![]() ![]() In many instances, the Church does not have complete control over the televising of the liturgy. This is especially important when the service to be broadcast is the Mass" ( SC, #20). The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy notes that "Radio and television broadcasts of sacred rites must be marked by discretion and dignity, under the leadership and direction of a competent person appointed for this office by the bishops. It takes special skills and pastoral sensitivity to produce a televised celebration of the Mass that is liturgically sound, given the limits imposed by the medium itself and the difficulties often associated with the availability of air time and the funding of such broadcasts. Although the televised Mass is not a substitute for participation in the actual celebration of the Church's liturgy, it does provide an opportunity for those unable to be physically present 1) to identify with a worshiping community, 2) to hear the Word of God, 3) and to be moved to expressions of praise and thanksgiving.ĭiocesan liturgists and communication specialists who work to provide the televising of the Sunday Liturgy offer a special service, often under very difficult conditions. ![]() While there may be a tendency for the medium of television, with its inherent lack of physical interaction, to lead people to more passive roles as spectators, some elements of the telecasts can engage the viewers as participants. Telecasts, by their very nature, attempt to connect people and places that are physically separated. ![]() Thus, our participation in the eucharist involves both internal and external expression including, but not limited to, an attitude of prayer and attention, physical movement, sentiments of praise and adoration, and joining in the sung and recited responses. As members of the worshiping assembly, we are called to join the offering of ourselves with the offering of Christ. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy clearly articulated the primary importance of the faithful's "full, conscious, and active participation" which is called for "by the very nature of the Liturgy" and which is their "right and duty" by reason of their baptism ( SC, #14). In addition, many regard televised liturgies as a means of evangelization, of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and promoting the Church's worship via modern means of communication (cf. However, televising the Mass is a ministry by which the Church uses modern technology to bring the Lord's healing and comfort to those who cannot physically participate in the liturgical life of the local Church and who often experience a sense of isolation from the parish and its regular forms of prayer and worship. The televised Mass is never a substitute for the Church's pastoral care for the sick in the form of visits by parish ministers who share the Scriptures and bring Communion, nor is it ever a substitute for the Sunday Mass celebrated within a parish faith community each week. For this reason, many dioceses telecast the Mass and other liturgies as a way of reaching out to those who cannot be physically present for the community's celebration of the eucharist. Some people have been hospitalized, home-bound, or imprisoned and do not have the opportunity to be physically present with a regular worshiping community. Yet being a part of the Sunday worshiping assembly is not always possible for all members of the community. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy reminds us that "all who are made children of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of his Church, to take part in the sacrifice, and to eat the Lord's Supper" ( SC, #10). In the eucharistic assembly, in the proclamation of the Word, and in the celebration of the sacraments, God is present in our midst. The Church at worship is God's priestly people called together and united with Christ in a sacred work through which God is glorified and we are made holy (cf. (Note: This text was updated in January 2014 to conform citations of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal to the edition found in the Roman Missal, Third Edition, as well as to insert two citations from Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship that match updated guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.) ![]() These guidelines are offered as a resource for diocesan bishops and communication and liturgy personnel entrusted with the televising of liturgies. The following guidelines were approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops at its November 1996 plenary meeting. ![]()
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