Andrianjanahary, Mahafaly Fulgence (2022) Virtual Grace: Online Mass, Real Presence and the Christian Community. Masters thesis, Hekima University College.
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Text (Virtual Grace: Online Mass, Real Presence and the Christian Community)
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Abstract
In the age of the Internet, and particularly in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catholic Church has increased its use of the new digital technology to reach its scattered members through various ministries, including broadcasting the Mass. The current investigation is a product of a reflection on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Church's struggle to give hope to Christians in this difficult time. Indeed, there is no possibility of physical reception of the sacraments online. To provide more clarification on Christians' online liturgical experience, this research asks the question: Can grace be found online, especially during online Masses? Going beyond straightforward sacramental theology and the classical debate on what makes the Eucharist valid, it looks at the spiritual experience of the Eucharist and Christians' experience of grace. The investigation makes explicit the complexity of the virtual Masses although online participants' presence could be seen as telepresence. In a way, Eucharistic 'real presence' and telepresence are united in a kind of 'presence in absence.'Besides the possibility of Spiritual Communion, one can say that grace, as God's self-gift, is to be found online because internet users express its effect in their daily self-transcending activities like generosity, commitment to justice, increase in faith, hope, and love. Furthermore, the online Christian communities exist only because of the transmission of tradition from the offline communities and the former cannot exist separately from the latter. Both members are part of the one universal church that forms the Body of Christ. From the analyses, it is suggested that, albeit the online Mass is celebrated at a spatial and even temporal distance, online grace is at least possible because of Christ's presence in both the online and offline Christian communities. In some circumstances, believers cannot come physically to church and cannot have physical touch with the sacrament. In these cases, online grace may fill their spiritual hunger. While the physical reception of the Eucharist remains the 'ideal,' some circumstances make online Mass desirable. Whilst temporary, it is better than nothing because there is still the possibility of grace. Although in many ways, this research poses more questions than answers, it can help students in the same field to explore the possibility of a new way of experiencing grace in the era of the internet. It also invites, not only the theologians but also the Christian community, to reflect on the real values of the online Masse which can help those who cannot attend the physical Mass. For instance, if the conclusions are somehow tentative, they open the door to discuss the challenge of time like in a pre-recorded Mass that divides opinions, although it is already practised.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BX Christian Denominations |
| Divisions: | Afro-Christiana Jesuitica |
| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email ict.admin@jhia.ac.ke |
| Date Deposited: | 02 May 2024 09:07 |
| Last Modified: | 02 May 2024 09:07 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/9930 |
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