Clapping for the choir after mass

[po18guy]

It occurred to me that at mass, we see Christians who are in different stages of conversion. Since conversion is a lifelong process, I can certainly tolerate others, just as they tolerated me when my practice of faith was even more defective than now.

My patience-deficit disorder (PDD-you read it here first ) flares up from time to time. Example: I was at adoration recently, and a foreign language group was singing hymns before the Blessed Sacrament. At first I thought they were rude and inconsiderate, but then it struck me that these voices were raised in beautiful praise of Jesus. When the Lord gently reminded me to remove the log from my own eye, their singing suddenly formed a beautiful backdrop to my own worship.

The Lord always provides-when I allow Him to.

Christ’s peace be with all of you.

 

[paramedicgirl]

Conciliar, I would never clap during the Elevation of the Host during the Consecration.

Why would I do that?! Why would you even ask if I would do that?! I thought I had explained that I have been well-catechized.

I know the prescribed liturgy and I respect it. I submit to the teaching of the Church when it comes to the liturgy.

For this reason–submission to authority–if someone claps for the choir after the Mass, and the priest does not voice an objection, and the Bishop does not voice an objection, I will submit to their knowledge and wisdom and not criticize the clapping.

As for “proof-texting” from the Bible, as you know, the Magisterium and the Bible are in agreement. I am not using the Psalms to prove the appropriateness of clapping during Mass. But the Bible does seem to indicate the clapping is one more method of praising the Lord and reverencing Him.

The Bible also speaks of humility rather than human recognition.
Consider the Sermon on the Mount and how it applies to receiving applause and accolades. Maybe we are doing the choir a great disservice by applauding their achievements, because by tempting them into self recognition, we are taking their heavenly reward from them.

1 Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. 4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

And also Luke: 17, 9&10

9 Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him? 10 I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do

.

 

[sandraladeda]

It occurred to me that at mass, we see Christians who are in different stages of conversion. Since conversion is a lifelong process, I can certainly tolerate others, just as they tolerated me when my practice of faith was even more defective than now.

My patience-deficit disorder (PDD-you read it here first ) flares up from time to time. Example: I was at adoration recently, and a foreign language group was singing hymns before the Blessed Sacrament. At first I thought they were rude and inconsiderate, but then it struck me that these voices were raised in beautiful praise of Jesus. When the Lord gently reminded me to remove the log from my own eye, their singing suddenly formed a beautiful backdrop to my own worship.

The Lord always provides-when I allow Him to.

Christ’s peace be with all of you.

I could take the portion of your post in bold, and cut and paste it to several threads here at CAF. Perhaps after being involved in some evangelization effort as well as RCIA, I am quite sensitive to judgemental comments about the conduct of others at mass. I think of the number of times non-Catholics I know have attended mass, and shared with me their feelings that they are being watched and judged, lest they make the wrong move. I have always assured them that that is not the case.

Perhaps some day the clappers will rethink clapping, who knows?

Once again, I fall back to the position of respecting and obeying my pastor and my bishop, both of whom I hold in the highest regard. It isn’t a problem for them.

 

[po18guy]

I could take the portion of your post in bold, and cut and paste it to several threads here at CAF. Perhaps after being involved in some evangelization effort as well as RCIA, I am quite sensitive to judgemental comments about the conduct of others at mass. I think of the number of times non-Catholics I know have attended mass, and shared with me their feelings that they are being watched and judged, lest they make the wrong move. I have always assured them that that is not the case.

Perhaps some day the clappers will rethink clapping, who knows?

Once again, I fall back to the position of respecting and obeying my pastor and my bishop, both of whom I hold in the highest regard. It isn’t a problem for them.

You are praising the Holy Spirit because, if my posts contain anything useful or charitible, it most certainly was Him speaking through me. It indicates that I was too weak to resist Him.

Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[sandraladeda]

You are praising the Holy Spirit because, if my posts contain anything useful or charitible, it most certainly was Him speaking through me. It indicates that I was too weak to resist Him.

Christ’s peace be with you.

And also with you

 

[b_justb]

paramedicgirl:

Maybe we are doing the choir a great disservice by applauding their achievements, because by tempting them into self recognition, we are taking their heavenly reward from them.

Pardon me, but could someone please hand me some duct tape? Forums Extreme

 

[paramedicgirl]

Pardon me, but could someone please hand me some duct tape? http://www.forumsextreme.com/imgs1/sAng_explosive.gif

Do you care to expand on your comment? I’m sorry, but many of your posts just appear to be plain rude to me.

 

[b_justb]

Do you care to expand on your comment? I’m sorry, but many of your posts just appear to be plain rude to me.

It’s one of Glen Beck’s signature lines from his radio show. I reckon you’re unfamiliar. Glen Beck is pretty funny.

You think that was rude? Your sense of decorum doesn’t find saying that ‘people that applaud the musicians after mass might be causing the musicians to go to hell,’ rude? You think it’s a perfectly fine sentiment to take Jesus’ words about our attitudes towards giving to the poor and needy and twisting them to suite your agenda of not allowing people to clap after mass? That’s not rude? Is it rude to point out how rude you’re being? It must be OK since you’re perfectly fine with attempting to point out my rudeness, right? Good for the goose and all that. Ever look in the mirror and wonder, “Maybe it is I that offends”?

It’s just a thought.

 

[paramedicgirl]

It’s one of Glen Beck’s signature lines from his radio show. I reckon you’re unfamiliar. Glen Beck is pretty funny.

