Clapping for the choir after mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter Grace283
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Why not seek out the choir director or a member or two, after Mass, and compliment them and ask them to extend it to the group? More personal and appreciative, I would think.
 
OK, now I’m going waaaaayyyy back. But wasn’t there an offering to the priest/celebrant/somebody for a “Mass Well Sung”??
 
At one of the parishes we attended when we lived in Oregon, the pastor was really irritated after everyone clapped for a soloist. What made it worse was that the solo was at the end of Communion. Father said something along the lines of “how many times do I have to tell you this is not a performance, it is a prayer!” My wife and I were quite pleased. As a former Cantor, it used to bother me when people clapped.
 
Pope Benedict when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger wrote an article saying we should NOT clap after mass. It is worship of God, not a performance. I agree.
 
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I’m sorry this entire subject just makes me laugh. I just have to laugh, as I shake my head, leaving the church at the end of mass.

The reason it is so entirely FUNNY is because I remember how all of this clapping business started.

Back in the early 1970s, during the Charasmatic Renewal prayer meetings, people would clap (during prayer meetings mind you) to indicate extreme Praise for God. Then the clapping would die down, and usually there would follow a very deep and solemn quiet.

It was All About the Lord.

Well, as one thing would lead to another, eventually these prayer groups and sessions ended up in the Church – many times just before Mass, or in conjunction with a Mass.

The same Music Ministry that played at the prayer groups would be playing at Mass, AND the same prayer group members would sit nearby “praying reverently” during Mass.

The Songs were very Praise oriented, and at the End of the Mass, the pray-ers (those praying) would clap (in prayer and thanksgiving to God). They were NOT thanking the music ministry for “a fine performance.”

Soon it started happening everywhere. That was back in the 70s and 80s. By the 90s, everyone seemed to clap at the end of Mass, AS IF it were to thank the music ministry.

And so, the “tradition” continues today.

Maybe this is one of “those” traditions we should Let Go Of!

Do you think? :rolleyes:
 
Uh huh. I’ve seen the applause syndrome at work too. The other day I attended a disaster of a Mass at which the priest led applause for the altar girls, one of whom was in a miniskirt.😦
 
Yes, I wouldn’t mind if all applause at Mass stopped.
We are there to worship Christ, not congratulate one another.

If we need further social events to create deeper bonds with one another, we should hold them in the Social Hall, but not at Mass.

My motto would be: More reverence (solemnity) at Mass, more socializing at the Community Hall. 👍

And, don’t forget the do-nuts…😃
 
Cat said:
AFTER the Mass–not during, right? Once the Mass is over, it is not correct to say, “The Mass should be solemn” because Mass is OVER.

Clapping is a way for a crowd of people to collectively say, “Thank you.”

I see nothing wrong with being polite and saying “Thank you.”
Click to expand...
So by this logic, if we don’t like the choir’s performance it’ll be OK to boo them during Mass? :confused:
 
Cat said:
AFTER the Mass–not during, right? Once the Mass is over, it is not correct to say, “The Mass should be solemn” because Mass is OVER.

Clapping is a way for a crowd of people to collectively say, “Thank you.”

I see nothing wrong with being polite and saying “Thank you.”
Click to expand...
AMEN, AMEN,AMEN!👍
 
Conciliar said:
Even though it is after the Mass has ended, I think this priest is absolutely right; there are far more appropraite ways to express appreciation than clapping. The physical place is still “sacred space;” the Blessed Sacrament is in reservation, some people are probably preparing to offer their prayers of thanksgiving… and this is afterall, the place of the one Sacrifice that makes our peace with God possible. We should all be somewhat awestruck there, especially right after Mass.

Clapping after Mass, to me, isn’t a whole lot worse than the way so many people break out in loud conversation and laughter as though they are suddenly at a picnic. Same with the chatter before Mass. Recognition of the sacredness of the space alone should demand quietness and reservation.

As much as I hate to say it, my parish doesn’t find clapping even during Mass a problem. We did it just today right before the Creed to welcome new parishioners.
Click to expand...
yes… thank you… I truly believe it needs to be solemn since the church that i regularly attend has Perpetual Adoration. So as soon as the mass is over, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
 
Saying “thank you” through words or clapping is polite and good manners. Good manners are a practical demonstration of love.

Booing is NEVER polite. It is extremely bad manners.

I’m so glad I don’t go to any of your parishes. I live in one of the most conservative dioceses in the U.S. Our Bishop established the TLM back in the 1980s, and we have a TLM every day and several times on Sunday.

But at every parish in our diocese that I have visited, there is almost always applause = thank you for something.

To me, it is a wonderful sweet way to express Christian love for each other. Love covers a multitude of sins. The world will know that we are Christians by our LOVE for each other.

Last Wednesday for the first time since my surgery, I played for the Italian parish in our city. After the Mass (AFTER the Mass), Father said, “We’re so glad that “Cat” (he used my real name) is back!” And everyone applauded. I felt very loved and touched by this display of affection.

If you think that the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is offended by displays of Christian love in His Presence, then I think you need to re-read your Bible and Catechism. He makes it quite clear that He is PLEASED when we love one another!

As for prayer after Mass, the Lord said that when we pray, we should “go into our closet.” If our prayers are causing us to ignore our brothers and sisters, then perhaps we need to examine exactly what we are praying for.
 
I am a volunteer music minister at 4:30 Saturday Mass at St. John’s in Columbia MD. Our group consists of up to a dozen ministers, and our function is to lead the congregation in sung prayer. There have been times when the priest announces just before the final blessing amid other announcements “Let’s show our appreciation for our musicians” and everyone applauds. I feel very uncomfortable when they do this, and fortunately it is not very often. We are there for God’s glory and not ours. Our group has also asked that our names not be announced as those of the the lectors are.

