Applause at Mass

[Belle10]

At the church I attended growing up (and got married in), my parents are in the choir and have been for about 20 years. (I’m a cradle Catholic.) Some years ago, people started clapping after Mass. I can understand why some people don’t like this, but in my eyes, it’s always been a kindness. If the hymns sang by the choir touched someone during Mass, helped bring them closer to Jesus during Mass, that’s a good thing. I think recognizing the time put in to finding the right songs to match up with the scripture readings and practicing them for hours is kind. Does the choir need applause? No. Is it nice to recognize their devotion to Jesus as witnessed through song? Sure. I don’t think recognizing peoples’ God-given gifts is a problem.

Others give of their time too of course – lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, everyone – but breaking into applause during Mass to recognize them wouldn’t be appropriate. However, after Mass, as I mentioned, is different.

Come to think of it, our priest often makes mention of all the people who serve at Mass (in their various capacities) and thanks them for serving, which sometimes leads to applause (this usually happens after Communion before the final blessing). He’s been a priest for about 35 or 40 years if I’m remembering correctly, and he’s pretty traditional.

Please don’t attack me for not being “traditional” enough. Jesus is the reason my parents are in that choir, not because of some clapping once a week. They’d do it with or without the applause, as would most choir members I’m sure. :yup:

 

[benedictgal]

It looks to me like he said “in the liturgy” after Mass is something different :shrugur parish claps after Mass but there’s normally not many left in the Church because; 1) Catholics blow outa there so fast you’d think someone was chasing them (protestant’s don’t do this BTW!) and 2) The priest is already outside shaking hands and saying his farewells. It’s “in the liturgy” the good Pope mentions and he is probably referring to applause that happens after a homily or a piece of music by someone during the Mass.

The problem is that a lot of the applause happens after the post-Communion prayer. Some celebrants will acknowledge newcomers, announce birthdays and anniversaries and then encourage a round of applauae for these folks, as well as for the choir.

Now, an Ordination Mass is an instance where applause is acceptable because the faithful, through this action, give their ascent to the person receiving ordination. It also happens when a diocese is erected after the Papal proclamation is read. Now, applause does happen as the Holy Father is recessing from the altar at a Papal Mass (this happens as the final hymn is being sung) as a sign of respect to the Pope.

Nonetheless, Pope Benedict is on target when he says that this stuff often happens before Mass because it does and it should not occur.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Yes, I always clap, it is a tradition at the parishes I frequent. The cantor and/or choir do a great job and this a way to show appreciation to their talents and hard work.

 

[kettle]

Nobody applauds at the end of Mass in my parish.

 

[CB_Catholic]

So, do you clap at the and of Mass? Do you put your hands together to show how much you liked the way the priest said Mass? Or the way the choir sang?

Do you add to a round of applause at the end of Mass?

I will admit that applause at the end of Mass is very annoying.

We used to occassionally do this if the choir did an exceptionally good piece, but our Pastor put a stop to it. Now we only applaud if he tells us to, and only after Mass for special circumstances.

 

[FrCorey]

the Holy Mass is NOT a “show” and should always be treated with the proper respect. you are suppost to be paying respect to the holy creator.

 

[Cristiano]

how bout we start yelling “bravo” after a good homily or “you go girl” when the soloist really rocks.

That is what I would do after my wife is done singing the psalm. However, I think that between her and the pastor I would not live to see the next day.

Now, an Ordination Mass is an instance where applause is acceptable because the faithful, through this action, give their ascent to the person receiving ordination.

That is the only time that I did it and I was happy in doing it. Another time was after invitation by the Bishop to do so ( I do not remember the reason), and I did it just out of obedience but I was not comfortable with it. Luckily that was the only time that I saw our Bishop inviting us to applaud.

 

[February]

Yes, I always clap, it is a tradition at the parishes I frequent. The cantor and/or choir do a great job and this a way to show appreciation to their talents and hard work.

for real? this only happened once in recent years at my parish; our priest stopped the congregation mid-clap. he reminded us why it is not appropriate to clap during the mass.

you can congratulate the choir after mass.

 

[kell0618]

So, do you clap at the and of Mass? Do you put your hands together to show how much you liked the way the priest said Mass? Or the way the choir sang?

Do you add to a round of applause at the end of Mass?

