Clapping after Mass

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Agree with some of the other posters who noted that the clapping was after the Liturgy - meaning the mass was concluded - and the light applause was a recognition of the service of time and talent that went in to the Liturgy to make it a special gift for all who celebrate the eucharist. Harmless thanks.
Sometimes the Haleluiah Chorus evokes such emotion.

At Saturday afternoon mass this weekend the congregation applauded the lone cantor and pianist who did a moving Ave Maria in recognition of Mother’s Day. But it was a prelude piece done before Mass had begun. Again IMHO harmless thanks for making the Liturgy special at the eucharistic celebration.

To be clear - applause during the Mass - not in favor of it.
 
Our pastor will often thank the liturgical ministers - Music, EMHC, decorating, cleaning, etc - especially at Christmas & Easter - and people will applaud. This is almost always done after the final blessing.

I was visiting a parish at a resort area this weekend, and twice, the congregation broke into applause - first after the “Mother’s Day” homily (which was very moving), and then when the cantor sang the Ave Maria after Communion (he sang it very beautifully). The applause was spontaneous, and unsolicited - not as for a performance - though it did seem out of place since it was during the Liturgy, not afterward.
 
For the record, I am not in favor of applause after Mass. I agree with those who feel it inappropriate. I also agree with Palamas, that we have lost the moment of after-Mass quiet thanksgiving. Although the applause isn’t going to prevent Palamas and those who want to offer a silent prayer from doing so, it is a inconvenience, and a significant one, even if only 30 seconds long.

I would like to see the quiet thanksgiving restored, however, it is not within my power to change this right now. When I am finished playing at Mass, I have clean-up duties to concern myself with, and I do not have the opportunity to lead-by-example.

Those of you who do not provide a liturgical function on an almost weekly basis do have this opportunity, and I encourage you to take it. If you do, the bigger your group of people silently praying after Mass gets, the sooner you’ll be rid of the applause.

My private devotions have become necessarily private due to my hectic playing schedule. I do not have the opportunity to lead on this. Nor do I really feel comfortable chastising the congregation for their applause. The best I can offer is that I ignore it.

You can see why eradicating inappropriate applause after Mass is not on my fuss list. You are all welcome to tackle this on your own.
 
At my parish the organist has managed to circumvent the applause. After the final hymn people tend to start to applaud, but before they really have a chance he starts playing. He plays while the people leave and by the time he’s done there’s no one left to applaud.
 
In our parish our priest has TOLD the people to applaud. And he does so himself sometimes, This is at the “life teen” mass so that may have something to do with it. The whole situation is made to be funny because our “band” is soooo horible.
 
If we ever do it is at the end of the mass and it is lead by the Priest. This will happen maybe two to three times a year. Who knows maybe we will do that in two when Deacon L will become a Priest and Celebrate his first Mass. I don’t like it but it happens so rarely and if we do applaud in two weeks it will not be because it was entertaining, but his homilies have gotten really good. Rockford IL is getting a good priest.
 
Potato1 said:
In our parish our priest has TOLD the people to applaud. And he does so himself sometimes, This is at the “life teen” mass so that may have something to do with it. The whole situation is made to be funny because our “band” is soooo horible.
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I am somehow not surprised that it is in lifeteen Masses. Everything else you canthink of is there so why not this as well.
 
MusicMan said:
For one thing, the applause is occurring after Mass has finished. The GIRM is only in force for the Mass. Secondly, you’re comparing apples to oranges. Clapping after Mass doesn’t disrupt the Mass itself like jumping jacks during the Eucharistic Prayer would. Thirdly, the GIRM legislates your posture during the Eucharistic Prayer. It directs you to kneel. You don’t have the option of jumping jacks. Please note that problems during the Eucharistic Prayer is on my “fuss list.”
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I respectfully disagree with you, MusicMan. The recessional hymn is part of the Liturgy just as much as the processional hymn was at the beginning of Mass. If this were not so then technically once the priest gives the final blessing we could move into the aisle where he processes out and totally block him in. No, I’m afraid not.

Clapping immediately after the closing hymn only indicates a response given for entertainment of which the Mass is not. It recognizes the musicians as performers rather than a ministry. While of course the abuses you mentioned are indeed valid and of great concern, I still feel that clapping after Mass would be no different than clapping after Jesus dies on the Cross for the great job He did…How sad…teachccd
 
teachccd said:
I respectfully disagree with you, MusicMan. The recessional hymn is part of the Liturgy just as much as the processional hymn was at the beginning of Mass. If this were not so then technically once the priest gives the final blessing we could move into the aisle where he processes out and totally block him in. No, I’m afraid not.

Clapping immediately after the closing hymn only indicates a response given for entertainment of which the Mass is not. It recognizes the musicians as performers rather than a ministry. While of course the abuses you mentioned are indeed valid and of great concern, I still feel that clapping after Mass would be no different than clapping after Jesus dies on the Cross for the great job He did…How sad…teachccd
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Exellent post. Clapping is not the issue as much as what your clapping for takes away from your participation within the Mass. The (sometimes-paid) entertainers’ role is to one-up on you, that they think they’re better participants which they have no business doing. All attendees at Mass are deemed equal under God and each gives Him His due.

