Ipad as Missal/Lectionary

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Hello,

I am going to WYD soon with a group of guys and we will be accompanied by a priest. I was thinking that it might be more convenient to bring an Ipad and use Ibreviary for the Masses we will be celebrating instead of Father having to lug around bulky liturgical books.

So, would this be acceptable? And out of curiosity, after Father says there Gospel using the Ipad, would he have to kiss the tablet at the end?

Thanks.
 
Facite said:
Hello,

I am going to WYD soon with a group of guys and we will be accompanied by a priest. I was thinking that it might be more convenient to bring an Ipad and use Ibreviary for the Masses we will be celebrating instead of Father having to lug around bulky liturgical books.

So, would this be acceptable? And out of curiosity, after Father says there Gospel using the Ipad, would he have to kiss the tablet at the end?

Thanks.
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Yes he does have to kiss it and make the sign of the cross on the Gospel. Also Ibreviary is going to be taken down by the USCCB due to “copyrighted” prayers
 
Hello, Facite!

The iPad for liturgical use has not yet been approved. I can understand the need to pack light for the WYD; maybe Father can use a hand missal like the one from Midwest Theological Forum.

As for the Liturgy of the Hours I don’t see a problem with the use of an iPad in private recitation–I use an iPod Touch myself.

Liturgical experts can chime in here and my syntax may be off-base here but divine worship requires dedicated, possibly consecrated, items. An iPad with SnapChat or Facebook should not be sharing space with liturgical apps.

Someday (and I’ll wager dollars to doughnut holes it’s being worked on) a tablet will be made loaded with nothing but liturgical apps (iMissal, iLectionary, iBreviary, iRitual). Such a tablet could not be “broken into” or hacked so secular apps can be added.

I hope this helps,
Joe
 
Facite said:
Hello,

I am going to WYD soon with a group of guys and we will be accompanied by a priest. I was thinking that it might be more convenient to bring an Ipad and use Ibreviary for the Masses we will be celebrating instead of Father having to lug around bulky liturgical books.

So, would this be acceptable? And out of curiosity, after Father says there Gospel using the Ipad, would he have to kiss the tablet at the end?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
The priest would have to check with the bishop. These electronic tablets and smart phones are still a relatively new phenomenon, so it’s not really addressed in the GIRM. I know that at least the New Zealand Bishops’ Conference does not allow it. I’m not sure about Canada and still less sure about how the rules would apply for a priest from Canada traveling to Poland for WYD.
 
Jguerra said:
Someday (and I’ll wager dollars to doughnut holes it’s being worked on) a tablet will be made loaded with nothing but liturgical apps (iMissal, iLectionary, iBreviary, iRitual). Such a tablet could not be “broken into” or hacked so secular apps can be added.
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Yeah, that’s the only way I can see it being approved large scale. Such an electronic device could also come with a suitable type of case that would make it worthy of liturgical use. And then the device would not be able to be used for profane purposes.

Any tech guy that can make the device, and the apps, and sell the US bishops on it could get a little monopoly going. 😛 They could be the only approved vendor of electronic liturgical books for use in the liturgy. 🙂
 
PopePiusXIISupp said:
Also Ibreviary is going to be taken down by the USCCB due to “copyrighted” prayers
Click to expand...
Can you cite a source of this information? I know the DivineOffice app was taken down, but I had not heard anything about the iBreviary app having issues.

Peace
 
Call me an old fashioned tree killer but nothing replaces a beautifully bound book. There is just something about it that can never be replicated by digital media.

Maybe I am a tradtionalist after all. 😛

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Call me an old fashioned tree killer but nothing replaces a beautifully bound book. There is just something about it that can never be replicated by digital media.

Maybe I am a tradtionalist after all. 😛

-Tim-
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A little off topic but I felt this same way until I got my first tablet. Back then it only had the reading app. Now of course tablets are so much more than just electronic readers. I still buy books but now most of my library is kept on a five shelf bookcase and they rest on my tablet, or maybe the cloud?

