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Hearing Mass via TV

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, opt to hear Mass too by putting on the TV?

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 Filipinos 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!