Is it OK to listen to an MP3 player prior to Mass and afterwards as well?
- Status
M
maryjk
Guest
What about people that have The Word Among Us on their Kindle??
There are several people in our congregation (not including me) who read their prayers following communion from an electronic device. What’s the difference between reading prayers from a padd and reading them from a book?
D
DaveBj
Guest
. . . as my wife does.
(She has a Fire HD; I have an old-fashioned b&w Kindle that doesn’t do magazines.)
U
Urn
Guest
And?
U
Urn
Guest
Post Mass Report:
The MP3 player worked out very well. Listened to some soft Mozart while going through the readings. Then some beautiful hymns before Mass began.
I don’t think anyone even noticed the ear buds except for one fellow. One of the loudest and most obnoxious buffoons (how sweet it was not to have to block out his din!) was clearly agitated because I did not look up as he was loudly making his “rounds.”
He was saying something to me (I couldn’t really hear him) which was odd because we would normally not speak. He was clearly agitated by the look on his face.
I suspect he was upset about a loss of control – he was no longer able to disturb me by being loud. I put my finger on my lips in a “quiet down gesture” and he moved along. Other than that I don’t think anyone even noticed. Very cool application of technology at the Mass.
The MP3 player worked out very well. Listened to some soft Mozart while going through the readings. Then some beautiful hymns before Mass began.
I don’t think anyone even noticed the ear buds except for one fellow. One of the loudest and most obnoxious buffoons (how sweet it was not to have to block out his din!) was clearly agitated because I did not look up as he was loudly making his “rounds.”
He was saying something to me (I couldn’t really hear him) which was odd because we would normally not speak. He was clearly agitated by the look on his face.
I suspect he was upset about a loss of control – he was no longer able to disturb me by being loud. I put my finger on my lips in a “quiet down gesture” and he moved along. Other than that I don’t think anyone even noticed. Very cool application of technology at the Mass.
B
Brendan_64
Guest
I’m not sure that either an MP3 player or earplugs are acceptable. I too don’t like the noise in our church, especially straight after Mass has finished when I often want to sit in quiet prayer for a few moments. However I don’t think it would be acceptable for me to wear either an MP3 player or ear-plugs for the following reason.
My view of Mass is very strongly that we are there not primarily as individuals, but as a community, as one Body. to be one with Christ, not as individuals, but communally. That, too me is the whole point of it all . Therefore to put barriers such as earplugs, or earbuds from an MP3 player, in your ears at Mass, is symbolically separating yourself from the Body of Christ around you (the rest of the congregation).
I’d rather just try to block out the noise by concentrating on your own prayer for a moment or two, but don’t separate yourself from the rest of the congregation by physically blocking them out. Being there in communion with others, to receive Our Lord as the Body of Christ is why we go to Mass. Don’t block out those around you.
If you find it too noisy before and after Mass, go along to exposition of the Eucharist where you can sit in silent contemplative prayer, but don’t cut yourself off from others in Mass by wearing ear-buds.
My view of Mass is very strongly that we are there not primarily as individuals, but as a community, as one Body. to be one with Christ, not as individuals, but communally. That, too me is the whole point of it all . Therefore to put barriers such as earplugs, or earbuds from an MP3 player, in your ears at Mass, is symbolically separating yourself from the Body of Christ around you (the rest of the congregation).
I’d rather just try to block out the noise by concentrating on your own prayer for a moment or two, but don’t separate yourself from the rest of the congregation by physically blocking them out. Being there in communion with others, to receive Our Lord as the Body of Christ is why we go to Mass. Don’t block out those around you.
If you find it too noisy before and after Mass, go along to exposition of the Eucharist where you can sit in silent contemplative prayer, but don’t cut yourself off from others in Mass by wearing ear-buds.
U
Urn
Guest
I remove the ear buds and stow the MP3 player before Mass begins. I don’t use the player again until after Mass has been completed.
The area around the tabernacle (which is right next to the pianist) is pretty much the loudest part of the church.
Z
Zachary
Guest
Matthew 7:3-5
C
Cat
Guest
I think we’re going to see more and more wearing of earbuds in the future, and more use of electronic reading devices. Right now, some people are hesitant because it’s new. This is always the way it is when something new comes along. Some people leap into it, and others hang back until they have no choice.
