Clapping after Mass has ended?

[RebeccaJ]

Is it possible that the clappers were just glad the service was over?

ha, sometimes, THANKS BE TO GOD! can have the same meaning.

 

[RebeccaJ]

hah! maybe…

Clapping is pretty childish to do at Mass and shows a complete misunderstanding of what the Mass actually is.

Would you clap for someone at the foot of the Cross at Calvary?
Is the Mass the same Sacrifice? If you are Catholic and believe then you have to agree that it is the same Sacrifice or you reject the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross which is united at every Mass.

Scylla

That’s what I thought. It makes me cringe when people clap and I want to run out the door before I get caught, or something.

 

[Jon_S]

Clapping is pretty childish to do at Mass and shows a complete misunderstanding of what the Mass actually is.

I could not agree with you more!

I’m 35 (and a fairly recent revert) and was a member of the pastoral council at my parish. When I brought up my concern over the clapping, the response was “You can’t tell me what to do!” This came from a lady who is probably 20 years older than me.

I don’t mean to offend anyone here, but many of the people in my parish who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s act like little babies. It’s really amazing.

 

[Jon_S]

A handful of people here say “amen!” after the homily. I find it odd because this very group of people considers themselves to be very orthodox.

Interesting…

The priest at my church said that if people want to clap after the homily, it’s ok because it’s the Holy Spirit moving them.

I am pretty skeptical of the “Holy Spirit made me do it” argument…first off because everyone and their mother uses that to justify their different behaviors or beliefs, and secondly because the Holy Spirit seems to be telling me to refrain from any emotional outbursts at the mass.

 

[PatrickJT914]

Hey everybody,

Lighten up, please! The death of Jesus is a sad and solemn ocassion I agree. However, don’t we also commemorate His death with a special day called “GOOD Friday?” Why do you think that is? Our Mass is called many things, including a CELEBRATION as well as a sacrifice and a meal. People say that the Lord is present in the tabernacle. Yes, that is true. We Catholics believe Jesus is present in the Eucharist (Greek for " THANKSGIVING") That is also true. Jesus said He came so people could life more abundantly and fully. He also told us in Scripture that our JOYmaybe complete. If we believe in all of these, why then do people seem to be so unhappy, sad, down, despairing, cold, distant, stone faced, unfriendly, hard, and these are people coming out of Mass. Maybe because people nitpick, are too legalistic, waiting for any liturgical abuse so , they run to tell Father and/or the Bishop, maybe a little self-righteous, holier-than-thou, etc. You get my point. Try instead to look at the Mass with a heart open to the Holy Spirit and pray for the Spirit to come. But be careful if you do that, you just might find yourself clapping, singing, smiling, joyful, shaking hands or hugging people during the sign of peace, or maybe even reaching across the center aisle to the other side of the church to hold hands during the Our Father, or maybe really learn what the Mass truly means.

My answer to clapping is this::clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

 

[pnewton]

Hey everybody,

Lighten up, please! The death of Jesus is a sad and solemn ocassion I agree. … Try instead to look at the Mass with a heart open to the Holy Spirit and pray for the Spirit to come. …or maybe really learn what the Mass truly means.

My answer to clapping is this::clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

But I do that already without clapping. It would be unfair to assume those that cringe at applause lack anything you state. Let us try to assume the best in folks, in true charity as we reach out to hold hands.

I personally am embarassed by clapping, so I am glad we do not do that. Yet I know all communities are different and some performers might find it gratifying.

 

[benedictgal]

That makes sense.

It is unfamiliar to me because my religious background is that you don’t clap at worship services, ever, for any reason. I never saw this happen at a Mass until Pope Benedict’s visit to the US, and people clapped and cheered after Mass had ended. Maybe that is what started this new trend?

Applause for the sake of applause is never a local tradition. The cantors and choir are exercising a liturgical function, not giving a performance.

We also tend to forget that we are in sacred space. The Mass may have ended, but, we are still in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Clapping for piddly things treats the church as though it were an auditorium and not the House of the Father.

As far as clapping for the Holy Father is concerned, that is a sign of respect. It almost always happens wherevver he goes. However, during the Triduum, the clapping is suspended, given the solemnity of the Three Great Days. Clapping is also suspended during Palm Sunday, since it begins Holy Week and it is not ideal to be clapping just after we’ve heard the proclamation of the Lord’s Passoin.

Incidentally, the faithful applauded Pope John Paul II one last time when his pallbearers lifted and tilted his casket towrards the crowds. That was a gesture of farewell.

 

[PatrickJT914]

But I do that already without clapping. It would be unfair to assume those that cringe at applause lack anything you state. Let us try to assume the best in folks, in true charity as we reach out to hold hands.

That’s good for you and I’m glad. Maybe that was a little too general, but I was trying to be charitable and not specify any one in particular. However, you must admit that people do lack something. That is part of having a flawed, imperfect human nature. You’re right we (I) should see the best in people. But that’s part of the problem on some of these threads and posts. Some people don’t look for the good in the church or the actions it takes. Nor, again, look for the good in people. People always trying to best or “one upmanship” anothers comments. There is a thread, that addresses this problem, “HEALING THE CHASM BETWEEN TRADITION AND THE FUTURE” people on there are more civil, respectful, understanding, don’t put down people, can debate without resorting to negativity. Maybe everybody should drift on over and learn.

