Missal in my Cell Phone During Mass

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Gabbanelli911

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Hi,

I made a nice missal that follows every part of the Mass on my iPhone. I have all masses updated all the way to the end of the cycle (B). I feel that I get more involved during Mass if I’m reading my missal. Is it allowed for me to use my cell phone while in Mass? I’m not going to be using Facebook, or internet, or none of that stuff, just my missal.

I play in the choir, and we are in the back hidden from the other people and I use this missal on my iPad and the other members of the choir (my daughter and wife) use their iPhone. This keeps the Mass and all the songs very organized. But what about when I don’t play in the choir, like for Holy week, we are not going to play on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, so, is it okay to use my iPhone while seating with the rest of the people???
 
if you don’t mind being the center of attention.

Just sayin…
 
I see others looking at phones in Adoration or even before mass and they appear to be in prayer. In an age of ebooks and technology, this will be less and less the appearance of surfing the web and simply the way we read. There’s no “rule” on the matter, but I think if you are participating in the prayers and whatnot, reasonable people could tell you are following along.
 
I use an app to read daily prayers and readings during adoration and before Mass. I too feel a little strange but am relaxing as time goes by. I haven’t used it during Mass though…yet
 
Gabbanelli911 said:
Hi,

I made a nice missal that follows every part of the Mass on my iPhone. I have all masses updated all the way to the end of the cycle (B). I feel that I get more involved during Mass if I’m reading my missal. Is it allowed for me to use my cell phone while in Mass? I’m not going to be using Facebook, or internet, or none of that stuff, just my missal.

I play in the choir, and we are in the back hidden from the other people and I use this missal on my iPad and the other members of the choir (my daughter and wife) use their iPhone. This keeps the Mass and all the songs very organized. But what about when I don’t play in the choir, like for Holy week, we are not going to play on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, so, is it okay to use my iPhone while seating with the rest of the people???
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Yes, it’s not a problem, just make sure it’s on vibrate!
 
Nothing wrong with it.

Anybody who takes time to be judgmental of you should MTOB and work on their penance, IMNAAHO.

ICXC NIKA
 
Gabbanelli911 said:
Hi,

I made a nice missal that follows every part of the Mass on my iPhone. I have all masses updated all the way to the end of the cycle (B). I feel that I get more involved during Mass if I’m reading my missal. Is it allowed for me to use my cell phone while in Mass? I’m not going to be using Facebook, or internet, or none of that stuff, just my missal.

I play in the choir, and we are in the back hidden from the other people and I use this missal on my iPad and the other members of the choir (my daughter and wife) use their iPhone. This keeps the Mass and all the songs very organized. But what about when I don’t play in the choir, like for Holy week, we are not going to play on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, so, is it okay to use my iPhone while seating with the rest of the people???
Click to expand...
I don’t know if there is actually a directive written about the use of these technologies during Mass yet. But, since you asked, I will offer my opinion. I don’t see anything wrong with anyone using their iphone or ipad during their hour of adoration, in the line for confession or even you up in the choir if that is ok with your choir director. However, at this time in history, I don’t think it would be appropriate to use while in the congregation during any of the sacred Liturgies. I think that using these technologies could be a distraction for those people around you.

Here is a link from the USCCB, The Sacred Liturgy in the Digital Age usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2011/08/sacred-liturgy-in-digital-age.html
 
MarcoPolo said:
I see others looking at phones in Adoration or even before mass and they appear to be in prayer. In an age of ebooks and technology, this will be less and less the appearance of surfing the web and simply the way we read. There’s no “rule” on the matter, but I think if you are participating in the prayers and whatnot, reasonable people could tell you are following along.
Click to expand...
I truly believe that at some point, God is going to redesign the body incorporating a cell phone where the hand once was.

I suppose it’s okay to use your cell phone if it’s easier for you. Hopefully, there’s a way to turn it off while you’re reading? Or make sure to turn it to mute? Is it easier for you to see? Or is it just easier not carrying a real missile in book form?

I can’t even fathom anything but a book. But that’s just me because I LOVE books and I especially love my Missal because of it’s pages and, quite frankly, it smells good.
 
for A fairly large percentage of the members of our parish choir use their iPads for hymnals. And some also use them to follow they reading. (My parish does not provide missalettes.)

So many people use their Kindles, iPads, Android Tablets, and phones today that I don’t think it’s any big deal anymore. Sure, some people will look but those same people will probably check out all the paper missals to see what they are. 🤷
 
Thanks for all your replies. While using the iPad / iPhone during Mass to sing in the choir, I put the cell phones on “airplane mode” which turns off the actual cell phone (unable to send or receive text messages or phone calls) and also turns off the internet. So there is no way to check Facebook or any other internet related item. My daughter (she’s 10) has learned not to navigate away from the page I set the missal and she really enjoys it. I agree that some people may find it distracting but I also agree that some people would still be distracted even if I had an actual missalette.

I like the set up I have because I have everything that the priest says and then the things that we are supposed to reply, I have it with red, highlighted bold letters. I also have a reflection I copy and paste every Sunday from www.catholic.net to read right before mass so that we know what the mass will be about.
 
