Priest asking parishioners to thank Eucharistic ministers and music ministry during Mass

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

Catholic_Truth

Guest
I have noticed that at the last several Sunday Masses at my parish, before the final blessing, the priest asks the parishioners to thank the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion for their help and to thank the music ministry for the music during the Mass. First of all, I am against the use of extraordinary ministers as it should be the priest himself handling the consecrated Hosts and distributing Communion. In addition to this, I have noticed recently that the music ministry is using new arrangements of music during the Mass. Some days there is lot of percussion and drums, it sounds like a jungle, and other days the music all has a jazzy swing and rhythm to it. In a couple instances, I have noticed the priest and deacon clapping along and sometimes dancing out of the church during the recessional. We have a beautiful organ that used to always be played at Mass, but now remains silent every week. I am fairly certain that these in themselves are liturgical abuse. However, in addition to this, the priest asks the parishioners to thank them and a long round of applause ensues along with the occasional shout or whistle. My parish used to be a lot more reverent and I would love to get back to that. I am pretty sure it is not, but is it appropriate for the priest to do this? What should I do? Should I confront the priest about these things including his call for thanking by means of applause during Mass? If so, how should I go about doing this?
 
While I share your distaste for applause and rounds of thank yous (especially if this happens every week) I encourage you to put the notion of “confronting” the priest out of your head.

Whether or not you think it appropriate, use of EMHCs and this kind of music does not deserve the label “liturgical abuse”.

You would do much better to mention to your priest that you prefer organ music and ask him if there is a Mass time where the organ is used. Rather than complaining that there are EMHCs you might say you wonder under what circumstances your bishop thinks they ought to be used.
 
How would the priest manage without EMHCs if you have a large congregation? Our church uses six of them at the Sunday Masses, and they are certainly very necessary.
 
Thanking volunteers may not be rubrical but it is a good way of ensuring that they keep doing what they’re doing although I accept that this doesn’t need to be accompanied by applause and cheering - just a simple thankyou should suffice. As for the use of Extraordinary Ministers generally, provided there is a genuine need (which there frequently is) then the Church allows them.

Historically, for several centuries, up until Pius X in the early part of the 20th Century, the Church discouraged frequent reception of the Eucharist and so it was only after this time that the idea of receiving communion weekly (or more often) became common place. I suspect it’s likely that because of this (as well as communion under both kinds being permitted by the Council Fathers) that the need arose for lay assistance with the distribution of communion due to the number of communicant leading to their being permitted by Paul VI in 1969.
 
According to the General Instruction for the Roman Missal, there is a place for “brief announcements, should they be necessary,” just before the final blessing and dismissal.

Have you looked at other Masses at your parish? At my parish, different Masses have different styles of music, the organ at one or two, sometimes teenage guitarists and singers at another, piano at another, or no music at all.
 
Isca said:
How would the priest manage without EMHCs if you have a large congregation? Our church uses six of them at the Sunday Masses, and they are certainly very necessary.
Click to expand...
He would need the help of other priests or deacons, or it would take longer.
 
Memaw said:
I agree and I don’t applaud, But I often go up after Mass and thank the music people and I frequently tell the Alter Servers they are really appreciated as they walk past me back to the Sacristy. I ask God To Bless all those that help out in any way. God Bless, Memaw
Click to expand...
While others are clapping, I make the sign of the cross and ask God to bless whoever is being applauded.
 
Catholic_Truth said:
I have noticed that at the last several Sunday Masses at my parish, before the final blessing, the priest asks the parishioners to thank the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion for their help and to thank the music ministry for the music during the Mass. First of all, I am against the use of extraordinary ministers as it should be the priest himself handling the consecrated Hosts and distributing Communion. In addition to this, I have noticed recently that the music ministry is using new arrangements of music during the Mass. Some days there is lot of percussion and drums, it sounds like a jungle, and other days the music all has a jazzy swing and rhythm to it. In a couple instances, I have noticed the priest and deacon clapping along and sometimes dancing out of the church during the recessional. We have a beautiful organ that used to always be played at Mass, but now remains silent every week. I am fairly certain that these in themselves are liturgical abuse. However, in addition to this, the priest asks the parishioners to thank them and a long round of applause ensues along with the occasional shout or whistle. My parish used to be a lot more reverent and I would love to get back to that. I am pretty sure it is not, but is it appropriate for the priest to do this? What should I do? Should I confront the priest about these things including his call for thanking by means of applause during Mass? If so, how should I go about doing this?
Click to expand...
None of the things you mention are a liturgical abuse. If you are going to publicly accuse your priest of abuses then you should make sure you actually know what constitutes an abuse.
Also this forum should not be your first port of call.
If you have concerns about anything you should privately talk to your priest. If you are not satisfied then you contact the bishop but you need corroborating evidence like video or statements from other witnesses.
 
