The Adaptation of the Catholic Religion to the Digital World: Study on Innovation Processes in Religion

The Catholic Church, as a global institution rooted in sacramental and embodied traditions, faces distinctive challenges in integrating digital technologies into its liturgical practices. This study explores how intrinsic and extrinsic religious motivations influence Catholic parishioners’ satisfaction with online Eucharistic celebrations and their intention to continue attending them. Given the centrality of physical presence in the Eucharist understood as a real and symbolic encounter with Christ the transition to virtual formats raises theological and experiential complexities. Based on a quantitative survey of 1,781 parishioners in Bogotá, Colombia, the findings indicate that intrinsic motivation positively affects both satisfaction and continued participation in virtual Eucharists, while extrinsic motivation has a negative impact. These results underscore the role of internalized faith in sustaining spiritual engagement through digital channels. The study contributes to the literature on religious innovation by offering empirical insights into how Catholic believers negotiate sacred rituals in the context of technological mediation.