The books I buy, real books, tend to be more of the study type books or something I know I will want to make notes in or highlight passages.

As far as for liturgical use, I get where it would be easier when traveling but nothing can replace the beautiful gospel book and lectionary.
 
KD8TZC said:
Can you cite a source of this information? I know the DivineOffice app was taken down, but I had not heard anything about the iBreviary app having issues.

Peace
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There are always copyright issues with anything written. Royalties must be addressed. Electronic devices do not avoid these issues. This is civil law.

I’m not sure, however, how much of royalties the Vatican has waived on the Latin texts. All but the printing itself, I believe…
 
TimothyH said:
Call me an old fashioned tree killer but nothing replaces a beautifully bound book. There is just something about it that can never be replicated by digital media.

Maybe I am a tradtionalist after all. 😛

-Tim-
Click to expand...
I tend to agree, but then I wonder what people thought when the printing press came about. “Call me old fashioned, but nothing replaces a beautifully hand written and illustrated parchment lovingly and painstakingly copied by monks while praying.” 😛

I think an electronic device could be done up beautifully with a proper casing. But then, you don’t have to worry about battery life when it comes to a real book. Imagine the priest being halfway through Mass when his eMissal goes dead. :o
 
Joe_5859 said:
I tend to agree, but then I wonder what people thought when the printing press came about. “Call me old fashioned, but nothing replaces a beautifully hand written and illustrated parchment lovingly and painstakingly copied by monks while praying.” 😛

I think an electronic device could be done up beautifully with a proper casing. But then, you don’t have to worry about battery life when it comes to a real book. Imagine the priest being halfway through Mass when his eMissal goes dead. :o
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When emissal goes dead during Consecration that is scarier! :eek: Also you might be a Traditionalist if you kneel for Communion (Ordinary Form) and about everyone calls you a SSPX, SSPV, CMRI, SSPX-MC Sedevacantist. that has happened to me before. 😦
 
I’ve seen tablets being used liturgurically twice.

The first time was during a power outage. The lector and the priest read off of a tablet during the Saturday evening Mass. It was not used during the following Sunday Masses, even thought the power was still out. By that point there was sufficient daylight to read without the use of an illuminated device.

The second time was on a mission trip to Tanzania with my pastor. He said Mass on the airplane ( while we were over North Sudan). He used his iPhone for the readings and the Gospel. Again, that was during nighttime hours.
 
Why is this left up to you to figure out? What is the priest planning on bringing?
 
There are a few issues with using an Ipad or other tablet as a liturgical book.
  1. Books used in the liturgy are set aside for sacred use. The only way an ipad could be used in that way would be if it was set aside for liturgical use ONLY. The Missal and the Lectionary contain the Word of God and they are sacred objects, having other things on an Ipad would cause problems, even as something as simple as angry birds would be a profane use of an Ipad if it was set aside for liturgical use.
  2. Electronics can never be 100% trusted no matter what. Could you imagine what would happen if the battery on your Missal Ipad had a massive failure in the middle of Mass? Or the Ipad equivalent of the blue screen of death? If you use an Ipad I’m sure you get use to apps crashing and having to restart it. What if the app you use for the Missal suddenly won’t open. The list could go on
  3. Electronics I would think would be more expensive, you may have to replace them once every 4 years. Altar Version Roman Missals run from about $89 to $169, even if apple/google/amazon made a special tablet that was 50$, you would likely have to replace that every 5-10 years if you are lucky. A paper version of the roman missal could last you 50 years if you take good care of it, and if they don’t change the translation anytime soon. (edit: those in priesthood and those who have to buy liturgical stuff know this stuff is expensive and maybe a little overpriced, but I still think it would be cheaper than having to maintain an Ipad Missal, lectionary etc.)
  4. It may be a steep learning curve for some priests, while this may not be much of a concern, but imagine a priest who doesn’t have a good handle on technology is put into a parish where they got rid of their paper version missals and have a specially made Ipad that has the Missal on it, imagine him trying to figure that out on the fly.
the only situation where an tablet or phone could be used in a liturgical setting is in extraordinary circumstances. Priest pulls up to a car accident, person is about to die, for what ever reason he doesn’t have his rites book, so he has to use his phone to pull up the prayers. (I doubt there are any priests who don’t carry around their prayers for the sick book in their car.) Maybe a priest gets stranded and wants to say a Mass in private, but he didn’t bring his Missal with him. Priest goes on youth group trip, and they forgot to pack the Missal. I could come up with more situations, but a ipad should only be used in an emergency in liturgical settings.
 
