Hearing Mass via TV
Submitted by anne on Sat, 02/21/2009 - 08:29.
My Lola and aunt, God rest their souls, were bedridden before they passed away. They regularly had Holy Communion, through the kindness and compassion of their priest friend. As for their Sunday Masses, they attended them from home, by watching a televised Mass. Is that acceptable? How about some of my friends who when they're too busy or too tired, they opt to hear Mass too by putting on the TV?
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answer to your question, Anne
Dear Anne
I just hapened to see the question, thanks to my friend Lucille.
The question that you are asking is not about replacing Mass attendance with observing Mass on TV. Your question is about the validity of communion being recieved at home; while attending the Homily and liturgy at home through TV, like your Lola and aunt did. This is perfectly acceptable. Your Lola and aunt have been benefitted immensely through the reception of Holy Communion by your priest friend during their homebound and sick days. The Church always had Extraordinary ministers of Communion to administer the Sacrament to the sick and homebound. The martyr St. Tarcisius was an Extraordinary minister of communion and was martyred in Rome in 4 century AD when he disallowed a few Roman soldiers from disecrating and discrespecting the Body and Blood of Christ as he was carring the communion to the homebound in Rome. He is venerated today as the Patron saint of First Holy Communion.
Hope this email helps you Anne
thanks Anne
Tiju (tiju.thomas@rediffmail.com)
thank you!
Thank you, Tiju, for your helpful answer. My aunt and grandmother have now gone to the Lord and I'm happy knowing that up to their last days, they were united with Him through the Holy Communion. But my other question is, how about those friends I know, who aren't bedridden and are just finding it more convenient to hear Mass on TV?
Watching Mass on TV not the same as being present
Anne, the Mass is a sacrifice, the sacrifice of Jesus himself. It's not a matter of convenience. Yet Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest and a day of worship. There are many Filiinos who find it physically impossible to take part in Sunday Mass but many are able to go to Services of the Word in their barrios or districts. so they're not opting out for 'convenience' sake nor because they are tired.
The Word of God, proclaimed at Mass, and the Body of Christ, received in Holy Communion, are meant to 're-create' us, to renew us, to strengthen us as we try to follow Jesus in our daily lives.
By attending Mass on Sunday, or a Service of the Word if there's no Mass, we are also joining the Christian community and living out our baptism. If 'tiredness' were a reason for staying away from Mass I would also find it a reason for not having dinner, as I am often quite tired just before dinner. But the meal, which I usually have with someone else, takes away my tiredness.
And I'd much rather eat real food than watch someone eating on TV!
But to come back to the basic point: the Mass is the Sacrifice of Jesus to the Father. We cannot follow him by living according to convenience.
God bless you!
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