So I have been pondering on participation in the Mass.
Specifically, I think tomorrow when my parish is streaming the Sunday Mass that I will go and park in the back of the church behind the chapel. The Tabernacle is in an arrangement being center and behind the main altar and shared with the Marian chapel behind it.
What actual distinctions are there if I am physically present in the church during Mass compared with me being physically present behind the church during Mass? Sure there is a fuller sign value of being in the church itself during Mass, but what other distinctions?
If the walls were transparent, I would be in visual distance of the priest. So I am thinking about what level of physical proximity matters. At large Papal masses such as WYD people are often at the very edge or visual distance and have to rely on projection screens to watch. So I think I am in somewhat the same situation relying on a mobile device to observe the Mass. So I think proximity is important and that it is not the same as being at home watching a streaming Mass live.
So I am interested in theological speculations on this.
On just a psychological level, I see this as beneficial to myself. Watching a Mass at home just leaves me as purely an observer and my feeling of participation about nil. I am happy for others that this is more helpful for them. Although I have to remind myself not to rely on my feelings as the arbiter of participation.
For Holy Week I will be spending my holy hour outside in the back of the church. This morning I was doing the same. I know precisely where the Tabernacle is and that I was only a couple of yards from it. I can easily visualize the interior of this historic wooden church. I have been thinking of making a Stations of the Cross standing outside and behind each image.
1 comment
“So I have been pondering on participation in the Mass.”
Funny you should be talking about this subject Jeff cause I AM also thinking about what this Covid -19 – virus cell is doing to our Catholic Church but I’ AM going to let sinner vic tell you and your readers all about “IT”… so take “IT”away sinner vic …
Victor! Victor! Victor! Why is “IT” that YA can’t speak for yourself? You seem to be having no problem when YA speak to YAR so called GOD (Good Old Dad) of YARS … OH YA! OH YA! All of US (USUAL SINNERS) I mean us godly cells have been listening on YAR conversation after all we’re in The Twenty First Century Now where everything is possible…
Victor why must YA fight up, “I” mean us godly cells know what we’re doing and for YA to ask for just a SPEC of Loving Help from YAR Precious, Everlasting Redeeming Innocent Old Dad who created The Heavens, Earth and most of all He created Adam and Eve about six thousand years ago using His Own Time… Butt, “I” mean, but Victor, YA don’t stop there, YA go on to ask GOD
for a SPEC of The Blessed Help of GOD’s Saving Precious Child Jesus who Loved His creation so much that when HE heard for about four thousand Years that Humanity was crying cause they wanted a Savior to save them from their sins… GOD sent US (USUAL SINNERS), “I” mean us godly cells know that about two thousand years later… We want YA to know that us gods had nothing to do with taking the life of GOD’s Only Begotten Son whom HIS FATHER had sent to die on a cross and “IT” was even written … For God so loved the world that He gave His Only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life… YA didn’t just stop there Victor, YA went on to say that GOD didn’t really want to die but as All Good Christians Know that Jesus said in The Garden in so many words, not what I want Father but Your will be done. Long story short, GOD could have saved HIS SON but then where would Humanity be on the food chain line nowadays… Victor! Victor! Victor! Talk about greed… YA also ask GOD for a SPEC of His Powerful Holy Spirit whom GOD sent to His Apostles about fifty days after His Resurrection from the dead so that they could help those human cells who truly wanted to be saved from the heart…
Before YA close me down Victor, “I” want to say that if Jesus was for real back then and said in so many words that if we humans had the faith of a Mustard seed, we could tell a mountain to move and “IT” would listen but nowadays Jesus would mostly say that if we had just ‘ONE” DNA of True Faith from the heart, The rest of our DNA cells would have no problem moving that mountain and…………………………………………………………….and…………………………………………………………….and…
END! END! END YA SAY sinner vic! DON’T BE LIKE THAT! BE NICE NOW!
WHO’S LAUGHING?
HAPPY EASTER and God Bless