Applause after mass?

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A church we’ve been attending recently has an awesome singer and organist, and the congregation here shows their appreciation by applauding following the closing hymn. Am I wrong to find this offensive? I tell my children that we are there to honor Jesus His sacrifice and resurrection, not to praise the musicians. My husband thinks that God wouldn’t mind if we showed our appreciation, that I’m just a religious fuddy-duddy. What are your thoughts?
 
I think it woudl be a little in appropriate, but if she’s really that good, maybe it’s ok
 
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SueG:
I tell my children that we are there to honor Jesus His sacrifice and resurrection, not to praise the musicians. My husband thinks that God wouldn’t mind if we showed our appreciation, that I’m just a religious fuddy-duddy. What are your thoughts?
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THe end of mass is supposed to be a time of silent prayer and reflection, to meditate on the sacrifice and the eucharist. I think applause is misplaced, but I rarely see silent time after mass.
 
I have seen this happen more than a few times at my church and I don’t really care for it.

It’s not like I’m at some kind of pep rally or speaking engagement. When I’m at mass it’s like a meditation experience. I try to focus on everything that’s being said and done. Last thing I want is for it to be broken up by applause. I want to say I have even heard it after a homily. :banghead:

Many a time I have heard it after the mass too. I don’t care for that either.

Guess that makes me a religious fuddy duddy as well. 🤓
 
Seems to me that giving applause to an organist, or singer, at the conclusion of Mass is quite inappropriate. Some of us like to take a moment and thank the Lord before leaving the church in the form of prayer. (I always find it surprising how quickly folks dash out of church after Mass) We sing to praise and honor Our Lord, not for applause from our fellow man. I would think a personnal comment to the singer/organist would be more appropriate if you were moved by their music.

I will say, that when I sang in a church choir, I did it to be more involved in the Mass. I actually felt uncomfortable if anyone commented on our singing. I actually felt that maybe in some way we were distracting folks to what was actually going on … If that makes any kind of sense.🙂
 
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SueG:
A church we’ve been attending recently has an awesome singer and organist, and the congregation here shows their appreciation by applauding following the closing hymn. Am I wrong to find this offensive? I tell my children that we are there to honor Jesus His sacrifice and resurrection, not to praise the musicians. My husband thinks that God wouldn’t mind if we showed our appreciation, that I’m just a religious fuddy-duddy. What are your thoughts?
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SueG ~

I sing every Sunday at my church. While it would be nice to get applause from the congregation, I feel that’s its more important to bless God, than to get praise. I also think it would be inappropriate during a mass.

Now that I think about it, most people who do stop by to tell me how much they enjoy my singing, have done so after mass. To me, that’s the appropriate time.

But i don’t sing to get praise from people. A very wise organist I used to know ( he’s gone home to the Lord now) told me once that if you sing and lead the congregation during mass, then you’re doubly blessed.

Hope this helps.

:tiphat:
 
I think it’s more fitting to go up to the person afterwards and express appreciation personally, rather than disturbing people’s quiet prayer time by clapping. But applause doesn’t offend me or anything.
 
The parish church where I grew up has a choir loft and has always had a good choir, organist, and other musicians. Both before and after Vatican II, I can remember some beautiful chants and singing. The difference now is that often there is applause after Mass. The congregation will turn around to face the choir and applaud.

To me, this is distracting, and detracts from the liturgy. We are there to give glory to God, not enjoy a performance. It is appropriate to personally thank the choir members after Mass, but not through applause.

To coin a phrase, the choir should be heard and not seen.

JimG
 
Last year, I had the great pleasure of spending a day listening to Fr. Benedict Groeschel in person. Fr. Benedict of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal said that the Friars were trying to restore reverance in the Liturgy. He was adamantly opposed to clapping in church and said if you must show your appreciation, use one-handed clapping. After all, it’s not a show and they’re not singing for their own glory or at least they shouldn’t be.
 