Gabbanelli911 said:
Thanks for all your replies. While using the iPad / iPhone during Mass to sing in the choir, I put the cell phones on “airplane mode” which turns off the actual cell phone (unable to send or receive text messages or phone calls) and also turns off the internet. So there is no way to check Facebook or any other internet related item. My daughter (she’s 10) has learned not to navigate away from the page I set the missal and she really enjoys it. I agree that some people may find it distracting but I also agree that some people would still be distracted even if I had an actual missalette.

I like the set up I have because I have everything that the priest says and then the things that we are supposed to reply, I have it with red, highlighted bold letters. I also have a reflection I copy and paste every Sunday from www.catholic.net to read right before mass so that we know what the mass will be about.
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I’d have to say that this is one of those things where prudential judgement is necessary. If your device leads you to distraction, perhaps it is not helpful, but if it leads you into prayer then it is okay. I use the Laudate App for the daily readings at Mass when it’s not in the parish’s missalette or when I forget to bring my own. I know that some priests and bishops use their iPads during the homily because that is where their homilies are saved.
 
zab said:
I don’t know if there is actually a directive written about the use of these technologies during Mass yet. But, since you asked, I will offer my opinion. I don’t see anything wrong with anyone using their iphone or ipad during their hour of adoration, in the line for confession or even you up in the choir if that is ok with your choir director. However, at this time in history, I don’t think it would be appropriate to use while in the congregation during any of the sacred Liturgies. I think that using these technologies could be a distraction for those people around you.

Here is a link from the USCCB, The Sacred Liturgy in the Digital Age usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2011/08/sacred-liturgy-in-digital-age.html
Click to expand...
It’s not a distraction in this day and age. Most people are used to seeing people use their electronic devices for many different tasks, including worship. The people who are not used to it will get used to it in short order. There’s no reason to disapprove of it.

It’s wasteful of resources (monies and trees), IMO, to continue to use paper missallettes and hymnals when the electronic versions could be used. I would especially like to see the hymnals online, because then there would be no excuse for not publishing the 4-part harmonies to the hymns. I think this would greatly improve the singing in many Catholic churches in the U.S.

I do hope the Church isn’t going to make a big controversial thing out of this. Doing so would only serve to convince younger people (and many of us older folks) that the Church is hopelessly-out-of-date. Of course, a small percentage of young people who cherish All Things Ancient will appreciate a Church that decides to nix use of electronics during Mass. But honestly now, these young people are in the minority. Most young people are capable of using modern devices for ancient rites without getting all “irreverent”. It’s like using sound amplification–this doesn’t make the Mass “secular”, just because rock stars and politicians also use sound amplification.

IMO, eliminating electronic devices would be the equivalent of eliminating printed material during the Mass. I’m sure that Back When, there was a huge controversy over whether it was “distracting” for the faithful to use printed hymnals, missals, and Bibles during the Mass. In fact, every once in a while, we see here on CAF that this is still a stumbling block for some Catholics. I don’t get it.
 
To my mind there is nothing wrong with using technology devices in this manner, but I do have two suggestions:


  1. *]Put the device on airplane mode, as the OP indicates, or at least turn the ringer off—not down, not on vibrate, but truly silent. I find that airplane mode doesn’t help me personally, since I have about 20 separate audible alarms programmed as well. (Don’t ask :p)
    *]If your device has a backlit screen (in other words, not e-Ink technology or similar) dim the screen as much as you can while still being able to read what’s on it. In my experience, it’s the bright rectangular block of light that calls most people’s attention to the use of mobile devices and not the mere fact they are in use. YMMV.

    Just :twocents:'s worth of a sacristan’s opinion.
 
If I attend a weekday mass I will often use an app on my iPhone to follow the readings and response to the psalm as I’m hard of hearing (nothing major but in a large church the words just become a jumble). Placing my iPhone inside a missalette (I hope) doesn’t make it a distraction for others.
 
I don’t think there is anything wrong with it, but I won’t lie. It would bug me to see a bunch of people in service looking at their Iphones. I’m an old fuddy duddy, and that is totally MY issue and in no way a reflection of the people who use them.
 
I am very mixed about this, and I am a millennial. I have heard many good apps to use for the Mass. However, I still feel a weird feeling if I were to ever bring my phone out at Mass… like it was wrong. That is just me though. I use what our church has for the readings, so that never is a big deal. But I think it is something I may need to pray on more to feel better about…
 
I bring my Kindle to Eucharistic Adoration, since I have several Catholic books on it, including one on making a good Eucharistic Adoration.

The first time I used it I did feel a little weird. I’ve never seen anyone else using one in church.

But I figure if it helps me get closer to God, I should definitely use it. 🙂
 
The simple fact of the matter is that electronic devices used during Mass is not the norm *yet *and is very distracting to a number of people. That being said, those who do not like to see them, including the older set, I believe, just need to get over it. My main concern is that it will further diminish the sense of the supernatural during Liturgy and even during sacramental celebration in a place that has been sanctified and cleansed of the profane. We are already seeing kids in the confession line with their i-phones and you know what they are doing.
 
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