iPod Touch in Church

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Marcus_T

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I recently bought an iTouch and I really like it. I also downloaded two applications, iMissal and iConfess. The iMissal application has each day’s readings including the Gospel plus the order of the Mass and various prayers. I attend daily Mass whenever possible but the prayer books in the pews don’t include the daily Mass readings, only the Sunday readings. Sometimes, it is hard for me to understand what the reader is saying so most of the time I never hear the readings. I would like to take the iTouch into Mass with me and follow the readings on that but don’t know it this would be considered ethical or not. Of course, there would be no sound or earphones since I will just be following the readings.

Also, with another application, iConfess is basically an examination of conscience and it lists sins that fall under the 10 Commandants. You have the ability to “tag” a certain sin so you can remember it when it’s time for confession. Would it be appropriate to take the iTouch into a confessional and read to the priest the sins from the iTouch that you “tagged”.

Thanks,
Mark
 
I don’t have a clue but I wanted to say that that’s a really cool app.!

Zach
 
I have also wondered about this I don’t have an iPod but I do have a Kindle. I have the bible and the catechism on it. I would like to use when I am at adoration but I am unsure of whether or not it is okay, so I haven’t yet.

I hope someone can answer this.

I do however hope that I can one day download the Divine Office on it so that I would not have to carry around those big books everywhere I go though. The Daily Missal would be nice too.
 
I actually bring my blackberry to Daily Mass and go through the Office of the Hours that is online at www.universalis.com. I truly do not see a problem. I will also sometimes go to catholic.org and go through some of the prayers on their website. I would say it depends on what you are doing on your ipod or blackberry. 🙂
 
Of course it’s okay!!! If you’re using it for those reasons it’s fine. If someone contacts you at anytime in those 2 places, SHUT IT OFF. Don’t even glance at it. Because you’re there to worship. Make sure it doesn’t ring in Mass or disrupt people.

You might get some disapproving glances from people. Because they don’t know what you’re doing and they’re just being judgemental and they probably think you’re playing around

But if you don’t feel right: Read the readings again and again BEFORE Mass.
Examine your conscience BEFORE confession and write it on a piece of paper.
 
Marcus_T said:
I recently bought an iTouch and I really like it. I also downloaded two applications, iMissal and iConfess. The iMissal application has each day’s readings including the Gospel plus the order of the Mass and various prayers. I attend daily Mass whenever possible but the prayer books in the pews don’t include the daily Mass readings, only the Sunday readings. Sometimes, it is hard for me to understand what the reader is saying so most of the time I never hear the readings. I would like to take the iTouch into Mass with me and follow the readings on that but don’t know it this would be considered ethical or not. Of course, there would be no sound or earphones since I will just be following the readings.

Also, with another application, iConfess is basically an examination of conscience and it lists sins that fall under the 10 Commandants. You have the ability to “tag” a certain sin so you can remember it when it’s time for confession. Would it be appropriate to take the iTouch into a confessional and read to the priest the sins from the iTouch that you “tagged”.

Thanks,
Mark
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My opinion would be as long as it doesn’t make noise and is not distracting to everyone around you, and you don’t feel uncomfortable with people wondering what in the world you’re doing, it’s probably fine at daily Mass. However, I wouldn’t dare take it into confession with me! That just seems rude to me - much the same way it’s rude when you see people walking down the street and talking on a cell phone. I know it’s not the same thing, and I’m well aware of all the differences, before everyone jumps on me, but it gives off the same feeling of impersonal and insensitve behavior, especially since confession is one-on-one with the priest.
 
I would say that it is fine, however certain people around you may misunderstand the reason you are using it.

A while back, when I went into the confessional and pulled back the curtain, the priest was there praying the Divine Office from some electrical application. He was like ‘did you know you could do this? It’ wonderful…’(or words to that effect) 😃
 
Adrienne5678 said:
You might get some disapproving glances from people. Because they don’t know what you’re doing and they’re just being judgemental and they probably think you’re playing around
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Let’s not just dismiss this with “they’re being judgemental” (whatever that might mean). If one looks like they’re “playing around” during Mass that can be disruptive to others. That’s just the reality of the human condition.

So if the OP is going to be using electronic devices to follow along at Mass, I would suggest extreme discretion out of consideration for others. I know it would bother me if I thought somebody was goofing around with an electronic device during Mass. Guess I’m one of those judgemental types.
 
Have you thought about asking your priest? I can’t imagine your priest would deny you the use of any tool that might help you make a complete confession.

–
Bill
 
VociMike said:
Let’s not just dismiss this with “they’re being judgemental” (whatever that might mean). If one looks like they’re “playing around” during Mass that can be disruptive to others. That’s just the reality of the human condition.

So if the OP is going to be using electronic devices to follow along at Mass, I would suggest extreme discretion out of consideration for others. I know it would bother me if I thought somebody was goofing around with an electronic device during Mass. Guess I’m one of those judgemental types.
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VociMike:

I didn’t mean to offend you, I’m sorry.

But if someone looks like they’re playing around, they very well could be playing around. But there is a chance they aren’t. So what I’m trying to say is that we should just leave judgment up to God, since only He knows the true state of the soul, and we should mind our own business and judge ourselves.
And if it’s disrupting you, you should kindly ask the person to try not to.

😃
 
It’s not just about leaving judgement up to God it’s about setting a bad example - kids who see you will think it’s ok for them to play games on their phones during Mass or send texts or whatever. In fact some may start doing so BECAUSE they see you on your iPhone or blackberry in church!

It’s like people seeing a priest treating unconsecrated hosts in an irreverent fashion - if it’s a situation where they can’t tell the difference, they will think it’s OK to treat consecrated hosts that way too. And his poor example might just influence them to do so!

