Just as the priest elevates the Host, just as the congregation slips into that sacred silence before the “Behold the Lamb of God,” it happens....
... jarring ringtone...
... tinny pop song...
... notification chime...
The sanctuary, meant to echo heaven, is momentarily hijacked by the unmistakable sound of someone’s phone.
Embarrassed shuffling follows.
Sometimes a frantic hand reaching into a handbag. Sometimes a face that stares forward in stony denial. And sometimes, the person just answers it - yes, even in church.
We’ve grown so accustomed to this kind of intrusion that we may no longer notice the deeper question it raises:
Can we truly connect with our Heavenly Father… if we never disconnect from our phones?
The Sacred and the Scrolling
The Mass is heaven on earth. It is the moment when Christ becomes present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. It is the most intimate communion we are offered this side of eternity. And yet, so many of us bring into this sacred space all the buzzing urgency of the secular world in our pockets.
It’s not just the occasional ringtone. It's the temptation to check a message, glance at a football score, or sneak a peek at social media during a homily.
If we’re honest, many of us have allowed our phones to become not just tools - but extensions of ourselves. We don’t leave home without them. We sleep with them beside us. We check them instinctively, often without even realising it. And so, when it comes to the Mass, we bring them with us - not just physically, but spiritually. And they fragment our attention.
We become present, but not fully present. We are there - but not really there.
“Be Still and Know That I Am God”
Psalm 46:10 says it plainly:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
(RSV-CE)
Stillness is the entryway to reverence. It opens the soul to contemplation. But stillness is impossible when our attention is split between the altar and the alerts.
Imagine this: you're having a heart-to-heart with someone you love. They keep glancing at their phone. Wouldn’t you feel dismissed? Unimportant? Distracted?
Now imagine how we appear before God at Mass when we do the same.
Of course, we don’t intend to be irreverent. Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we’re anxious about an emergency or waiting for news. Sometimes we justify it by saying, “I have my Bible app open,” or “I’m reading the readings on my phone.”
And that’s fair - technology can support our worship. But we must ask: is it helping, or is it pulling me away from this moment with God?
Our Phones Are Not the Enemy – But They Are Loud
Let’s be clear: phones aren’t evil. They’re brilliant inventions that have enabled us to stay connected, evangelise creatively, and even pray in new ways. The problem isn’t the device - it’s our dependency. It’s how quickly we reach for it when we’re bored, nervous, or alone.
St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything.”
(1 Corinthians 6:12, RSV-CE)
Many of us are, without realising it, enslaved to our phones. If we can’t be without them - even for the 60 minutes of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - perhaps they have more control over us than we’d like to admit.
The Mass Demands (and Deserves) Our Full Attention
At Mass, we are not passive spectators. We are active participants in the most sacred mystery of our faith. Christ is made present. We are invited to the Table of the Lord. The angels and saints are present. Time and eternity meet.
Would we check our phones in the presence of the Queen? At a wedding? During a funeral?
Then why in the presence of the King of Kings?
From Distraction to Devotion
If this sounds like a challenge, that’s because it is. We live in a hyper-connected world, and the Church is not immune. But we are called to be different. Holy. Set apart.
Here are a few simple practices that can help:
1. Turn Your Phone Off or Leave It Behind
Make this your weekly offering: one hour, phone-free. Let the world wait. It’s the least we can give to God, who gave us everything.
2. Use Physical Missals or Printed Bulletins
Instead of scrolling through readings, use a printed missal. Not only does it prevent distractions, but it also creates a tactile connection with the liturgy.
3. Offer Your Attention as a Gift
Before Mass begins, whisper a prayer:
“Lord, I give you my undivided heart. Help me to listen, to receive, and to worship you without distraction.”
4. Teach by Example
Parents, catechists, and clergy - what we do speaks louder than what we say. If children see us checking our phones at Mass, they will learn that Mass is not sacred, not serious, and not worth full attention.
5. Create a Sacred Routine
Arrive early. Sit in silence. Let your soul catch up with your body. Prepare. Phones off, hearts open.
A Culture Shift, One Parish at a Time
This isn’t just about individual habits - it’s about reclaiming the sacred culture of worship.
Parishes might consider signs at the entrance reminding people to silence or turn off phones. Not scolding, but inviting. Not rules, but reminders.
Imagine if churches were known not only for their stained glass and music but for their profound stillness - the kind of reverent silence that makes even a newcomer say, “Surely, God is in this place.”
A Note on Emergencies and Exceptions
Of course there are exceptions: A parent keeping their phone on in case of a babysitter emergency. A carer looking after someone unwell. A medical professional on call.
These are moments of discernment, not legalism. God sees the heart. It is the spirit of reverence that matters most.
He Waits for Us
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says:
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28, RSV-CE)
He does not say, “Come to me, unless you’re checking your phone.” He invites us as we are - tired, distracted, anxious. But He asks us to come - fully, truly, wholly. To enter into His rest.
He waits for us in the tabernacle. In the readings. In the silence. In the Eucharist.
But we must show up. And not just our bodies - our minds, our hearts, our attention.
The Real Connection
The irony is this: we spend so much time trying to stay connected - to people, to news, to the latest updates. And in doing so, we risk missing the one connection that matters most.
True connection is not 4G or Wi-Fi. It is not online, but divine.
When we disconnect from the world, even for just one holy hour, we discover something beautiful:
God is not hard to find.
He is simply hard to hear over the noise.
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A Prayer for Reclaiming Attention
> Lord,
The world is loud.
And my mind is often louder still.
I want to meet You at Mass.
I want to hear Your voice,
To lift my eyes,
And offer my heart without distraction.
Help me to be present.
To turn off what doesn’t matter.
To make space for what does.
Teach me again the beauty of silence,
And the joy of being fully Yours.
Amen.
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Mass is not just another hour in the week. It is the source and summit of our faith. It is a weekly encounter with the Living God. But like any sacred meeting, it requires our full attention.
Phones are not the enemy. But when they interrupt our worship, they rob us of something irreplaceable.
Let us be a people who choose silence over scrolling. Stillness over stimulation. Presence over distraction.
Let us be a Church where, when the bell rings and the priest says, “The Lord be with you,” every heart is ready - and every phone is off.
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Visit Our Parish Website
ourladyoflourdes.co.uk
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton
Thank you for visiting this blog here at
the247catholic.blogspot.com
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Let's stay prayerful, let's stay faithful,
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– 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.