Applause during Mass?

[deogratias]

not sure how you would stop

That and all abuses and irregularities could be stopped if the Priests would just tell people to stop - guess they are afraid some would vote with their feet and leave and there would be less $$$$ in their collection baskets -

 

[SMHW]

Yes, my pastor does frequently request applause. His predecessor did too.

I could live with it if it was an occasional request when there are baptisms or new ordinations or something like that but sometimes it seems like the Mass for which he does not request applause is the exception rather than the one for which he does request it.

Both parishes of which I have been a member have broken out into spontaneous applause at the end of the Liturgy since 1980. My convert husband and my children consider this ‘normal’ and can’t imagine why applause would make me uncomfortable.

 

[chimakuni]

Father Benedict Groeshel told us that he and his brother friars are trying to get the clapping out of the churches (HURRAY!) and the talking out of the churches! (another HURRAY!)

The focus is on Christ - the minute we walk into the Church and prayerfully, we take that focus out with us. There is absolutely, positively no need for applauding while in the sanctuary…or talking, for that matter either*

Our priest rarely makes announcements after the Mass has ended and encourages us to clap - as he leads the applause. My family and I, who sit in the third row, do not applaud. We stand reverently and keep our hands together. I like the idea of praying in thanksgiving for the person who is being applauded and I shall explain that to the rest of our family before our next Mass.

God Bless - Chimakuni

*being the human that I am, and the talker that I am, it is very difficult for me to be totally silent in Church…but I try and try and try to get it right!

 

[darcee]

deogratias:

That and all abuses and irregularities could be stopped if the Priests would just tell people to stop - guess they are afraid some would vote with their feet and leave and there would be less $$$$ in their collection baskets -

Most liturgical abuses I could see easily doing a way with by a word or two from the pastor. But spontaneous clapping is a little different. One since it doesn’t happen all that often the chance of someone hearing the announcement and remembering not to offend is less likely. Second… it is often visitor (like family attending a wedding, baptism or first communion) that begin the clapping and others join in to not appear rude.
-D

 

[baltobetsy]

I have a vague memory of learning that the one and only reason to clap in church is to applaud the action of the Holy Spirit, such as in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Does anyone else remember this, or am I dreaming?

Thanks,
Betsy

 

[KolbeKid]

I realize I am late to this show, but I needed to respond to this issue of “applause in mass.”

The problem started when the mass changed to allow the priest to face the congregation. Now we have a new central figure, and the sanctuary has become a stage. The choir is the chorus on stage, and the deacons and the altar servers are the supporting players. The leader of song is the soloist in this production, and naturally we, the congregation, is the audience. So, what else does an audience do - naturally, we APPLAUD THE PERFORMERS.

I do not want to be too long winded here, especially so late in the conversation. So I would like to supply two quotes to the question at hand. First, from Thomas Day in his book Why Catholics Can’t Sing, he explains the call to applause by the priest:
“We can classify this manner of behavior under the heading of Ego Renewal, the use of liturgy as an opportunity to display, for all the world to see, the greatness of ‘me’”.
My second quote would be to paraphrase Pius X, who was once applauded in church, to which he responded to the people that “the servant is not recognized in the Master’s presence.” I love this quote.

We need to refocus our attention on our Lord, and the priest needs to lead the people to Jesus in the Tabernacle, not lead himself toward the congregation.

KolbeKid

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

darcee:

…spontaneous clapping is a little different… it is often visitor (like family attending a wedding, baptism or first communion) that begin the clapping and others join in to not appear rude.

Isn’t it odd though (displaced, even) that we fear being rude to our neighbor, so we choose to be rude to Our Lord instead!
:ehh:

Pax Christi. <><

 

[larryo]

Joan M:

I read in Adoremus last year that Cardinal Arinze (head of the Congregation for the Liturgy), in answering a similar question, said clearly that there should never be applause at Mass.

He stated that this should be reserved for events outside the Church.

I have never liked applause at Mass. It makes me feel most uncomfortable - probably because it is only done when we are focussing on ourselves and not on God.

I completely agree with your reply. At our parish, applause is often encouraged by the priests and I always feel uncomfortable. I believe it’s a needless distraction from our worship of God.