Applause At Mass

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rwoehmke

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It has been my understanding that applause during Mass is an abuse. Cardinal Ratzinger tolerated it at the funeral Mass for John Paul II and didn’t speak a word of correction. Is it to be allowed at some times and not at others?
 
One of the announcers on the broadcast I was watching said it was a sign of respect in Italy. I don’t know if that’s true or not. After watching our media this past week, I’d be stunned if they got something wrong. :rolleyes:

Keep in mind, there were a lot of non-Catholics there also.
 
Dr. Bombay:
One of the announcers on the broadcast I was watching said it was a sign of respect in Italy. I don’t know if that’s true or not. After watching our media this past week, I’d be stunned if they got something wrong. :rolleyes:

Keep in mind, there were a lot of non-Catholics there also.
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If I was their I would probably do what the Roman’s do.

After it was first announced that the Pope had died the crowd outside his apartment went silent and then began to clap their hands. It was explained that this was a sign of respect then. If there wasn’t that explanation I would have thought it was an awful thing to do.
 
Also, even if it is an abuse, during the Funeral would not have been the right time to make the correction.

Any corrections, especially of minor abuses must be made discreetly
GIRM 160. … The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.
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I think some of us make mountains out of molehills. Catholocism enculturates itself in the world traditions to be accessable to the people. I have been in African-American churches where I have constantly heard “Amen,” “Alleluia,” and the congregation was really alive in the celebration of the mass. I see no wrong when praises to God come from the heart, even in the form of clapping.
Peace & love!

trailblazer
 
I think so. I think that if you applause people during Mass, then at the end of all the applause you should applause Jesus Christ becaus he is the real reason whe are there.
 
I am bothered by applause when it is offered for the choir’s last song or something of that nature. The music should be offered up for God. It should not be there for our entertainment in the pews.

I was recently at a very orthodox parish nearby and they *never *do things that conflict with the rubrics. Consequently, over many years I had never witnessed applause. However, an announcement was made that the diocese had granted permission for the parish to construct a cemetary adjacent to the church. The faithful began to clap and this caught me off guard. But the difference here was that they were applauding God for the great blessing He had given them. They were not clapping for the priest, or for themselves, as I am used to seeing in other area parishes.
 
I’ve sung in a cathedral choir for over 18 yrs. From a choir member’s point of view,** NONE **of us have ever sung for acclaim from the congregation. That having been said, on those rare occassions when the congregation breaks into spontaneous applause after Mass, it is appreciated. It means we have done our job to assist at Mass. We look at it as nothing more than the congregation saying thanks for a job well done.
 
For the most part no one at my church spontaneously breaks into applause but the pastor does sometimes tell us to clap for the choir or other ministries. I was raised not to clap in Church and it raises my hackles a little to be instructed to do so. The way I see it this is neither the place for clapping (in a church during a liturgy) nor is there reason to.
 
Perhaps the horror of applause in church is an Anglo-American thing (which I share in spades. But if applause is an abuse, it is an abuse rampant since time immemorial in St. Peter’s, where just about anything can set it off.

As some earlier posters have indicated, it must have a different value there than in the States. I cringe when it happens in my parish (weddings, thank-yous, and such), but when you’re in a crowd of 10,000 in that Bernini’s vast baroque cavern, applause just happens – and it doesn’t feel irreverent or out of place.
 
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brotherhrolf:
I’ve sung in a cathedral choir for over 18 yrs. From a choir member’s point of view,** NONE **of us have ever sung for acclaim from the congregation. That having been said, on those rare occassions when the congregation breaks into spontaneous applause after Mass, it is appreciated. It means we have done our job to assist at Mass. We look at it as nothing more than the congregation saying thanks for a job well done.
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I think that the larger problem is not with occasional clapping for the choir at major events, but parishes where such aplause is regularly offered every week after every Mass. It does get overdone in those situations.
 
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brotherhrolf:
I’ve sung in a cathedral choir for over 18 yrs. From a choir member’s point of view,** NONE **of us have ever sung for acclaim from the congregation. That having been said, on those rare occassions when the congregation breaks into spontaneous applause after Mass, it is appreciated. It means we have done our job to assist at Mass. We look at it as nothing more than the congregation saying thanks for a job well done.
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I have been part of spontaneous applause many times also and I love listening to music at mass. It is a highligt of mine. I don’t think we should be so strict on that. I know the choir sings for the glory of God. If I applaud it is in a good sense. and not to detract from the Glory of God. It is a rule I don’t necessarily agree with.
 
When I was growing up, I was taught that it wasn’t appropriate to clap at Mass. On Friday, at a memorial Mass for the Pope, the lector led applause after Father had processed out. I didn’t understand that ( I don’t know what we were supposed to be applauding) and did not participate.

On the other hand, we had a visiting priest today. Our parish is planning the celebration of our pastor’s 25th anniversary of ordination. The visiting priest shared that he is a few years shy of his 50th anniversary. I broke out clapping. I couldn’t help myself. 🙂
 
I once heard about a place (in South America?) where the congregants would applaud at the elevation of the host and chalice to show their loving praise for Jesus.
 
Andreas Hofer:
I was raised not to clap in Church and it raises my hackles a little to be instructed to do so. .
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I am the same way. Seeing the Holy Father’s funeral has caused me to re-evaluate the issue.
 
Occassionally we will have applause at my parish, but it is always after mass. It is primarily reserved for some key announcement from the pastor (a significant victory in some area perhaps) or when certain people retire from a particular service to the parish. I see nothing wrong with it per se, but when it does happen, it becomes harder for the congregation to maintain an appropriate quietness as they leave.
 
Howdy !

At my parish, at the end of mass, before the final blessing, Father calls all of those celebrating a birthday this week to please come forward for a blessing.

He blesses them and then everyone claps.

Then he calls all couples that are celbrating the anniversary of their marriage. He asks each couple how long they’ve been married and announces it to everyone. He gives a blessing, then says “you may kiss your bride”. … everyone claps.

Then we get the final blessing to “go in peace to love and serve the Lord”.

funny aside: when asked how long they were married, one guys says 17 wonderful years, and as quick as wit can be, Father asked “how many total?”

hehehehe

Cheers!

michel
 
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cazayoux:
Howdy !

At my parish, at the end of mass, before the final blessing, Father calls all of those celebrating a birthday this week to please come forward for a blessing.

He blesses them and then everyone claps.

Then he calls all couples that are celbrating the anniversary of their marriage. He asks each couple how long they’ve been married and announces it to everyone. He gives a blessing, then says “you may kiss your bride”. … everyone claps.

Then we get the final blessing to “go in peace to love and serve the Lord”.

funny aside: when asked how long they were married, one guys says 17 wonderful years, and as quick as wit can be, Father asked “how many total?”

hehehehe

Cheers!

michel
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What a great story! Thank you for sharing this. Father has a great sense of humor.
 
Our priest occasionally asks us to give a round of applause; e.g. after the kids receive first communion, or some other significant occasion. It seems ok to me.

We should acknowledge each other when appropriate. I don’t think the Lord would find that offensive.
 
At Easter, the choir sang the Hallelujah Chorus, and did it beautifully. The congregation did clap. I have not seen clapping otherwise, but I have only been going there one month, so I can’t say really what is normal for them.

I was also raised that you don’t clap in church, but over time it has become less “shocking”. So it doesn’t bother me so much anymore. Although I do think to myself when it happens, “Is this okay?”

But the way I looked at it on Easter was that the people were saying Hallelujah to Christ’s Resurrection as well as thanking the choir for their efforts to make the Mass that much more beautiful.

Aunt Martha
 
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