I can remember when the VCRs first came out. Only the wealthy had them, or only people who were so obsessed with television that they had all kinds of gadgets to enhance their viewing. Now, there are still some people who have never had VCRs and never will. In fact, there are people who have no TV and never will. But the vast majority of people in the U.S. eventually bought a VCR. And then they became obsolete when the DVD player came along, and now that’s quickly becoming obsolete as online viewing becomes the norm!
I think the earbuds and electronic reading devices (including phones) are going to become the way we all receive our “news” and stay in touch with the world. Newspapers are dying off in the U.S., and it’s only a matter of time until they become extinct. I think that the “6:00 news” will soon go the same way. It’s hard to find the time to sit down and watch the “6:00 p.m. News” anymore, or even the Late News. People in the U.S. have gotten used to devices that allow them to plan a television viewing schedule that fits their life, instead of having to plan their life around the television schedule. (I can still remember a time when we all had to be home to watch certain shows.)
Now they’re marketing eye glasses that have a continuous information feed that allows us to “see” the latest new stories, etc. I would seriously consider buying them, except that as I get older, it’s harder and harder for me to multitask.
So I think urn’s practice of listening to music before Mass will become more the norm in the very near future.
One of things that concerns me about this is that we will become less attentive to others around us, and even more immersed in ourselves and our own needs. We already spin cocoons around ourselves, and hide out in our homes, our Starbucks, our walking/bike paths, etc. There is an understanding in the U.S. that we shouldn’t bother people who are working out and listening to headphones . I’m afraid that as we become more and more “inward” that our Christian love for each other will become more theoretical rather than practical.
But hopefully, once we are outside of the Mass, we will pull out the earbuds, put away the thinkpads, and say “Hi, how ya doin?” to our Christian brothers and sisters.
I can remember when the VCRs first came out. Only the wealthy had them, or only people who were so obsessed with television that they had all kinds of gadgets to enhance their viewing. Now, there are still some people who have never had VCRs and never will. In fact, there are people who have no TV and never will. But the vast majority of people in the U.S. eventually bought a VCR. And then they became obsolete when the DVD player came along, and now that’s quickly becoming obsolete as online viewing becomes the norm!
I think the earbuds and electronic reading devices (including phones) are going to become the way we all receive our “news” and stay in touch with the world. Newspapers are dying off in the U.S., and it’s only a matter of time until they become extinct. I think that the “6:00 news” will soon go the same way. It’s hard to find the time to sit down and watch the “6:00 p.m. News” anymore, or even the Late News. People in the U.S. have gotten used to devices that allow them to plan a television viewing schedule that fits their life, instead of having to plan their life around the television schedule. (I can still remember a time when we all had to be home to watch certain shows.)
Now they’re marketing eye glasses that have a continuous information feed that allows us to “see” the latest new stories, etc. I would seriously consider buying them, except that as I get older, it’s harder and harder for me to multitask.
So I think urn’s practice of listening to music before Mass will become more the norm in the very near future.
One of things that concerns me about this is that we will become less attentive to others around us, and even more immersed in ourselves and our own needs. We already spin cocoons around ourselves, and hide out in our homes, our Starbucks, our walking/bike paths, etc. There is an understanding in the U.S. that we shouldn’t bother people who are working out and listening to headphones . I’m afraid that as we become more and more “inward” that our Christian love for each other will become more theoretical rather than practical.
But hopefully, once we are outside of the Mass, we will pull out the earbuds, put away the thinkpads, and say “Hi, how ya doin?” to our Christian brothers and sisters.
B
Brendan_64
Guest
Hopefully not the prime means of communicating with those around us.
And that would also include viewing religion and religious practice primarily as a means to meet our own spiritual needs.
A good point well made.
Indeed. The thought of people getting out of their cars and walking in to the church doors with earbuds in, heads down, reading their electronic devices, avoiding personal contact with others, and immersed in their own ‘existence’ is quite sad really.
M
maryjk
Guest
Sill not understanding why you think it is a problem to follow the Mass or to have a prayer book on a Kindle.
