Applause after recessional hymn

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There is always silence following the Mass at our local FSSP parish as well.
People wait to speak until they have exited so that those who wish to pray may do so undisturbed.
At my O.F. Mass, I sometimes make a slight bow to the accompaniest at the close of the final hymn in appreciation of the gift offered to God.
 
Socrates92 said:
Does anyone actually depend on such “gigs” as a substantial portion of their full-time income? I was alsays under the impression that Church services would be purely supplemental. How many hours of playing in services can one realistically do per week? 5 or 10 max?
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Yes, I think that musicians do depend on church work as a substantial portion of their full-time income.

I am paid between $50.00 to $150.00 for every Mass or Protestant worship service. If I do three of these on a weekend, that is substantial money for me.

That is money that I can save and use for an unexpected bill (e.g., our home’s major water drain pipe is broken and will cost around $850 to repair–unexpected and very inconvenient–can’t do dishes anymore, so home-cooking is a little tricky).

It’s money that I can use for things that normally don’t fit well into my regular budget–e.g., new clothing, especially the “necessity clothing” like underwear and socks that aren’t fun to shop for, but are very necessary! I had gotten down to rags until last weekend, when I used several of my church music money payments to pay for almost $200.00 worth of new “necessities.” (I’m a lady, so it’s not like I can just buy a few packs of Fruit of the Loom!)

Many of the AGO members (American Guild of Organists) claim that the fees I make are way too low. I would agree with them in the Big Cities like NYC, Chicago, LA, etc. These organists make around $200 or more per Mass/worship service, but it doesn’t go as far in a Big City.
 
So what percentage of your overall income does that average? Do you work full time?
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Again, it’s not “in the liturgy”. The Mass ended when the priest said “The Mass is Ended” and the congregation responded.
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well… technically speaking, the recissional (like the processional) are part of the liturgy, but not part of the mass.

“Liturgy” doesn’t just refer to the the Mass. Along with the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours, every form of public prayer, procession, etc. (esp when the priest is in vestments) is considered “liturgy.”
 
I’m from the U.S. so we have to clap at the end of every mass.

I also leave a nice healthy tip for the Priest, the altar servers, and the ushers. It’s just common courtesy.

😝
 
JimG said:
Instead of applauding after Mass, maybe it would be more appropriate to shout a hearty “Amen!” at key moments during the homily.
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Or drop to your knees pray a Thanksgiving…
 
Peeps said:
No matter how much we claim to be presenting music “for God’s Glory alone,” it is discouraging when week after week, no one says, “I liked your music. It touched my heart. THANK YOU!”
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I think that’s a lot different. People can & should say thank you, good job, etc when possible.

However, at least at my local parish, the reason that doesn’t happen often is because the cantor is up in the sanctuary, and doesn’t leave until well after almost everyone is gone.

I don’t know what it’s like at your parish, but at many, it’s not really easy to walk up to the cantor after mass, without literally waiting for them to leave the sanctuary.
 
While working out of town this summer I was blessed to visit a parish where there is respectful silence before and after Mass, reception kneeling on an altar rail (tongue or hand), confessions before and during and after Mass, and no clapping or other hoopla. The hymnody was reverent and devout, some in Latin.
And—they only do OF in that parish. OF as it should be done everywhere.

www.iveamerica.org

IVE America - Institute of the Incarnate Word

Official site of the Institute of the Incarnate Word. Province of the Immaculate Conception. (USA, Canada, Mexico, Guyana)
www.iveamerica.org www.iveamerica.org
 
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Beware of Susan from the Parish Council. Her reach is long!
 
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A couple of thoughts.

The Mass has ended; it is not intruding upon it.

For those who wish to stay in the pew after Mass, it does not last long; the time it takes for people to exit takes far longer. Both are likely to disturb those who wish to stay.

Choirs take a lot of time, not just during Mass but at one or two rehearsals before the Mass, and they are not paid (with extremely few exceptions). It is a way to say thank you for your time and commitment

I don’t engage in it. I would prefer, all things taken into consideration, that people not do it.

My grandmother, whenever I complained about something, would reply “Offer it up” (for the poor souls).

I practice that…
 
otjm said:
My grandmother, whenever I complained about something, would reply “Offer it up” (for the poor souls).

I practice that…
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In most parishes in my area, it is indeed just such a mortification.
 
otjm said:
Choirs take a lot of time, not just during Mass but at one or two rehearsals before the Mass
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It’s a shame that most newer church buildings don’t have music rooms anymore. One parish near me has a Choir room where the choir practices and leaves all their instruments (it doubles as a meeting room when needed).

When I was a kid, my parish had a pretty large (classroom sized) choir room. And I just learned a few months ago, that our Cathedral has a huge choir room with a stage and organ in the basement (I always knew the choir practiced down there, but I didn’t know there was a stage with organ).

I know costs are a concern, but it seems like the older churches (built by poor parishioners) always thought of everything vs. the modern, rich suburban parishes. 🤔
 
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As a long time choir member, I’ve seen/applause after Mass since the early 1980s. I am not a fan of it. But unless someone -ideally the pastor-- tells people to stop they will keep doing it.
 
Sometimes even after they’ve been told to stop they’ll keep doing it. Some parishes just have a lot of immature people.
 
I have a question out of personal curiosity. It would seem that the overwhelming majority of people who posted here don’t approve of applause, even if it is after mass is over. Is that because most here are ultra conservative, so the opinions are skewed in that direction? Or is that most Catholics these days?

I have to say, as a youngster 45 years ago, it wasn’t unusual for applause after the recessional. Nobody seemed to mind.

Why don’t parishes have different masses for different styles? Those who are more laid back could go to one mass (perhaps with more contemporary music and, yes, applause after the recessional). The next mass could be for the more conservative types. Different strokes for different folks.
 
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QwertyGirl said:
I have to say, as a youngster 45 years ago, it wasn’t unusual for applause after the recessional. Nobody seemed to mind.
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In all charity, I do not remember ever hearing applause after Mass 45 years ago, which would have been 1974. Not too long after the new Mass was instituted and most Masses were still very reverent. I’m pretty sure this is a relatively new phenomenon.

I do remember high school kum ba yah Masses in the late 70s and sitting on the floor for Mass but that is the only place I could think of that there might have been applause.
 
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Could have been regional. Our parish was in a pretty liberal part of the country and our priests were young.
 
QwertyGirl said:
Why don’t parishes have different masses for different styles? Those who are more laid back could go to one mass (perhaps with more contemporary music and, yes, applause after the recessional). The next mass could be for the more conservative types. Different strokes for different folks.
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I’ve been saying this for years! I really wish they would do this

However, I think there are at least 2 main reasons they don’t:
  1. “Parish unity.”
  • There are (believe it or not) actually a number of priests who are not big fans of Masses in other languages at their parish because of this “unity issue.” These priests would rather see more personal Parishes / Chapels dedicated to other languages instead of having mass in 2 or more languages at a territorial parish. They believe it creates a parish within a parish. If each mass time is a totally different form of worship, you will literally have a different Catholic community per each Sunday Mass. Many pastors don’t want that.
  1. unlike Protestant Churches where the board can fire a minister, priests are their at the Bishop’s will, not the people in the pew. So we often wind up with either the pastor’s personal preferences and/or the music director’s.
 
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