Mass via video/livestream

[inquietum_cor]

I just have a few questions about all of the options that we now have for watching pre-recorded or livestreamed Mass during the pandemic.

If you’re watching a livestreamed Mass, is it at all appropriate to say the responses? Kneel at the Consecration? Or are we to simply listen?

Secondly, a priest I know is going to be offering a daily Mass and streaming it via a video-conferencing site. This allows participants who have the link to watch and to speak, and all the other people on the call can hear and see you. The priest would be able to hear us (assuming he has the volume turned on). In this case, would it be appropriate to say the responses? Something about this feels a bit “off” to me.

 

[Joe_5859]

If you’re watching a livestreamed Mass, is it at all appropriate to say the responses? Kneel at the Consecration? Or are we to simply listen?

Why wouldn’t it be appropriate? My parish is live streaming Mass every day. For Sunday, my pastor encouraged people to dress for Mass, sing a long, say the responses, and even sit/stand/kneel as usual. Then at Communion time, pray a prayer of spiritual communion.

So that’s what I’m doing. It definitely helps to make it feel more like prayer and less like watching TV.

 

[inquietum_cor]

I think the notion of kneeling before an image of the Eucharist – not actually the Eucharist – feels a bit off to me. But perhaps there are no set rules about this and an individual person can decide their level of participation.

 

[Joe_5859]

Yes, obviously we are not worshipping our TV screen or anything. But we can kneel to pray in other circumstances beyond just being at Mass. People kneel beside their bed to pray, for example. So I’m still kneeling because I know that, 3 miles down the road, Mass is being celebrated and Jesus is there in the Eucharist.