It bothers me that the Priest uses a microphone

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CatholicGeek1 said:
You mean if the priest’s book was loaded on an iPad? I would have no problem with that either. I want the priest to say the Mass and consecrate the Eucharist, how he does that is up to him and the Church.

That being said, I think this point is somewhat silly. This would be technology just for the sake of technology, at least at this point. Microphones serve a obvious purpose in helping people to hear.
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Our priest used an iPad I think once during a homily. It caused a big interruption in the homily when he couldn’t find the note he wanted to refer to. That put an end to that 😛

Back on topic, our priest uses a clip-on wireless microphone. I find that it hinders rather than helps my own comprehension, since I tend to sit close to the front, and there is interference between his voice coming directly from his own mouth and the sound coming from the speaker to my right. When I sit in the back and the main sound source is the speaker mounted on one of the pillars in the back of the church, the sound is clear, but if there were no amplification, the priest would have to be yelling for me to hear it. OTOH, yesterday morning he was trying out a new mic, and the sound seemed much clearer.

I’m not a fan of using technology for the sake of having technology, but when the technology improves comprehension, I’m all for it.
 
CatholicGeek1 said:
You mean if the priest’s book was loaded on an iPad? I would have no problem with that either. I want the priest to say the Mass and consecrate the Eucharist, how he does that is up to him and the Church.

That being said, I think this point is somewhat silly. This would be technology just for the sake of technology, at least at this point. Microphones serve a obvious purpose in helping people to hear.
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Well said. But I purposely asked the silly question about the iPad to illustrate a point: Many people have chimed in that merely asking the microphone question was ridiculous (almost implying that the OP needs to get a life), while a device like an iPad might prompt more thought.

Yet all technological devices are part of the same spectrum, so we shouldn’t be so hard on the OP (not that you were, CatholicGeek – I’m speaking in general).
 
Last august when I visited the local monestary I am sure the one of the monks were sat there reading from his ipad before morning prayer in the chapel… 😃 I was bemused that was all and now smile since I sit there reading my kindle on the altar when am serving and thats with permission from the priest. i aint a problem with technology at all and those who moan will find something to moan about methinks:thumbsup:
 
surritter said:
Well said. But I purposely asked the silly question about the iPad to illustrate a point: Many people have chimed in that merely asking the microphone question was ridiculous (almost implying that the OP needs to get a life), while a device like an iPad might prompt more thought.

Yet all technological devices are part of the same spectrum, so we shouldn’t be so hard on the OP (not that you were, CatholicGeek – I’m speaking in general).
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There is no need to replace the book with an iPad because the book is already there, although I see no reason why a tablet couldn’t be used in a pinch. Further, there are practical reasons why tablets and ereaders are less suitable for liturgical books and Bibles (they don’t flip very easily and batteries can die). To simply use a tablet for the tablet’s sake would be sacrificing the superior for the inferior. And even then, if the priest were somehow using a tablet, that shouldn’t warrant complaining beyond a few raised eyebrows. There are more important and pressing things that need our attention.

Microphones, on the other hand are hardly intrusive and serve the same purpose as old church designs: to amplify the voice. Use or don’t use (we don’t use it at the EF Mass I attend, except at the ambo), but to complain about it? We need to focus our energies on things that REALLY need fixing.
 
porthos11 said:
There is no need to replace the book with an iPad because the book is already there, although I see no reason why a tablet couldn’t be used in a pinch. Further, there are practical reasons why tablets and ereaders are less suitable for liturgical books and Bibles (they don’t flip very easily and batteries can die). To simply use a tablet for the tablet’s sake would be sacrificing the superior for the inferior. And even then, if the priest were somehow using a tablet, that shouldn’t warrant complaining beyond a few raised eyebrows. There are more important and pressing things that need our attention.

Microphones, on the other hand are hardly intrusive and serve the same purpose as old church designs: to amplify the voice. Use or don’t use (we don’t use it at the EF Mass I attend, except at the ambo), but to complain about it? We need to focus our energies on things that REALLY need fixing.
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Why would you say the iPad is inferior?

Wouldn’t the user be able to look up links related to the readings? My husband looks up cross-references all the time to the Mass readings. E.g., if the priest mentions some obscure historical event or perhaps a lesser-known saint in his homily, my husband often looks it up to see what the priest is referring to.

Seems to me that’s pretty superior study technique! Or are we not supposed to “study” the homily?
 
surritter said:
That’s why beautiful old churches often have a raised pulpit – often one standing out 6 or 7 pews into the congregation. The priest would climb the stairs and project his voice for the sermon. (That’s really the only part of the Mass that needed to be heard clearly by the people.)
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Yes, and often sometimes people couldn’t or didn’t hear well and depended on others to share what they heard later.
 
I think we need to consider the purpose and permanence of objects used in liturgical situations.

In general, sacred objects are designed to stay around for a LONG time even if they have to be retired from day to day usage due to wear. If it is necessary to dispose of a sacred item it must be done in a certain way.

Missals are sacred. The medium the deacon uses for his homily notes is not.

As expensive as a tablet or smart phone might be, it really does not have the quality of permanence. 😦 That alone does not make it especially suitable for use as a sacred object. But it could suitable for notes. And it might serve as a backup if a missal is lost or damaged.