catholictiger said:
There are a few issues with using an Ipad or other tablet as a liturgical book.
  1. Books used in the liturgy are set aside for sacred use. The only way an ipad could be used in that way would be if it was set aside for liturgical use ONLY. The Missal and the Lectionary contain the Word of God and they are sacred objects, having other things on an Ipad would cause problems, even as something as simple as angry birds would be a profane use of an Ipad if it was set aside for liturgical use.
  2. Electronics can never be 100% trusted no matter what. Could you imagine what would happen if the battery on your Missal Ipad had a massive failure in the middle of Mass? Or the Ipad equivalent of the blue screen of death? If you use an Ipad I’m sure you get use to apps crashing and having to restart it. What if the app you use for the Missal suddenly won’t open. The list could go on
  3. Electronics I would think would be more expensive, you may have to replace them once every 4 years. Altar Version Roman Missals run from about $89 to $169, even if apple/google/amazon made a special tablet that was 50$, you would likely have to replace that every 5-10 years if you are lucky. A paper version of the roman missal could last you 50 years if you take good care of it, and if they don’t change the translation anytime soon. (edit: those in priesthood and those who have to buy liturgical stuff know this stuff is expensive and maybe a little overpriced, but I still think it would be cheaper than having to maintain an Ipad Missal, lectionary etc.)
  4. It may be a steep learning curve for some priests, while this may not be much of a concern, but imagine a priest who doesn’t have a good handle on technology is put into a parish where they got rid of their paper version missals and have a specially made Ipad that has the Missal on it, imagine him trying to figure that out on the fly.
the only situation where an tablet or phone could be used in a liturgical setting is in extraordinary circumstances. Priest pulls up to a car accident, person is about to die, for what ever reason he doesn’t have his rites book, so he has to use his phone to pull up the prayers. (I doubt there are any priests who don’t carry around their prayers for the sick book in their car.) Maybe a priest gets stranded and wants to say a Mass in private, but he didn’t bring his Missal with him. Priest goes on youth group trip, and they forgot to pack the Missal. I could come up with more situations, but a ipad should only be used in an emergency in liturgical settings.
Click to expand...
That looks to be a good summation. I’m inclined to agree. If there is ever some sort of formal pronouncement on it, it would probably be for extraordinary circumstances only.
 
catholictiger said:
There are a few issues with using an Ipad or other tablet as a liturgical book.
  1. Books used in the liturgy are set aside for sacred use. The only way an ipad could be used in that way would be if it was set aside for liturgical use ONLY. The Missal and the Lectionary contain the Word of God and they are sacred objects, having other things on an Ipad would cause problems, even as something as simple as angry birds would be a profane use of an Ipad if it was set aside for liturgical use.
Click to expand...
When I travel and I use iBreviary, I can assure it is not the only thing on my device. And the Liturgy of the Hours is as much the celebration of the Liturgy as when I offer Mass or confect any sacrament. I will also use the same device to pull up the Book of Blessings to institute a sacramental, upon request.
the only situation where an tablet or phone could be used in a liturgical setting is in extraordinary circumstances.
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In the absence of any particular legislation, that decision rests with the liturgical minister. If I am the minister in question, the decision is mine…not someone else. I have confreres who use electronics with the liturgy much more than I do or would ever choose to but, as I have just said, that is their decision to make in the absence of other disposition.
Priest pulls up to a car accident, person is about to die, for what ever reason he doesn’t have his rites book, so he has to use his phone to pull up the prayers. (I doubt there are any priests who don’t carry around their prayers for the sick book in their car.) Maybe a priest gets stranded and wants to say a Mass in private, but he didn’t bring his Missal with him. Priest goes on youth group trip, and they forgot to pack the Missal. I could come up with more situations, but a ipad should only be used in an emergency in liturgical settings.
Click to expand...
At this stage of life, I don’t need to “pull up the prayers” or look in a book – I have done it long enough, the pastoral care of the dying as a continuous rite is committed to memory.

