Taking notes during homily

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A few people at my church take notes on the homily. One of them usually gives the notes to the pastoral admin to approve before having them placed on the parish website. I am not a super fast writer nor know much shorthand to take notes. If done discreetly, I have no issue at all.
 
I give my undivided attention when in Church and expect others to do so as well. It is the one place on Earth where there should be no interruptions and distractions. All eyes East.
 
pianistclare said:
:eek:

No, I don’t think it’s appropriate. The biggest compliment you can give him is your full
attention.
I just asked my pastor (whom I work for) and he was not at all keen on the notion.
I see I’m the only one who feels this way. :rolleyes:
Better to sign up for one of his apologetics courses or Bible studies, IMHO.
Mass is just not the place for taking out a pen or a device.
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When I was in RCIA, the deacon explained that we really shouldn’t even be reading along silently in our missals, following the readings during Mass. He said that the Word of God is meant to be proclaimed and heard and that it affects us differently when we read it instead or at the same time. He said that, ideally, a person would read the readings before the Mass and keep the missal closed during the readings and homily, and just sit and listen.

Coming from a Protestant background, where the sermons were more like lectures, complete with pre-printed outlines and references, and the sounds of page turning and scribbling notes the whole hour, his training raised my eyebrows. It is a very different experience to sit and do nothing but listen prayerfully while the Bible is read and expounded upon so briefly. But after a period of adjustment, I love it. And one other thing I noticed is that there is way more actual scripture read in the Mass than in any sermon I have ever experienced. I have learned so much more about the Bible in context, and understood the connections better, in the nearly six years of being Catholic than ever before my conversion.

That said, I LOVE Bible study. And I really enjoy a good apologetics course (I do them online). 👍
 
Apologetics courses online? #Leans chin dreamily onto hand# Tell me more…
 
To the OP,

I think your explanation of a little notebook to jot down a few notes during the homily sounds fine. As long as you don’t start thinking about your grocery list! 😃

Where I go to Mass, I see plenty of adaptations for the particular needs of the members of the congregation, including little holy books for children, notebooks for some, Rosary beads for some, lines for the confessional through the entire liturgy of the Word. I won’t mention some of the worse things I have seen being done by people during Mass, which are out of place and inappropriate. But a notebook? That would be very discrete and respectful.

God bless you for wanting to learn more from the Lord at Mass!
 
Maddie26 said:
Apologetics courses online? #Leans chin dreamily onto hand# Tell me more…
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Lol

If I tell you where I found them, I will get run off this board in a flash.

Most people don’t like “them”, because of “their” most well-known daily production.

Well, if you must know, ChurchMilitant.com. The apologetics courses are behind the paywall. Subscription is $10 a month. Avoid the Vortex, and stick to the apologetics and catechetical video series and you will be fine.

Now that I have told you, how long until someone yells at me for having a subscription there and having the audacity to mention it here?? Would it make a difference if I let my subscription lapse a few months ago?:o

Seriously though, the apologetics series are excellent.
 
jmjZelie said:
When I was in RCIA, the deacon explained that we really shouldn’t even be reading along silently in our missals, following the readings during Mass. He said that the Word of God is meant to be proclaimed and heard and that it affects us differently when we read it instead or at the same time. He said that, ideally, a person would read the readings before the Mass and keep the missal closed during the readings and homily, and just sit and listen.
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Depends on one’s teaching and learning philosophy. There are some teachers who frown upon their students opening their books searching for the right page, etc. But then they lecture from other sources, which changes the landscape a bit. In the context of scripture reading (as well as Mass readings) a serious listener would question things he heard and indeed it is better he have the text available to make sure he had heard it right. Besides that he may not be following at the same speed as the lector/priest so it makes it easier to read at his own speed. It could also be in a language he doesn’t quite understand so again he needs to read along if he has something available.

It may indeed be the Word of God but it’s a human reading it. A listener need to get it right if it’s worth that much.
 
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