Eucharist ND CLAPPING

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I don’t really like hand clapping in church since it tends to take away from the solemnity of the mass and injects irreverence. But on the other hand I don’t like poor singing either - yet we get a lot of old squeaky voices from the volunteer cantors.

I can however tolerate infrequent hand clapping as long as its reverent and respectful during the homily. I can see it being appropriate for example when an important parish announcement is made (such as meeting a fund raiser goal) or a visiting priest says goodbye or a new priest comes etc.

What I abhor though are priests using a joke (usually a very poor and dry one) every homily as a means to break the ice and get people’s attention. After the joke we always get lots of gratuitous laughing, moaning and talking and then people asking or saying: “what did he say”, “I don’t get it”, “oh brother”…

I’d love to see the church get more reverent and then at the very end prior to dismissal perhaps ask for deferred applause or announce that there will be a meeting in the social hall for the matter of interest.

James
 
The only time clapping during mass comes to mind was a few years ago. The parish did a special collection through the mail for getting the priest a new car for his birthday. After receiving it, he said he wanted to applaud the parish for it. Of course, once he started clapping, so did everyone else. I thought the whole thing was out of line. He should have just said thank you and gotten on with it.
 
*“Whenever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of the liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.” *
Pope Benedict the XVI, (then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) on p. 198 of his book entitled The Spirit of the Liturgy.
 
buffalo said:
*“Whenever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of the liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.” *
Pope Benedict the XVI, (then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) on p. 198 of his book entitled The Spirit of the Liturgy.
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Excellent quote! 👍

Thank you, Buffalo! :yup:
 
The issue of whether or not to clap during Mass reminds me of the issue of praying to the saints and how other Christians don’t approve of that. If we think of God as Someone Who is jealous and becomes angry whenever anyone else receives attention, then we wouldn’t want to do either. But if we believe that God is glorified whenever any one of His creatures is asked for help or is recognized for virtuous actions, then He probably is rejoicing as any happy father would. To briefly and respectfully clap in appreciation for a married couple being recognized for 50 years of marriage at Mass is a wonderful gesture on the part of the parish. Yes, our attention may be diverted from adoration of our Lord for a few moments, but it is in recognition of His glory as manifested by His creatures.
 
Praying to saints is commanded by God in the fourth commandment, those apposing or refusing such honor, are sinning for traditions of men, according to the rules of Jesus (The Catholic, historic Jesus). No correlation is drawable.

wherever I confess, I am often commanded to pray to a saint- it is sinful to appose this practice in the eyes of the church, so there is absolutely no correlation between liturgical abuse, and the honor that is DUE to saints.

Are you Catholic?

Do you pray to the blessed saints?

these would be interesting for future use.
 
Marc_Aupiais said:
Praying to saints is commanded by God in the fourth commandment, those apposing or refusing such honor, are sinning for traditions of men, according to the rules of Jesus (The Catholic, historic Jesus). No correlation is drawable.

wherever I confess, I am often commanded to pray to a saint- it is sinful to appose this practice in the eyes of the church, so there is absolutely no correlation between liturgical abuse, and the honor that is DUE to saints.

Are you Catholic?

Do you pray to the blessed saints?

these would be interesting for future use.
Click to expand...
Did you accidentally post this on the wrong thread?
 
Thanks, no- the previous poster said that such is the same as non-catholics attacking praying to saints, or else non-in-communion-with-Rome Catholics doing so.
 
My forum username should make it clear that I am a Catholic. I’m a cradle Catholic, 49 years old, and a father of 9 children. Yes, I am very knowledgable about the Catholic faith and I strive to live by the Church’s teachings whether it’s about birth control, praying to the saints, or other topics. In my previous post I used the example of praying to the saints as an issue that some Christians don’t accept because they feel it takes away from the glory that is due to God. Some people are opposed to clapping in any form at Mass because they feel it does the same. Again, I think that as long as the clapping is done politely and for a short duration honoring someone’s sacramental milestone (ordination, wedding anniversary, etc.), then I believe that the honor shown to the person(s) is also given to God. If we truly believe God the Father is a loving father, then He surely must be happy when one of His creatures is honored for doing something virtuous. Yes, clapping can be done for the wrong reasons and in wrong ways, but we should rejoice as a faith community whenever we have good reason to. We can be both reverent and joyful at Mass, not just one or the other.
 
Thank you, it clears up the metaphor, still, rather use the one on vegetables, not saints, in whom we are obligated to believe, God’s blessing… Marc A
 
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