Even when I was in a Protestant church it was made clear that any applause was to praise God, not the people serving at the service. The blessing for them comes from serving God. Appreciation for that can be shown after church is over. I do agree that clapping can be disruptive.
 
I agree with all the comments. At our parish, it has become the norm to clap after every Mass’s recessional. My perception is that it’s become a conditioned response for many (not all clap, probably less than 20% now). It has never been stated why people applaud, but I’ve seen more than one cantor break out into a big smile. So I think it’s time to allow the cantor’s to embrace their gift of humility, and not encourage them. Privately, individually, yes, such feedback is appropriate.

Now, how do we get them to stop? :confused:
 
The choir is not there to entertain, but to provide music that lifts our hearts to God. Paraphrasing Pope Pius XI (who said we should pray the Mass, not pray at Mass), we should sing the Mass, not sing at Mass. The idea is to make the sacrifice of the Mass that much more beautiful to God and to raise the level of participation of the parishioners - that is, the choir/director should not be judged on how well the choir performs, but on how well the congregation performs.

When we applaud the choir, then we are allowing the cult of personality to take over from the sacredness of the Mass.

If you wish to express your gratitude to the choir or the director, there is time to do that after the Mass is over. 👍 I have done so on several occasions.
 
I have a problem with applause for musicians and priests who are doing their job. They are not supposed to be there for their own glory. I don’t however have a problem with occasional applause for certain occasions such as sometimes the priest will introduce children making their first communion or after a blessing for a couple marking their 50th anniversary. As long as it’s not every week.
 
Before VII applause didn’t happen in church. It would have been considered scandolous. I sing in the choir and often we are applauded during and after Mass. I know the people mean well, but honestly, it makes me cringe.
 
It has become commonplace in my parish to have applause after every Mass. It drives me nuts.

It reinforces a comment a family member (who only attends the TLM) who asks after I attend the Mass, “How was the show?”
 
Have to agree with the sentiment that applauding the choir seems inappropriate during and after Mass. Occasionally appreciation is expressed from the altar for the choir and others following celebrations on Feast Days and most join in although I do not and at times feel a bit fuddy duddy. It’s an example of trying to balance feeling comfortable and being nice with doing what’s right.
Applause during Masses celebrating marriage would seem to be appropriate as it is an expression of support for the couple receiving the sacrament of matrimony.
 
I have been told that when someone complained about applause after the liturgy (I think the comment came from a bishop) that they applaud the pope in St. Peter’s. I don’t know if there is applause there for anything else.

Is the above true?
 
Would you applaud at the foot of Calvary? Would the Mother of God applaud the death of her Son? I think everyone should read “Lamb’s Supper” by Scott Hahn. It is my understanding that when you go to mass you are taken back to the moment of the Crucifixion “literally” NOT symbolically! I find it horrorfying that parishioners are clapping? It doesn’t happen in the Church I go to and if it did I would look for another one. You just received the “Real Presence” of Christ. I believe a quiet thank you or prayer is appropriate because the Son of God just gave you his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. The mass is not there for your entertainment it is to renew God’s Convenant with his people. By the way if you do not believe in the “Real Presence” in the Eucharist then you shouldn’t be receiving Holy Communion. Am I missing something here? Does anyone agree?
 
**While actual applause might well be innapropriate, I see nothing wrong with telling the musicians that they have done their job well. **

**My husband’s Evangelical church’s congregations applauds at every opportunity. It doesn’t bother me there, because their concept of worship is so different than the Catholic one. **
 
The church I attend only claps after say the Bishop preforms Mass or whatever. Seems strange whenever there is clapping.

What annoys me a bit is when the Priest is about to give the final blessing, a person of the congregation comes up to speak about parish events - i.e. picnic, carnival, etc. Ummm…folks, that’s why there’s such a thing called a Parish Newsletter/Bulletin. Now that’s annoying!!!
 
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