Mass that change every week. I’m not one to even use the missal, but other people do and I’m not one to deny them a personal preference.

 

[devas]

Now a days, at least for the past two years I use my HTC HD in the services.
It is very convenient and easy to follow the proceedings.

In my opinion handheld can be allowed as long as it is not obviously disturbing others. On a retreat, while I was taking notes, others did look at me in amusement but then that was only for few a minutes. Now I see couple of others in our church.

I think as days go this practice will increase.

Regards

Dev