You think that was rude? Your sense of decorum doesn’t find saying that ‘people that applaud the musicians after mass might be causing the musicians to go to hell,’ rude? You think it’s a perfectly fine sentiment to take Jesus’ words about our attitudes towards giving to the poor and needy and twisting them to suite your agenda of not allowing people to clap after mass? That’s not rude? Is it rude to point out how rude you’re being? It must be OK since you’re perfectly fine with attempting to point out my rudeness, right? Good for the goose and all that. Ever look in the mirror and wonder, “Maybe it is I that offends”?

It’s just a thought.

Please show me where I said anyone was going to hell. You won’t be able to because it didn’t happen. I quoted the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount about taking the glory that is due to you in heaven and applying it as an earthly reward instead.
I see nothing rude about this post of mine, but then according to you, I am blinded by the
mirror.

 

[Walking_Home]

Recently, I attended a mass with my brother in which the priest announced to the people that he prefers that after dismissal and the choir has finished singing that the people should not clap. His reasoning was that we sing to give praise to God. We do not sing or have a choir for our benefit. Into which this announment has been easily dismissed by the people. What are your thoughts on this? What happens in your church?

On a side note, after thinking about this… I agree with the priest. I understand his reasoning. I like solemn masses.

Thanks in advance!

---

I agree with the priest too.

 

[b_justb]

Please show me where I said anyone was going to hell.

I asked: Your sense of decorum doesn’t find saying that ‘people that applaud the musicians after mass might be causing the musicians to go to hell,’ rude? to your post which you have linked that you find nothing rude with. If you find nothing rude with it then so be it. It just might be possible that I do.

So basically you still desire that there is no applause after mass, I take it? Is that fair to think?

 

[Walking_Home]

I guess the question is—Is the choir singing for the glory of God or to get recognition from the congregation.

 

[Lepanto]

Every Mass is the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary.

Did the Blessed Virgin Mary clap at the foot of the cross?

 

[Conciliar]

Originally Posted by po18guy
It occurred to me that at mass, we see Christians who are in different stages of conversion. Since conversion is a lifelong process, I can certainly tolerate others, just as they tolerated me when my practice of faith was even more defective than now.

Tolerance is not always the best way to help others convert.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was a convert to Catholicism. One of the things that compelled her to the faith was witnessing, as a non-Catholic, the reverence that people displayed during the Mass; their attention lovingly focussed on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It wasn’t the fellowship of people chatting away about their kids, or how kindly the people were in clapping for the cantor, or how open-minded they were about the snuggling couples. The truth is, of all the things I mentioned, Christ in the Eucharist is the one thing you cannot find in a protestant worship hall.

I dare say that a modern day version of St. Elizabeth would find a lot more tolerance and far less reverence in the typical Mass; i.e. she would find less reason to be struck by the fact that Catholicism is different, and less reason to be intrigued to explore the Source of such visible devotion.

 

[VAC]

Every Mass is the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary.

Did the Blessed Virgin Mary clap at the foot of the cross?

No, but I’ll bet she was clapping at the resurrection. Do we not also celebrate Christ’s resurrection at mass???

 

[VAC]

The Bible also speaks of humility rather than human recognition.
Consider the Sermon on the Mount and how it applies to receiving applause and accolades. Maybe we are doing the choir a great disservice by applauding their achievements, because by tempting them into self recognition, we are taking their heavenly reward from them.
.

We are also told to encourage one another, and build up the body of Christ.
When you say we are taking away someone’s heavenly reward, it does sound as though they will end up in hell. Where else would one be without their heavenly reward?? purgatory??

 

[agapewolf]

I guess the question is—Is the choir singing for the glory of God or to get recognition from the congregation.

That is not the question. My music ministers at my parish are not doing it to get recognition or applause. They are there to lead the singing in prayer. Occasionally, applause might happen after a “special mass” (CHristmas eve or something). Do not blame that on the musicians.They do nothing to solicit that response.

Yes, there are musicians at church that are performing instead of praying and that is wrong…

but applause doesn’t always happen because of the intent of the musicians.

 

[paramedicgirl]

We are also told to encourage one another, and build up the body of Christ.
When you say we are taking away someone’s heavenly reward, it does sound as though they will end up in hell. Where else would one be without their heavenly reward?? purgatory??

I was actually thinking about a crown of lesser glory when I wrote that post. Funny how you and justb immediately judged it to be hell.

 

[gwenred]

As an organist, it makes me very uncomfortable if people clap after I play a postlude - I appreciate that people took time to listen, and I always appreciate parishioners who take time to mention when the music particularly moves them, but clapping never seems quite right. I don’t mind so much if the priest recognizes the choir, though, and allows the people to express their appreciation. The encouragement lets them know people value their ministry, which helps sustain them through weekly rehearsals and weekly singing - it is a big commitment to volunteer for music ministry, and a little appreciation occasionally keeps them coming back, in my humble opinion, without turning it into a “performance.”

 

[Conciliar]

If anyone here cares to bother to review the posts in this thread, as I recall, while one musician here thoroughly enjoys applause and accolades, several others, the clear majority, have made it clear that they DO NOT want applause as it is out of keeping with their motivations and their desire to worship God with their gift.

Makes me wonder for what reason some people continue to insist that clapping is such a loving expression. Is it really about lifting the musicians up, or is it more about making one feel charitable with very little effort?