Is it OK to listen to an MP3 player prior to Mass and afterwards as well?

[Zachary]

So why’d you bother asking? Seems like your mind was made up and you either wanted to just be heard or were fishing for “permission.”

I think once you stop making this about you you’ll overcome the noise issue. Stay strong. Imagine Jesus on His way to the Cross with earbuds…

 

[Sarabande]

Those photos are neat and all but they don’t apply here.

While the settings shown in the photos were obviously extremely harsh, I suspect they were also incredibly reverent too. I suspect there weren’t too many loud, bloviating gas bags wandering around, slapping people on the back (whether one wanted to be slapped on the back or not), asking them where they were going to breakfast after Mass.

I suspect that when some combat troops are waiting for Mass today, the DO listen to music on portable players.

I have noticed that you have used this term to describe them a few times on this thread? They might be pompous and boastful and might appear to be a “gas bag”. They might also be extremely rude with how they are acting, interfering with your prayer life in the church, but I don’t understand how calling them such names (which is also rude in its own way and maybe even rather uncharitable despite the described actions) brings one to a better spiritual solitude. It will just help cause one to seethe more and perpetuate further distraction from the important things while at the church.

I’m not trying to slap you on the hand as I completely understand being so frustrated with the situation at your parish. But I know, for myself, that when I start feeling like this, I try to not call people names either to myself or when describing them to other people, mainly because I have seen how it perpetuates more hate and condescension. I also try to remind myself of what things I have done or might be doing that could be an annoyance to others without realizing it and remind myself that I’m not perfect either. It then helps me to be at peace and makes it easier for me to focus on my prayer life and spirituality. Anyway, just some words of advice from someone who has thought like you about others in the past as well.

I wish you luck with your MP3 player endeavor and hope that you will find peace. I’m signing off of this thread now, as I have no more to say on the subject, but all the best to you. I hope things will get better at your parish.

 

[pamnbam]

What about just attending Mass at a different parish? Even if you have to drive a little ways, you can take your carpoolers with you. Surely there is at least one church in your diocese that has a more reverent atmosphere.

I, too, would disagree with bringing the MP3 player to listen to before Mass, and is something I would never have taught my Catholic school students that it would be okay. You do have good intentions, but a church is just not the place for such gadgets. Also, a church is not the place for loud talking, etc. before Mass, but just because someone is wrong doesn’t mean you push back with equal force. It isn’t tit for tat. Someone has to take the high road, and it could totally start with you.

 

[Urn]

What about just attending Mass at a different parish? Even if you have to drive a little ways, you can take your carpoolers with you. Surely there is at least one church in your diocese that has a more reverent atmosphere.

I, too, would disagree with bringing the MP3 player to listen to before Mass, and is something I would never have taught my Catholic school students that it would be okay. You do have good intentions, but a church is just not the place for such gadgets. Also, a church is not the place for loud talking, etc. before Mass, but just because someone is wrong doesn’t mean you push back with equal force. It isn’t tit for tat. Someone has to take the high road, and it could totally start with you.

There are two Catholic parishes in town. I go to the “good” one. To be quite candid if the other parish was my only option (as it is with its current pastor or the 25 year pastor just before him) I would stop attending Mass, understanding the very grave ramifications that come with that. Yes, it’s that bad.

There is an excellent parish within about 20 miles of my house. I just attended last Sunday evening (in addition to my regular parish in the morning.) The logistics of getting there each week and their lack of an early morning Mass make it unworkable for me.

I’m not pushing back at all. I stopped pushing back quite some time ago…

 

[Zachary]

You seem to have forgotten for whom you attend Mass.

 

[Urn]

So why’d you bother asking? Seems like your mind was made up and you either wanted to just be heard or were fishing for “permission.”

I think once you stop making this about you you’ll overcome the noise issue. Stay strong. Imagine Jesus on His way to the Cross with earbuds…

Ref. #51.

 

[Cat]

Here’s what I think would happen. A few months from now, we’ll see the following post here on CAF:

Title: Lack of Reverence before Mass.
I’m just venting here, everyone, but maybe someone will have a helpful suggestion. For the last few months, a person who attends the same Mass as I do has been listening to an MP3 player before Mass. The person is totally immersed in their music (or talk show or football game–who knows what they’re listening to?!) and paying no attention whatsoever to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle.

Whatever happened to reverence before the Mass, anyway? What’s next–television before Mass?!

You see, urn, I have no objection to your listening to an MP3 or an iPod before Mass. I’m sure in the near future, we’ll see more and more people using them, especially since in some churches, you can plug them into the sound system and hear better.

But my advice in my earlier post still stands.

 

[englishredrose]

hmm

okay so I know am Anglican but Anglicans are as strict about in Church behaviour. It has been one year this month since I started reading kindle during communion. No one else has started reading their things. As far as I know, no one has complained to the priest about my activity and they would do and I think he would explain my and his intention if they did. He hasn’t told me and I don’t think he would unless he had to ask me to ‘stop’ or be more discreet somehow. Since he is aware of my issue and it creep back in within 6 month if I didn’t read. I am much closer to God by reading than doing ‘nothing’ as I am unable to pray with words and can’t use that time for prayer as most people do.

