It bothers me that the Priest uses a microphone

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EasterJoy said:
I do object when the priest doesn’t turn his microphone off while singing, and drowns out the choir. Another time, I was at a wedding when the priest presented the bride and groom and then, neglecting to turn off his microphone, muttered, “OK, now let’s get out of here!” 😃
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And the classic one, which went with the priest saying “Something is wrong with the mic.” and to which the congregation responded “And also with you.” (That was before the new translation.)
 
I come from a large parish so we have a radio microphone system what is only a small microphone what attach to his chasuble and it works very well
 
Cat said:
My 75-year-old father-in-law, who is not Catholic, often attends missions and other special presentations at our parish. He hooks into the sound system and listens through an earbud, as he is not able to hear the priest even if the priest uses a microphone.
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Whatever you do, don’t suggest a parabolic dish. That’ll blow anyone’s ears out.
 
I propose that the spoken word is more beautiful when heard acoustically than when amplified through speakers.
 
Cat said:
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I think there are some people who just feel out-of-place in a “modern” world, and they want to go back in time. Fine, as long as they don’t take the rest of us along with them.
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Amen!
ProVobis said:
And the classic one, which went with the priest saying “Something is wrong with the mic.” and to which the congregation responded “And also with you.” (That was before the new translation.)
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:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
 
Our church is very small, but we are in a old building on a busy corner. If the air conditioner is running in the summer, nobody can hear a word that our very soft-spoken priest says. It had not been a significant problem with previous priests, but when he arrived we collectively (young and old alike) asked him if he would consider getting a microphone. He did, and it has made a tremendous difference. We recently had a visiting priest, and he did not use or need amplification. My vote is for letting the circumstances determine the need.

I do think it is a shame that we no longer build churches or other public buildings with acoustics in mind. It is amazing how far a whisper can carry in an ancient Roman amphitheater.
 
Cat said:
The OP is 24 years old. Someday…and that day will come faster than he ever imagined…the OP will remember that he posted this thread, and feel ashamed of himself…

I think there are some people who just feel out-of-place in a “modern” world, and they want to go back in time. Fine, as long as they don’t take the rest of us along with them.
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If we could go back in time, there would probably be a lot fewer people with blown hearing. Some that can hear now couldn’t hear back then because of antibiotics, but a great many who have ruined their hearing because of noisy workplaces or ear-assaulting hobbies would still hear better than they do now.
 
FYI, missals may not be electronic. It’s the rule. I suppose there’s a danger if it runs out of juice.

I use my smartphone for everything. I should probably get a tablet. Eventually, I think everyone should be encouraged to use their phones or tablets. Cut down on the paper books. Churches can have RFID or 3D barcodes people can scan and it brings up the week’s bulletin, readings, and hymns.

Organs are already going digital.
 
johnmann said:
Organs are already going digital.
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Please don’t talk about digital organs. The musician in me just cringed. You just can’t reproduce the sound of wind through pipes electronically and ever have it be quite the same. 😉
 
Aran_Houlihan said:
But don’t you miss holding the book i like holding the book and turn the page
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I am an avid reader, always have been, but absolutely not - especially if they’re big heavy ol’ missals that weigh a ton with tissue-thin paper that is liable to tear if you so much as breathe on it let alone dare to attempt turning a page 🤷
 
WingsOfEagles said:
Please don’t talk about digital organs. The musician in me just cringed. You just can’t reproduce the sound of wind through pipes electronically and ever have it be quite the same. 😉
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I’m not a musician but as a techie, I see no technical reason why a digital organ cannot perfectly imitate a pipe organ. Of course, digital organs can be bad just as pipe organs can be bad, but that’s not a problem with the technology but the implementation.

I heard one professional organist say he prefers digital because pipe organs necessarily have to compromise just to physically fit in a church.
 
Tighty_Whitey said:
No microphone, hmmm…

“Blessed are the cheesemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”

“What’s so special about the cheesemakers???”

“Don’t be an idiot, of course he means any manufacturer of dairy products!”
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:rotfl:

:bowdown:

👍 You should win a prize for this post. It made my day, even my week"

.
 
johnmann said:
FYI, missals may not be electronic. It’s the rule. I suppose there’s a danger if it runs out of juice.

I use my smartphone for everything. I should probably get a tablet. Eventually, I think everyone should be encouraged to use their phones or tablets. Cut down on the paper books. Churches can have RFID or 3D barcodes people can scan and it brings up the week’s bulletin, readings, and hymns.

Organs are already going digital.
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ours hasn’t and we have one of the nicest organs in the country and anyone who comes to play the organ says so…

We have a digital piano too, but that is used when the organist can’t make it. We are trying very hard to make sure we keep the organ we have and been restored recently and costed but well worth it when we go to other churches and hear what they have to offer though admitted worship shouldn’t be about music but for me it very much is so:thumbsup:
 
Aran_Houlihan said:
But don’t you miss holding the book i like holding the book and turn the page
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When I first got the app, I thought I would miss the books much more than I do. I did, at first, go back and forth some, but less and less as time goes by. One of the best things about it is NOT having to flip back & forth – I can concentrate on prayer.

I’m not saying it’s for everybody, mind you, just that it works well for me.
 
I can’t see what the issue is with mikes. If it helps the Faithful hear what is being said and frees the priest from having to stand in one spot then surely that can only be a good thing.

The only issue is when the priest forgets to turn it off and is then out the back in the sacristy getting changed and chatting to the sacristan and everyone in the church can hear what’s being said. I’ve heard a priest utter a mild expletive (as did anyone left in the church) when he was experiencing difficulty getting out of his vestments after Mass before, no big deal it just shows that we’re all human.
Cat said:
My 75-year-old father-in-law, who is not Catholic, often attends missions and other special presentations at our parish. He hooks into the sound system and listens through an earbud
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My wife is the same and she’s in her early 40’s, but has a hearing impairment. She really struggles to hear in churches (including big older style churches) if the church doesn’t have a ‘loop’ system. There is quite a sizeable minority of people who have a similar problem. If technology can help, then why shouldn’t we use it?
 
I’ll say this it is a pastoral decision and should be on a parish by parish basis. There should be no rubric for when to use and when not to use a microphone. A priest knowing his Church and his parishioners should know if the Church needs mics. So leave it up to the pastor he knows what is best for his parish, if you don’t like having a sound system in the Church talk to the pastor and ask them why we need it maybe he will change your mind about having the sound system or maybe you will get him to change. But don’t give some universal rubric on how and when to use a microphone. It should be up to the priest and maybe the help of his parish council.
 
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