Applauding the cantor after Mass

[johnmann]

The choir is not there for the purpose of performing, do not applaud them as such.

So put another way, we should not appreciate the choir and therefore naturally should not express our appreciation for the choir.

 

[dshix]

So put another way, we should not appreciate the choir and therefore naturally should not express our appreciation for the choir.

No, that is not “put another way.” That is “changing the subject.”

Express your appreciation for your choir after mass, outside the church, by expressing your admiration with glowing words, in front of other people. Thank them for their time and effort in making the liturgy beautiful.

 

[dshix]

Fr. Vincent Serpa:

The church is not a concert hall and the liturgy is not a performance. We are there to direct our attention to God—not to each other. There is a time and place for everything. The church is for prayer—not performances. If you want to convey your appreciation for the music, compliment the director after Mass.

 

[Lormar]

No, that is not “put another way.” That is “changing the subject.”

Express your appreciation for your choir after mass, outside the church, by expressing your admiration with glowing words, in front of other people. Thank them for their time and effort in making the liturgy beautiful.

for both Fr. Vincent’s wise words and your own as well.

 

[Fairwinds]

You missed the point.

After the liturgy is over, kneel down do your Thanksgiving for the wonderful graces that have just been poured into your soul.

The choir is not there for the purpose of performing, do not applaud them as such.

stop misrepresenting my position. I didn’t say they were performing, I’ve never said they were performing, no one thinks they’re performing. and don’t assume that I don’t kneel down in thanksgiving.

after the liturgy is over, the presider is outside, the hymn is over, people are leaving, I’ll join the applause. if the pastor or bishop or the conference of bishops or rome itself disapproves, I’ll cease.

 

[mexolic]

This happens all the time after the recessional hymn at my parish. I think it’s more of a thank you applause. Because right before the final blessing, sometimes the priest acknowledges those who have helped with the liturgy: ministers, cantors, musicians etc. The congregation applauses to that.

 

[johnmann]

Express your appreciation for your choir after mass, outside the church, by expressing your admiration with glowing words, in front of other people. Thank them for their time and effort in making the liturgy beautiful.

So we can express thanks for their time and effort in making the liturgy beautiful but just not through applause? That’s a weird rule.

Applause for Pope Benedict during Mass

 

[johnmann]

For those against applause, does that hold even as newly-weds leave the church after a nuptial Mass?

 

[dshix]

stop misrepresenting my position. I didn’t say they were performing, I’ve never said they were performing, no one thinks they’re performing. and don’t assume that I don’t kneel down in thanksgiving.

after the liturgy is over, the presider is outside, the hymn is over, people are leaving, I’ll join the applause. if the pastor or bishop or the conference of bishops or rome itself disapproves, I’ll cease.

I have already stated my position. There is no need for me to repeat it again.

So we can express thanks for their time and effort in making the liturgy beautiful but just not through applause? That’s a weird rule.

Yep. Applause is an inappropriate expression of approval, because it denotes the connotation that the applauded work is a performance. Inappropriate.

Applause for Pope Benedict during Mass

Absolutely irrelevant. Different context. Stop it with the strawmen.

 

[Fairwinds]

I have already stated my position. There is no need for me to repeat it again…

as you keep repeating it, I again note, I conform my practices to the instruction of authorities set over me, not the opinions of netizens.

 

[dshix]

For those against applause, does that hold even as newly-weds leave the church after a nuptial Mass?

You have changed the context yet again. A wedding is not a performance, it is a completely different situation.

No more strawmen, please.

 

[johnmann]

You have changed the context yet again. A wedding is not a performance, it is a completely different situation.

No more strawmen, please.

I think I understand now. Applause during Mass is appropriate, just not for the choir.

 

[Fairwinds]

You have changed the context yet again. A wedding is not a performance, it is a completely different situation.

No more strawmen, please.

its not a strawman. the OP asked:

Does this every [sic, ever] occur at your parish?

you’re restricting the scope of the question to filter out the counterexamples that are taking your argument apart.

 

[dshix]

its not a strawman. the OP asked:

you’re restricting the scope of the question to filter out the counterexamples that are taking your argument apart.

What point, may I ask, are you trying to make. I don’t see how what you said stopped it from being a strawman.

The OP’s question had to do with applauding the cantor at a normal Sunday Mass. The is not appropriate, for the reasons listed above (and the cantor in question which the OP spoke of seemed to understand that, too.)

 

[L_Marshall]

And if I may comment, Benedict points out human achievement. I would not clap for a choir, but I do clap for the reception of candidates at a Confirmation Mass, or for a couple at a Nuptial Mass, because this isn’t human achievement, this is sacramental.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I think I understand now. Applause during Mass is appropriate, just not for the choir.

No, applauding during Mass is INappropriate unless there has been a celebration of a sacrament such as baptism, First Communion or confirmation. The priest’s homily should never be applauded as though he was an entertainer or giving some kind of secular speech or talk. If the choir gets applause at the end of the Mass, it can seem as if the entire Mass is being applauded as in a performance.

 

[johnmann]

No, applauding during Mass is INappropriate unless there has been a celebration of a sacrament such as baptism, First Communion or confirmation. The priest’s homily should never be applauded as though he was an entertainer or giving some kind of secular speech or talk. If the choir gets applause at the end of the Mass, it can seem as if the entire Mass is being applauded as in a performance.

So it was inappropriate for the cardinals to applaud Pope Benedict during his last Mass as pope?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

So it was inappropriate for the cardinals to applaud Pope Benedict during his last Mass as pope?

OF COURSE NOT!

He was the Pope, and they were saying goodbye. Just slightly different from an ordinary Sunday homily by an ordinary parish priest. Sheesh.

 

[johnmann]

OF COURSE NOT!

He was the Pope, and they were saying goodbye. Just slightly different from an ordinary Sunday homily by an ordinary parish priest. Sheesh.

So applauding human service is appropriate but only if it’s not an ordinary Sunday and it’s not a parish priest? Where is that rule from?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

So applauding human service is appropriate but only if it’s not an ordinary Sunday and it’s not a parish priest? Where is that rule from?

I am not going to get into an argument with you. You can do as you wish. The viewpoint has already been expressed many times within this thread.