Is Watching Mass on TV or on My Phone Just as Good as Going to Mass?

Watching TvNo.

Television and internet broadcasts of Mass are useful for the sick or those unable to get to Mass because of some other infirmity. If you were to miss Mass because you are purposely choosing to attend another event (say, a baseball game) that is a violation of the commandment to honor the Sabbath.

As the Catechism notes:


RELATED: Missing Mass on Vacation?

What is required is to gather as a Christian assembly of faith, not necessarily Mass, per se. There are plenty of parishes in the country, and many outside of the United States, that have no resident priest and therefore cannot have a Mass. They have Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest, more commonly known as communion services. They read the liturgy of the Word and have pre-consecrated hosts from another holy sacrifice of the Mass held elsewhere.

Again, from the Catechism:


In short, one should always set time aside to go to Mass and there are plenty of opportunities to do so on Sunday morning, Saturday evening, or Sunday night.

Mike Hayes
