Father Zuhlsdorf was responding to a question from a reader who said his confessor recommended that he spend time in adoration. "What exactly am I supposed to do during that time?" the reader asked. "I assume some sort of prayer, but I don't know too many. Is it improper to use my iPhone to assist me?"
Father answers by pointing out the different ways of spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, such as engaging in quiet reflective prayer, vocal prayer, or spiritual reading to help them "get into it" and see where this takes them first.
"About using the iPhone or other electronic thing. As favorable as I am toward using new tech, gadgets could still be a distraction in themselves. Yes, people can use them to help them move out of the world, as it were, or provide texts or lists of people to pray for, etc. Also, they might be a distraction to others who may get the idea that you are 'playing with a gizmo' or 'not paying attention to Jesus' simply because you have one in your hand."
Father goes on to recommend that a person try adoration without such an aid at first. "Use a book, or take a note pad. Take a Rosary."
However, he also says that he when he received an advance copy of the Holy Father's new book on his iPad, he read itin the chapel and it "seemed right."
Being a regular at Eucharistic Adoration for many years now, I can say that there are pro's and con's for the use of techno-gadgets while at adoration. Especially if a person is in a small chapel where their every movement can be heard by all, the "beeping" sound of these gadgets, clicking of the keys, and even the screen lights can be disturbing. However, a person could mitigate this distraction to others by sitting in the back of the chapel where their activity will not draw attention. In a larger setting, of course, this would not be an issue.
As a third order Carmelite, I might also add that it is critically important to spend some quality "listening" to the Lord while at prayer. Christian prayer is a dialogue with God and He will grant us whatever graces we need to achieve this, even if He does not choose to do so right away. As that great Doctor of the church, St. Teresa of Avila says, perseverance is everything in prayer. Give yourself a chance to experience real prayer and only use technology as a means to achieve this end.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
Should We Use iPad/iPhone Apps during Eucharistic Adoration?
Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Father John Zuhlsdorf, who blogs on the popular "What Does the Prayer Really Say" site, discusses the pro's and con's about using these gadgets at Adoration and suggests that people try not to do so.
Father Zuhlsdorf was responding to a question from a reader who said his confessor recommended that he spend time in adoration. "What exactly am I supposed to do during that time?" the reader asked. "I assume some sort of prayer, but I don't know too many. Is it improper to use my iPhone to assist me?"
Father answers by pointing out the different ways of spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, such as engaging in quiet reflective prayer, vocal prayer, or spiritual reading to help them "get into it" and see where this takes them first.
"About using the iPhone or other electronic thing. As favorable as I am toward using new tech, gadgets could still be a distraction in themselves. Yes, people can use them to help them move out of the world, as it were, or provide texts or lists of people to pray for, etc. Also, they might be a distraction to others who may get the idea that you are 'playing with a gizmo' or 'not paying attention to Jesus' simply because you have one in your hand."
Father goes on to recommend that a person try adoration without such an aid at first. "Use a book, or take a note pad. Take a Rosary."
However, he also says that he when he received an advance copy of the Holy Father's new book on his iPad, he read itin the chapel and it "seemed right."
Being a regular at Eucharistic Adoration for many years now, I can say that there are pro's and con's for the use of techno-gadgets while at adoration. Especially if a person is in a small chapel where their every movement can be heard by all, the "beeping" sound of these gadgets, clicking of the keys, and even the screen lights can be disturbing. However, a person could mitigate this distraction to others by sitting in the back of the chapel where their activity will not draw attention. In a larger setting, of course, this would not be an issue.
As a third order Carmelite, I might also add that it is critically important to spend some quality "listening" to the Lord while at prayer. Christian prayer is a dialogue with God and He will grant us whatever graces we need to achieve this, even if He does not choose to do so right away. As that great Doctor of the church, St. Teresa of Avila says, perseverance is everything in prayer. Give yourself a chance to experience real prayer and only use technology as a means to achieve this end.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
Father Zuhlsdorf was responding to a question from a reader who said his confessor recommended that he spend time in adoration. "What exactly am I supposed to do during that time?" the reader asked. "I assume some sort of prayer, but I don't know too many. Is it improper to use my iPhone to assist me?"
Father answers by pointing out the different ways of spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, such as engaging in quiet reflective prayer, vocal prayer, or spiritual reading to help them "get into it" and see where this takes them first.
"About using the iPhone or other electronic thing. As favorable as I am toward using new tech, gadgets could still be a distraction in themselves. Yes, people can use them to help them move out of the world, as it were, or provide texts or lists of people to pray for, etc. Also, they might be a distraction to others who may get the idea that you are 'playing with a gizmo' or 'not paying attention to Jesus' simply because you have one in your hand."
Father goes on to recommend that a person try adoration without such an aid at first. "Use a book, or take a note pad. Take a Rosary."
However, he also says that he when he received an advance copy of the Holy Father's new book on his iPad, he read itin the chapel and it "seemed right."
Being a regular at Eucharistic Adoration for many years now, I can say that there are pro's and con's for the use of techno-gadgets while at adoration. Especially if a person is in a small chapel where their every movement can be heard by all, the "beeping" sound of these gadgets, clicking of the keys, and even the screen lights can be disturbing. However, a person could mitigate this distraction to others by sitting in the back of the chapel where their activity will not draw attention. In a larger setting, of course, this would not be an issue.
As a third order Carmelite, I might also add that it is critically important to spend some quality "listening" to the Lord while at prayer. Christian prayer is a dialogue with God and He will grant us whatever graces we need to achieve this, even if He does not choose to do so right away. As that great Doctor of the church, St. Teresa of Avila says, perseverance is everything in prayer. Give yourself a chance to experience real prayer and only use technology as a means to achieve this end.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