I will admit that applause at the end of Mass is very annoying.

Never heard of such a thing. Only time we’ve ever done so is to welcome the newly baptized who received the Sacrament during Mass or on a similar occasion; never to acknowledge the priest or the choir. I always make a point to let Fr. know when a homily has touched me deeply or those in the choir when they do a stellar job AFTER mass as I leave the building.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

for real? this only happened once in recent years at my parish; our priest stopped the congregation mid-clap. he reminded us why it is not appropriate to clap during the mass.

you can congratulate the choir after mass.

That is when it is, right after the last song. Though I have seen other parishes with local traditions of periodically (every so often on special occasions) clapping during mass and it fits with their local traditions.

 

[benedictgal]

That is when it is, right after the last song. Though I have seen other parishes with local traditions of periodically (every so often on special occasions) clapping during mass and it fits with their local traditions.

Not necessarily. Remember, when we clap during the Mass (and it’s not for an Ordination), it renders the Holy Sacrifice to a performance rather than the Mass. This is certainly taking inculturation too far and, I might add, I would be curious to know what you mean by local traditions.

 

[byers]

Our pastor does not allow it.

 

[anamchara]

Protestants hang around because thats all their service is, being social with each other. So they do so before, during and after, their “church services”

Ignorance surely does lead to bigtory :banghead:

 

[benedictgal]

Ignorance surely does lead to bigtory :banghead:

It’s not so much ignorance. If you were to look at Ancient Israel and the Judaism that resulted from the Council of Jamnia in 95, you will find some interesting parallels to the worship of the Church and the Protestant ecclesial communities.

The Church is the New Israel. She continues many of the customs of Ancient Israel, most importantly, the Sacrifice. Ancient Israel offered blood sacrifice for atonement. It sacrificed lambs during the Passover. The Church, the New Israel, maintains that sacrificial element, only, we offer the Eternal Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. In the Mass, we are mystically made present at Calvary and are just as present as the Blessed Mother and Sts. John and Mary Magdalene. The Church did not need the Temple in order to continue the sacrificial aspect of her worship.

When the Temple fell in 70AD, there was no place for the Jews to sacrifice. Therefore, they resorted to what they did during the Babylonian exile. They heard readings from the Torah, prayed and sang. The Council of Jamnia, which happened in 95AD, removed seven of the Greek-language books from the Jewish scripture and pretty much set the stage for the Judaism that exists today. Now, when the Protestants broke away from the Church, they dismissed the notion of sacrifice and, oddly enough, wound up following the post Temple order of worship that the Jews followed: listening to the Word, prayers and singing.

That is why the concept of worship is very different between the Church and the Protestant ecclesial communities. The Church has her norms and rubrics. Applause is not one of them, unless, of course, there is an Ordination or the erection of a new diocese.

 

[briang72]

I chose sometimes, but not for the encouragement of the priest.

I have applauded for those entering the Church at the Easter Vigil. Its really the only time I have felt comfortable doing it. The people entering the Church are adults in a very difficult world (and country) in which to choose Catholicism. Their entrance into the Church was a long journey, and I think they deserve recognition. It would probably be better fit for a reception after Mass, but it is such an emotional moment to see so many people come into the Church.

I do not applaud the priest or the music ministry at Mass.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Not necessarily. Remember, when we clap during the Mass (and it’s not for an Ordination), it renders the Holy Sacrifice to a performance rather than the Mass. This is certainly taking inculturation too far and, I might add, I would be curious to know what you mean by local traditions.

By local traditions is it is part of the local adaptions/allowances between the priests and parish members. Nobody really remembers how it started, but it does add to the lighter but no less growing spiritual growth of the people in the parish. These parishes thrive on positive, down to earth spiritual growth.

 

[masterjedi747]

In a way, I have to answer yes. But on Christmas and Easter only.

…and let me hasten to explain that this is easily 5 minutes after Mass has ended and many people have already left, during which time while the choir has continued on to finish all 8 or 10 stanzas of whatever recessional song was chosen. And then when they finish with however grand a finale it might be, those who remained that extra time to support the choir (and it’s generally a respectable number) offer a round of applause before leaving.

Applauding after Mass under almost any other conditions, though, definitely does bother me.

