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josethekke
Guest
Participating mass through television have the same value as that of participating mass in the church can you explain the teaching of the catholic church in this regard
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LilyM
Guest
No, ‘participating’ in a Mass via television, radio or internet does NOT have the same value as participating in person. This is shown by the fact that a tv, radio or internet Mass will not fulfil your obligation on Sundays or Holy Days, only attending Mass in person will do so.
ALL the sacraments, incuding the Eucharist, have to be administered in person to be efficacious (to take effect) - this is consistent teaching and tradition of the Church from its earliest days.
ALL the sacraments, incuding the Eucharist, have to be administered in person to be efficacious (to take effect) - this is consistent teaching and tradition of the Church from its earliest days.
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dixibehr
Guest
On the other hand, if you cannot attend Mass or the other services personally, using a televised Mass as a guide for your own prayer is probably better than nothing.
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LilyM
Guest
Of course - much! :yup:
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Simon_X
Guest
Lily,
This may sound silly, but at the end of the Sunday EWTN show with with Father Groeschel, he usually gives a blessing to the audience and the TV viewers. Do you suppose we get the same effects of the blessing as the live audience? Is it weird to make the sign of the cross as he blesses us via TV? Thanks
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LilyM
Guest
Not sure. If I remember correctly receiving the Pope’s blessing at the end of his weekly audience, is the same whether you are watching on tv, listening on radio or there in person. Don’t know about the blessings of ordinary priests. And there’s nothing wrong with making a sign of the cross at any time
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Simon_X
Guest
Thankyou…Not sure. If I remember correctly receiving the Pope’s blessing at the end of his weekly audience, is the same whether you are watching on tv, listening on radio or there in person. Don’t know about the blessings of ordinary priests. And there’s nothing wrong with making a sign of the cross at any time
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Verbum_Caro
Guest
Lily,
A small clarification here, offered as a curiosity. I believe that *nearly *all the sacraments have to be (i.e. cannot be under any circumstances otherwise) administered in person.
VC
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LilyM
Guest
Interesting - I’d love to know which ones don’t have to be! I know even confession cannot be done remotely (ie by telephone or email or anything). And none of the other sacraments except baptism would appear to have any mitigating circumstances of urgency or anything that might be argued in favour of allowing THEM not to be done personally.
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Verbum_Caro
Guest
Yep! I was interested when I first learned it too!
VC
Now, it is true that the the proxy must be present personally… . . but that principal person doesn’t – so I guess it is a “kinda sorta” thing here. None of the sacraments can be done without some person present, but at least one sacrament doesn’t have to have the person present!
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LilyM
Guest
Forgot about the old proxy marriage, although historically it was common enough. Usually done between nobles of different countries, since the respective families always wanted the ‘done deal’, so to speak, before they’d hand over the goods (send the bride off to her husband’s family). Of course you can’t do any of the other sacraments by proxy.
Mind you, from the historical examples that I know of, a proxy marriage was solemnised again by the parties in person when they DID finally manage to be in the same place at the same time. Don’t know why they’d bother resolemnising an already valid sacrament. One of life’s little mysteries, I suppose
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FrDavid96
Guest
Even in Happy Days, Richie was still at his proxy marriage via telephone! Sorry, but I cannot help it. Everytime I hear about a “marriage by proxy” that’s the mental image I get!
But seriously, to the OP: Mass by television does not have anywhere near the same value as actually attending Mass. If one is truly “shut-in” then God has released you from the obligation. Mass on TV might be a very spiritual event for such a person, but it’s never the same as actually being there.
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