That being said, we do like it when someone individually comes up to us after Mass or sees one of us on the way out and verbally expresses his/her appreciation.

We have had some interesting experiences, though. Two come to mind and both involve small children after the opening hymn. In one case, a small child yelled a protracted “Ya -a -a y”. Another time, a child called out “Ooo, they’re vewwy good!” In both cases, it got a laugh out of the congregation. We didn’t laugh, but it was hard not to smile! This also brought to mind the quote “And a little child shall lead them.”

Anyway, just my thoughts. Now a quick disclaimer (I work for the Federal Gov’t in my day job and they require this in work-related matters, so I’ll do it here too.) Nothing in this post should be construed as reflective of the opinion of either St. John’s Parish or of the Saturday 4:30 Mass Music Ministry Team.
 
Re: "If you think that the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is offended by displays of Christian love in His Presence, then I think you need to re-read your Bible and Catechism. He makes it quite clear that He is PLEASED when we love one another!

No, I do not believe the Blessed Sacrement is offended. But I am just simply my OWN personal disapproval at the practice. But yes, I will strive harder to re-read my Bible and my Catechism.

Thank you.
 
Cat said:
Saying “thank you” through words or clapping is polite and good manners. Good manners are a practical demonstration of love.

Booing is NEVER polite. It is extremely bad manners.

I’m so glad I don’t go to any of your parishes. I live in one of the most conservative dioceses in the U.S. Our Bishop established the TLM back in the 1980s, and we have a TLM every day and several times on Sunday.

But at every parish in our diocese that I have visited, there is almost always applause = thank you for something.

To me, it is a wonderful sweet way to express Christian love for each other. Love covers a multitude of sins. The world will know that we are Christians by our LOVE for each other.

Last Wednesday for the first time since my surgery, I played for the Italian parish in our city. After the Mass (AFTER the Mass), Father said, “We’re so glad that “Cat” (he used my real name) is back!” And everyone applauded. I felt very loved and touched by this display of affection.

If you think that the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is offended by displays of Christian love in His Presence, then I think you need to re-read your Bible and Catechism. He makes it quite clear that He is PLEASED when we love one another!

As for prayer after Mass, the Lord said that when we pray, we should “go into our closet.” If our prayers are causing us to ignore our brothers and sisters, then perhaps we need to examine exactly what we are praying for.
Click to expand...
There’s lots of time for applause in the parish hall if you like applause. The Mass is not the place for it. If we don’t applaud Jesus, then why would should we applaud people?
 
paramedicgirl said:
For a good flyer on applause in the liturgy, go here.
Click to expand...
I love the comment at the bottom. I’ve thought the very same thing myself. If you’re not standing on you pew cheering at the Consecration, that should tell you it’s not the proper decorum for Mass.
 
Conciliar said:
OK… Presumably from your post you do agree that applause in recognition of human achievement is out of place during the Mass. Is it the purpose of the applause that you find objectionable, or the time and place, i.e. the sacredness of both the liturgy and the surroundings?

I think we would both agree that signs of appreciation and congratulation for achievement, as well as gestures of welcome and affirmation, are not only acceptable practices, but commendable ones.

Can you explain then why one is in keeping with the sacredness of the Mass and the other is not?
Click to expand...
I think the difference is rather simple: in the actual rites of the Church, such as RCIA rites, there is often an explicit call for a sign of affirmation and gestures of welcome. In our culture, applause is one way that we do that.

There is no rite that ever mentions honoring musicians or others.
 
The magnanimous man does his best to please God and then others, but he desires neither compensation nor recognition. Part of his satisfaction is in his anonymity. This is why, classical ethics tell us, the anonymous philanthropist is far more virtuous than his publicly-known counterpart.

“Magnanimity, a much-forgotten virtue, is the aspiration of the spirit to great things, extensio ad magna. A man is magnanimous if he has the courage to seek what is great and becomes worthy of it. This virtue has its roots in a firm confidence in the highest possibilities of that human nature that God did “marvelously ennoble and has still more marvelously renewed” (Roman Missal). Thus magnanimity incorporates into itself the aspiration of natural hope and stamps it according to the truth of man’s own nature. Magnanimity, as both Thomas and Aristotle tell us, is “the jewel of all the virtues”, since it always-- and particularly in ethical matters-- decides in favor of what is, at any given moment, the greater possibility of the human potentiality for being.”

–Josef Pieper, On Hope (Ignatius Press 1986 [1977]), p. 28.

More about the virtue of magnanimity:

newadvent.org/summa/3129.htm
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
I think the difference is rather simple: in the actual rites of the Church, such as RCIA rites, there is often an explicit call for a sign of affirmation and gestures of welcome. In our culture, applause is one way that we do that.

There is no rite that ever mentions honoring musicians or others.
Click to expand...
The Rite of Acceptance, which is what I believe you are referring to, is in itself an act of welcome on the part of the entire worshipping community in the context of the Mass. It’s a beautiful and moving rite that doesn’t “call” for anything like applause.

The prayers of intercession during which the catechumens are affirmed by the entire congregation’s “Lord, hear our prayer” is a sincere sign of welcome, directed to the only One who can incoporate them into His body, on their behalf. Applauding, as we do in so many venues in this culture - as you said - only cheapens the rite.

The sign of peace would cover any call to affirm or welcome in the Mass otherwise.

And who are we kidding anyway? Applause is annonymous and spiritually empty. It doesn’t even come close to accomplishing the supposed goal of welcoming or affirming.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top