PANAJI
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has introduced new guidelines regulating the online transmission of Holy Mass and other liturgical celebrations.
Titled ‘Guidelines for the Electronic Transmission of the Celebration of the Eucharist and Other Liturgical Services’, the document was officially issued on March 25, and made public on Thursday.
CCBI President Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão emphasised the importance of maintaining the theological, spiritual, and liturgical integrity of online liturgical broadcasts.
In a special circular to the faithful, he stated that these guidelines “are intended to ensure that the sacred liturgy, when transmitted through electronic means, remains faithful to its theological, spiritual and liturgical integrity, and continues to be a source of grace for the faithful who participate through such means.”
“The Second Vatican Council, in Sacrosanctum Concilium (n. 7), affirms that Christ is truly present in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. While the transmission of the Eucharistic Celebration and other liturgical services via electronic media can provide spiritual benefit to the faithful, it is not a substitute for actual, physical participation in the liturgical assembly, which remains the ideal and normative form of participation.”
“These Guidelines offer directives to uphold the reverence and dignity befitting a proper celebration of the liturgy and its transmission in the digital realm.”
“May these Guidelines serve to enhance the dignity of the liturgy and promote a deeper participation of the faithful in the mysteries of salvation, whether in person or through electronic media, always maintaining due reverence and ecclesial communion,” added Cardinal Ferrão.
The Guidelines were formulated after extensive discussions during the 94th and 95th Executive Committee Meetings of the CCBI in May and September 2024 and received final approval at the 36th Plenary Assembly in February 2025.
They are now binding on all bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and laypersons involved in the electronic dissemination of liturgical celebrations within the Latin Church in India.
By setting clear norms for online liturgical broadcasts, the CCBI aims to preserve the sanctity of the Eucharist and foster deeper spiritual participation among the faithful, whether attending in person or through digital platforms.
The ‘Guidelines for the Electronic Transmission of the Celebration of the Eucharist and other Liturgical Services’ can be accessed at: https://shorturl.at/NKs94
