Clapping at Mass?

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"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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.”
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, 198.

Unfortunately, it happens all the time.
 
The only times I think it is appropriate would be after the reception of a sacrament (Confirmation, marriage, ordination, etc. ) , and then after the post communion prayer for assorted causes- whether that’s for fundraising, or the choir, or whatever canse. But only after the post-comm prayer.
 
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Jas31784 said:
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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.”

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, 198.

Unfortunately, it happens all the time.
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When it does, that statement puts words to the loss I feel when it’s happening. The sacredness created by the liturgy has disappeared.
 
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I have experienced clapping three times at Mass:

After my Confirmation/First Communion
When the deacon just had returned from a youth camp he organized
A liturgical dance performed by children

Not a big fan but I’m not refusing to clap either.
 
First two, I think are acceptable.

The last one, if it was anything but liturgical dance, yes- fine.
 
I don’t feel clapping is appropriate at Mass, except for very special circumstances.

In my parish, it used to happen a lot after the recessional hymn. I think it started at the children’s mass, with parents wanting to applaud their little ones in the choir, and it spread from there.

When we got our new pastor, he left everything alone for a year before he started making changes (all for the better, but that’s my opinion). One of the changes was he ran that quote in our bulletin for a few weeks and very kindly explained that our music ministry is for worship. The clapping gradually tapered off.
 
The Archbishop was just at our parish and asked us to clap as a recognition of/ for the Confirmandi, their parents who led them in faith, and their catechists.
If it’s ok with him, it’s ok with me.
 
I agree with that quote. I really don’t like when people clap for the choir/singer. I just feel like we aren’t at a concert, they aren’t really performing, they are leading us in prayer. You wouldn’t clap after a prayer so why clap then? Maybe personally talking to them after Mass to express your thanks for beautiful music would be better? I don’t know 🤷‍♀️
 
It rarely happens at our parish. I don’t like it, and I would have to really be “moved by the Spirit” to participate in it.

(I’m currently reading the homilies of St. John Chrysostom – he didn’t like it either. In one of his homilies he stated to the effect that henceforth applause was to be banned, and then just a few lines later he was like, “Wait! I just banned that, and you’re doing it again!”)

D
 
It seems appropriate during some moments. For example, I have seen awards given for long marriages or special service to the parish. It makes sense to clap for the achievements those people have made. However, maybe those awards should not be given out during mass. During a typical mass, I don’t expect to hear any clapping. I did go to one church where everyone clapped at the end of mass after the last song. It was like when you see a good movie and everyone claps, but then this seems to reduce the mass to mere entertainment.
 
Every time I have witnessed clapping at The Mass it was always under the directive of the Priest or Archbishop that was presiding.

I do not personally have a problem with clapping at Mass, but can understand how it bothers others.
 
I cringe every time there is clapping in mass. 32 years ago when I got married, I let it be known that I didn’t want the congregation clapping after we were introduced by the priest at the end of Mass. By “let it be known” I mean that I told my mother-in-law, and she spread the word LOL.
 
Happens at my parish quite a bit. I don’t clap. I am hopeful our pastor will retire soon, rumor has it this year. I pray we are blessed with a conservative new pastor. Our current one seems like everything is a show, a production and the sense of the sacred is gone.
 
Yah. I remember when I became a Extraordinary Minister with a few other people the priest had every one clapping. And this was like during Mass before the offertory.
This I believe was the moment I slowly drifted from the Ordinary Form. I don’t need recognition from people to do God’s work. It didn’t do anything but upset me actually. So the priest can do what they want. I had issues with kids reading at Mass. Not to sound like some grinch here but the liturgy of the Word shouldn’t be read as a show. That’s exactly what it is at these family Masses. Every one taking pictures of the kid, well where the hell is the focus on God? Unbelievable.
 
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Most of the time, it’s not appropriate… (7 words. 🙂 )

But there are bigger fish to fry. And it’s not Friday yet, anyways.
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Hand Clapping During Mass Liturgy and Sacraments
Do you feel as I do that hand clapping has no place in the Mass? Not only clapping to the beat of songs (that seems so Protestant to me!), but also applauding parishioners for whatever reason they are being exalted? Why can’t we give all praise to Jesus at Mass? It is only one hour a week, and to remove the focus from Jesus to applaud a parishioner seems to detract from the reason we are there.
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We have the odd gospel style him that has clapping and do it for presentations. I cant see it becoming a routine part of mass though.
 
The church that is closest to me always make a statement at the closing part of mass to applaud the choir, the servers, and whatever else is possible every Sunday. It always gets on my nerves. It’s just not necessary. Takes away the supernatural feeling of the mass.
 
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There’s already about 79 threads on this.

What do you seek to accomplish here?
 
I clap hands with the music whenever the rest of the congregation claps. In my opinion, it’s just another instrument.

I do not applaud any human accomplishments during Mass. I always bless the people being honored and make the sign of the cross.
 
I don’t clap but neither do I cringe.
… it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared…
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I think Cardinal Ratzinger was overstating it a bit. It’s still a Mass to me.
 
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