As for the scenario of being stranded and wishing an impromptu Mass, if I have not brought my tiny Prions en Église with me (I would not travel with a missal and lectionary), I seriously doubt then that I am traveling with a chalice and paten, corporal and purificator, cruets, hosts, alb, stole, and chasuble and two candles.
 
Joe_5859 said:
I tend to agree, but then I wonder what people thought when the printing press came about. “Call me old fashioned, but nothing replaces a beautifully hand written and illustrated parchment lovingly and painstakingly copied by monks while praying.” 😛

I think an electronic device could be done up beautifully with a proper casing. But then, you don’t have to worry about battery life when it comes to a real book. Imagine the priest being halfway through Mass when his eMissal goes dead. :o
Click to expand...
I HAD that thought about the printing press. One of the Jewish kids in my school told me about how they had a had writtien scroll of the torah. He talked about how long it took to write etc. But of course they all use books (and maybe e ones now this was a few years ago)
It is old but I am sure still on Youtube about midevil IT help. The IT worker shows another monk how to use a BOOK instead f a scroll It was funny
 
Don_Ruggero said:
When I travel and I use iBreviary, I can assure it is not the only thing on my device. And the Liturgy of the Hours is as much the celebration of the Liturgy as when I offer Mass or confect any sacrament. I will also use the same device to pull up the Book of Blessings to institute a sacramental, upon request.

In the absence of any particular legislation, that decision rests with the liturgical minister. If I am the minister in question, the decision is mine…not someone else. I have confreres who use electronics with the liturgy much more than I do or would ever choose to but, as I have just said, that is their decision to make in the absence of other disposition.

At this stage of life, I don’t need to “pull up the prayers” or look in a book – I have done it long enough, the pastoral care of the dying as a continuous rite is committed to memory.

As for the scenario of being stranded and wishing an impromptu Mass, if I have not brought my tiny Prions en Église with me (I would not travel with a missal and lectionary), I seriously doubt then that I am traveling with a chalice and paten, corporal and purificator, cruets, hosts, alb, stole, and chasuble and two candles.
Click to expand...
I don’t disagree with you I was just giving my opinion on why we shouldn’t go towards electronic devices in the Mass. I’m no expert on this stuff just giving my opinion. I may be wrong about the whole setting apart thing, but personally if I saw a priest using a ipad missal instead of the Roman Missal, I would be concerned that something used in the liturgy is not being given due reverence outside of the liturgy. This would not include extraordinary circumstances where you may need to use an Ipad, because nothing else is available. This would be an extreme case, but how would you feel if a priest used the same Ipad to say the prayers of the mass, but also used that to look at inappropriate videos and images? This would be my concern, required to be set apart or not, doing something sinful with a object used for sacred use is dangerous. (Again this is all my personal opinion, I’m not going to go up to a priest and say, you shouldn’t be using your Ipad as a missal, I may ask him why are you doing that? Give him my own opinion but let him decide.)

About ibreviary, I like to use my own breviary and avoid using ibreviary, there is something about being able to use a book instead of a device. Also what happens if I get a call in the middle of praying one of the psalms? Sure it could be an emergency call, but if it is a personal call I would have to deny it, and than go back to my place. Again all personal decisions but I wouldn’t think it would be wise to only use your ibreviary to pray the LOTH and I wouldn’t think that is what the Church has in mind. Again nothing wrong with using it but at-least for me personally using the breviary is better than using my phone with ibreviary on it. But of course there are thousands if not millions of circumstances where using ibreviary is appropriate. (again all personal opinion)
 
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