Priests tell jokes in homilies, incite laughter, clapping, vs. reverence

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PRmerger said:
There’s nothing here that I disagree with.

I would just give this caveat: there are, of course, certain behaviors that we can clearly judge as irreverent.

Whether clapping for the choir, a celebrant making jokes during the Divine Liturgy, are attempts at grandstanding and narcissism is open to debate.
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Michal thought exactly the same as you - that she could clearly judge David’s dancing as irreverent. She was dead wrong, of course.🤷

God does not always judge as we do.
 
floresco said:
No I am not saying that. Misrepresenting another’s position as you are doing here is a logical fallacy known as a “straw man argument”.
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Noooo.
You said:
If you applaud and compliment people too much, they can come to see that as the main purpose of their singing or good work. This interferes with them doing things out of love of God and stunts their spiritual development.
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I’m just taking your thinking to it’s logical conclusion.

Okay then, how much is TOO MUCH compliment? The OP didn’t say they got applause every week. If they did an exceptional job that week and really worked hard on a song or songs, we could stunt thier spiritual growth by giving them appreciation?
The logical conclusion of what you are saying is God is against appreciation?
Is it not?
How much is TOO MUCH?
Do I stop telling my wife I love her all the time?
 
LilyM said:
Michal thought exactly the same as you - that she could clearly judge David’s dancing as irreverent. She was dead wrong, of course.🤷

God does not always judge as we do.
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Well, this is just silly. You are telling me that I can’t tell what’s irreverent and what’s reverent behavior, in some cases?
 
floresco said:
I think that applauding for the choir encourages the congregation to think of the music in terms of human performance and recognition. I certainly would not tell anyone the amount of money I donate to the church in order to be recognized for it. We give in secret. Older churches have a choir loft in the back such that it is somewhat possible to sing without recognition. That is the ideal.
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Not necessarily. Anyway as I said - not to make it a habit or over do it. If the priest wanted to and did it last week, he doesn’t have to do it again this week. Along the way I thought I used the word discreet and reasonable. And I think it is no harm doing that and certainly anybody should not go into a conclusion that we want human recognition. There is a rationale for that otherwise the rest I would agree with you.
 
PRmerger said:
Well, this is just silly. You are telling me that I can’t tell what’s irreverent and what’s reverent behavior, in some cases?
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There was a fundamentalist once on the NCR side who said he “could tell” Catholics praying the Rosary were “doing it without thinking”. When I asked him how he knew this he clammed up.
Truth is, motives are none of our business. We are to just make sure OUR mind is set upon the Lord.
 
JustaServant said:
Okay then, how much is TOO MUCH compliment? The OP didn’t say they got applause every week. If they did an exceptional job that week and really worked hard on a song or songs, we could stunt thier spiritual growth by giving them appreciation?
The logical conclusion of what you are saying is God is against appreciation?
Is it not?
How much is TOO MUCH?
Do I stop telling my wife I love her all the time?
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I appreciate Church musicians very much. I often tell them after Mass that I found their music helped me to worship. I try to phrase the compliment to keep the focus on God. When I am one of the musicians, that is the sort of compliment that I like to receive.
 
  1. What exactly is irreverent about laughing a bit when the priest says something witty? Not him trying to get you to laugh, just a witty anecdote in the Homily
  2. I also don’t understand what some people here have against congratulating people. First the thread about the word “proud” being a sin, and now people saying you can’t congratulate the choir.
  3. What do you guys think about this scenario– First Mass of the school year, the Newman Center choir sings “We Are One Body” for a meditation hymn (typically only the choir). By the end of the song, a majority of the congregation is singing along. Note: The congregation singing was impromptu.
  4. To answer the OP’s last question, of course God has a sense of humor. Haven’t you seen the platypus? :rolleyes:
 
floresco said:
I appreciate Church musicians very much. I often tell them after Mass that I found their music helped me to worship. I try to phrase the compliment to keep the focus on God. When I am one of the musicians, that is the sort of compliment that I like to receive.
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How is that different from applause?
Your motives are more pure than those who applauded?
Your appreciation is superior…how?

Bottom line. You have no way of judging ANYONE’S motives or spirtual growth. In public or in private. So, when you hear applause, why not applaud too?
It seems to me, NOT applauding sends a different message.
Because you see, they have no way of judging your motive for NOT applauding either.
Have a nice night.
 
I think as much as the church is the thing of God it does not mean that we deprive it of human expression. That being said the intention and the focus should be right. And occasional acknowledgment from the priest of a job and effort well done should not be construed that we need human recognition but rather to see the positive side of it. It is certainly a call to ask parishioners to do good, participate and serve the church because by doing so we are serving God. I mean to even be prevented to appreciate the good work done for fear it will become human orientated is probably not understanding what it means by encouragement.