I personally am embarassed by clapping, so I am glad we do not do that. Yet I know all communities are different and some performers might find it gratifying.

I too get embarassed when someone makes a fuss over me. However, I do like that people appreciate me for what I bring to the situation. Granted that might be a bit prideful. However, its human nature to be liked, loved, thanked, accepted by others, knowing that we made a contribution, appreciation for hard work done, acknowledge our gifts. Its CHRISTIAN CHARITY to thank those who did something special for the liturgy. People thank Father, don’t they? Or how about in the secular world we say thank you, give a tip, or clap when somebody did something nice or special for us. Why should it be different in a church setting? In fact it shows that we value people, their God given; abilities, talents, and gifts. We show them we see the good in what they did and who they are as human beings. Besides ITS the Catholic Christian thing to do.

 

[coyotekate77]

Its CHRISTIAN CHARITY to thank those who did something special for the liturgy. People thank Father, don’t they? Or how about in the secular world we say thank you, give a tip, or clap when somebody did something nice or special for us. Why should it be different in a church setting? In fact it shows that we value people, their God given; abilities, talents, and gifts. We show them we see the good in what they did and who they are as human beings. Besides ITS the Catholic Christian thing to do.

Nobody is saying that we should not thank people or appreciate their value.

However as I said earlier there is a time and a place for that. The Church (and another poster brought up a very timely snippet from Pope Benedict himself) is sacred space. It would be both easy and appropriate to:

1. Note ‘thanks’ in the church bulletin.
2. Have the various people who have served the church ‘feted’ outside of Church --across in the parish hall, outside the Church proper at the coffee-and-donut afterwards, even in a special outside event as many parishes do.

There is simply no need to disrupt (and it is disruptive) people in a Church (even if Mass is over, if this is done in the Church itself).

I’ve said it before --I’ll say it again. I think it is wonderful to value people and to thank them and to acknowledge them. . .but the proper venue for that is not in the Church itself.

Surely if the most important thing in this is to express appreciation for the people who have put forth their efforts, those people will not cavil and INSIST that they be recognized IN CHURCH, darn it, and to heck with what Pope Benedict or anybody else says. If the appreciation is what matters, then they would be content to have that appreciation in a proper venue. . .right?

 

[bpbasilphx]

It is a local tradition to show thanks for the cantors/singers and other musicians. Some parishes do it, some do not, I feel it is a good thing to help keep the community spirit of the parish and it does help recruit more people into the music ministry which sometimes can be very hard to do

**Bad taste and gauche behavior are NOT traditions of the Church.

The Eucharistic Sacrifice is about experiencing GOD’S Spirit, not “community spirit.”

And if people are joining the music ministry to feed their own egos, they are going about this wrong. I’m speaking as a church musician here.

**

 

[scylla]

If I ever do anything good at Mass it is not for the pleasure of the people but for God. Though people might enjoy my singing, or my actions those actions are directed toward God. Pat me on the back afterward, I will smile and thank you.

So, do not ever clap for me as you would be misrepresenting my actions and might lead me to pride.

An example of why this is in bad taste is this, how many of you would appreciate me dancing on your mothers\grandmothers grave? Yes it is pretty insulting, in much the same way encouraging disrespect for Christ is to most faithful Catholics at Mass. By encouraging an attitude of disrespect we not only offend the sensibilities of faithful Catholics who love Christ and want to have respectful Masses we insult God by putting our own pleasure above focusing on Christ.

Sure you might like it, it might be fun, heck my daughter might have sung beautifully, Father could have made a very inspiring homily but, thank them after Mass.

We are not in Elementary School where we need encouragement every five minutes to make us feel good. It is all very silly and reeks of the self centeredness of our society these days where pleasure and desire rule.
Focus on Christ and how you respect His Church.

Scylla

 

[CTA1967]

I’ve noticed this has been happening for the past few weeks at our parish… Before, after we finished our last song, people were praying or walking out, but lately people have been clapping. I don’t know what started this, and it’s really distracting. I thought I was in our music ministry to serve God, not the congregation.

 

[pnewton]

However as I said earlier there is a time and a place for that. The Church (and another poster brought up a very timely snippet from Pope Benedict himself) is sacred space.

The only thing I appreciate and reflects true sincerity are one-on-one comments made after Mass. Those are like gems and they give real feed back as to how things are going. I make no bones about the fact that I am there to serve the people. I see the idea of serving God, or serving the people as a false dichotomy. We serve God by serving His people.

 

[Catholic90]

In my church one time the Rector introduced a visiting co-celebrant (a Bishop) who was celebrating his birthday that day and in the congregation was a bus load of his friends and family. This introduction was made at the beginning of Mass. People clapped and clapped and I was outraged. I had wished that the Bishop had stayed in his own church to celebrate his birthday.

