Recorded Masses

[john.k]

During the coronavirus pandemic, as it is not possible to go to Adoration or Mass, my family is down to watching the Mass live or recorded. My question is, is watching the recorded Mass still as valid as the live Mass? If our priest were not to livestream his private Mass, and instead only posted a recording of it after the fact, would it still be as valid as if we were there in person?

 

[JulianN]

Neither option constitutes attending Mass —both are watching a program. So it’s fine if it is previously recorded.

 

[po18guy]

Validity is not in question. We have been dispensed from the obligation to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What we do now is solely for the sake of our spiritual life and relationship with God.

 

[Allegra]

The Mass is valid for the people who are there. Watching Mass on TV doesn’t meet the obligation of attending Mass, but that obligation has been dispensed with, so it’s not an issue. If you were still obligated to attend Mass, the TV Mass wouldn’t meet the obligation.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Since you don’t have an obligation to attend Mass, your question doesn’t apply.

If you want to receive the priest’s blessing at the end, it has to be live as we cannot receive blessings via pre-recorded media.
Other than that, I don’t see much difference between live and pre-recorded Mass.
I personally like to see the Consecration live, but that’s my preference, there is no reason one can’t watch it pre-recorded.

 

[InThePew]

Personally, I’m pretty sure my mass this morning was perfectly valid! I did the red and said the black after all. Unfortunately, our bishop has asked priests not to livestream masses from their churches (I think the idea is that it might encourage people to show up which normally we’d want them do do but not so much right now). To be honest, I don’t see a lot of difference although I suppose it could be argued that by watching a livestream we’re gathering virtually with others and not simply tuning in at our on convenience. What I don’t like though, is pre-recording a mass before the day itself - especially on a particularly Sunday like today and especially not for any of the Easter liturgies. There’s just something which feels wrong about celebrating a mass (or liturgy in the case of Good Friday) ahead of the day itself.

 

[Titivillus]

The Mass is valid for the people who are there. Watching Mass on TV doesn’t meet the obligation of attending Mass, but that obligation has been dispensed with, so it’s not an issue. If you were still obligated to attend Mass, the TV Mass wouldn’t meet the obligation.

I was talking with my son about such circumstances today and I do wonder where the lines get drawn (but don’t worry: Not to the point of scrupulosity – I am confident in my past actions and intentions)?

I have had occasion (and: Oh, that we might have such occasions again soon) to be present for a highly attended Mass in a less than adequate space, to the extent that with foreknowledge of the circumstance an overflow space had been set up in the basement hall with a live televised feed of the celebration.

How far does “attendance at Mass” extend? The people in the basement are present on site. Father knows they are down there. People did not show up with the intention to watch from the basement hall, it is just a matter of arriving after the upstairs space has been exhausted. Does it make a difference if there are no closed doors between the main body of the church and the hall below?

Similarly for the typically large outdoor celebrations of papal Masses. How far away can you be and still be “attending” the Mass?

 

[MPat]

Validity is not in question. We have been dispensed from the obligation to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What we do now is solely for the sake of our spiritual life and relationship with God.

Well, it does depend on how that dispensation was given…

For example, Apostolic Administrator of Archdiocese of Kaunas, Algirdas Jurevičius, has given the dispensation (KAUNO ARKIVYSKUPIJA. Įvykiai ir kronika) on condition that one hears Mass via radio, TV or Internet and receives Spiritual Communion. Given the precise formulation, it might be that a livestream would be suitable, but a recording would not (although a real canon lawyer would be more helpful here).

 

[po18guy]

Your mileage may vary. This is a time to listen to our Bishops.

 

[hereagain]

Many of the priests of the several parishes I watch now say yes: pre-recorded is fine!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Unfortunately, our bishop has asked priests not to livestream masses from their churches (I think the idea is that it might encourage people to show up which normally we’d want them do do but not so much right now).

I will reserve my thoughts on your bishop’s judgment, but given that probably 10,000 other churches are livestreaming, anyone who wants to see a Mass online is simply going to find one outside their diocese. I slept through all the local morning Masses earlier this week because I’d been up half the night working and I simply tuned in a morning Mass from some random parish church 3 time zones behind me. Of course there is also EWTN, and the Vatican site with the Pope’s Masses, etc.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think for those situations where you end up inadvertently in the “overflow room” or outside the building, and you do your best to follow along, you’ve attended Mass. As you said, the person did not arrive with the intent of being outside and sometimes it can’t be reasonably foreseen that you would end up out there. I’ve been to ethnic churches on particular feast days dear to the heart of the group who attends and it’s not uncommon to end up on the steps outside because every other space to sit or stand in the church proper and even in the vestibule is full. Those old churches usually don’t have overflow rooms or viewing areas.

