No doubt digital devices have brought sweeping revolutions across all facets of human life. It has revolutionalised the way people think, act and speak. And it has brought tremendous improvement to human situations. Digital devices have undeniably reshaped the way people engage with liturgy and religious practices. The increasing integration of digital devices into daily life has profoundly influenced religious practices, including participation in liturgical worship and religious engagements. The liturgy which is the official public worship of the church, and according to The Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, is “the outstanding means whereby the faithful may express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church” (S.C. 2). So the liturgy is an immersion into the mystery of Christ and bearing of fruit through that sacred encounter. In the liturgy, man encounters the awesomeness of God and the beauty of a God who is beauty himself. No wonder Romano Guardini wrote that the “Liturgy is art translated into life.” But it is not just a divine art; it is also a serious business and a serious work – a work of the Lord and a work of the Church. And to serve its sacred ends, it must be beautiful. Through beautiful liturgy, we encounter the Lord, expressed and revealed in his glory, and we are transformed by him. It is in the wonder and beholding of this beauty in the liturgy that the human soul is caught up in spiritual ecstasy and encounter. These liturgical experiences can rarely be captured with digital devices. Yet, the sin of the modern man is the craze to attempt to capture these beautiful liturgical moments with digital devices. And in a bid to do this, we end up in a phenomenon known as liturgical apathy— diminished engagement, a decline in active participation and reverence in liturgical worship. This write-up explores how the use of digital devices is currently shaping religious behaviors, leading to disengagement from traditional liturgical practices.
One of the most evident ways digital devices contribute to liturgical apathy is through unbridled distractions both for the liturgical minister and the worshippers. Nowadays, our liturgical landscape is inundated by the presence of many digital devices ready to capture moments of the celebration that appeals to the wielder. During weddings people are more interested in capturing the events than following the prayers and the rites of the celebration. Smartphones and tablets, often compete for attention during liturgical celebrations, pulling individuals away from worship. Today, people are more eager to snap pictures and to post it online rather than the real encounter which the liturgy beckons. Even when used for spiritual purposes, such as readings at mass or using a liturgy app, the temptation to multitask can reduce genuine engagement. Notifications, social media, and unrelated browsing can divert attention from the liturgy, leading to passive rather than active participation.
The use of digital devices has reduced the sense of sacredness in liturgical settings. Traditional practices, such as holding a physical hymnal or Bible, are replaced by scrolling on screens, making the liturgical experience feel less distinct from ordinary digital or online interactions. The presence of digital devices can undermine the atmosphere of devotion associated with the liturgy, as casual phone use fosters a mindset of informality rather than devotion. Checking texts or scrolling through content, even briefly, can interrupt the contemplative and reverential nature of worship. Regrettably, during the silent moments of the liturgy some persons quickly pull out their phones and begin to scroll through message.
Digital addiction occasioned by the rapid consumption of digital content has contributed to shorter attention spans, especially among young people. One would notice easily how the attention span of young people are gradually being reduced and fragmented. The result is the inability to remain fully present during extended prayers, homilies, or rituals, leading to a preference for shorter, more entertainment-like and vibe-driven religious content. Today, many Christians lack the capacity to engage in deep reflection which is part of the Christian spiritual discipline.
Live streamed and recorded services, digital prayer apps and online devotionals while beneficial for those unable to attend in person, can lead to a sense of liturgical detachment. Virtual participation lacks the communal and sensory experience of physical worship, reducing the emotional and spiritual engagement of attendees. Technology enables believers to access religious content from wherever they are. But while these tools provide spiritual nourishment, they may also lead to a decline in physical church attendance and communal worship participation. As people grow accustomed to engaging with faith on their own terms, the shared experience of liturgical worship—an essential aspect of many religious traditions—can diminish. This shift can result in a spectator mindset, where individuals absorb religious content without actively participating in liturgy, worship and prayer.
Addressing liturgical apathy in the digital age requires a balanced approach—leveraging technology for spiritual growth while fostering intentional, undistracted participation in worship. While digital devices offer opportunities for outreach and accessibility, their overuse in liturgical settings can contribute to apathy and disengagement. Faith communities must seek to balance technology with intentional efforts to preserve the sacredness, attentiveness, and communal aspects of worship. Parish and faith communities ought to engage in liturgical education of the faithful on proper use of digital devices and the importance of presence and attentiveness in communal worship. There ought to be a careful integration of technology in ways that enhance, rather than replace, traditional liturgical practices.
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