While it sounds like an excellent tool, use it to read up on the readings before you get to Mass, or afterwards, rather than during. Confession is a different, since people outside won’t see it.
 
Adrienne5678 said:
VociMike:

I didn’t mean to offend you, I’m sorry.

But if someone looks like they’re playing around, they very well could be playing around. But there is a chance they aren’t. So what I’m trying to say is that we should just leave judgment up to God, since only He knows the true state of the soul, and we should mind our own business and judge ourselves.
And if it’s disrupting you, you should kindly ask the person to try not to.

😃
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Oh, I understand, and I wasn’t offended, and we should seek the most charitable interpretation of others’ behavior that is reasonable. I think we’re on the same page here, really I do.

My point was just that people who are being “different” at Mass need to be very considerate of the impact they may have on those around them, and to minimize that impact as much as they can (down to zero if possible). The “different” person should be just as charitable to those around him as those around him should be charitable to him. It’s a two way street, and that was really what I was getting at.
 
VociMike said:
Oh, I understand, and I wasn’t offended, and we should seek the most charitable interpretation of others’ behavior that is reasonable. I think we’re on the same page here, really I do.

My point was just that people who are being “different” at Mass need to be very considerate of the impact they may have on those around them, and to minimize that impact as much as they can (down to zero if possible). The “different” person should be just as charitable to those around him as those around him should be charitable to him. It’s a two way street, and that was really what I was getting at.
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Which is exactly what I stated in my first post! :D:D:D
 
Thank you all for your thoughts about bringing an iTouch into Church to following the readings. Let me start by saying that I agree with those that said it could be very distracting to the people around me but as I said in my original post, my only intention is to bring it to the weekday Mass. When I go to a weekday Mass, it is the first Mass of the day (6:30 am). There are only a handful of people at this Mass and most of the time there is nobody around me, there are many empty pews between me and the next person so it is very likely I could follow the readings on the iTouch without anyone noticing. I would never take it to a weekend Mass when the Church is usually packed and because during the weekend Mass the readings are in the book provided by the Church.

God Bless,

Mark
 
Is it really necessary? People have been going to mass for 2,000 years without their Ipods…

Yes it’s cool that you can read along … I get that but why not read it beforehand and then just listen in mass? I would hate to think that one person would see you and think you’re playing with that thing during mass. Would they be mis-judging you? Yes. But if they were a non-catholic attending mass for the first time wouldn’t you hate for THAT to be the thing they remember… some guy two pews over who looked like he was playing some hand held game? :eek:

I suppose that’s a weak reason for you not to look at it during mass… it just rubs me the wrong way for some reason.

(maybe I have Ipod envy? :o)
 
Why not just use the missallette during Mass and follow the readings in there. Also, why not just write down your sins on a piece of paper before confession and then burn the paper after confession? I mean, I would think there would be a serious privacy issue with marking your sins on an electronic device. Somebody could hack in to it either remotely or when its not directly near you and find out all about your sins. I personally wouldn’t want to risk it but then again, maybe I’m just paranoid. :o:p
 
I wouldn’t use it during Mass.
I fear people would assume you are just playing games on it.
I can already hear little Johnny saying to his mother ‘But that one guy brings HIS iphone into Mass! Why can’t I?!?!’
The fact is that the reason you want to bring it in is because you are trying to be a good and faithful Catholic. That is wonderful and normally I would never discourage using technology to promote such a noble cause.
However, under these circumstances your use of the iphone, which may provide a more enriching Mass experience for you may in fact detract from others’ experiences. For that reason, I wouldn’t use it.
But dang does that application sound SWEET! 👍
I totally have iphone envy. :love:

I wonder if there’s a rosary app…
Like something that had the mysteries, and the scripture verses and maybe some writings of early church fathers for each mystery. How sweet would that be!
 
st_lucy said:
I have also wondered about this I don’t have an iPod but I do have a Kindle. I have the bible and the catechism on it. I would like to use when I am at adoration but I am unsure of whether or not it is okay, so I haven’t yet.

I hope someone can answer this.

I do however hope that I can one day download the Divine Office on it so that I would not have to carry around those big books everywhere I go though. The Daily Missal would be nice too.
Click to expand...
I’m such a nerd, I totally want a kindle so that I can have that stuff on it!
People are always pulling out half-concocted bible verses on me, and I just don’t have the memory to be able to correct them, so it would be great if I could be like ‘Let’s just see what Matthew has to say on this topic…’
The truth will set you free!! 🙂
 
yellowbicycle said:
I’m such a nerd, I totally want a kindle so that I can have that stuff on it!
People are always pulling out half-concocted bible verses on me, and I just don’t have the memory to be able to correct them, so it would be great if I could be like ‘Let’s just see what Matthew has to say on this topic…’
The truth will set you free!! 🙂
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I’d just prefer to carry the bible, plus I don’t think I could stand a book without it’s form, i.e. covered, physically paged. I tried reading books online, I couldn’t stand it!

As for the iPod touch in Church:

When in doubt, ask thy priest!

God Bless.

Chris.
 
yellowbicycle said:
I’m such a nerd, I totally want a kindle so that I can have that stuff on it!
People are always pulling out half-concocted bible verses on me, and I just don’t have the memory to be able to correct them, so it would be great if I could be like ‘Let’s just see what Matthew has to say on this topic…’
The truth will set you free!! 🙂
Click to expand...
I love my kindle, with the bible you can jump to the book, chapter and verse in seconds. My catechism is really neat also because it is a direct link to the Vatican. And not to mention you don’t have to lug around all of the those big books with you all the time.👍
 
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