InThePew said:
Thanking volunteers may not be rubrical but it is a good way of ensuring that they keep doing what they’re doing although I accept that this doesn’t need to be accompanied by applause and cheering - just a simple thankyou should suffice.
Click to expand...
Whatever happened to the notion that we serve God by serving community and no thanks should be necessary or desired. True discipleship is hidden so that the Lord alone may reward. I would find it exceptionally distasteful should someone call attention to me instead of the sacred liturgy.
 
Catholic_Truth said:
I have noticed that at the last several Sunday Masses at my parish, before the final blessing, the priest asks the parishioners to thank the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion for their help and to thank the music ministry for the music during the Mass. First of all, I am against the use of extraordinary ministers as it should be the priest himself handling the consecrated Hosts and distributing Communion. In addition to this, I have noticed recently that the music ministry is using new arrangements of music during the Mass. Some days there is lot of percussion and drums, it sounds like a jungle, and other days the music all has a jazzy swing and rhythm to it. In a couple instances, I have noticed the priest and deacon clapping along and sometimes dancing out of the church during the recessional. We have a beautiful organ that used to always be played at Mass, but now remains silent every week. I am fairly certain that these in themselves are liturgical abuse. However, in addition to this, the priest asks the parishioners to thank them and a long round of applause ensues along with the occasional shout or whistle. My parish used to be a lot more reverent and I would love to get back to that. I am pretty sure it is not, but is it appropriate for the priest to do this? What should I do? Should I confront the priest about these things including his call for thanking by means of applause during Mass? If so, how should I go about doing this?
Click to expand...
We left a former parish for some of the reasons you cite but the priest is well within his purview to do what he is doing. Upon our departure we did feel called to write a confidential letter to our pastor as there were other concerns as well; chief among them in our instance was the blurring of the distinction of the common priesthood with the ministerial. It is a losing battle and I would offer encouragement to you that if your spirit is indeed perturbed that you go to a place of refuge where your soul may be fed and at peace.
 
As a musician who works her tail off choosing and rehearsing the music for Sunday masses, I can’t stand it when there is a public call for applause for the music. My choir is young – they range in age from 10 to 23 – and the co-director (age 21) and I (age 47) have made it clear that the music at mass is always to direct the minds and hearts of the congregations to the altar, not the choir loft.

Our pastor did publicly thank us last year on Easter, and we smiled and accepted the applause. But more often, we are thanked privately, and that is more than enough for us! We are not there to entertain, though many of us use our musical gifts to entertain outside of mass.

Gratitude should be directed to the Giver of our gifts, the gifts that bring joy to the congregation. 👍

And just to be clear, we sing chant, polyphony, and traditional hymns, many in Latin, with organ or a capella. And we sing at an OF mass in English.

Gertie
 
Gertabelle said:
As a musician who works her tail off choosing and rehearsing the music for Sunday masses, I can’t stand it when there is a public call for applause for the music. My choir is young – they range in age from 10 to 23 – and the co-director (age 21) and I (age 47) have made it clear that the music at mass is always to direct the minds and hearts of the congregations to the altar, not the choir loft.

Gratitude should be directed to the Giver of our gifts, the gifts that bring joy to the congregation. 👍

Gertie
Click to expand...
I so bless you for your comment!
 
One thing to keep in mind is that the time before the Final Blessing is actually a ‘pause’ in the liturgy.