That doesn’t mean we won’t some day have blessed iPads. Perhaps in some places we do. And I don’t have a problem with people in the pews using electronic devices because they are not essential to the liturgy.
 
Cat said:
Why would you say the iPad is inferior?

Wouldn’t the user be able to look up links related to the readings? My husband looks up cross-references all the time to the Mass readings. E.g., if the priest mentions some obscure historical event or perhaps a lesser-known saint in his homily, my husband often looks it up to see what the priest is referring to.

Seems to me that’s pretty superior study technique! Or are we not supposed to “study” the homily?
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Does your hubby do that in the service and through out the priest giving the homily ? :eek: 😉
I apply the homily/sermon to me ie, look at how it applies to me rather than on an academic level. Far more challenging especially when it is a more academic sermon 😊
 
Cat said:
Wouldn’t the user be able to look up links related to the readings? My husband looks up cross-references all the time to the Mass readings.
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You should be able to access the Greek, Hebrew, and Latin behind the readings then.
 
Cat said:
Why would you say the iPad is inferior?

Wouldn’t the user be able to look up links related to the readings? My husband looks up cross-references all the time to the Mass readings. E.g., if the priest mentions some obscure historical event or perhaps a lesser-known saint in his homily, my husband often looks it up to see what the priest is referring to.

Seems to me that’s pretty superior study technique! Or are we not supposed to “study” the homily?
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I wasn’t thinking of the altar as a reference device. I was talking of it as an altar missal.

The tablet is inferior as an altar book because it doesn’t flip easily. There is no issue using a tablet for notes or references at the ambo.
 
porthos11 said:
I wasn’t thinking of the altar as a reference device. I was talking of it as an altar missal.

The tablet is inferior as an altar book because it doesn’t flip easily. There is no issue using a tablet for notes or references at the ambo.
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It depends on who is doing the flipping!

Someone like my husband is more comfortable with computer devices than with a paper book.
 
englishredrose said:
Does your hubby do that in the service and through out the priest giving the homily ? :eek: 😉
I apply the homily/sermon to me ie, look at how it applies to me rather than on an academic level. Far more challenging especially when it is a more academic sermon 😊
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Yes. What’s with the big yikes?

It makes no noise whatsoever. (He has an android phone, not a big iPad). And no one sees him, and even if they do, big deal. II am not as distracted by someone using an electronic device as I am by an adorable young baby staring over his mama’s shoulder at me. My brain turns to mush when this happens. Obviously we’re not going to ban adorable (or otherwise) babies from Mass. When someone uses an electronic device–I don’t even notice.
 
CatholicGeek1 said:
You mean if the priest’s book was loaded on an iPad? I would have no problem with that either. I want the priest to say the Mass and consecrate the Eucharist, how he does that is up to him and the Church.

That being said, I think this point is somewhat silly. This would be technology just for the sake of technology, at least at this point. Microphones serve a obvious purpose in helping people to hear.
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I want both. Yes, in way, low on the piority list. But as someone who wants to learn, understand as much as humanly possible from every perspective, I’d like to hear the priest when he talks to us. In my dubious parish, he uses a mike, no problem, big church, but the volume is unnecessarily loud and I miss 80% of what he is saying. Shouldn’t I be hearing his homily and pretty much everything else? I’d like to; it would make sense to do so.
 
CatholicGeek1 said:
You mean if the priest’s book was loaded on an iPad? I would have no problem with that either.
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It wouldn’t bother me either. although an iPod screen may be a bit hard on the priest’s eyes. Perhaps a kindle would be better?

There is nothing particularly sacred about a paper book, it’s just a means of recording information and acting as a means for someone to read that information. It’s the information that’s important, not what it’s recorded in. Paper is fast becoming outdated anyway.

I could see how technology would make things a lot more convenient for both priests and readers. Less likelihood of priests reading the wrong prayer (as happens from time to time) less fumbling of pages, no need to jump back and forward through the missal. I think technology used in this way would be a good thing and would add to the smooth running of the Liturgy.

There would be no need for the priest to flip between parts as the device software could automatically piece all the bits together seamlessly for each Mass. all the priest would have to do would be to write his homily, load it onto the device, and then he just needs to enter the date of the Mass on the day and everything is pieced together in the correct order on one tablet sized screen for him to read from.
 
Brendan_64 said:
There would be no need for the priest to flip between parts as the device software could automatically piece all the bits together seamlessly for each Mass. all the priest would have to do would be to write his homily, load it onto the device, and then he just needs to enter the date of the Mass on the day and everything is pieced together in the correct order on one tablet sized screen for him to read from.
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And here I thought they wanted to say Mass the way it was done in the early years of the Church. 🤷
 
Brendan_64 said:
Then we need to do away with books altogether. No Missals, no Bibles, no paper at all.
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And here lies the whole thing about the original complaint. Eventually, everything might go electronic, including the Missal which is fine and dandy for as long as the Church approves. Microphones are hardly anything that detracts from the Mass so I see nothing but people complaining, complaining, complaining about things that are not problems at all. The Catholic Church, thank God, does not shirk from using the good fruits of human progress, having been the major contributor to the advancement of Western civilization itself.

Of all things, being bothered by a freakin’ microphone.
 
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