Dear Father,
I’ve been watching Mass on my computer screen for several years. But suddenly my pastor decided to stop livestreaming the Mass and adoration at my parish. Now I have to look elsewhere for Masses online, but there are fewer of them. Has there been some order from the Vatican about this?
-Claire
Dear Claire,
The Vatican regularly broadcasts the Holy Father’s Masses. This is a unique situation, given that the pope is the pastor of the whole world. Most people have access to his Masses and preaching only through internet livestreaming and recordings.
Pope John Paul II founded the Vatican Television Center in 1983 in order to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. He also wanted people to have access to “the pastoral ministry of the Supreme Pontiff and the activities of the Apostolic See,” according to the Communication Office of the Vatican.
Then, in 2015, Pope Francis broadened the Vatican communications network, recognizing the complexity of multimedia information. Again, the pope’s aim was to “better respond to the needs of the mission of the Church” (June 27, 2015 Motu proprio).
We see that the priority for broadcasting the Mass is the proclamation of the Gospel. It is never to be used for the aggrandizement of the bishop or priest, making himself a kind of movie star or seeking to rack up viewer hits.
With this filter of the priority of the Gospel in mind, we can evaluate the usefulness of liturgical livestreaming. Papal liturgies have the highest need for broadcast for apparent reasons. It is proper that everyone in the world sees and hears the universal pastor, preaching Christ and leading all in prayer.
Additionally, countrywide and statewide events, such as the Eucharistic Revival and Congresses, are fittingly broadcast, especially since travel and attendance at such events are difficult.
During the COVID lockdown, livestreaming was often the only access that many people had to a distant “participation” in the Mass. Without the benefit of in-person attendance at Mass, people were encouraged to make a spiritual communion. A spiritual communion is a prayer that expresses the desire to receive communion when unable to receive actual communion at Mass.
Another use of livestreaming is for those who are homebound by sickness or some other disability. This includes those who are in nursing homes and hospitals. For the sick and disabled, watching Mass on TV or a digital screen can be both a comfort and a help to prayer.
Nevertheless, we are not merely spiritual beings. We have bodies, too. That’s why the Son of God became man. He did not redeem us from sin by willing our redemption remotely from heaven. His Incarnation is continued through the sacraments he instituted, especially the Eucharist.
Just as genuine human relationships require a physical presence, so with Christ, who insists on being present to us physically in the Eucharist through transubstantiation. He gives himself to us and asks that we give ourselves to him through Holy Communion.
A livestreamed Mass can never substitute our presence at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. At Mass, we receive untold graces as we offer our due worship to God. Our physical presence enables greater union with God, even amid distractions.
A livestreamed Mass may be the occasion for prayer, but it does not suffice for the reality any more than an email exchange between two lovers who rightly insist on each other’s presence. Even a Zoom video can never replace real presence.
Some people mistakenly think that watching Mass on a screen, whether livestreamed or recorded, makes up for going to church. We are obliged to worship God at Mass. A Mass on a screen does not fulfill divine worship any more than a postcard makes up for being on a luxury vacation. Someone who is truly impeded from going to church, say on account of illness or extreme weather and the like, cannot be obligated to attend Mass. Therefore, there is no obligation to view the Mass on a screen.
The same is true of Eucharistic Adoration. A livestreamed image of the Eucharist exposed in a monstrance is just that: a distant image. It’s telling that we would find it silly (and certainly idolatrous) to genuflect to the image of the Eucharistic Host on the screen. The image may offer a distant focal point for prayer, but it cannot replace the reality of Christ’s presence.
Finally, technology allows people who are otherwise unable to attend in person to witness special religious events. Relatives who live on another continent, for instance, can see a family wedding, ordination or a funeral. These are matters of convenience, not necessity.
The bottom line to judge the usefulness of video presentations of sacred events is to make sure that we are doing all in our power to give our whole selves to God, making robust efforts to be present to him who has traveled from heaven to live among us and give himself to us.