Hand Gestures during Mass

[stjosephtomasi]

What does the Church say about applause or clapping in Church?
“It is not fitting to applaud the servant in the house of his Master.”

• Pope St. Pius X on clapping in church.

“Wherever 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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.”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 (Pope Benedict XVI)
Some liturgical clapping proponents claim we clap because Psalm 47:1 tells us to clap: “All you peoples, clap your hands….“ But we Catholics do not interpret scripture independently. We look to Holy Mother Church, and her 2,000 years of teaching, to ensure our interpretation is authentic. The documents on the liturgy (the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Liturgiam Authenticum, and Redemptionis Sacrmentum) do not call for clapping at the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They call for reverence.

Rome wants irreverence at Mass to a stop. “…let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence…” (Redemptionis Sacramentum 183). The key question is this: is clapping a reverent action, or does clapping break the liturgical spirit of reverence which Rome is calling us to protect?

Cardinal Francis Arinze was prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome. When His Eminence speaks about the liturgy, our ears should perk up and listen. He stated that “…when we come to Mass we don’t come to clap. We don’t come to watch people, to admire people. We want to adore God, to thank Him, to ask Him pardon for our sins, and to ask Him for what we need.” [Adoremus Bulletin; Vol. IX, no.7, Oct. 2003]

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

But we Catholics do not interpret scripture independently. We look to Holy Mother Church, and her 2,000 years of teaching, to ensure our interpretation is authentic.

But you are interpretating the interpretation. Charasmatics are not applauding anyone, when they clap with the music.

Cardinal Francis Arinze was prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome. When His Eminence speaks about the liturgy, our ears should perk up and listen. He stated that “…when we come to Mass we don’t come to clap. We don’t come to watch people, to admire people. We want to adore God, to thank Him, to ask Him pardon for our sins, and to ask Him for what we need.”

This is addressing applause, not clapping in high praise. Inculturation allows for different music. Charasmatics are a wonderful passionate group. They are blessed with appreciation for the gifts of the Spirit and the Fruit of joy. It is not Christian to demean their worth. I personally have attended some Charasmatic worship, and I agree some do cross the line, but music and hand gestures is not forbidden in any official documents. Personal opinion (no matter what the source) is not an official document.

Lux

 

[benedictgal]

The authoritative documents of the Church do not include provisions for hand-signals, unless it is for the hearinig impaired. Back in the late 1970s, my father, when he served as grand knight for one of the local KofC councils, brought a priest who ministered to the hearing-impaired and deaf. This was the first time that sign language was used in our area. That is a very legitimate use of hand-signals, as this is sign language.

The hand signals described in the OP are not in the same league as this. The GIRM certainly allows for singing, but, that is the extent of it. Somehow, clapping, waving and the like does not qualify as high-style worship. It is more along the lines of Pentecostal protestantism and not at all compatible with the solemnity, dignity and sacredness of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Incidentally, inculturation only addresses indigenous peoples in missionary territories. Last time I checked, the CCR did not qualify under those grounds.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Nor do the documents provide for saying the rosary during Mass, striking the breast, making the sign of the cross, etc. There is very little said about posture of the faithful.

When people choose to kneel when the posture is standing, the letters about not being rigid, and giving people freedom in worship are quoted. These same latters will apply here.

If the clapping is part of the music, (which does have much latitude), it is allowed, unless the bishop disapproves.

 

[benedictgal]

This is perhaps one of the most important lines from the Sacrosanctum Concilium:

1. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority.

This certainly applies to those who wish to use hand gestures that have no real meaning or purpose in the Mass. Composers should bear in mind that they are not the ones setting the tone for what is to be done at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The norms and rubrics provided by the Church do that. Only the Church has the power to govern what goes on in the Mass, not the musical composers, the choir directors and the like.

In addition, SC also makes this interesting note regarding inculturation:

1. Even in the Liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the Liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit.

As I suspect, this section and all references to inculturation, treat indigenous races and peoples living in missionary lands. Ecclesial movements are not afforded that “privilege” of inculturation since they are neither indigenous nor in missionary lands.