Personally I love organ music and will go almost anywhere to hear a good organ recital. However, nothing against the High Mass, but I’ve grown to love the TLM Low Mass as it’s generally free of any musical distractions. And if we do sing, it’s without musical accompaniment. Nice to have but it’s not really needed.
 
teachccd said:
I respectfully disagree with you, MusicMan. The recessional hymn is part of the Liturgy just as much as the processional hymn was at the beginning of Mass. If this were not so then technically once the priest gives the final blessing we could move into the aisle where he processes out and totally block him in. No, I’m afraid not.
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Actually, you’re wrong. The recessional hymn is not part of the Liturgy. Here’s what the GIRM says:
D. THE CONCLUDING RITES
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  1. The concluding rites consist of
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a. Brief announcements, if they are necessary;
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b. The priest’s greeting and blessing, which on certain days and occasions is enriched and expressed in the prayer over the People or another more solemn formula;
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c.The dismissal of the people by the deacon or the priest, so that each may go out to do good works, praising and blessing God;
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d. The kissing of the altar by the priest and the deacon, followed by a profound bow to the altar by the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers.
usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml
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That’s it. The Mass is officially over following GIRM 90d. No recessional hymn is called for. Also, nowhere does it give the faithful direction or permission to engage in private prayer or thanksgiving after Mass.
 
MusicMan said:
Actually, you’re wrong. The recessional hymn is not part of the Liturgy. Here’s what the GIRM says:That’s it. The Mass is officially over following GIRM 90d. No recessional hymn is called for. Also, nowhere does it give the faithful direction or permission to engage in private prayer or thanksgiving after Mass.
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Then I guess the recessional hymn could be zippity- do- dah and no one could say a thing about it…🤷
 
I am sorry to see that you feel a continued need to mock the evidence I provide.
 
MusicMan said:
Actually, you’re wrong. The recessional hymn is not part of the Liturgy. Here’s what the GIRM says:That’s it. The Mass is officially over following GIRM 90d. No recessional hymn is called for. Also, nowhere does it give the faithful direction or permission to engage in private prayer or thanksgiving after Mass.
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Clap to your heart’s content but I will stand that it’s inappropriate and directs itself to the musicians as entertainers. There’s the GIRM and it must be followed but our Church opens herself to discernment. If you are serious and are concerned about the actions within the Liturgy then you must be concerned about the actions directed toward the Liturgy. Yes, I may be wrong in the official interpretation of the GIRM but I know what Christ intended Mass to be and it’s not entertainment. Sorry…teachccd
 
MusicMan said:
I am sorry to see that you feel a continued need to mock the evidence I provide.
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What evidence?? Mass has ended so now let’s get slap happy??
Proper reasoning may be construed as mockery but that is not my intention. Clapping after Mass for the musicians is mockery and exhibits poor catechesis. O.K I know when the Mass “officially” ends. Thank you…🙂
 
Teachccd, I respectfully suggest that you take a look at all of the posts I’ve made on the topic. Nowhere do I say that I approve of clapping after Mass. In several places, I comment that it makes me, as a musician, uncomfortable to receive applause after Mass. I don’t like it, but I’m not going to do anything about it either. In the first place, I wouldn’t know what to do to change it, and in the second, I’m not going to admonish the congregation of the church I belong to.

I’ve never provided evidence that it is acceptable to applaud, although I am quick to point out that the GIRM ceases to cover the actions of the faithful once the Mass has ended.

I think that if Palamas and a group of like minded people led by example and engaged in post-Mass prayer in the pews, people would catch on, and this applause problem should go away.

There are many other things, however, that need to be corrected, and so this is low priority for me. If you want to eradicate it, BE MY GUEST, but don’t lump me in with the pro-applause crowd. You fix it, and I’ll be first in line to shake your hand and thank you.
 
MusicMan said:
Teachccd, I respectfully suggest that you take a look at all of the posts I’ve made on the topic. Nowhere do I say that I approve of clapping after Mass. In several places, I comment that it makes me, as a musician, uncomfortable to receive applause after Mass. I don’t like it, but I’m not going to do anything about it either. In the first place, I wouldn’t know what to do to change it, and in the second, I’m not going to admonish the congregation of the church I belong to.

I’ve never provided evidence that it is acceptable to applaud, although I am quick to point out that the GIRM ceases to cover the actions of the faithful once the Mass has ended.

I think that if Palamas and a group of like minded people led by example and engaged in post-Mass prayer in the pews, people would catch on, and this applause problem should go away.

There are many other things, however, that need to be corrected, and so this is low priority for me. If you want to eradicate it, BE MY GUEST, but don’t lump me in with the pro-applause crowd. You fix it, and I’ll be first in line to shake your hand and thank you.
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I’ll shake your hand right now for being the fervent Catholic that you are. God Bless…teachccd 🙂
 
I respectfully submit that both TeachCCD and MusicMan are getting away from the point. I think you agree more than you disagree.

If I understand correctly, both of you dislike the clapping after Mass ends. (I agree that the recessional song is after the Mass has already ended but I think it’s probably wasted effort to explain to the average Joe at Mass why such a distinction matters.)

The two issues I see are (1) is clapping innappropriate and (2) what (if anything) can be done about it.

MusicMan has stated that he will not take the responsibility for ending clapping. As a member of a choir in a parish that is prone to clapping I have to agree. Unless members of the music ministry are taking bows or clapping for themselves I’m not sure they should be responsible for stopping it. I think it is better if they just look embarassed and do nothing.

The parishes I know that clap are usually noisy, chatty parishes to begin with. Clapping is often a symptom.

I have sometimes told people who know I’m in the choir that it embarrasses me when people clap and I really don’t think it’s appropriate. I get the sense they think I’m an ungrateful snob.
 
SMHW said:
I think it is better if they just look embarassed and do nothing.
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I’m usually busy stacking and restacking the accompaniment books while the applause is going on. Either that or I have some strange urge to look at my feet. Sometimes, I change it up, though, and use the time to turn off the piano light and close up the piano. :o
 
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