The liturgy stops for a moment so other appropriate, but non liturgical, activities may take place.

The is the appropriate time, for example, for parish announcements, if a lay person, such as a lay missionary, needs to address the faithful.

So no, this is not a liturgical abuse (and it neither violates the instruction from +Benedict) as that time is literally, non liturgical.

The priest is doing nothing wrong here.

Here is the relevant GIRM
  1. When the Prayer after Communion is concluded, brief announcements should be made to the people, if there are any.
Click to expand...
 
Catholic_Truth said:
My parish used to be a lot more reverent and I would love to get back to that. I am pretty sure it is not, but is it appropriate for the priest to do this? What should I do? Should I confront the priest about these things including his call for thanking by means of applause during Mass? If so, how should I go about doing this?
Click to expand...
This seems more of an issue you have than your parish has. It seems you are so wrapped up in what you think that you are unable to be properly disposed for Mass and are seeing it as a burden rather than a joy.

Perhaps you should consider attending Mass at a Parish more to your liking, or do some self reflection in hopes of coming to the realization that the Mass is not all your likes and dislikes, but rather about the sacrifice made on your behalf by Christ.

Be like Mary not like Martha!

Luke 10:41b-42a:
… “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing…
 
Catholic_Truth said:
I have noticed that at the last several Sunday Masses at my parish, before the final blessing, the priest asks the parishioners to thank the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion for their help and to thank the music ministry for the music during the Mass. First of all, I am against the use of extraordinary ministers as it should be the priest himself handling the consecrated Hosts and distributing Communion. In addition to this, I have noticed recently that the music ministry is using new arrangements of music during the Mass. Some days there is lot of percussion and drums, it sounds like a jungle, and other days the music all has a jazzy swing and rhythm to it. In a couple instances, I have noticed the priest and deacon clapping along and sometimes dancing out of the church during the recessional. We have a beautiful organ that used to always be played at Mass, but now remains silent every week. I am fairly certain that these in themselves are liturgical abuse. However, in addition to this, the priest asks the parishioners to thank them and a long round of applause ensues along with the occasional shout or whistle. My parish used to be a lot more reverent and I would love to get back to that. I am pretty sure it is not, but is it appropriate for the priest to do this? What should I do? Should I confront the priest about these things including his call for thanking by means of applause during Mass? If so, how should I go about doing this?
Click to expand...
Nothing that is being done is liturgical abuse.

EMHC, are allowed, although seem to, at times, be used a bit much.

Music of all kinds of styles is allowed…we are a global church and liturgical music varies by culture and country

As for the applause, the priest has discretion during that part of the mass (the announcements). If he is allowed to announce the next parish potluck I see no reason for your offense of him asking hard working people to be thanked. Perhaps there is a behind the scenes issue going on that you are unaware of and father thought there was a pastoral need for the parish to be more thankful to ministries often taken for granted.
 
Before even considering approaching a priest about “liturgical abuse”, you need to be absolutely, positively 100% certain that abuse is taking place. It is very easy for us to think things that simply rub us the wrong way are “abuses”, but when we try to find some evidence from Church documents (i.e. the actual rubrics, not just what some theologian or Catholic blogger may have written an article about), we often come up empty.

I understand why that stuff doesn’t appeal to you. I’m not a fan of the applause either. But to say that it is liturgical abuse? I don’t think you can make an ironclad case for that.

I wouldn’t say you are wrong to feel uncomfortable with some of those things. But there are good ways and bad ways to convey your feelings. Pulling the priest aside and saying you think he is committing liturgical abuse would be a bad way to do it. A better way would be to actually befriend your priest. Invite him over for dinner. Thank him for all that he does. Offer to help the parish in ways that you are able to. Then, you will be in a position to have conversations with him about how certain things make you uncomfortable. Even then, the approach would be “The applause kind of bothers me because it makes me feel like the focus is on those helping out at Mass rather than on God. When I help out, I do so to give glory to God, not for public recognition. A private thank you would mean more to me than a public one.” You would not say “Applause at Mass is an abuse. Pope Benedict says it means that Mass is devoid of spiritual merit and has become mere entertainment, so you really need to stop it.”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top