 

[Sarabande]

I have done it when babies were baptized, couples married, priests ordained and bishops installed. At my parish, the applause tends to be after the postlude (we have lots of visitors) and once a year at the end of the June when the priest after ending the mass asks the congregation to show their appreciation for the music program. It also occurs for some archdiocesan masses.

In the past I have done it after incredible organ postludes and choral postludes. This was until my music director/organist (the one who plays the incredible organ postludes) mentioned how he did not want and never wanted applause for his abilities at mass nor for the choir. When I asked him why, he said that what he gave was a prayer to God - not a show. It was something to uplift spiritually, but once the applause starts, it breaks the prayer and spiritual connection - even if it is meant in a kindly way. (He does appreciate thankful comments afterwards - more so for the choir than for himself - as the choir does work very hard.)

After that, I never applauded for things like that and then I, too, started to see what he was talking about. Before, even though I didn’t realize it, when I applauded him and/or choir I really did break my spiritual prayer to God as I turned it into something “earthly”. While the music was floating throughout the cathedral, my mind was focused on the spiritual inspiration and prayer through the interpretation of the composition. I wasn’t thinking of it as a performance. Once the applause started by other people, it felt like I suddenly was at an organ recital.

I also experienced how disconcerting it can be as the musician once the applause starts. My director mentioned that he tends to be jolted out of his focus and prayer when the applause begins rather than gradually work its way out when the final resolution of a composition should be silence. (Many people in concert and sacred settings applause before that final resolution.) One time when I was cantoring, I chanted the psalm. Almost as soon as I completed the psalm, someone in the cathedral began to applaud me. I was so embarrassed to the point of shaking and completed “jolted” out of the prayer. I perform for secular venues as a classical singer and am totally fine for applause then, but this was just so upsetting to me - I was in no way angry with the person who did this, but I really felt that the flow of the liturgy and the prayer was broken for a bit until the next reading began. Plus, someone seemed to have taken it as a performance, when I try best to be as prayerful and “unseen” as possible when I cantor.

Anyway, that my point of view on applause, coming from at least two musicians.

 

[Gabrielis]

I agree that applause at mass is wholly inappropriate, whether before, during or after. (There are, of course, exceptions, such as very special occasions like a couple renewing their fiftieth wedding anniversary vows or some other momentous event.)

Unfortunately I belong to a parish where applause is routinely done, even encouraged by many of the priests, so what can one expect? People clap for anything and everything: for the choir after the closing song, that goes without saying, for the altar servers, the special announcements, visiting missionaries or other guests who are given the podium, Knights of Columbus conducting a recruitment drive, RCIA graduates giving their testimonies, you name it, no one is exempt, in the interest of disinterested fairness.

What particularly bothers me is the chronic clapping after the recessional hymn. I once discussed this with some members of the choir about how this bothered me, how what they did was not a performance etc. And one particular choir member agreed with me wholeheartedly, adding that it really bothers her too, especially when the choir hadn’t sung too well that day, (the subconscious implication being, of course, that since they gave a lousy performance they did not deserve the applause that would otherwise have been their due.) To say that she missed my point entirely would be a gross understatement.

Bottom line: what the average Catholic in the pew needs is to become properly cathechized. Those of us who have been blessed with a better understanding must do what we can, if not by words, then by example, to bring others to a proper sense of worship. Our Lord has called us to be salt of the earth and light to the world. The witness must begin with our fellow-Catholics who may be less informed. For us simply to refrain from applauding despite the peer pressure around us may be a first step. To paraphrase Blessed Mother Teresa, we need only be faithful, and God will grant success to our endeavors.

"The center of every man's existence is a dream. Death, disease, insanity, are merely material accidents, like a toothache or a twisted ankle. That these brutal forces always besiege and often capture the citadel does not prove that they are
the citadel." -- G. K. Chesterton

 

[Sarabande]

In defense to many who do applaud for many things during or after mass — many times the leaders (priests) promote this or don’t say anything to stop it. Also, in this day and age, people seem to applaud everything. So it seems ok and natural to applaud when they feel joy for something. I’m not saying it’s wrong or right. For myself, I believe it is inappropriate, but I cannot judge those who do it. In many ways, I believe if the priests or the musicians or lectors, etc. don’t want applause, they need to have the pastor or the priest discuss this or make an announcement in the bulletin - in a gentle and nice way, of course.