Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: When a Concelebrant Takes Photos During Mass
ROME, JULY 6, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Pursuant to our article on priest concelebrants taking photos during Mass (see June 15, a reader asked about cases where laypeople take photos during a Mass. The reader lamented that in some cases it "looks like a big photo studio is present and not the real presence of Christ."
Although the original question referred to priests, who have a particular responsibility in this respect, our reader makes a valid point. It is incumbent on all the faithful present to live the Mass fully. For a participant at Mass to be continually taking photos is usually unwonted and is distracting to all.
The various norms regarding photographers usually have in mind professionals, part of whose mandate is to be as discreet as possible in carrying out their business. Thus even when the occasion does not warrant the use of professional photographers, it is good to have designated photographers (who can later make the photos available for others). This helps avoid a lot of moving about, shuffling for position, constant flashes and other distracting elements.
There might be occasions when, lacking designated photographers, some members of the faithful may discreetly snap an odd photo without distracting themselves and others. In this case they should avoid doing so in moments when they should be putting all their attention on the liturgical mystery being enacted.
Admittedly, we are before a relatively recent phenomenon, since before the advent of digital photography people would think twice before wasting limited film. Today it has become almost second nature to many people to immortalize an infinite number of "special" moments that are more often than not deleted shortly afterward or deposited in a file and hardly ever opened again.
Perhaps we need to promote a new ascetic practice during Mass: a photographic fast. What needs to be immortalized at Mass is not some fleeting moment of the external celebration but the inner transformation wrought by grace in the soul of those who live the Mass with attention, devotion and true active participation.
Pursuant to our article on priest concelebrants taking photos during Mass (see June 15, a reader asked about cases where laypeople take photos during a Mass. The reader lamented that in some cases it "looks like a big photo studio is present and not the real presence of Christ."
Although the original question referred to priests, who have a particular responsibility in this respect, our reader makes a valid point. It is incumbent on all the faithful present to live the Mass fully. For a participant at Mass to be continually taking photos is usually unwonted and is distracting to all.
The various norms regarding photographers usually have in mind professionals, part of whose mandate is to be as discreet as possible in carrying out their business. Thus even when the occasion does not warrant the use of professional photographers, it is good to have designated photographers (who can later make the photos available for others). This helps avoid a lot of moving about, shuffling for position, constant flashes and other distracting elements.
There might be occasions when, lacking designated photographers, some members of the faithful may discreetly snap an odd photo without distracting themselves and others. In this case they should avoid doing so in moments when they should be putting all their attention on the liturgical mystery being enacted.
Admittedly, we are before a relatively recent phenomenon, since before the advent of digital photography people would think twice before wasting limited film. Today it has become almost second nature to many people to immortalize an infinite number of "special" moments that are more often than not deleted shortly afterward or deposited in a file and hardly ever opened again.
Perhaps we need to promote a new ascetic practice during Mass: a photographic fast. What needs to be immortalized at Mass is not some fleeting moment of the external celebration but the inner transformation wrought by grace in the soul of those who live the Mass with attention, devotion and true active participation.
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8:37 AM
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