As for the papal Masses when he’s on tour, once you get far enough away from either the Pope’s actual worship space (which is usually ticketed) or a monitor where you can see what’s he doing, then you have trouble actually following along with the Mass. Although when I was in that situation, those of us who were stuck a half mile away because of the crowds were trying to follow along on our cell phones and pray the prayers, wish each other Sign of Peace, etc.

 

[Peonies]

I am extremely grateful that the priests in my Archdiocese are able to livestream their Masses. At a time when very little is normal, there is something comforting (at least for me) about being able to watch one of my two local parish priests celebrate Mass at the time I would have normally attended.

 

[pnewton]

Unfortunately, our bishop has asked priests not to livestream masses from their churches (I think the idea is that it might encourage people to show up which normally we’d want them do do but not so much right now).

That is how we have been told to do this. I have also been told that I was to park around back and walk, so there is not an appearance of cars in front of the Church (I have helped twice). I do not know the plan for Holy Week, but I have had the same reservation on timing. It just seems odd to record something that is so traditionally done at a set time. I will find out in a couple of days when we plan to record the Masses and liturgies, as well as what adaptations that will have to be made. I think I will search for some other parishes first and see how others are doing this.

 

[Gorgias]

My question is, is watching the recorded Mass still as valid as the live Mass?

Yes, the Mass is valid.

My question is, is watching the recorded Mass still as valid as the live Mass?

Your prayers are never “not valid”.

If our priest were not to livestream his private Mass, and instead only posted a recording of it after the fact, would it still be as valid as if we were there in person?

The validity of Mass doesn’t depend on you.

I think you’re asking about the obligation of participating at Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation. If there aren’t any public Masses where you are, then that obligation is lifted. (And chances are, your bishop has already dispensed that obligation for your diocese.)

Be at peace. You’re good.

Unfortunately, our bishop has asked priests not to livestream masses from their churches

…and he hasn’t modified that advice, in the present situation? Are you guys in a “stay at home” situation in your locale?

What I don’t like though, is pre-recording a mass before the day itself

In our diocese, we’ve been told that we may not pre-record, but we can livestream and then leave the files accessible online afterward. We were told that this advice came from Rome.

 

[Anne1964]

In my Diocese the bishop prefers that Mass be live-streamed but he is also allowing pre-recorded.

Some are live-streaming and have posted instructions on the parish websites for people to not come to the church.

Some are pre-recording on the same day while others are pre-recording on the preceding day.

It honestly doesn’t make any difference to me as I will still watch Mass on Sunday

 

[InThePew]

How far does “attendance at Mass” extend?

It’s not something whcih lends itself to a simple answer partly because it’s necessarily contextual - time, place and intention all enter into it: being in (more or less) the same physical space, regardless of size; at the same time, for the purpose of attending mass.

Are you guys in a “stay at home” situation in your locale?

That we are. Other dioceses here have banned any masses from the church. Strictly speaking, this is what the lockdown requires but my bishop’s approach is more relaxed just as long as it’s only the priest/s and those who live in the presbytery (e.g. the odd seminarian) present. I know of at least one priest who continues to livestream from his church and several others who have set up temporary chapels in their presbyteries for the purpose of live streaming. The diocese also has a (pre-recorded) mass available online each day but these are recorded several days in advance.

On the whole it’s actually quite interesting seeing the different ways in which priests have responded and adapted to the restrictions. I think while it’s easy to fall back on “well the diocese is doing it so I don’t have to” imho people want/expect something from “their” priest / parish - the local church as it were. Of course that present difficulties which need to be overcome ranging from the technical (how to actually do it), to the aesthetic (how to actually do it well) to the practical (how to do it well and actually reach people) such as what platform to use - Facebook, YouTube, Websites, etc. There’ll be a thesis in there for somebody once this is all over!

 

[pnewton]

So, I did a search on Masses posted on YouTube, it seems there are a whole bunch of parishes that are doing this. As it is still not Mass attendance, and there is no established doctrine (it is new, after all), then I think I will keep my own council, and see if I am right when I get to Heaven. That opinion is that, since God Himself is outside of time, and the Mass is an eternal re-presentation of Calvary, that the live versus pre-recorded issue is not all that important, not that it matters. I do what I am told.

I guess it is good there is stuff available for everyone: live-stream from the diocese, or pre-recorded from one’s own priest.

 

[Krisdun]

I much prefer to watch a live streamed mass online rather than pre-recorded. Can get annoying though if the connection becomes interrupted for one reason or another.

 

[Catholic_Guy1]

We make a point in my house to watch it live to get the Priests blessing.

Also, just feels like we are somewhat there more than a recording.