 

[Snerticus]

I thought there was a moratorium on the topic of lay gestures during the Mass due to the high amount of tempers that flare up becuase of no solid teaching on this. There is a preference of the Church, but no solid teaching.

Is the moratorium lifted?

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

This is perhaps one of the most important lines from the Sacrosanctum Concilium:3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority.

This certainly applies to those who wish to use hand gestures that have no real meaning or purpose in the Mass. Composers should bear in mind that they are not the ones setting the tone for what is to be done at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The norms and rubrics provided by the Church do that. Only the Church has the power to govern what goes on in the Mass, not the musical composers, the choir directors and the like.

B’gal,

When will you understand that

1. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority.

does not refer to posture of the congregation? If it is as you say, making the sign of the cross, striking the breast, and/or praying the Rosary, as well as kneeling for Holy Communion in the US would be abuses.

You were instructed not to reply to me, as I was instructed. I have respected this instruction, and bit my tongue many times, but you have not. I can’t let your personal opinion be passed off as church teaching any longer.

If the church does not want rigid enforcement of posture and/or gesture instructions for traditionalists, then you cannot attempt to say it is necessary for Charismatics.

Lux

 

[FrDavid96]

I read somewhere that the GIRM (General Instructions of the Roman Missal) does not permit liturgical dance. I probably am splitting hairs, but is it permissible to do hand gestures during songs? What about if the gestures are sign language (that is to say that the whole congregation is “performing” the sign language? And what about clapping to the beat? Our choir director does all these things to get the congregation “into” the music. Though I love to dance to music, I personally feel a little strange doing all these things at Mass. However, if it is permissible, then I would be more inclined to participate.

Lissa,
The GIRM is readily available from several online sources. If you would like to know whether or not a certain gesture is “permitted” at Mass, the place to look is there. If you find these gestures articulated in the GIRM, then they should be done. If you do not find these gestures listed in the GIRM, then they should not be done. The GIRM is the Church’s teaching on liturgical matters. No one is permitted to alter the GIRM unless the Holy See approves the change. The Second Vatican council teaches quite clearly that no one, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Sacred Liturgy on his own authority.

Again, the answer to your question can be found by reading the official liturgical instructions approved by the Holy See.

Here is a link to the Vatican website which will take you to the GIRM:
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html

 

[stjosephtomasi]

Personal opinion (no matter what the source) is not an official document.

Lux

Lux - with all due respect, Cardinal Arinze is a shepherd. If we could only follow his guidance (or any other shepherd’s guidance for that matter) when he was speaking through an official document, I think we would be pretty lost.

When Cardinal Arinze teaches, he is drawing on his experience, authority and knowledge of the Church’s rubrics. If he says we should not clap, then I think it would be disrespectful to him to say that his teaching is not valid because it is not an official document.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Lux - with all due respect, Cardinal Arinze is a shepherd. If we could only follow his guidance (or any other shepherd’s guidance for that matter) when he was speaking through an official document, I think we would be pretty lost.

When Cardinal Arinze teaches, he is drawing on his experience, authority and knowledge of the Church’s rubrics. If he says we should not clap, then I think it would be disrespectful to him to say that his teaching is not valid because it is not an official document.

And with all respect to the Cardinal, and all leaders of the Church, do you honestly think Charismatic style worship is forbidden?

or that if a Pastor wishes this type of music, a member of the congregation should refuse to participate?

Most parishes which have Charismatic style Masses also have more traditional style of worship, if someone does not wish to worship in this manner.

Charismatic style worship has been around since the 70’s, and is still around. Do you honestly think the Pope would preside over these conferences, if this type of worship is forbidden?

Lux

 

[benedictgal]

To my knowledge, there is no indult from Rome that would allow the various movements to do with as they please during the Mass. Musicam Sacram does not even mention clapping during the Mass as a way to accompany the songs. Clapping is not part of the worship of the Church, only under very certain circumstances, such as the congregation’s approval of a candidate for diaconate, presbyteral or episcopal ordination or when a new diocese is erected and the bull of erection is read or when a new bishop is installed.

Composers need to follow the guidelines of the Church when writing music. They need to respect the rubrics. Just becasue something is absent from the rubrics does not give any one person or movement the riight to observe something at will.

