• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

The Unintended Consequences of Live Streaming Mass

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · April 21, 2020

IVE STREAMED Masses have become ubiquitous. Parishes have found ways to adapt to technology so as to reach the faithful via their computers and in their homes. Many, many people are genuinely grateful to their parishes and pastors for creating this way of staying in contact and offering Mass in the only way possible for now.  Without diving into the ongoing conversation about the absence of public Masses and the loss of the Sacraments to the faithful, I would like to offer some thoughts about possible long-term effects that watching live streamed Masses from home may have on all of us, especially if we are forced to continue this practice for much longer. Perhaps these consequences have already begun to take hold.

Consequences and Fears

1) Most parishes were probably not set up to become television production studios, yet many have made amazing strides and gotten very good at it. Multiple cameras, fade ins and cross fades, close ups and long shots, each week’s installment is better than the last. But is that a good thing? Even as production values increase, most parishes will probably never have the time or resources to become as adept as the non-denominational church that was, frankly, already built as a glorified TV studio. Nor do we want to, or need to. But if we take on some of those techniques and some of those production values, what will keep people from seeing that type of “screen” worship as just another option once the public celebration of Mass finally returns?

2) We all know that our attention spans are becoming eroded. Screens have done this to us. During live streamed Masses we can see people commenting, saying ‘hi’ to each other, thanking the priest, or asking why their internet is slow. This new participatio actuosa makes one question how much of the Mass we are actually seeing or hearing.  And so we question, are those things we have been lamenting for years, the loss of reverence, solemnity, sacred silence, and perhaps most of all, belief in the Real Presence, being eroded like so many spans of attention?

3) Imagine the difference between live theater and a movie. Both are important parts of the artistic milieu of our culture, and both have value, but they reach their audiences in different ways.  A high budget action movie is non-stop action and excitement, a visual and aural overload of the senses. Its appeal resides in keeping the audience constantly on the edge of their seats. A live play requires a different kind of participation. People have to relate in the here and now to living human beings, listen attentively to the spoken word, sometimes imagine things beyond what they see. We can watch a movie a hundred times over and it will always look and sound exactly the same, but a play is one and done. It will never be the same no matter how many times we go back to the theater.  And let’s face it, movies are more popular than live theater. Screens have become equivalent, for the most part, with entertainment.  Our screens give us constant, immediate, and usually quick bursts of satisfaction. We can look as long as we want, no investment required. If we don’t like it, we can move on. Not so in real life. The opposite of the captive audience, with an on-screen Mass, leaving is an easy thing to do. And if someone is not entertained, they can just change the channel. 

4) Liturgy, derived from the Greek, was a work for the people, with service at its root. In Christian use it is the official public ritual of the Church. It is incumbent on a communal response and participation with both the Divine and those gathered. I wonder if live streamed Masses even qualify as liturgy? Let’s face it, watching a Mass on a screen with almost no one in the church is weird. It’s off, it’s not right. Even weirder might be the Mass that is pre-recorded. I understand that some places, perhaps a cathedral or a parish specifically created for television, need to pre-record to meet national broadcast standards and time constraints. No argument there. But if the rest of us are going offer real liturgy, let’s at least do it live. Otherwise, is it even liturgy? 

What Will Happen When Public Masses Resume?

We all pray that people will return in huge numbers, and even that attendance will increase from what it was before the crisis. But some will still fear large crowds. Some at-risk folks may be required to stay at home a while longer. In this case, it may be necessary to continue to live stream.  If so, the messaging needs to be clear – the live streamed Mass can never be a substitute for the real thing. It is only a medium in extraordinary times and circumstances. Yet, inevitably, some people will ask for it to continue. They will cite the convenience factor, or that their children away at college can tune in, or that they can hear it better from home. We cannot let our liturgy become inculturated by the medium. We cannot become entertainers. If our live streamed Masses become too good, too slick, too produced, we could have problems down the road. Let us pray that this crisis ends soon and that there will be no more need to turn our parishes and cathedrals into TV studios. 

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: April 22, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Dr. Alfred Calabrese

Dr. Alfred Calabrese is Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, TX. He and his wife have two children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The unity of language in the liturgy is so great a treasure for the Church that no advantage could compensate for its demise.”

— Dom Anselmo Albareda (2 January 1953), Father Nicola Giampietro, page 249

Recent Posts

  • A Practical Method of Projecting Solfege for Chant
  • PDF Downloads • Four (4) Simple Pieces in Harmony for Men’s Choirs
  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
  • “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.