To kneel or not to kneel.. that is the question

[deogratias]

Oh, we should not do that in a Catholic Church" that are perfectly acceptable ways of worship

Clapping and applause may not be synonymous. Though I dislike it, some hymns use clapping as part of them - this would be worship.

Applause is not worship of God but worship of the performer and should not be done. The GIRM does not say that I can’t do cartwheels down the aisle when I like the music either but it certainly would not be an acceptable thing to do.

I hope you can see the difference between clapping and applause and between what the GIRM says we must do vs not saying we can’t do something.

 

[J.Kennedy]

#2: Clapping during mass is not prohibited anyway.

Clapping, while not prohibited as stated above, is not appropiate. Dancing on the Altar in the nude during Mass is also not prohibited, but is also inappropiate. Just because it’s not prohibited doesn’t mean it’s appropiate.

But more importantly, clapping is a form of praise. In ancient cultures it was even a simple form of worship. In a Mass ALL praise and worship should be directed to God and God alone. Not to his creations and their meager abilities.

 

[J.Kennedy]

deogratias:

Clapping and applause may not be synonymous. Though I dislike it, some hymns use clapping as part of them - this would be worship.

Applause is not worship of God but worship of the performer and should not be done. The GIRM does not say that I can’t do cartwheels down the aisle when I like the music either but it certainly would not be an acceptable thing to do.

I hope you can see the difference between clapping and applause and between what the GIRM says we must do vs not saying we can’t do something.

I suspect that the first quote was referring to “applause”, since they were writing about “clapping” for the performers after the Mass and the “songs” were over. Therefore it was applause and not a rythmic “clapping” within the song.

 

[Brad]

#1: The General Instruction nor the Sacramentary says what happens after mass is ended.

#2: Clapping during mass is not prohibited anyway.

In my opinion, there are plenty of things that people would say “Oh, we should not do that in a Catholic Church” that are perfectly acceptable ways of worship.

Clapping for God is an acceptable form of worship. Clapping for particular participants in the Mass or for individuals in the church may be appropriate if directed by the priest as specific recognition of a particular event or deed - most appropriately after communion.

Spontaneously clapping for individuals in church by the congregation is not appropriate. The Mass is not entertainement - we are participating in the sacrafice of Jesus Christ - we go there to give our whole selves, to repent of our sins, to hear the Word of God, and to be nourished by His Body and Blood, made available because Jesus suffered and died.

This type of clapping takes the focus off the mass and puts it on particular individuals, who, instead, should be humbly thanking God for being able to serve Him.

If you want to clap for the music team, have them hold a concert and clap to your hearts delight. But don’t ever dilute the mass. This is Holy time.

 

[Pbuschur]

I am ashamed to say that we do not even have kneelers in our church. So we do not kneel at all - and it feels so wrong.

I happen to be on parish council, and plan to bring this up soon, but we also have budget problems and at present no priest (ours suspended on abuse charges), so the timing is not right to push on this.

I know the easy answer is to go to another parish, but while at my present parish my faith has been transformed, previously, I would not even think about it being a big deal not kneeling. Now I know better.

Any advise?

 

[Brad]

Pbuschur:

I am ashamed to say that we do not even have kneelers in our church. So we do not kneel at all - and it feels so wrong.

I happen to be on parish council, and plan to bring this up soon, but we also have budget problems and at present no priest (ours suspended on abuse charges), so the timing is not right to push on this.

I know the easy answer is to go to another parish, but while at my present parish my faith has been transformed, previously, I would not even think about it being a big deal not kneeling. Now I know better.

Any advise?

I’d bring it up anyways and stress its importance, even if you have to plan out in the future for the purchase. But oftentimes with prayer and perseverence, God provides.

This is almighty God before us in the sublime Holy of Holies - the Sacrafice of the Mass - it is an honor to kneel before our King.

 

[Servant1]

Canons of the First Council of Nicea, 325AD:

“Canon 20. Forasmuch as there are certain persons who kneel on the Lord’s Day and in the days of Pentecost, therefore, to the intent that all things may be uniformly observed everywhere (in every parish), it seems good to the holy Synod that prayer be made to God standing.”

Neither standing, as prescribed by Nicea 1, nor kneeling, as described by many here, is **in essence ** either better or worse. Based on this canon, it would appear that perhaps cultural changes have had their influences on the practices. In truth, what constitutes reverence or respect comes from the heart - internally - rather than from the body - externally. Some people - myself included - cannot physically kneel because of limitations (my limitation is the pain that would be too distracting to enable reverence). Other people stand for other reasons - or kneel. What makes what they do reverent and respectful is the attitude in their hearts when they do it - not what somebody on the outside observes and assumes based on their own personal preferences.

 

[larryo]

In America, kneeling is a requirement from after the *Sanctus *until after the Great Amen. In other words, one is supposed to kneel throughout the Eucharistic prayer, including the Consecration.