Using phone/iPod to pray at church

[TimothyH]

I agree with the above. The old folks are just going to have to get used to people using electronic resources instead of the corresponding (as some like to call it) dead-tree version.

You can make snide remarks about old people if you want, but as an old man who has been building email systems for for some of the companies which you probably do business with since 1997, and as one who will be persuing Apple Mobility Specialist certification next year, I wish people would shut off the phones and leave them in the car. Church just isn’t the place for them.

And you can make cute remarks about killing dead trees but the Lord and Savior of my life, and hopefully your life, became man so that he could be nailed to a dead tree, so that your soul and mine could spend eternity with him instead of spending eternity with satan. A dead tree was the instrument of salvation for mankind. There is something very sublime about a dead tree and a dead cow which has been turned into a leather covered, zippered missal with ribbons and gilded pages, or a dead tree which has been turned into a pew, or an ambo on which the Gospel of the Lord is proclaimed, or the base of an altar on which Christ is made present so that you and I can receive him.

Christ’s church is not a multi-use building. It is a sacred, holy space. The things in the Church and the things we bring into the Church should be sacred, holy, and dedicated to God. The things we bring into the Church should not try to satisfy both sacred and non sacred needs. Phones are exactly that. I wonder how many people look at porn on their phones and then bring them into God’s house.

I find them profane and distracting. I wish people would shut them off and leave them in the car. No one can tell me that they can afford $100/month for a voice and data plan but they can’t afford a $27 St. Joe’s missal.

-Tim-

 

[TheMc]

I agree with the above. The old folks are just going to have to get used to people using electronic resources instead of the corresponding (as some like to call it) dead-tree version.

But the dead tree versions are so much better.

 

[porthos11]

I myself have converted over to e-reading (I live in Canada so I own a Kobo Touch). While I don’t think I’d ever go anything other than dead-tree for official prayer (e.g. Divine Office), it may make much sense to bring an prayer e-book now, maybe even to Mass. Perhaps an e-reader may appear (because really, isn’t this thread about how it looks) less, er, “irreverent”?

OTOH, it may also look odd, even for a congregation armed with e-readers. It may just look too, well, electronic.

 

[brikar]

I use my phone to pray before/after mass. I asked my priest how he felt about this. I was praying, but it might not look that way to some. He said to use it. I was praying, and it was a good example for the techies. Then he asked me to show him how to get the breviary on his phone.

 

[AnneTeresa]

I’d say go for it. You can’t control what other people think anyway. They’ll just learn to adjust.

I did however have a priest take two texts during my confession once. Very strange.

 

[curlycool89]

But the dead tree versions are so much better.

It’s arguable. It really comes down to your opinion and personal taste.

I prefer the iPhone because it’s easier to carry when it comes to daily readings or prayers. I don’t have any need for a full missal. There’s some good apps that have a variety of prayers, and there’s some great rosary ones too.

On the other hand, for Liturgy of the Hours I use the 4-volume Breviary. I find that the book is better than any app that’s available (most also follow the US calendar, which is sometimes useless when you live in Canada). Also, I learned to pray the Office originally using the hard-copy.

Christ’s church is not a multi-use building. It is a sacred, holy space. The things in the Church and the things we bring into the Church should be sacred, holy, and dedicated to God. The things we bring into the Church should not try to satisfy both sacred and non sacred needs. Phones are exactly that. I wonder how many people look at porn on their phones and then bring them into God’s house.

I find them profane and distracting. I wish people would shut them off and leave them in the car. No one can tell me that they can afford $100/month for a voice and data plan but they can’t afford a $27 St. Joe’s missal.

Dude, calm down. People are not suggesting burning all books or anything.

Second, you’ve got major hyperbolies (I hope) that are pretty disrespectful of people. The idea that everything that comes into a parish should be “sacred” is pretty much wrong off the bat, because none of us have specially blest clothing/winter coats/shoes. Secondly, sometimes people need to bring something to satisfy bodily needs, such as a kleenex to blow your nose or a bottle of water if you’ve got a cold/dry throat (and in that case you could even argue for Halls or Fishermans’s Friend depending on how bad it is).

Thirdly, your insinuation that people browse porn on their phone before church is insulting. Just because a person is technologically capable doesn’t mean that they have loose morals.

Fourthly, some people require a phone on them at all times.

