Cell phones inside the Church

Mass is the highest form of prayer, that is what I learned from high school and for Catholics I believe it really feels good to attend a solemn mass, to others it might be even heaven.

It was the part I love most during the mass, the preparation of the bread and wine which is done before the consecration of the Holy Eucharist. All is silent and I believe is in deep prayer, when a man in front me said, “hello, blah,,blah,,blah” on his cell phone in his a normal voice or maybe he believes he was whispering. I was distracted and a bit irritated and thought that he must have gone outside if he really wanted to take the call or if it was an emergency he could have run out.  The call took less than a minute but enough to disturb the persons behind him (that’s me) and all around him because I saw them glance at him. 

Then silence again while the priest is continually saying his part of the mass. Again, “hello, blah, blah,blah”.. the second time and I understood  from what he said was “wait for me, yes, yes ..blah..blah”. I don’t mean to eavesdrop but he was just in front of me and I can hear what he was saying louder than what the priest was saying.

Every start of the mass the commentator will remind the parishioners to please turn off or put the cell phone in silent mode so as not to disturb the celebration of the mass or disturb the persons around attending mass. I think one must be aware that if he cannot follow that simple rule, he might as well leave the cell phone at home. If in case there are things to settle, maybe one can settle it before going to mass and not settle things inside the church while attending mass. This was not the first time that a person near me while attending mass answered a phone call and I just can’t help but think, did they forget they are attending mass and can talk casually over their cell phones as if they were in the market place.  They were not kids. I can’t help but think.

by: Terranya M. Tiamson