MERGED: Applauding after Mass Poll / Why?

[rondirect]

Don’t be dumfounded! This is quite tame for a CAF liturgical discussion. I have found it to be somewhat respectful.

After reading the thread, what do you think about the Church and indeed Pope Emeritus Benedicts directions in this matter?
Do you think the Church is out of line? Do you find HIs Holiness’s comments to be wrong?

Here is another thread in which this was discussed.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=551174&highlight=applause

Here is what Pope Benedict said about applause IN the Mass.

(note: This thread is about applause after Mass. But you specifically mentioned it inside of the Mass.)

Pope Pious the X Said this

Now reflecting on what the Mass is as a sacrifice of God and reflecting on what is being discussed here and reading these Holy men and Pope’s of our Church do you wish to tell me why you think them wrong?

Or can you find popes and directives and rubrics calling for applause?

Most of what I see by people that are offended that others might be offended by applause after mass ties directly to some sort of pride and personal wish for the liturgy to be how they wish. But shouldn’t we want the liturgy to be how the Church wishes?

I leave you with this thought from a great theologian.

The famed, and always classy Lady Gaga.

Sorry she is the only one I could find who pontificate on the subject in the affirmative.

The operative words here are: “within the liturgy.” The closing song is outside the liturgy and optional. Therefore, clapping along with the song and applause for the joy of mass and for our Lord Jesus is a CELEBRATORY manner does not fall within the quote you provided. Although mass is a celebration of our Lord, I do agree with you about applause within the liturgy itself, unless the priest calls for it at special times. Why are we so upset with the joy that people show? But that’s not good enough of a reason, so we bring in the all other excuses like it being disruptive to those who want to pray!

 

[rondirect]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I had assumed this was a “repeat” thread of an old theme and appreciate the link to the older one which bolstered some of my inner thoughts.

I find it incredibly sad these days that with all their other problems, the Church is so divided even as it pertains to the greatest prayer on earth where, unwittingly, some are made uncomfortable. The Lord alone reads the motivation behind actions and for my self, I pray to always be protected from religious titillation.

This thread is done but In closing, here is a short opinion piece which closely echoes my thoughts: (Emphasis added mine)

I will pray for you mainly because clapping along with a closing song or applause should not cause you grief and make you feel uncomfortable before attending mass. To me, this issue is so trite…like I said before, the bigger issue is people leaving mass right after receiving communion and leaving during the closing song before the priest exits. No respect for the liturgy. We should be placing more effort on that issue, IMO.

 

[rondirect]

In our parish, we have 9 masses every Sunday, and in all those masses, there is clapping right after when the people answer ‘Thanks be to God’ (in reply to ‘Go forth, the mass is ended’ or something similar).

I’m in the Philippines and this is automatic - at least in the capital region. There’s nobody telling the people to clap, we just do - right after the ‘thanks be to God’. And I’m quite sure the people are NOT applauding the choir. I think it’s just an applause for the celebration of the mass.

This was not the practice when I was very young, but my kids grew up with this as ‘standard’ practice here.

Good for you! You’re praising God and who can find fault in that!

 

[Elizium23]

The closing song is outside the liturgy and optional. Therefore, clapping along with the song and applause for the joy of mass and for our Lord Jesus is a CELEBRATORY manner does not fall within the quote you provided.

Such a technicality. So many people justify bad behavior by saying “but it’s outside the liturgy!” Never mind that you’re still in a church, you’ve still got the People of God assembled for a Mass, and the Blessed Sacrament is still present in the tabernacle. What I wish is that people used this technicality as an excuse for dignified behavior. My parish immediately launches into the St. Michael the Archangel prayer after “Thanks be to God”. That seems to me a good use of the fact that Mass is technically over and we can do what we want.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

From my experience in parishes where applause happens (and it is always for the musicians), it is generally undeserved. If it were a theatre or concert hall, their mediocre performance of we-centered hymns with 80’s commercial jingle-melodies would never gain much applause.

 

[clem456]

Such a technicality.

Yes indeed. Technicalities. They provide us justification to rake people over the coals for “undignified” behavior… doubt their motivations, their faith, their reverence

Ahhh, if only humans weren’t human, the world would be a much better place…

 

[ServusHumilis]

I am in the choir and I always thot that the
applause was for the singing!

So am I… and I wouldn’t be impressed with applause.

 

[laircy]

I am totally against it. applauding at the end of the Mass seems as if we are glad it is over…

Yep, although:
“The Mass is ended, go in peace.”
“Thanks be to God.”


Anyway, yes, I don’t like how everyone at my parish claps. Sometimes they do it after the song after Communion and the Mass isn’t even over yet! And sometimes our priest even encourages it!!! Sure, we have great music, but this is not a concert. I can’t wait to go to college where they’ll have reverent Masses… For now I am compelled to go with my family, who insist on this “casual” parish.

