Applauding the cantor after Mass

[Bklynguy]

Does this every occur at your parish? This frequently happens at mine, where some–usually a smaller group of people toward the front–applaud the cantor after Mass (this is after the last hymn). I never really thought it was appropriate, so I don’t personally participate. Has anyone else experienced this and is it appropriate to do?

Today, I sat toward the front and saw the lector shaking her head and saying, “no, no, no” at the people when they were applauding.

 

[robwar]

it would be up to the priest to address this if it is the same group of people leading the applause. Are they applauding because the cantor is their family or friend?

 

[504Katrin]

Yes, we use(d?) to do this in our churches, too. I also applauded Pastors after their homilies here and there. Some people joined me and applauded also. Haha, a friend of mine once booed a Pastor after his homily. He always stands behind the last piews, at the very end of the church. The Pastor of course heared the booing and screamed across the entire church “I know who that was! Michael, would you please come here?” He told me how he walked all the way up front to the Pastor in a silent church, where he and the Pastor shook hands. He felt so embarrased hahaha

 

[CalCatholic]

Does this every occur at your parish? This frequently happens at mine, where some–usually a smaller group of people toward the front–applaud the cantor after Mass (this is after the last hymn). I never really thought it was appropriate, so I don’t personally participate. Has anyone else experienced this and is it appropriate to do?

Today, I sat toward the front and saw the lector shaking her head and saying, “no, no, no” at the people when they were applauding.

Yes, this is done at my parish, it doesn’t bother me.

 

[Filii_Dei]

Not done in my parish or diocese, but it would bother me, as would any applause directed at fellow people within the church. I would like to list a famous quote regarding applause by Pope Benedict XVI when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in his renowned work Spirit of the Liturgy, but I’ll let you Google that yourself.

 

[poptown]

Yes. It bothers me. The way Mass is done in these days can resemble a fellowship or even a party, which encourages applause. It’s really not the applause itself that is wrong, but the spirit of the faithful in the Mass. The Mass in Ordinary Form itself is not bad at all, but it is open to may ways and spirits to carry it out. On contrary, I doubt anyone want to applause after or during a Mass in Extraordinary Form, because the liturgy itself adheres to silence strictly.

 

[Classicist]

It appalls me. The Lord Himself is (usually) present in the tabernacle within the church. Why should we be applauding and cheering human endeavour in that most sacred place, at that most sacred moment? It’s like singing “Happy Birthday” to a parishioner after the Liturgy of the Word.

Even if applause occur after Mass, it’s still in such proximity to the holy communion time that it can be distracting to those who wish to be still and meditate with the Lord.

 

[GWright]

Has anyone else experienced this and is it appropriate to do?.

Yes I have experienced applause in Church for various things.

It is never appropriate to applaud in a Church as it reduces the proceedings to mere theatre.

However, I didn’t really mind, as the times I experienced it were applauding to welcome adults who had just been baptised at Easter and other time it was to congratulate a young girl who had courageously given a fine speech in front of a large congregation (making an appeal for a charity).

It seemed a nice gesture in these cases, although I am still against in in practice.

(If you let these things go, before you know it, we will be clapping along with the hymns lol)

 

[marty1818]

Not done in my parish or diocese, but it would bother me, as would any applause directed at fellow people within the church. I would like to list a famous quote regarding applause by Pope Benedict XVI when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in his renowned work Spirit of the Liturgy, but I’ll let you Google that yourself.

For those interested in the Bendict XVI quote:
wdtprs.com/blog/2009/06/ratzinger-on-applause-in-church/

 

[cheezey]

Yes I have experienced applause in Church for various things.

It is never appropriate to applaud in a Church as it reduces the proceedings to mere theatre.

However, I didn’t really mind, as the times I experienced it were applauding to welcome adults who had just been baptised at Easter and other time it was to congratulate a young girl who had courageously given a fine speech in front of a large congregation (making an appeal for a charity).

It seemed a nice gesture in these cases, although I am still against in in practice.

