Missed my parish's live stream mass. Does the mass have to be Actually live for it to fulfill my Sunday obligation?

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AltarSoldier

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I know this may be a bit complicated since never before in history have we been through this and I receive different opinions from people.

Can I just watch ANY mass for the current day online and it will fulfill my obligation? What about watching masses from Churches Im not physically present at even in the parking lot.
 
Watching Mass doesn’t fulfill your obligation, regardless of where you’re at. However, I would imagine that your Sunday obligation is still suspended, so it doesn’t matter.

-Fr ACEGC
 
If you can’t physically go to Mass, the requirement is suspended.
 
Has your diocese suspended the obligation to attend Mass? Mine has, and it’s still suspended even though the churches are starting to reopen. My home parish is only having one Sunday Mass with limited capacity. I didn’t go in person; I watched the livestream.
 
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The obligation has to do with participation in offering the sacrifice, doing your part in the prayer to the Father and consuming what is given to us.
In streamed Mass you are looking in from the outside at others (not you) interact with God in the covenant sacrifice (and wishing you were there).
 
There is no normal obligation to watch Mass online. If disposed of the obligation to attend, you don’t have to do anything. However, you should somehow honor God during that time. I watch and “go through the motions (so to speak)” to remain involved as what I choose to do to honor God.

Note that I say normal, because I can imagine two cases where there would be, but for different reasons.
  1. If you are told to watch online Mass by a confessor as all or part of your penance;
  2. If your religious superior tells you to under Holy obedience.
 
People watch the live stream in the parking lot and the priest gives out communion to the individuals in their car.
 
Watching live-streams of Masses are a great way to maintain the reverence of the Lord’s Day when we are unable to got to Mass in person. If you prefer to watch Mass live as it is being recorded, that’s great. If you would rather watch the same Mass later, that’s also great. Mass is timeless. The sacrifice being presented is the same across all of time. There’s only one sacrifice. While virtual Masses don’t replace celebrating in-person, if you are currently unable, you can watch a recording of the Mass at any time of the day. Do whatever helps you maintain the most reverence during your current circumstances.
 
AltarSoldier said:
Can I just watch ANY mass for the current day online and it will fulfill my obligation?
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No livestream or recording fulfills the mass obligation. You have to actually, physically attend mass to fulfill your obligation.

That’s why bishops have dispensed the obligation, even in places that have begun reopening in limited capacity.

You don’t have an obligation, currently.
 
Father, iirc, even though the obligation to attend Sunday Liturgy/Mass is suspended, one is still obliged to keep Sunday holy by refraining from servile work. Is that right?
 
When we are prevented by circumstances beyond our control from attending Mass (which is, being physically present at Mass - not watching some Mass on television or the internet), there is no obligation to attend Mass.

It is a worth act to watch Mass when it is being provided by television or the internet, but it is not attendance.

And because attendance is not possible, there is no obligation.

So, no it does not fulfill your obligation, because you have none in the current circumstances.
 
There is an exception to servile work, whether or not we are able to attend Mass physically, where the work is necessary. Questions as to what is “necessary” can be reviewed by consulting one’s confessor.
 
AltarSoldier said:
People watch the live stream in the parking lot and the priest gives out communion to the individuals in their car.
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Most likely, your bishop has dispensed everyone from the obligation of Mass. So you can watch at any place & time.
 
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