Roleplaying the Holy Mass

[TarkanAttila]

I’m in an online roleplaying game, playing a Catholic bishop in a village. I’m building a church there, and when I finish, I plan on performing pretend sacraments (roleplaying) there.

I’ve notified the chieftain of the village that my performances are not at all valid and carry no spiritual weight (he is not a spiritual fellow, anyway), but are merely roleplaying, and replications. I intend for any ceremonies to be accurate, certainly, but as I am not a valid priest and my “altar”, “lectern”, “tabernacle”, etc are imaginary and cannot ever be consecrated by a priest anyway, I know this roleplaying of the Mass carries no explicit spiritual benefits.

But my question is: is it morally acceptable to play the role of a priest and perform a replicated Holy Mass or a sacrament in a roleplaying game? I have no intention of committing sacrilege, real or simulated.

 

[Hokomai]

How is it different from a painting or a stained-glass window or a play?

 

[HerrZJA]

God, I hope so. I’ve been doing it too.

 

[Apryl]

I’m in an online roleplaying game, playing a Catholic bishop in a village. I’m building a church there, and when I finish, I plan on performing pretend sacraments (roleplaying) there.

I don’t know the answer to your question… I think you’re fine, though. It’s role playing. Like Bing Crosby playing a priest in the movies!

But where is this game? I am a video game junkie… I wanna play. Where? how? What???

 

[Beth_Cecilia]

I don’t know about the similarity between your role-playing and art, but it strikes me as being very similar to children’s games which we not only do not admonish, but we encourage. I cannot imagine why it would be considered immoral, unless there was a chance that someone did not know it was a game.

 

[TarkanAttila]

How is it different from a painting or a stained-glass window or a play?

I’m not sure. I doubt it’s a problem, but remember Saint Genesius and his theater troupe used to make a mockery of priests and Christians. I’m not trying to do that. I’m earnest in my efforts.

I dunno. Maybe I just lack confidence in my actions.

 

[Viki63]

I would check with a priest if I were you. You don’t want to convey to other players who might be watching that the sacraments are ordinary things. I can’t explain it well but it would make me uncomfortable to watch a fake mass.
and such a waste of time – when you might be using that hour to actually attend a real mass – wouldn’t that be better? Not that everything needs to be religion, but if you are deriving pleasure from role-playing a mass, how infinitely much more joy can be found in the real mass?

 

[TarkanAttila]

I would check with a priest if I were you. You don’t want to convey to other players who might be watching that the sacraments are ordinary things. I can’t explain it well but it would make me uncomfortable to watch a fake mass.
and such a waste of time – when you might be using that hour to actually attend a real mass – wouldn’t that be better? Not that everything needs to be religion, but if you are deriving pleasure from role-playing a mass, how infinitely much more joy can be found in the real mass?

Yes, this is my concern, as well. The lowering of the Mass and of the blessings to being mere words, like a play. These are not exactly people who see meaning in art. The Mass is the defining work of art of our lives.

But it is my hope that in seeing what the Mass is like (kinda), maybe they’d want to go to one of their own? Couldn’t hurt 'em. Unless they decide to make sacrilege out of it.

And you are right; a real Mass is a better use of my time than an acted-out one. Meditation and prayer probably are as well. But pretend Masses and benedictions can be a blessing as well. I learned this yesterday when I went to bless someone’s mass grave.

I have the fortune to have an old “Collectio Rituum” an old priest once owned. It was from 1954, half in Latin, half in English. I took the time to type out the “Benedictio ad Omnia” (Blessing for Anything) in the game. I almost felt as if I had the real power to bless things.

I’ve always wondered if I should become a priest. This could be an exercise in that respect.