While it is all true that we should not seek personal glory and want to be acknowledged and to be praised for the service we do and give, encouragement should never be out of place in God’s people. And we should be reasonable enough to know the difference
 
One of our Priests loves to make jokes at the beginning of the mass, espeically about the Packers whom he dislikes greatly. Sometimes at the 5:30 mass he’ll ask if anyone knows the score of a big game played earlier. It makes me think that he must’ve been off tending to the needs to of his flock, rather than at the rectory watching the game. He’s a working man, that’s for sure.

He’s also a wonderful Priest and I thank God for him - jokes or no jokes. I think sometimes we expect our Priests to be perfect. I don’t think they expect that of us. 🤷

Best clapping moment in church: Mother’s Day - Priest wishes all of us mothers a great day and then goes on to say he knows it’s great day for Mrs. Jones - He says, “Stand up and show the them why, Son.” … and up stands her handsome son - in his Marine Dress Blues, just got home from his long tour in Afghanistan. We couldn’t help ourselves… we clapped for his service, and for his life.

Such a great moment.
 
yellowbird said:
One of our Priests loves to make jokes at the beginning of the mass, espeically about the Packers whom he dislikes greatly. Sometimes at the 5:30 mass he’ll ask if anyone knows the score of a big game played earlier. It makes me think that he must’ve been off tending to the needs to of his flock, rather than at the rectory watching the game. He’s a working man, that’s for sure.

He’s also a wonderful Priest and I thank God for him - jokes or no jokes. I think sometimes we expect our Priests to be perfect. I don’t think they expect that of us. 🤷

Best clapping moment in church: Mother’s Day - Priest wishes all of us mothers a great day and then goes on to say he knows it’s great day for Mrs. Jones - He says, “Stand up and show the them why, Son.” … and up stands her handsome son - in his Marine Dress Blues, just got home from his long tour in Afghanistan. We couldn’t help ourselves… we clapped for his service, and for his life.

Such a great moment.
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👍
 
JustaServant said:
There was a fundamentalist once on the NCR side who said he “could tell” Catholics praying the Rosary were “doing it without thinking”. When I asked him how he knew this he clammed up.
Truth is, motives are none of our business. We are to just make sure OUR mind is set upon the Lord.
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Absolutely!

But just for the sake of discussion, do you consider this to be irreverent, or reverent behavior:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Note the clown theme. :eek:
 
JustaServant said:
How is that different from applause?
Your motives are more pure than those who applauded?
Your appreciation is superior…how?

Bottom line. You have no way of judging ANYONE’S motives or spirtual growth. In public or in private. So, when you hear applause, why not applaud too?
It seems to me, NOT applauding sends a different message.
Because you see, they have no way of judging your motive for NOT applauding either.
Have a nice night.
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I know what helps me and what is a stumbling block for me when I am in the choir. I am going to treat people the way I would like to be treated.
 
yellowbird said:
One of our Priests loves to make jokes at the beginning of the mass, espeically about the Packers whom he dislikes greatly. Sometimes at the 5:30 mass he’ll ask if anyone knows the score of a big game played earlier. It makes me think that he must’ve been off tending to the needs to of his flock, rather than at the rectory watching the game. He’s a working man, that’s for sure.

He’s also a wonderful Priest and I thank God for him - jokes or no jokes. I think sometimes we expect our Priests to be perfect. I don’t think they expect that of us. 🤷

Best clapping moment in church: Mother’s Day - Priest wishes all of us mothers a great day and then goes on to say he knows it’s great day for Mrs. Jones - He says, “Stand up and show the them why, Son.” … and up stands her handsome son - in his Marine Dress Blues, just got home from his long tour in Afghanistan. We couldn’t help ourselves… we clapped for his service, and for his life.

Such a great moment.
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I personally wouldn’t have clapped. These things are nice, but they don’t have to be done while we recall the sacrifice on Calvary.
 
smndtupidisaftr said:
I personally wouldn’t have clapped. These things are nice, but they don’t have to be done while we recall the sacrifice on Calvary.
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Even if it is at the end of the mass after the dismissal? I certainly object too if it interferes with me recalling the sacrifice on the Calvary, if it does.
 
Reuben_J said:
Even if it is at the end of the mass after the dismissal? I certainly object too if it interferes with me recalling the sacrifice on the Calvary, if it does.
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From the way it was described it sounded as if it was before the dismissal.
 
smndtupidisaftr said:
From the way it was described it sounded as if it was before the dismissal.
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That would be odd then. Usually announcement, if any, would be made during the appropriate time (I tend to use the word appropriate a lot here). In some masses it would be during the collection but others mostly just before the final blessing. If it is made by the priest he could incorporate this (wishing Mothers day) too but if the announcement is not made by him, he could do so after the dismissal. In both cases I think it would not interfere with the sacrifice as the liturgy of the Eucharist is not interrupted.
 
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