 

[Elizium23]

It should be noted that, for the central points of the two Papal quotes we’ve been tossing about here to hold true, it matters little whether the applause happens during the liturgy or four minutes after it has ended. Pius pointed out that liturgical ministers are servants in the house of the Master. Applause is a cultural expression of human appreciation. Its use is foreign to worship. Please name me one religion where applause is used to worship God or gods? It is like liturgical dance. The liturgists who try to impose these novelties on worship are missing the point of what worship is about. We worship in word and song and action: these words, songs and actions are carefully chosen and prescribed for us. When we use them correctly this is ordered toward right worship. When they are perverted then they break that Heavenly bond of the sacred liturgy and bring it down to Earth, making it merely human, mundane, profane. The tradition of Christianity has raised certain things to the dignity of worship. It is foolish hubris to add or subtract to this rich tradition without guidance or direction. Perhaps in 100, 200 years applause may be seen as worship. But I ask how many people understand it as worship today? Have you gone out to ask the people in the pews why they are applauding? If it is worship, let it be done inside the liturgy! Let it be done at the consecration! This was my earlier point. If it is worship then let Rome prescribe it for us, let the USCCB issue complementary norms on the custom of applauding during Mass. But no, this is just a fad like holding hands for the Lord’s Prayer. It is just one of those indications that the popular culture has invaded our sense of the sacred, that celebrity style is more important to the faithful than obedience.

May God bless the pastors who educate their faithful to the point where applause is deemed unnecessary to add to the worship of the One True God.

 

[InLight247]

Our parish often applauds for the choir. I find it disturbing when I am in worship along with the singing and being disturbed by claps when I wish my prayer could end in silence.

 

[rondirect]

Such a technicality. So many people justify bad behavior by saying “but it’s outside the liturgy!” Never mind that you’re still in a church, you’ve still got the People of God assembled for a Mass, and the Blessed Sacrament is still present in the tabernacle. What I wish is that people used this technicality as an excuse for dignified behavior. My parish immediately launches into the St. Michael the Archangel prayer after “Thanks be to God”. That seems to me a good use of the fact that Mass is technically over and we can do what we want.

It is not a technicality! You need to reread the post I was referring to again. It was mentioned that the Pope has asked us to refrain from clapping DURING mass, for which I AGREE!!! Therefore, my response that the closing song is not sung during mass. So clapping in church is sin now? They are not still assembled for a mass…mass has ended…“Thanks be to God!” Yes, the Blessed Sacrament is still present in the tabernacle, but NOT exposed. It is a place of repose. I could call that your technicality in order to try to prove your point. All the big protestant mega churches use applause during their services to praise God all the time to answer your question.

May God bless those pastors that allow the Spirit of God to move throughout their parish and allow parishioners to show expression through applause.

 

[IfYouLeadMe]

In general, I feel applause is inappropriate. The priest should give the final blessing, everybody respond “thanks be to God” and then he leaves right toward the end of the closing hymn, or leave in absolute silence, as they do in the cathedral here on Good Friday.

The only time applause should be allowed is for baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations and Weddings, if at the end of mass before the final blessing, the priest happens to say “let’s congratulate ___ on their Confirmation…”

I’ve mentioned this on an old thread regarding the same topic… When I was a child and going to mass with my parents and Grandparents, if people would applaud suddenly at the end of mass, for no real reason, my Grandma would turn to my Mum and ask in Lithuanian “what is this, a circus??” It used to make me laugh to myself, because she had a point…

 

[jeannetherese]

People should not expect praise for anything they do as part of the Mass, ever People should not be clapped, publicly thanked, or even publicly acknowledged (not even for the flower arranging). Whatever is done is done as part of the Liturgy, and the Liturgy is not done for the congregation, but for God. If you think someone has done something particularly well, or you want to encourage a new and nervous reader, then tell them one to one. We ought not to be patting each other on the back at Mass.

In addition to the ideas shared by Brendan 64, the silence at the end of Mass is such a special time for sitting in the pew and quietly enjoying the presence of Our Lord, or spending time in prayer.

 

[CruceSignati]

People should not expect praise for anything they do as part of the Mass, ever People should not be clapped, publicly thanked, or even publicly acknowledged (not even for the flower arranging). Whatever is done is done as part of the Liturgy, and the Liturgy is not done for the congregation, but for God. If you think someone has done something particularly well, or you want to encourage a new and nervous reader, then tell them one to one. We ought not to be patting each other on the back at Mass.

Indeed.

When I attended the EF Mass last month I was quite impressed by the silence after Mass. People wouldn’t say a word to each other until they were out in the foyer and the doors into the main area of the church were closed.
I’m not trying to set the OF against the EF. I’m just pointing to places where people are very reverent before Our Lord.