Now, regarding issues such as posture, the Church documents have already definitively stated what is allowed. The CDWDS did not spend countless amounts of pages affirming the rights of the faithful to take on certain postures, since these are found in the Latin GIRM. Hand-waving, clapping and the like are not a part of this.

The Holy See has already clamped down on the movements regarding the way they have handled the liturgy, most recently with the Neocatechumenal Way. Both NW and LifeTeen tried to get away with making the argument that this is how they do things, but, Rome ordered them to cease and desist. Rome does not take too kindly to any one person or movement tinkering with the Mass.

Furthermore, absence from inclusion in the GIRM or in any of the authoritative documents of the Church does not mean that we can throw things into the Mass at will and then try to justify them. It does not work that way. If a movement wants to do something different, then, they petition Rome for an indult. Furthermore, the Holy See can certainly approve a movement and support it, but, not necessarily support something they do in the Mass.

Only those hand-gestures which constitute sign languge are legitimate for use in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, since this is the only way that the deaf and hearing impaired can communicate and participate in the liturgy. Hand-gestures are better left for traffic and crowd control, not the Mass.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Again, this is your interpretation of documents.

As I said, Charismatics, with their style of worship, have been around since the 70’s, with their conference Masses presided over by the Pope. Their style of worship is not forbidden. And many Bishops & Priests do worship in this style. It is not up to you or any other individual to say it is forbidden.

If you don’t choose to worship in this manner, don’t go, but don’t tear down an authentic movement because you don’t like their style of worship.

Lux

 

[peary]

I read somewhere that the GIRM (General Instructions of the Roman Missal) does not permit liturgical dance. I probably am splitting hairs, but is it permissibleto do hand gestures during songs? What about if the gestures are sign language (that is to say that the whole congregation is “performing” the sign language? And what about clapping to the beat? Our choir director does all these things to get the congregation “into” the music. Though I love to dance to music, I personally feel a little strange doing all these things at Mass. However, if it is permissible, then I would be more inclined to participate.

**These are just my personal opinions:

Signing is permissible if the parish has hearing-impaired individuals. A lay person who knows signing usually stands in front of the congregation for the benefit of the hearing-impaired. However, whole congregations being forced to perform signing gestures during songs is not only distracting but infantile. There is no rhyme or reason for it, and the focus is on the gesturing rather than worship.

Clapping is another matter. During Masses that serve a number of pentecostalists, or in churches that have a tradition of doing so, it happens spontaneously among both choir members and the congregation. Your choir director still is to be commended for his great enthusiasm for his gift and compassion for using music for worship. **

 

[benedictgal]

**These are just my personal opinions:

Signing is permissible if the parish has hearing-impaired individuals. A lay person who knows signing usually stands in front of the congregation for the benefit of the hearing-impaired. However, whole congregations being forced to perform signing gestures during songs is not only distracting but infantile. There is no rhyme or reason for it, and the focus is on the gesturing rather than worship.

Clapping is another matter. During Masses that serve a number of pentecostalists, or in churches that have a tradition of doing so, it happens spontaneously among both choir members and the congregation. Your choir director still is to be commended for his great enthusiasm for his gift and compassion for using music for worship. **

However, that works for pentecostals and such, but, not for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as something greater is happening there. It is certainly not found in the Tradition of the Church. It is as though we have lost all sense of the genuinely sacred, sublime, dignified and majestic.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

**These are just my personal opinions:

Signing is permissible if the parish has hearing-impaired individuals. A lay person who knows signing usually stands in front of the congregation for the benefit of the hearing-impaired. However, whole congregations being forced to perform signing gestures during songs is not only distracting but infantile. There is no rhyme or reason for it, and the focus is on the gesturing rather than worship.

Clapping is another matter. During Masses that serve a number of pentecostalists, or in churches that have a tradition of doing so, it happens spontaneously among both choir members and the congregation. Your choir director still is to be commended for his great enthusiasm for his gift and compassion for using music for worship. **

Yes, the Church definitely allows this type of worship.

There are many options for music at Mass, and hopefully we can all find one which suits our spiritual mood.

Lux