Fifthly, I don’t know where you live, but no one I know has a $100/month phone plan. Some people don’t even get data, they just download everything over Wi-Fi and look at it later.

You’ve got the technical background, but your opinions of people seem to be built on stereotypes.

 

[MissRose73]

Yes, many people own cell phone and other forms of technology. Honestly, they should on either off or vibrate from the time you get on church property until you step outside church to leave after Mass is done. Most people do not have on call jobs and not all are care givers in some way to someone that requires constant care, then again those in those positions should use the vibrate function & sit in the back so if they must step out, they do so discreetly. My cell phone is placed on silent in my purse/handbag before I step out of my car when I arrive to Mass, and returned to normal volume after Mass after I have gotten into my car. God does deserve some off time from my cell phone for sure.

Yes, I do check the readings and stuff using my Catholic applications but I would not do so during Mass. Before Mass, and do so discreetly and quietly, then yes that is not so bad but not checking sports scores as an example. I have used them to assist me during Adoration or when in the confessional confessing to a priest as examples but no one would know I was doing so to read certain prayers.

 

[promethius]

Christ’s church is not a multi-use building. It is a sacred, holy space. The things in the Church and the things we bring into the Church should be sacred, holy, and dedicated to God. The things we bring into the Church should not try to satisfy both sacred and non sacred needs. Phones are exactly that. I wonder how many people look at porn on their phones and then bring them into God’s house.

By that logic, shouldn’t we be leaving most of our clothes outside?

 

[TheMc]

By that logic, shouldn’t we be leaving most of our clothes outside?

??????

 

[promethius]

??????

If one of the qualifications is that anything to be brought into the church should NOT have been used to satisfy any non-sacred needs, then the clothing that most of us wear into church does not meet that high standard… ergo by following the logic that only sacred objects be brought into church, most of us should stand outside, and the rest should enter naked (or have to change into special “sacred” purpose robes).

It’s humorously pointing out that the standard the poster set is (1) not in keeping with the church’s teachings and (2) generally impossible to meet.

 

[dconklin]

Use what you want when you want. For the most part, the Church Police only patrol on the CA forums. It won’t be long before iPad type devices will be in the pews. Is it wrong for the music minister to have an iPad or computer monitor showing the music or does it have to be big paper?

Don’t worry about the “old people”. I am distracted by the old ladies with the holy/saint cards jammed into their missals or when they are praying the Rosary through the whole Mass. Do I make a big deal of it? No. It’s their way of praying. Have your own way of praying.

Is the iMissal wrong?

 

[genesius28]

I’ll admit to feeling a little awkward using an electronic device at church, but when when you get right down to it, there’s not much difference between using an electronic prayerbook or a paper one… It’s just something people have to get used to. As long as it not playing music or making distracting noises, there should be no issue. I have an excellent prayerbook on my Kindle that I use, and I use an app on my cell phone for making a list of my sins before Confession. Who knows, maybe in the future electronic missals will be ubiquitous in the pews, and perhaps even at the altar.

 

[JerrySeibert]

I really wouldn’t worry about it. Actually I don’t worry about it! LOL

I often read scripture before Mass, on my iphone (sound turned off, of course). Basically I figure if someone is that affected they’ll have to, get over it, or come to me and say something. At that point I’ll show them what I am doing with a smile, of course

I’ve never had a problem.

God Bless,
cheese

Exactly what is wrong with using current technology while praying? Those who do not realize these devices are currently replacing textbooks and the extremely overpriced college texts. Someone can he hemm me all they want. My faith is between me and God and they should remember that. The pious holier than thou types is what is and has driven people away from the Catholic Church. I have Catholic one which gives me all the Readings for Daily Mass, as well as an App for the Divine Office. I have read parts of the Bible on my Kindle app in front of the Blessed Sacrament. So if I have this on a phone or a paper book what is the difference? NONE!
And for those who feel texting in Mass is wrong, how dare you judge, do you know this person? How do you not know it is an all call Doctor who may be getting paged to save the life of another human being or possibly someone you even know.
My point is that to say handheld devices have no use in Mass or Church is the same ignorance of those who say money is evil… money is only evil in the hands of those who wish to do evil things… yes computers have the potential to be very evil but in the hands of someone who wishes to do prayer…how can that ever be evil?
I have offered my phone to those who give me the ‘look’ and for some after mass I have even showed them how to download the app.
Use your phone for prayer.