So I have been pondering on participation in the Mass.
Specifically, I think tomorrow when my parish is streaming the Sunday Mass that I will go and park in the back of the church behind the chapel. The Tabernacle is in an arrangement being center and behind the main altar and shared with the Marian chapel behind it.
What actual distinctions are there if I am physically present in the church during Mass compared with me being physically present behind the church during Mass? Sure there is a fuller sign value of being in the church itself during Mass, but what other distinctions?
If the walls were transparent, I would be in visual distance of the priest. So I am thinking about what level of physical proximity matters. At large Papal masses such as WYD people are often at the very edge or visual distance and have to rely on projection screens to watch. So I think I am in somewhat the same situation relying on a mobile device to observe the Mass. So I think proximity is important and that it is not the same as being at home watching a streaming Mass live.
So I am interested in theological speculations on this.
On just a psychological level, I see this as beneficial to myself. Watching a Mass at home just leaves me as purely an observer and my feeling of participation about nil. I am happy for others that this is more helpful for them. Although I have to remind myself not to rely on my feelings as the arbiter of participation.
For Holy Week I will be spending my holy hour outside in the back of the church. This morning I was doing the same. I know precisely where the Tabernacle is and that I was only a couple of yards from it. I can easily visualize the interior of this historic wooden church. I have been thinking of making a Stations of the Cross standing outside and behind each image.