(If you let these things go, before you know it, we will be clapping along with the hymns lol)

Well, some people really do get into some hymns.
I do not know what should be; I know nada.
Yet today’s service was unbelievably above par. The choir could have been applauded with their talent and today’s selections.
The priest, his sermon; I thought the organist would break the bricks and mortar of the building. I was moved to tears as were many. And those same people looked, to me, tempted to applaud til their hands were raw.
Yes, it would have startled me, broken the usual reverie. But, man, it was stunning!!
This is THE PLACE to show emotion. I am not sure about applause, but I was tempted.
And there are far worse temptations.

 

[Elizium23]

This happens every single week at our parish, and I am not sure if people are applauding the whole choir, the organist, the cantor or what, but it happens right after the music stops. I approached our pastor about this a few years ago, on Ash Wednesday, and he essentially said he’s not going to stop anyone from doing it. He said it was a joyful expression of people’s thankfulness. What I think he really meant is that he would make too many enemies if he cracked down on this simple thing, so he is going to choose his battles.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Happens every week after Mass. Some people also applaud the priest’s homilies - well, really only the Pastor. He says, “Thanks for listening, and God bless” at the end and that’s the cue for someone to start the clapping. I watched closely last night to see if I could spot the offenders but they must not have been there - no clapping after the homily.

I’m sure the people who clap for the cantor/pianist think they are saying “Thank you,” but it always makes me feel as though the whole Mass has just been an entertainment event, not something sacred.

The more orthodox parish never applauds, but they start chatting loudly as soon as Mass is over, while some people are still trying to pray. I hate that too.

 

[ATeNumquam]

In my parish/diocese, there would never be applause for anything that was to do with the actual liturgy - singing, homilies, etc. It would be considered inappropriate.

However, we do applaud things like an earlier poster described. Such as an announcement at the end of the actual Mass, before the dismissal, that a person was celebrating her 90th birthday, or a parish couple was celebrating a golden wedding anniversary, or our Downs Syndrome altar server had won a medal for swimming!

This sort of applause I am totally for!

 

[Fairwinds]

there’s always light applause after the recessional hymn for the organist/cantor team.

if there’s enough they’ll come back for an encore.

 

[Fairwinds]

… What I think he really meant is that he would make too many enemies if he cracked down on this simple thing, so he is going to choose his battles.

you should have better grounds for challenging the discretion of a priest than personal preference.

 

[Steveabrous]

Does this every occur at your parish? This frequently happens at mine, where some–usually a smaller group of people toward the front–applaud the cantor after Mass (this is after the last hymn). I never really thought it was appropriate, so I don’t personally participate. Has anyone else experienced this and is it appropriate to do?

Today, I sat toward the front and saw the lector shaking her head and saying, “no, no, no” at the people when they were applauding.

My parish applauds after the last song every mass. I used to play guitar in the Praise and worship band. We really went for a big applause. Doesn’t bother me, I’m a protestant convert though.

 

[LegoGE1947]

In my parish/diocese, there would never be applause for anything that was to do with the actual liturgy - singing, homilies, etc. It would be considered inappropriate.

However, we do applaud things like an earlier poster described. Such as an announcement at the end of the actual Mass, before the dismissal, that a person was celebrating her 90th birthday, or a parish couple was celebrating a golden wedding anniversary, or our Downs Syndrome altar server had won a medal for swimming!

This sort of applause I am totally for!

What about when a priest is preaching his last homily before being transferred to a different parish or city or is retiring.?

 

[Edmundus1581]

…What I think he really meant is that he would make too many enemies if he cracked down on this simple thing, so he is going to choose his battles.

That is a very wise thought.

 

[Sunbreak]

Nope, doesn’t happen at my parish. I think having the cantor, musicians, choir at the front of the church encourages this practice - it’s like they’re on stage. Our cantor, organ player and choir are in the choir loft (old historical church).

 

[LegoGE1947]

Nope, doesn’t happen at my parish. I think having the cantor, musicians, choir at the front of the church encourages this practice - it’s like they’re on stage. Our cantor, organ player and choir are in the choir loft (old historical church).

Although we went to Christmas midnight mass at an old church with a choir loft and when the choir sang The Hallelujah Chorus, even though they were at the back of the church, everyone applauded.