So perhaps Cat, may be ‘ur just a little bit oversensitive’ about 3 months from now you see a list of threads complaining about people listening to their mp3 players based on one person. I know one person in time could change a a whole set of attitude. In our Church the organist plays before the service and that helps deaden the louder chatter but does encourage it at the same time as people speak louder. You may be right and the whole forum be taken over with mp3 complaints but the whole forum is taken over with complaints anyway rather than what is good about being in Church. Admittedly when I am struggling my priest gets it, not a public space. But that another issue I trust the current priest and his guidence. I don’t understand the difference between organ playing and mp3 playing. Some people need noise to feel close to God and specific types of noise and some people need absolute silence to feel close to God. Admittedly I wouldn’t have used the opening posters termology but I use my own in private space and we are no different. But how we all reach God is unique to each other and it is good that someone finds a way that works for them that isn’t distracting to others and private. We can’t all sit there and kneel and be in tune with God.

I would suggest that the opening poster takes it up with their priest and if the priest is okay about it then try it and see how they feel whether it helps them to ‘relax’ and be with God whatever is happening around them. We cannot change other people to our liking, that would be unfair to us and them, but we can find out what works for us when in public.

 

[ProVobis]

I took the opportunity to ask and here’s what Fr Serpa has to say.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=813071

Please reconsider.

I guess I read Fr. Serpa a little differently. He’s not solely chewing out the person with the MP3.

Perhaps when we see someone with earplugs or some other noice-cancelling headphones around us, we can examine our own actions that might have prompted said action on their parts.

 

[jmcrae]

So why’d you bother asking? Seems like your mind was made up and you either wanted to just be heard or were fishing for “permission.”

I think once you stop making this about you you’ll overcome the noise issue. Stay strong. Imagine Jesus on His way to the Cross with earbuds…

Or try to imagine Mother Mary listening to earbuds while standing before her Son on the Cross, because she didn’t like the sound of the crowd jeering at Him.

 

[petronus]

Would there be any problem with listening to to appropriate music (Gospel, Gregorian Chant, etc.) through ear buds prior to the beginning of Mass and after its conclusion to block out all the talking and other noise so long as no one else could hear it?
.

Of course there is no problem . Why should there be ?

 

[englishredrose]

Or try to imagine Mother Mary listening to earbuds while standing before her Son on the Cross, because she didn’t like the sound of the crowd jeering at Him.

compassion needs to be exercised

and like a lot of posts here that would be better if gone direct to the priest in the first place, it seems like the opening poster knows the priest seems indifferent and wanted reassurance as a lot of posters seem to want here. Trust in the priest doesnt seem to be enough when reading through a lot of posts and yeh so a lot of our minds are made up before ‘we’ post but thats life. I wish more posts focused on the positives of being a Christian but I guess that isn’t the theme for online boards and this would have a positive outcome for the poster concerned

BTW, did you wear the headphones and was it much better for you?

 

[Zachary]

Well I’m out of here. IPod before Mass is as bad an idea as kindle during communion. There are a million distractions keeping us from Jesus and no need to add more. Listening to music before Mass is not like listening for Jesus.

 

[DaveBj]

Well I’m out of here. IPod before Mass is as bad an idea as kindle during communion. There are a million distractions keeping us from Jesus and no need to add more. Listening to music before Mass is not like listening for Jesus.

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?

 

[Urn]

I guess I read Fr. Serpa a little differently. He’s not solely chewing out the person with the MP3.

Perhaps when we see someone with earplugs or some other noice-cancelling headphones around us, we can examine our own actions that might have prompted said action on their parts.

I would much, much prefer if things were quieter. I’m not talking about silence either. I’m talking about the absence of loud talking, musical instruments loudly being turned-up, etc.

The fact is I’m not in a position to make any such changes. All I can do is pray for the good of the parish and used my newly acquired MP3 recorder.

 

[Urn]

Or try to imagine Mother Mary listening to earbuds while standing before her Son on the Cross, because she didn’t like the sound of the crowd jeering at Him.

I’m not Mother Mary. Your analogy is ludicrous. It makes absolutely no sense.

I am a Catholic Christian that uses SACRED MUSIC to block out noise created by rude individuals before and after Mass.

 

[jmcrae]

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?

The comment was in reference to post #23 in this thread, in which someone was talking about reading music books during Holy Communion on their Kindle, while waiting at the Altar for the people to finish receiving.

 

[GraceUnderFire]

There is nothing wrong with using an mp3 prior to and after mass to enter into an attitude of reverence.

I use mine to pray my scriptural rosary or listen to sacred music.

I have also used my Kindle in adoration or the missal on my smartphone during mass.

If someone judges me for using these items or doesn’t know that I’m using them with the purpose of maintaining a feeling of closeness to God, that’s not my problem.

 

[Urn]

Well I’m out of here. IPod before Mass is as bad an idea as kindle during communion. There are a million distractions keeping us from Jesus and no need to add more. Listening to music before Mass is not like listening for Jesus.

You’re simply wrong.

To many in the faith sector reject things out of hand for no logical reason whatsoever. They are knee-jerking and that’s wrong.

There is no problem using a recording of SACRED MUSIC to block a rude and loud din before and after Mass. The music is not a “distraction.” If anything it blocks out the din to help me better focus on the readings and my preparatory prayer.

I’m not sure what anyone would be doing using a Kindle “during communion.” If they used one loaded with a missalette to follow the readings and the Mass I say more power to them.

 

[Urn]

There is nothing wrong with using an mp3 prior to and after mass to enter into an attitude of reverence.

I use mine to pray my scriptural rosary or listen to sacred music.

I have also used my Kindle in adoration or the missal on my smartphone during mass.

If someone judges me for using these items or doesn’t know that I’m using them with the purpose of maintaining a feeling of closeness to God, that’s not my problem.

Amen.