Microphones at EF Mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sure
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sure

Guest
Why is this not done more? I am not talking about large ugly mic’s. I am talking about small mic’s that are on the altar to pick up the voice of the priest. And yes, I get that sometimes the canon is silent and that certain parts are spoken in a low voice. My question is in a large church (not like many of the little chapels where many of these Masses are said) and you hear nothing…at all, of virtually the entire Mass. What is the point of even having a missal when I cannot tell what Latin words are being spoken?

Wouldn’t it make far more sense to have the altar miked so the congregation can hear the prayers (when they are to be audible)?

Perhaps this would be a very good organic development.
 
Sound systems are expensive. Good mics are also expensive. And to fill a large space with (sometimes) horrible accoustics with good quality sound can be difficult and costly. Not all parishes can afford it.

🤷

I do agree - it’s a great idea. I’m just thinking that some parishes might spend their money in other areas such as schools, warming centers, soup kitchens, etc.

~Liza
 
At one church where I’ve attended the EF there is a mircophone in the pulpit for when the readings are read in English and then the homily.
 
skatepixie said:
At one church where I’ve attended the EF there is a mircophone in the pulpit for when the readings are read in English and then the homily.
Click to expand...
That’s a good suggestion, 'cause to be honest my gut reaction is “no; we didn’t have them for 1900 years - why start now?”. I don’t see a reason for microphones actually at the altar.
 
Yeah, it works well…because the readings in english and also the homily are meant to be heard…or else why would the priest be facing the people and proclaiming directly to us.

It is the same as the papal blessing (though that is much, much more extreme in the number of people) in that now there are such large crowds of people. In the old days, one might not have heard the blessing, but now that there are such things as microphones and speakers, isn’t it better to use them so everyone can hear? Now the pope takes advantage of this and also makes a speech, to teach people.

There are many things that we got along without for ages…but are we to say that we won’t have electric lighting in our churches? Or that we will not use cars and planes for travel?
 
I was in the military while Vatican II was in progress. Many of our chapels had small mics on the altar as well as in the pulpit. I recall that when the “signal” to celebrate partially in English came, the priest would call in his Chaplain’s Assistant and “rehearse” the Sunday Mass that was a hybrid of the familiar Latin and the newly authorized vernacular, in our case English.
There never seemed to be a problem before, or after, the change.
 
Sure said:
Why is this not done more? I am not talking about large ugly mic’s. I am talking about small mic’s that are on the altar to pick up the voice of the priest. And yes, I get that sometimes the canon is silent and that certain parts are spoken in a low voice. My question is in a large church (not like many of the little chapels where many of these Masses are said) and you hear nothing…at all, of virtually the entire Mass. What is the point of even having a missal when I cannot tell what Latin words are being spoken?

Wouldn’t it make far more sense to have the altar miked so the congregation can hear the prayers (when they are to be audible)?

Perhaps this would be a very good organic development.
Click to expand...
At the EF in Dallas, the priest wears a wireless mic. Just like at the OF masses.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top