Greg Daly
Technology-savvy priests are unlikely to put away their smartphones any time soon, despite advice from the Vatican’s liturgy chief.
Speaking in Rome’s Angelicum University last week, Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah warned that while it may be practical and convenient to pray the daily prayer of the Church on mobile phones or other electronic devices, doing so “desacralises prayer”.
“These apparatuses are not instruments consecrated and reserved to God, but we use them for God and also for profane things,” added the cardinal, who heads the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Such scepticism about electronic aids to prayer are partly a “generational thing”, according to Ballyshannon’s Fr Ian Fee, who told The Irish Catholic that younger people aren’t necessarily as wedded to the printed word as their elders might be.
Traditional way
“There’s no point in holding back and saying this is the traditional way in which we’ve done this, these are the traditional forms of media that we have used in the past so we’re going to stand here and wait for people to come to us,” he said, adding: “That’s not how it works anymore.”
While acknowledging that fears about priests using electronic devices in public worship are understandable, Fr Fee said such devices can be used to good effect in the right circumstances.
“Certainly things like Universalis and Sacred Space – I know so many people who use these things.
“It’s simply a part of their day and it’s the natural way for them to access these things, and I think that if they’re using phones, tablets, apps, websites – whatever it is – to access prayer, scripture, and reflections, or as aids to meditation, I think it’s only a good thing.”
Fr Conor McDonough OP, meanwhile, said while he would always prefer to pray the Office from his breviary rather than an electronic device, “when I’m travelling or just having a really busy day, I’ve found it helpful to pray the Divine Office with my Kindle, rather than putting it off”.
Maintaining that there’s “something special” about praying with a book that’s been designated for that purpose, he added: “But not everyone has access to liturgical books, and if prayer apps help busy Christians sanctify their day, then that’s undoubtedly a good thing!”
Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 comments on evangelising the “digital continent” are worth reflecting on in connection with this issue, Navan’s Fr Robert McCabe told this newspaper, noting that while he wouldn’t use electronic devices in public worship, they can be valuable, especially when travelling.
“Rather than just being a people of the book, we’re a people of the Word,” he said.