Message for you directly from God’s living room.
Some of you will have noticed that I tweet from Mass: not everybody is happy deeming this irreverent and worse.
My thanks to Sammy Douglas MLA and those who respond positively.
I have to be mindful of what people think and of other people’s sensitivities. I suspect what is coming across in some cases is a knee-jerk reaction. I understand that too.
When I commenced using Twitter over three years ago as a new means of distributing news my fellow journalists, newsrooms and a lot of the political parties hammered me.
I had broken rank. I had stepped outside the norm.
It was a BBC Newsnight journalist who summed up the impact of Twitter best: he said “it has robbed government of command and control powers over news.”
In essence, the speed with which information moves on Twitter removes from press offices and organisations the opportunity to shape and mould stories.
No priest has yet objected to my tweeting from Mass. Au contraire, I get reports that our priests like being quoted: I am not a big altar railer: I struggle with so much when it comes to Catholicism and religion: an understanding of transubstantiation is beyond me.
I want however, to stay connected. I am not iconoclastic.
Our local chapel, St Brigid’s in South Belfast, provides a moment in the week for repose, for reflection, a place conducive to taking stock.
The message being imparted by the priest can vary in terms of relevance: if it reminds me of my responsibility as a citizen so much the better.
The question remains – should I tweet what is said during mass? I ask- why not?
I am not an appointed proselytiser but if one steps back and examines the message accurately imparted on Twitter about what was said by the priest- what harm is done?
I behave discreetly and you may find this odd, my focus on what is being said during Mass has sharpened because I want to report faithfully to you what is being relayed.
I find myself quite often embarking on an odyssey to check a quotation in the bible. That can be edifying and uplifting too.
I will leave my exposition at this juncture and in the meantime you too can reflect.
