We ask you, urgently: don’t scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources—essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
Pope Francis: PUT THE PHONE AWAY!
FREE Catholic Classes
On Wednesday a fiery Pope Francis chastised those who spend Mass talking to others, looking at their phone or even taking pictures during papal liturgies, saying these are distractions that take focus away from the "heart of the Church," which is the Eucharist.
Mass is time to put the phone away.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
11/8/2017 (7 years ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: Pope Francis, Eucharist, General audience, Catholic News
Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) - "The Mass is not a show: it is to go to meet the passion and resurrection of the Lord," the Pope said Nov. 8. "The Lord is here with us, present. Many times we go there, we look at things and chat among ourselves while the priest celebrates the Eucharist... But it is the Lord!"
In particular, Francis condemned the use of cell phones to take photos at papal Masses. At one point during the Mass the priest says, "we lift up our hearts," he said. "He does not say, --We lift up our phones to take photographs!'"
"It's a bad thing! And I tell you that it gives me so much sadness when I celebrate here in the Piazza or Basilica and I see so many raised cellphones, not just of the faithful, even of some priests and even bishops."
"But think: when you go to Mass, the Lord is there! And you're distracted. (But) it is the Lord!"
During the general audience, Pope Francis said the Eucharist would be the new focus of his weekly catechesis for the year, because "it is fundamental for us Christians to understand well the value and meaning of the Holy Mass to live more and more fully our relationship with God."
In the Eucharist we rediscover, through our senses, what is essential, he said. Just as the Apostle Thomas asked to see and touch the wounds of Jesus after his resurrection, we need the same thing: "to see him and touch him to be able to recognize him."
In this way, the Sacraments meet this very "human need" of ours, he said. And in the Eucharist, in particular, we find a privileged way to meet God and his love.
The Second Vatican Council was inspired by the desire to help Christians understand the beauty of the encounter in the Eucharist even better, he continued. This is why "it was necessary first to implement, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, an adequate renewal of the liturgy."
A central theme emphasized at Vatican II was the liturgical formation of the faithful, which Francis said is also the aim of the series of catechesis he began today: to help people "grow in the knowledge of this great gift God has given us in the Eucharist."
As a side note, Francis asked if people had noticed the chaotic way children make the sign of cross at Mass, moving their hand all over their chest, and asked people to teach children to make the sign of the cross well.
"We need to teach children to do the sign of the cross well," he said, noting that this is how Mass begins, because just as Mass begins this way, "so life begins, so the day begins."
Concluding his reflection on the Mass and the Eucharist, Pope Francis said that he hopes that through these brief weekly lessons everyone will rediscover the beauty "hidden in the Eucharistic celebration, and which, when revealed, gives a full meaning to the life of everyone."
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Introducing "Journey with the Messiah" - A Revolutionary Way to Experience the Bible
-
Pope Francis Calls Young Cancer Patients "Witnesses of Hope" During Audience at the Vatican
-
Senate to Vote on Protecting Babies Who Survive Abortions
-
Mel Gibson Prepares to Bring The Resurrection of the Christ to the Big Screen in 2025
-
Catholic Response to Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, January 11, 2025
- St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch: Saint of the Day for Saturday, January 11, 2025
- Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, December 31, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, January 10, 2025
- St. William of Bourges: Saint of the Day for Friday, January 10, 2025
- St. Theresa of the Child Jesus: Prayer of the Day for Monday, December 30, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.