Clapping in Mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cmeisenzahl
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

cmeisenzahl

Guest
What is the official word on this from the Vatican? It happens in my parish all the time and it just seems disrespectul.

Can anyone direct me to any official statement on this?

Thanks very much in advance and have a great day,

Chris Meisenzahl
 
Please no more clapping. It’s not a show. What exactly are people applauding? How do you like an applause after a homily? Sometimes you feel bad for the priests who never get an applause. I am new to the Church, grew up penecostal, always clapping, for everything. As and adult joined the Lutheran church, obviously Lutherans don’t have hands. It’s odd, but a Lutheran service is very serious and there is not even any talking before it starts.
 
I especially agree about clapping after a sermon. What’s that supposed to mean? That the congregation liked this particular sermon better than the one the priest gave last Sunday?

Also, I sometimes play guitar and sing in the choir at Mass. I don’t like it when the congregation claps after Mass because they enjoyed the choir. We’re supposed to be providing the musical accompaniment to the prayers sung at Mass - not entertaining everybody!
 
Do note that there are occasions when applause [acclamation] is proper - chiefly when candidates for sacraments are presented to the congregation for their approval. This occurs in some RCIA Rites and, I think, in Confirmation and Ordination.
 
This evening, just before Father gave the final closing prayer, he told us that this would be the last mass he would celebrate before moving on. He also stated how this parish had touched him, et cetera. We gave him a standing ovation - as it should be.

However, I agree that clapping to any song besides the closing hymn is usually out of place. It just seems like it isn’t the place. The focus should be on quieter song and prayer and more silent worship during the mass itself. However, the very nature of the closing song is supposed to be upbeat and uplifting. I think that the closing song should be entertaining and hand-clappable, if you will.
 
I am glad that so many people have the same opinon that I do about clapping hands. I find them distracting, and I often get reprimanded and called anti-charismatic.
 
Psalm45:9:
I am glad that so many people have the same opinon that I do about clapping hands. I find them distracting, and I often get reprimanded and called anti-charismatic.
Click to expand...
Ever been to a big Mass in the Vatican? The applause is unbelievable!

And to the poster above, on clapping during “songs.” Please let us make a distinction between music and behavior appropriate to the tradition of the Latin Rite and music and behavior appropriate to Christian campfires and cabarets. Here is where the big “T” and the little “t” of T/tradition overlap.
 
Fr. Groeschel, on his last vist for a conference asked the people to consider his request that “If you feel compelled to clap, please use one hand.”

MrShttp://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon10.gif
 
Clapping?..Is there a show going on, because I thought I was on Calvary, at the foot of The Cross, participating in The Divine Sacrafice!

Save your clapping for where it belongs…the Church Basement!
 
As a child, I was taught that the only time to clap in church was to applaud the action of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation or Holy Orders. That was a long time ago.

Betsy
 
A couple of different choir directors I have talked to REALLY dislike the whole clapping thing - the choir is there to help lead people in songs, not as a performance, right? Then one of these directors goes and puts a really “performance-y” piece during communion, and when it’s over, half the congregation applauds. Go figure…

Then there’s the hand-clapping during songs… I was at a Mass recently with Cardinal George as the celebrant - not a hand-clapping kind of guy. During the closing song, however, someone in the congregation decided to start clapping in time with the music. Then some more people joined in. Except nobody was really in time with anyone else, or with the music - it was quite awful! I felt bad for the poor Cardinal - going out of his way to visit our parish, and subjected not just to hand-clapping, but to BAD hand-clapping!
 
We do it in our parish only when there is a renewal of wedding vows. We had a couple married 65 years. That is worth applauding. 🙂
 
I attend the same church everytime I visit my daughter and they always clap at the end of Mass, like “good show!” It’s just totally out of place. It happens once in a while at my home parish also, when they applaud for the choir. Does this kind of behavior ever take place at Tridentine masses? Inquiring minds would like to know.
 
Thanks very much for all the responses. I realize I wasn’t specific enough. I was actually referring tyo applause of some kind. For example, at the end of Mass the priest might congratulate someone on a birthdya and everyone claps.

If there was clapping during singing I would probably get up and walk out. 🙂

Chris
 
40.png
krazykatlady:
I attend the same church everytime I visit my daughter and they always clap at the end of Mass, like “good show!” It’s just totally out of place. It happens once in a while at my home parish also, when they applaud for the choir. Does this kind of behavior ever take place at Tridentine masses? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Click to expand...
I have never seen this kind of behaviour at a Trdentine Mass. Not at weddings, confirmations, baptisms or announcements. During Mass we are at the foot of the Cross. Congratulations, clapping, cheering etc. all come after in the Church basement!
 
It’s wrong, i think. You don’t clap at a funeral, or a memorial service, why would you clap at mass??
 
There is occasionaly clapping at my Church, but I think it is a liturgical abuse. Usually I don’t clap although then I sometimes feel rude. I’d be curious as to what the rubric is concerning clapping. Does anybody out there know?
 
Last Sunday we clapped after an infant baptism to show our welcome and support for the new member. I’m not sure the baby understood the gesture though. :confused:
 
John W.:
Last Sunday we clapped after an infant baptism to show our welcome and support for the new member. I’m not sure the baby understood the gesture though. :confused:
Click to expand...
LOL:rotfl: why because the baby started to cry? Or it didn’t understand? The priest in my parish says if a baby starts to cry it means there is going to be a future to the church. Which is good news!

As for clapping in my parish, only if special events like marriage or baptism( to welcome the newly baptised member into the church) or a guest speaker.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top