I try to go to daily
Mass and during the week this is usually with retired people. Retired people
who seem to need, to have their cell phones with them during the 30 minute
Mass, and not turn them off while at Mass …
So during the Mass I will hear the occasional “train horn” coming from
one man (his phone ringer sound) at one end of the church, I will hear “chimes” coming from another
senior’s phone, and across the church I will hear the ping of an incoming text
message on another senior’s cell phone … and I think what is so important that
they need to have their cell phones with them in church (just leave it in the
car) … is it for “help as in I have fallen and cannot get up” ??? …
Well there
are other people in the church, if they fall we will see it and help them get
up (not to mention when they fall “spiritually”, Jesus helps them get up again) …
is it because they are setting up a date for lunch or perhaps a bingo game
later that day??? Or maybe their friend Harriet or Harry just has to talk to
them about her / his latest doctor’s appointment, something many seniors like
to talk about, in church their doctors and aliments … or just gossip in general
… and to add to this, since most of them do not hear well … their phone audio
is on high so when that train horn ringer goes off, I have to suppress not
jumping up and shouting “all abroad!” It is that rude and obnoxious!
Church and Mass is
supposed to be a “safe space”, for Jesus Christ when he appears on the altar at
the time of consecration and when he remains with us in the Tabernacle, these
cell phones are disturbing “Jesus’ safe space”… I might have to ask the Pastor
if I can bring a “comfort dog” into church for the Mass and then have the dog
lay down, by the Tabernacle, you know the kind of dog you see at the airport
and such, when a person is in a high stress environment and the person needs
reassurance and comfort and the dog gives it to them. For it is obvious that
many at Mass are not paying attention to Mass (especially at consecration) they
are checking their phones …
You know we live in a
society that we all must be sensitive to others and what might trigger a
horrible and scary memory for someone … and I think poor Jesus Christ at each
Mass, he is remembering his pain and suffering on the Cross and what he did to
save us all … and what are his people doing at this time … checking their
phone! WOW … poor guy … bring in the comfort dog!
