Using a Missal at Mass

[Jennifoo]

They’re not articulating it well but I think the problem is that such devices can be an opportunity for scandal. When you see someone holding up a missal you know they are reading THE missal. … but when someone is on their phone they could be playing a game, texting, browsing the internet… anything, really, and there’s no way to know with one quick glance. This could lead to people making unfair judgments about the phone user and thus scandal!

BUT instead of teaching people they mustn’t use their handheld device as a missal, I think it would be better to teach people NOT TO JUDGE UNFAIRLY.

I take notes during Mass and people have presumed I was doodling, writing letters, etc. They judged unfairly, when in fact I was taking notes so I could remember the homily later (when I needed to remember it). Because these same people approached me I was able to clear up the misconception buyot how would I have felt if I’d noticed them glaring at me because I DARED to do something as unconventional as PAY ATTENTION to the homily! GASP/
QUOTE]

Well said! I have taken notes at Mass occasionally. I find it to be very helpful in keeping my focus. If I’ve ever been misjudged I don’t know as no one has ever said anything.

I have been misjudged about other things and snubbed. I don’t even know why I was snubbed as they never bothered to tell me. I sometimes wonder why giving people the benefit of the doubt went out of style. I also wonder why people are inclined to judge negatively as opposed to trying to look for the good in others. Sad, yes.

 

[ProVobis]

Well said! I have taken notes at Mass occasionally. I find it to be very helpful in keeping my focus. If I’ve ever been misjudged I don’t know as no one has ever said anything.

Last job I had my boss required everyone at his meetings to bring along a pad of paper and take notes. He said it actually helped his thinking process and he hated to repeat.

 

[Magdalena59]

Oy! Last thing I want to see in Mass are people with “smart phones” or “iPads” out. In fact if I started to see this I would probably complain to the priest, who to begin with likely wouldn’t allow such a thing. Mass is about the last safe haven away from such annoyances, until inevitably someone’s cell phone in their pocket rings.

I have seen people bring Iphones and Ipads to Mass and pray the Liturgy of Hours and other prayers on them before Mass starts and sometimes after. I haven’t seen any one use it as their Mass missal though. I know it seems like these would be distractions but they actually hold many many prayers.

I do this at times myself. My IPhone is loaded with prayers but I use a missal for Mass.

 

[Magdalena59]

I suspect the activities of the laity during Mass varied from culture to culture.

Many of us remember seeing (and some of us probably still see) individuals who prayed the rosary or engaged in other personal devotions through the Mass. There have certainly always been those who used missals during Mass. I’m guessing that for many people a missal was a once in a lifetime purchase, not because the Mass never changed, but because of the cost of the missal. I don’t recall my parents having individual missals with readings. They might have had some of those children’s missals which had snippets from the Gospel readings of the major Church feasts.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my children weren’t allowed to have missals at their First Communion Mass because the teachers were concerned that the children would use the missals to distract others.

Both my parents had individual missals. My father is gone now but read and prayed from it every day. My mother still uses hers for daily prayers. They were both black St. Joseph missals. Having said that though I never saw them take it to Mass. They may have when I was younger. I just don’t know. My mother always uses the missalettes.

 

[pianistclare]

To missal or not to missal…the eternal question. Sigh.

Some priests don’t like people looking down at a book during Mass. That’s why many parishes don’t offer the missalettes. But you have to admit, they are handy for children learning about the Mass and those who are hard of hearing. And those struggling to learn English.
There’s not really a one size fits all on this.
No one at my church uses one during Mass. Many bring them for private devotions before or after. They are lovely books to own. A great aid in prayer.

But I have to say…I would really be dismayed to see devices creep into the Church. It’s the one place where I can escape the pull (or intrusion if you will) of worldly things…even if it’s sacred content.

 

[Magdalena59]

I use my own missal during the week and a missalette found in the pew on Sundays. I always try to follow along with Mass. I have read in the St. Joseph catechism it is paying attention and participating in Mass if we follow along with the readings and prayers. Also, if I don’t my mind wanders. Seeing the words in front of me puts it in my mind and heart more than just hearing them. Also, I have found that the liturgists make many mistakes and if I didn’t have the words in front of me I would leave thinking the Bible said one thing when it said something else.

Lastly, there are humbling prayers that the priests say quietly during the Liturgy of the Eucharist that I can pray along with quietly that are in my weekday missal. IMHO these are beautiful prayers to pray along with before receiving Christ. These are not in the missalettes. I do have them almost memorized so I do still pray them on Sunday.

Kindly responding to those who have said that others using a missal is a distraction. I am sorry if it bothers people that I use a missal but I think they should be paying attention to Mass and not watching me. I have never had a complaint or nasty look. If I don’t use a missal I tend to look around at others also, so that is another plus for using a missal. There are others at our parish that use missals and on Sundays the missalettes are at the door when you walk in and are usually all used.

Another parish we attend occasionally hands the missalettes out to you when you walk in the door, so I get the hint they want you to use them.

Proverbs 4:20 - 21 My child, be attentive to my words; incline your *ear *to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. (italics mine)

 

[MissRose73]

I have a Sunday missal with readings etc for NO for the respective year. I have a Daily/Sunday for EF Masses. I use the missal for readings mainly at NO Masses, more stuff for special Masses like Holy Thursday etc. I use it more for following along and more at EF Masses.