Oh, for goodness sake! The bishop was celebrating a birthday. A round of applause and appreciation is fine. Did you welcome his friends afterwords, or did you scowl at them because they disrupted your mass? “Outraged”? Wow. That says a lot about you.

On another occasion after Mass had ended the Rector introduced a group from a nearby military facility; he called out two of the group who were soldiers and people clapped for them and the choir sang “God Bless America.” Even though the Mass had ended I still didn’t like this show. It made it difficult for people who wanted to remain behind to pray and thank God for the blessings they had received in the Mass.gopray2:
When we are in a time of war, I think it is fine to show appreciation and thanks to those who are stepping up to fight for our country. You said mass was over. People who wanted to pray could ignore the announcement or wait a few minutes.

Our church has a chapel where the tabernacle is, so people who wish to pray go there after mass.

Mass is a CELEBRATION! Yes, it is a sacrifice, but too many people forget that we also CELEBRATE that He rose again! I personally prefer a joyful mass over a “doom and gloom and everything is so dark” mass.

 

[KingAlfred]

I’m telling you – someday they’ll insist we hold hands and hug throughout the entire Mass.:tsktsk:

 

[CTA1967]

I’m telling you – someday they’ll insist we hold hands and hug throughout the entire Mass.:tsktsk:

That actually doesn’t sound too sarcastic…

 

[benedictgal]

First of all, the church is not your average setting. It is the Lord’s House and it is a House of Prayer (Mathew 21:13). Jesus wasn’t slow about cleaning house when things got noisy (do you not think that the money changers and the animal vendors did their business quietly?) and out of hand. Furthermore, unlike the Protestant megachurches, Jesus is physically present in our church because the Blessed Sacrament is there. As a sign of reverence, we must maintain decorum, sobriety and dignity.

To those of you who say that the Mass is a celebration, to an extent, it is, but not the direction that you are trying to push it. It’s not a get down and get loud celebration. It’s not a stomp your feet and do a Ric Flair and go “Woooooo” nor is it a clap-fest. At the Mass heaven and earth unite to worship God. We are not the only ones there. It is not all about us. Do you not realize that the entire Church consist of not only those warm bodies in the pews, but, the Church Triumphant (the saints in heaven) and the Church Suffering (the souls in purgatory). Everyone, seen and unseen, joins in this worship.

The Church is the New Israel. She offers her adoration and worship to God in a manner similar, but more perfect than what Ancient Israel offered. To associate solemnity and dignity with doom is to completely miss the picture. It is to not even understand what the Mass is about and what happens at each Mass.

To reduce it to the level of some feel-good, applause service is to not understand the reason why the Church has gathered her children for the sacrifice for over 2,000 years.

Now, I realize that the OP was directing the issue of applause after the Mass. But, remember: the Mass may be over, but, we are still in the presence of Our Lord. We must maintain that dignity, respect and reverence. We are not in some auditorium. We are in the Father’s House.

 

[Jsmith17]

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

-Pope Benedict XVI

"…when we come to Mass we don’t come to clap. We don’t come to watch people, to admire people. We want to adore God, to thank Him, to ask Him pardon for our sins, and to ask Him for what we need.”

-Cardinal Arinze, head of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Both of these quotes speak to how clapping is inappropriate during Mass, but the OP said people in his parish clap after the Mass has already ended.

At my parish it is customary to applaud at the very end of the last hymn after Mass has ended as a way to say thanks to our choir/cantors. At first I was slightly conflicted, and didn’t clap, but after time I came to the opinion that since Mass had ended and everyone who wanted to stay behind in prayer was in the prayer chapel, it was an ok practice.

 

[benedictgal]

Both of these quotes speak to how clapping is inappropriate during Mass, but the OP said people in his parish clap after the Mass has already ended.

At my parish it is customary to applaud at the very end of the last hymn after Mass has ended as a way to say thanks to our choir/cantors. At first I was slightly conflicted, and didn’t clap, but after time I came to the opinion that since Mass had ended and everyone who wanted to stay behind in prayer was in the prayer chapel, it was an ok practice.

But, remember: Jesus said that His Father’s house is a house of prayer. That includes the entire house. Jesus wasn’t just talking about the courtyard for the Jews, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. The part that he was cleansing was the Courtyard for the Gentiles, which was the area that was reserved for Gentiles who wanted to pray to God.

Therefore, to say that the people who wanted to pray would be in the prayer chapel after Mass completely misses the boat as to what the House of God is. A Catholic Church is not constructed like some Protestant mega-ecclesial community. It is built as sacred space. It is consecrated, blessed and annointed to serve as the House of God. It is not an auditoirum. Therefore, every space is sacred.

Even though the OP notes that the clapping happened after Mass, it makes me wonder if we are clapping for a performance. If the choir is there to perform, then that is wrong. They are there to exercise a ministry and not to be praised. The praise should be directed towards God, not towards ourselves.

 

[pnewton]

I don’t think a good argument can be made against clapping after Mass from a liturgical point of view. The rubrics do not affect this time. Since it only lasts a few seconds, one can still have silence afterwards. There is nothing intrinsically sacreligious about clapping.

Prudently, I think it stinks, but I believe that to be just an opinion.