Announcements and Clapping at Mass

[decatholic]

Hi,
At Mass last night a layperson spoke after the homily touting Catholic Schools Week. In the GIRM can anyone point to the section regarding when we can make announcements during Mass. To add fuel, the assembly applauded her ‘speech’ which I find problematic. Clapping for people, the choir - though we do find Jesus in people- during the Mass seems very wrong.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Murmurs]

Chapter II. The Structure of the Mass

iii. The individual parts of the Mass

D) The Concluding Rites

1. To the Concluding Rites belong the following:

a) brief announcements, should they be necessary;
b) the Priest’s Greeting and Blessing, which on certain days and occasions is expanded and expressed by the Prayer over the People or another more solemn formula;
c) the Dismissal of the people by the Deacon or the Priest, so that each may go back to doing good works, praising and blessing God;
d) the kissing of the altar by the Priest and the Deacon, followed by a profound bow to the altar by the Priest, the Deacon, and the other ministers.

( usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2.cfm )

I.e…at the end, right before the Blessing and Dismissal.

Whether a wordy announcement following the homily constitutes the ever-feared Liturgical Abuse!! or just a mildly irritating interruption of the flow of the Mass probably depends on one’s personal viewpoint, but the GIRM is very clear that announcements such as the one you describe, properly belong at the end of Mass.

Offhand I can’t remember if anywhere there is talk of clapping in the middle of proceedings but while it’s not always distinctly “wrong” to me (again this is partly personal opinion) it does seem a bit improper.

 

[pianistclare]

It was likely out of courtesy.
The children speak during Catholic schools week here. And people do clap for them, they are so well spoken.

You’re going to find a lot of things that are not “supposed” to be done.
Something like this though…come on.
How was the Mass otherwise? To your liking?

The priest is trying to support the schools and may have been TOLD to have the person speak.
Give him a break, eh?

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi.

For my taste, clapping in a church is never appropriate. Ever. After Mass, you can always go to the musicians, or whomever, and thank or congratulate them personally. No church is an auditorium; no Mass is a concert.

I’ll stop now.

God bless.

 

[ellam25]

Pax Christi.

For my taste, clapping in a church is never appropriate. Ever. After Mass, you can always go to the musicians, or whomever, and thank or congratulate them personally. No church is an auditorium; no Mass is a concert.

I’ll stop now.

God bless.

I agree with this. I never join in on clapping, we have just received the body of Christ, it just seems so inappropriate. Maybe that makes me a Grinch but IDC

 

[Neofight]

Other than leaving you disconcerted, did the Mass bring you any peace and joy? I hope so. What was is Christ said to Martha? See Luke 10:38-42.

 

[R_H_Benson]

“Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment…"

-Pope Benedict XVI

 

[lax16]

It was likely out of courtesy.
The children speak during Catholic schools week here. And people do clap for them, they are so well spoken.

You’re going to find a lot of things that are not “supposed” to be done.
Something like this though…come on.
How was the Mass otherwise? To your liking?

The priest is trying to support the schools and may have been TOLD to have the person speak.
Give him a break, eh?

We should try to see the good in all situations, however giving a talk right after the homily is a bit unusual. At least in my experience.

I think such talks and all announcements should be done at the end of mass. And no clapping unless it is for something special.

 

[zamyrabyrd]

Pax Christi.
For my taste, clapping in a church is never appropriate. Ever. After Mass, you can always go to the musicians, or whomever, and thank or congratulate them personally. No church is an auditorium; no Mass is a concert.

Agree completely. Also I would like to call attention if this is not Off Topic but seems appropriate in view of people clapping during concerts, why are profane concerts allowed in Churches and some of them blatantly so? I could give examples but prefer not to.

 

[Regina7]

Pax Christi.

For my taste, clapping in a church is never appropriate. Ever. After Mass, you can always go to the musicians, or whomever, and thank or congratulate them personally. No church is an auditorium; no Mass is a concert.

I’ll stop now.

God bless.

I agree. Our priest despises it, too. He says that clapping during Mass- at any time- takes focus off of God and puts it on man. The focus of Mass SHOULD always be on God.

 

[exnihilo]

I agree with this. I never join in on clapping, we have just received the body of Christ, it just seems so inappropriate. Maybe that makes me a Grinch but IDC

I don’t join in either. I think many people get drawn into clapping for fear of being disrespectful. The clapping itself is more disrespectful. Yesterday we were treated to clapping for three different things before the blessing and dismissal. It is not typical at my parish, so yesterday was a terrible exception, but I can’t stand it.

 

[7_Sorrows]

“Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment…"

-Pope Benedict XVI

it always irritates me when clapping is done for the choir or after someone gives an announcement. the principal spoke yesterday before our dismissal. I sometimes wonder why we need announcements when we get bulletins, but there are probably those who don’t read the bulletins.

 

[surritter]

Ugh – never clap at a Mass. I am a musician and we HATE it!
Our music is our way of praying during Mass; it’s not a performance. How would you like it if someone applauded after your prayers?

 

[Nigel7]

I clapped for the lovely children who made their announcements at the end of mass Saturday evening. They’re doing a great job helping to raise funds to keep their school from closing.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

An address by a layman does not really belong during the homily, but I would not judge a good priest for that. Supporting Catholic schools is a very important matter.

I agree that applause during the Mass is never appropriate. Divine Liturgy is never a show put on for human entertainment.

 

[porthos11]

“Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment…"

-Pope Benedict XVI

^ One of my key Ratzinger quotes.

 

[decatholic]

Thank you all. You have helped calm my heart’s disturbance. I withdrew during the prayer intentions- took the check I hand my daughter to put in the basket, and held the check. I came back into the assembly as we stood after the priest washes his hand so as not to draw attention.

Announcements are to be made after the final prayer - no bones about that. The clapping in mass as well as band placements near and on the altar has got to stop. I’ve heard priest who with tact thank a speaker for announcements after the concluding prayer, thank the music providers and go right into the dismissal. These priest have a level of training in public speaking to not allow a pause enough to start the clapping.

To answer other on the mass “quality” the priest’s function to deliver the most blessed sacrament is apart from the rage-disappointment I felt in my heart.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

At our church the people are very noisy and boisterous. Given that most are senior citizens, it is kind of annoying when you go in for Mass and everyone is talking.

Then you have little groups of people in the middle of the aisles, blocking off others who are trying to get through. There is no peace. Same thing after Mass, but it seems worse. The people, who have been forced to keep quiet during Mass, are now ready to let off some steam. They clap, laugh, whatever. One priest mentioned that he came across someone who brought his lunch to church. Another person brought his little dog. The usher kindly told this person that he could not bring his pet to church, but if he had a service dog, he could bring it.

I enjoy sketching original cartoons and these things really give me fodder for my cannon.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Ugh – never clap at a Mass. I am a musician and we HATE it!
Our music is our way of praying during Mass; it’s not a performance. How would you like it if someone applauded after your prayers?

thank you! that is a beautiful way of putting it.

 

[Lormar]

“Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment…"

-Pope Benedict XVI