Obligation - online Mass?

[MiserereMeiDei]

Mass attendance won’t be obligatory the moment the lock-down ends. Many of the dispensations were for people afraid to attend or"at-risk." Those stipulations aren’t going to go away overnight. Though you do bring up a good point that many people who won’t really fit into those categories may choose to stay home anyway. Hopefully the priests who are broadcasting their masses will inform the viewership that it doesn’t absolve them of their obligation to attend in person.

 

[Glennon_P]

Hopefully the priests who are broadcasting their masses will inform the viewership that it doesn’t absolve them of their obligation to attend in person.

It will be interesting to see how many parishes/priests continue livestreaming their Masses once the restrictions end. Certainly they can be a great evangelization tool.

 

[Gorgias]

my concern is with how the priests plan to get folks back into the pews when this is all over.

Ahh… now that is the $64,000 question!

Though you do bring up a good point that many people who won’t really fit into those categories may choose to stay home anyway.

Right. If folks are still asking, a generation later, “why was it a sin to eat meat on Fridays 50 years ago, but not now?”, then you better bet they’re gonna start asking “if I didn’t have to go to Mass last month, then why do I have to go now?”

Hopefully the priests who are broadcasting their masses will inform the viewership that it doesn’t absolve them of their obligation to attend in person.

Do we have any real hope that this will have greater effect than when priests say “please don’t leave right after communion”…?

It will be interesting to see how many parishes/priests continue livestreaming their Masses once the restrictions end. Certainly they can be a great evangelization tool.

How so? Once we’re back to “business as usual”, what role will ubiquitous live-streaming of Masses serve?

 

[Glennon_P]

How so? Once we’re back to “business as usual”, what role will ubiquitous live-streaming of Masses serve?

The same role that televised Masses serve…evangelization.

In my city, the diocese televises Sunday Mass celebrated at a chapel (not a regular parish). Perhaps the shut-in parishioners of St. XYZ parish would like to see Mass celebrated in that church with their own pastor.

 

[paperwight]

Yesterday during the streaming Mass the number of viewers peaked at 125, so I think the vast majority of parishioners are not spending any time in prayer during this lock down

Actually, our parish has had the opposite result. We would normally have about 900 at the combined Sunday Masses, but the viewing figures were 1500. It could have been more, as presumably the pc was being shared in some cases.

And don’t forget that some of your parish may have been watching a Cathedral Mass for example - the choice online is vast.

 

[OraLabora]

My comments aren’t meant to disparage; my concern is with how the priests plan to get folks back into the pews when this is all over.

At least in my part of the world, a large part of the Catholic population is over 70. As restrictions are lifted, they and those with co-morbidities will be among the last to get the green light. So I do expect reduced attendance when the churches reopen, at least for a while. I’m diabetic, and believe me I’m eager to return, but I won’t until it is clearly safe to do so.

 

[SMHW]

Mass attendance won’t be obligatory the moment the lock-down ends. Many of the dispensations were for people afraid to attend or"at-risk."

I know it varies from location to location, but I think that continuing civil restrictions on the number of people who can gather will result in limits to the number of people who can (legally) attend Mass and thus a continuing dispensation from attending Mass. Not every parish has sufficient priests to allow for additional Masses.

Eventually the dispensations will end and we will see what Mass attendance will be like.

 

[otjm]

sitting in our “assigned” seats.

You mean you have assigned seats? I thought we had to pay pew rent… :crazy_face:

 

[MikeInVA]

You’re arguing from exception - of course there are people who will have to avoid Mass, as there were before. I was wondering how the “average” parishioners will react after they have become accustomed to not having to go to Mass/watching online for several months?

 

[Maragal]

Im not sure what your assumption is about the “average parishioner” - who is that -the cradle Catholic? The “salad bar” Catholic who believes some of it, not all? The “habit” Catholic? Are these labels even helpful - maybe not - because we dont know what is in someones heart?

As said before, I respect you have a different opinion. And I know you are worried, out of love, about people and their faith. But I think the Catholics who love the Sacraments will be in Church shouting Hallelujah when we can gather again! And in tears when we are blessed with the Body and Blood of our Lord.

Those who are unsure/creatures of habit/cradle catholics (and we cant even judge, cuz who knows) will be as they were - OR experience a renewed Love for our Church!

I hope MY love increases! I fall down so much. This lock down time has brought up some of my weaknesses, which can only be a good thing for me, spiritually. I hope.

MikeInVA via Catholic Answers Forums — [Catholic Answers Forums] [Liturgy and Sacraments] Obligation - online Mass? —

From:
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To:
tamara.horsburgh@salvationarmy.org.uk
Date:
Tue, 28 Apr 2020 19:39
Subject:
[Catholic Answers Forums] [Liturgy and Sacraments] Obligation - online Mass?

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[4Him]

What is the origin of the Mass? Is it anywhere in Scripture?

 

[Gertabelle]

What is the origin of the Mass? Is it anywhere in Scripture?

I recommend starting your own thread to address this question, as it’s a good one and worthy of its own discussion. As a new user, I’m pretty sure you can do that.

 

[4Him]

Thanks, I’m just not sure how to do that.

 

[OraLabora]

Yes but I think this time there will be more, due to the seriousness of this virus especially for high-risk groups. This will make the pews seem emptier than before, and mislead some folks into thinking we got used to a Mass-free life, when in reality we would rather not have to choose between life and the Bread of Life.

 

[Gorgias]

Thanks, I’m just not sure how to do that.

Browse to the “Apologetics” forum, and choose the “Scripture” sub-forum. Look for the big blue button with the “+” on it, at the bottom right of your screen. Click it, and start typing!

 

[4Him]

Thanks for your help…