B
Brendan_64
Guest
I took Zachary’s reference to mean that perhaps we ought not to judge others who are bothering us by being noisier than we would like them to be, but that we should instead look to our own behaviour and actions rather than criticise others.Zachary;11064570:
Sill not understanding why you think it is a problem to follow the Mass or to have a prayer book on a Kindle.
But I cannot speak for him, so I am only guessing here.
E
englishredrose
Guest
I think it would be nice if we could begin to be attentive to others around us rather than worry about the lack of attentative to others around us. The talkers are always to be the one criticised but no one attempts to think about what the talkers might want. It is always about the ones that want the silence that wins every time believe you me. The other month our priest was approached by a complainer again and spent his time going around hushing everyone who were talking and it didn’t matter whether the talking was appropriate or not because in that instance a fellow altar server and I were lighting the ‘big six’ and we were discussing whether they were lined up well enough and ‘we’ all got the hush… those who want silence win every single time without a care for those who don’t do silence. If you want it silence then find a place that isn’t community based for silence. We talkers suffer all the time through those wanting it silent but yet it is far from silent in their heads. We talkers are most likely the ones who are being more attentative to others around us, not those who are in their own world of prayer so focused on words and routine. Sorry for the rant but each time it is about the noise makers rather than any consideration to what helps us feel comfortable in Church. Those who want it silent win every time over those who don 't want it silent and I don’t understand how the organ playing very loudly is acceptable but some one chatting away isn’t acceptable. The chatter being quieter than the organ, just that those who want it silent aren’t involved in the chatter at that minute so want it to how they want it just at that moment. Sorry for the rant but it bugs me how we all gotta be extra silent for those who want it and we got to think about those but no one thinks about those of us who don’t want it or able to fit in with whatever so don’t make any demands and make others feel uncomfortable for our prayer style. We shouldn’t be making each o ther feel uncomfortable for individual prayer style. If you want silence then go to Church at another time rather than at a time it is guaranteed to be noisy with the organ playing etc.
B
bmadamsberry
Guest
I wonder if there was a similar idea when it came to books and personal missalettes. After all, we can become absorbed into our reading and not pay attention to those around us.
Much in Catholicism, however, is “both/and,” not “either/or.” As a result, sometimes some people just need that one-on-one time with G-d. They don’t need or want the community. At others times, some people need that sense of belonging to the Body of Christ. That’s why I am very much in favor of cross-shaped churches, because it allows people who want to focus predominately on Christ to sit in the nave. At the same time, it allows people who want to focus on being part of the Body of Christ in the worship of G-d to sit in the transepts.
Z
Zachary
Guest
Good guess
Here’s an OP complaining about rude behavior while engaging in name-calling and coming off as very arrogant. OP starts thread seemingly seeking opinions to move forward yet rudely dismisses all that were not in line with their original idea then condemns those same people as closed minded religious knee-jerk types. This from someone who’d give up on the Eucharist if others are too talkative before and after Mass (their words)
What’s a “catholic christian” anyway?
B
Brendan_64
Guest
But it’s not about what we each, as individuals, need or want from the Mass. Can we not abandon our own individual needs and wants for 1 hour on a Sunday? Can we not simply accept that we are part of the Body of Christ, as one, and enter Mass in the spirit of a community of believers without focusing on what we perceive our own individual needs to be? Sure, not everyone at Mass will act in the way we would like them to, but they are part of us and we are part of them, we are one. One Body of Christ represented by a rag-bag of humanity with all its differences, and all its flaws.
P
ProVobis
Guest
Then I take the approach most teachers do when students talk in class. If the conversation or discussion is that important, perhaps the students who persist in talking can share with the entire group? If we are all one, let’s act like we are.
M
maryjk
Guest
Sorry, I got that. But I don’t understand the problem with using a Kindle to follow along with the Mass. Or as a prayer book?
If you have a problem with someone using a Kindle during Mass/Communion, do you also have a problem when someone reads from the Missal or a prayer book?
U
Urn
Guest
Would you say that to a person that made an extra effort and drove an extra long distance to attend a certain parish each Sunday because they appreciated the quiet reverence of that parish?
- Status