Applause in church service/Mass

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I think we have similar viewpoints, zosch, although we respect those who think differently. One thing I do applaud at church is when, during the announcements, the lead pastor has a married couple briefly stand up who just celebrated an anniversary of over 50+ years and be recognized by the congregation with applause. After all, that is quite an accomplishment these days. This is usually done early in the service around the time of the sharing of the peace.
 
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At Orthodox Judaism services there is never applause during the service except during certain special occasions. A Bar or Bat Mitzvoh and Simch Torah will have joyous clapping at certain points and of course during Purim when ever evil Haman is mentioned the noise makers and boo’s come out. These are special occasions and otherwise…no applause…even for great choirs or orchestra performances. Thing may be different now (I doubt it) as I haven’t gone in a while so YMMV.
 
“It is not fitting that the servant should be applauded in his Master’s house.”

~Pope Saint Pius X on the applause which had become customary at papal services at St. Peter’s Basilica.~
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Acceptable during this part of the rite of ordination:
(Election by the Bishop
The Bishop then chooses the candidates by saying: “Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the order of Priesthood. “
Consent of the People
All present respond: “Thanks be to God” and show their assent by applause.) other than that, there is no time where this is part of a liturgy.
 
The Mass is the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, thus it is a solemn time of prayer, and applause is not usually appropriate. It does vary from parish to parish, however.
 
I am a convert to the RCC from the Episcopal church, and one thing I miss about my old Episcopal parish is the reverent silence before the mass, the lack of applause, etc. In my Catholic parish, it’s non-stop chatter right up to the opening words from the priest. As much as I love Catholicism, I must admit I miss the beauty and dignity of the Anglican mass. Face it, the Anglicans sometimes out-Catholic the Catholics.
 
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I raise you one ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10)

Dang it! I said I would not do this!
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. It sounds like a mixed bag in terms how other faith traditions approach the idea of applause during worship. Applause seems a lot more common than it used to be since I was a lad back in the day, but my wife also contends I just need to loosen up and roll with the flow and not be such a fuddy duddy, but I can’t stop being uncomfortable with it. 😌. She may get me to smile on the outside, but I still cringe in the inside. However, I love God too much to refuse to attend church because of it. Thanks again, everyone.
 
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There is a kind of low Christology that prevails today in some Roman Catholic theological circles, that seems mirrored by some practices in some parishes.
Lex orandi, lex credendi.
 
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI far outweighs me as a mere layman:

“Whenever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment [my emphasis].”

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, 198.
 
Ha, I wonder if you attend my former church. That happened after certain songs and even after the homily. It was so distracting and took away from the reverence and solemnity of my worship. I joined another church. I don’t like trying new things when it comes to my masses lol
 
I never liked clapping, I don’t like the clapping in the Gloria (clap clap) Gloria (clap clap) either.

In some ways people re making Mass worse, a little while ago the priest said he wouldn’t give a homily (there was a carnival on and the police will close the roads so it would be a quicker Mass or we would all get stuck, the Bishop knows about it), anyway when the priest said he wouldn’t give a homily a man at the back said very loudly “good”!

I thought that was very disrespectful.

I don’t enjoy the massive notices at the end but I wouldn’t shout something out about them.
 
Tommy999 said:
at a typical service otherwise, there are people talking and laughing before the service starts,
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Always interesting that this varies from parish to parish, even from a Mass to a Mass within a parish. It reflects a lack of appreciation of what the Mass is and how we are to prepare in our personal encounter with the living God. I would encourage a discussion with the parish priest. I’ve seen some address the issue before Mass. But this reflects a habit, not a good one, and at times a culture. And habits can be hard to break but they can be changed but it take diligence.
 
In our parish, the only applause I’ve seen has been during special occasions (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, our priest’s birthday or ordination anniversary, etc) or when a special presentation is made. It’s not a normal occurance.
 
Firstly - the Sign of Peace where folks shake each other’s hands is a prescribed, valid and licit part of the Mass. Don’t shake if you don’t want to, but don’t criticise those who do.

Second - yes the Mass is sacrifice. It is also, just as much, Eucharist - thanksgiving. We are allowed to express thankfulness and even joy at Mass.

I certainly wouldn’t sing songs expressing joy at the foot of the Cross, but it is entirely appropriate to do so at Mass. For that matter I wouldn’t bring a baby to Calvary, or eat and drink, or get married. Yet we do all these things at Mass.

For the record, no, I don’t think we should be applauding every song or every Mass. But special times such as Christmas or Easter, where musicians and others put in extra effort to make things special and meaningful, I dont think it inappropriate after Mass is finished to acknowledge it.
 
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I wish the sign of peace would be transferred to the very beginning of the service, or after the service concludes. It’s a distraction smackdab in the middle of the liturgy.
 
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I know some folks who get absolutely irate if people clap at anytime during Mass. And for good reason, we believe we are right there at the foot of the cross with our blessed Mother. So not a time to be festive.

That said, I think at Charismatic masses it is fairly common and permissible.

I must say, I am former high Church Anglican and you never saw clapping there during Mass. And they don’t even believe in the sacrificial nature of the Mass. So kudos to those folks for keeping it 100 on reverence!!
 
I would think a special service is one thing (funeral,wedding, Christmas, Easter, etc.), where there is a specific focus. But generally the assembling of ourselves is for provoking one another to good works and holy living. And moreso than that, for the textual inference is of Jews and Gentiles getting together (quite challenging at that time), not to mention worldly fresh converts. The focus is yes, feeding ourselves and our needs, but also to feed and support others in the faith, not esteeming our needs and wants above others. The " one another" is telling.
 
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