 

[Brendan_64]

Indeed.

When I attended the EF Mass last month I was quite impressed by the silence after Mass. People wouldn’t say a word to each other until they were out in the foyer and the doors into the main area of the church were closed.
I’m not trying to set the OF against the EF. I’m just pointing to places where people are very reverent before Our Lord.

And I know a priest, who sadly has left our parish, who, if you visit his Masses has instilled exactly that atmosphere into his OF Masses. It can be done, but only if the priest is serious about it.

 

[Elizium23]

The question is whether applause is dulia or latria (veneration or worship). If it is worship, then let it be done for the consecration, for Benediction, for the high points of Mass when we are making our adoration to God. If it is not worship, then is it veneration? It seems so: it is licitly used in the Rite of Ordination for the assembly to give their assent to the imposition of Holy Orders on the subjects. It is typically used to acclaim some human achievement as Cardinal Ratzinger wrote. So if it is veneration, who are we venerating? It is so unclear when we do it after Mass. Is it for the choir who just finished? The priest is long gone by now, can it be for him too? The liturgical ministers who served? I don’t know - have we asked the people who applaud? Do they know, or is it just a reflex, a groupthink?

If it is veneration and people think they are doing it for God, then it is actually a grave insult.

 

[seepamrun]

I oppose applause during or after Mass for all of the same reasons others have already stated. For Heaven’s sake (literally!), the Mass is not a “performance” … do we expect Father and the acolytes to return from the Sacristy and take a final bow?! Let us just adhere to the final words of the liturgy: “The Mass has ended, go in PEACE to love and serve the Lord.”

 

[Mathias64]

No offense, but the Mass has ended, and why disdain for unbridled joy? Was is St Teresa who said, Save me from the grim faced Christians? Wanting to put an end to it seems like something Saul would have strived for prior to his conversion!

Good grief! What’s wrong with expressing happiness & joy? Don’t we have REAL problems to worry about - like maybe why so many people are NOT there AT ALL - to choose whether or not to clap??? To those who hate it (the clapping) I ask, "Would you rather be alone in a sea of clappers who love God or not attend communal worship at all? Do you REALLY think God is offended by this? I rate this argument right along side the one about whether or not children may approach the altar.

For the sake of fellowship, this is a thing best left to local custom. And being a thinking human - I respectfully disagree with our former Popes absolutism. Bless him anyway.

BTW: to whomever - what is “OCP dreck” ?

 

[LisaA]

Good grief! What’s wrong with expressing happiness & joy? Don’t we have REAL problems to worry about - like maybe why so many people are NOT there AT ALL - to choose whether or not to clap??? To those who hate it (the clapping) I ask, "Would you rather be alone in a sea of clappers who love God or not attend communal worship at all? Do you REALLY think God is offended by this? I rate this argument right along side the one about whether or not children may approach the altar.

For the sake of fellowship, this is a thing best left to local custom. And being a thinking human - I respectfully disagree with our former Popes absolutism. Bless him anyway.

BTW: to whomever - what is “OCP dreck” ?

Probably Oregon Catholic Press. They provide a lot of liturgical music. Apparently not universally appreciated!

I think the clapping issue is somewhat awkward. It seems like sometimes we do , sometimes we dont. I know during Lent we do NOT clap. I’d rather Fr just said “no clapping anytime” and be done with it. We have announcements after Mass and sometimes people applaud, sometimes they don’t. I would rather all applause was held whether the announcement was about the Spaghetti Feed or the KofC Christmas tree sales.

I like the post that said “Go in peace…” One need not clap to express joy. Just look at the facial expressions!

Lisa

 

[rondirect]

Good grief! What’s wrong with expressing happiness & joy? Don’t we have REAL problems to worry about - like maybe why so many people are NOT there AT ALL - to choose whether or not to clap??? To those who hate it (the clapping) I ask, "Would you rather be alone in a sea of clappers who love God or not attend communal worship at all? Do you REALLY think God is offended by this? I rate this argument right along side the one about whether or not children may approach the altar.

For the sake of fellowship, this is a thing best left to local custom. And being a thinking human - I respectfully disagree with our former Popes absolutism. Bless him anyway.

BTW: to whomever - what is “OCP dreck” ?

If you read my posts, you know that I agree with you. What bugs me is that some have to use weird examples to prove the point, like do we clap for the consecration, etc. Strange, they have nothing to do with clapping during a closing song and after it. People clap to show approval. Even some here who disdain the clapping admit that people clap after their speech. I see no harm in it at all.

Whomever said OCP dreck is just referring to Oregon Catholic Press, a hugh Catholic publisher. To paint OCP with a wide brush stroke of “dreck” is wrong. They publish some excellent music.