What is wrong with applauding in Church?

[JimR-OCDS]

Hi,

I think you misunderstood me. By offering I meant when we give our money.

During the offertory the gifts are prepared on the altar and the priest is saying the blessing over the bread an wine and it flows right into the consecration. Applause would not be appropriate at this time in the Mass.

OK, I see you were joking. I think?

 

[ALLFORHIM]

During the offertory the gifts are prepared on the altar and the priest is saying the blessing over the bread an wine and it flows right into the consecration. Applause would not be appropriate at this time in the Mass.

OK, I see you were joking. I think?

Hi,
No Im not joking I think we are having a communication problem Just like a man and woman to have roblems communicating.

 

[Anima_Christi]

I see no problem on rare occasions of applauding for stuff like a funeral, weddings or baptism. Yet this should be rarely done as we do come for Mass to worship God and too often people look for ways to make it an entertainment event.

God Bless
Scylla

Why would one applaud at a funeral? Shouldn’t funerals be “a time to grive” and to pray that God might have mercy on their soul? A Catholic funeral is not supposed to be a “celebration” the departed person’s life–that is a rather modern protestant/secular idea.

 

[Superstar905]

Why would one applaud at a funeral? Shouldn’t funerals be “a time to grive” and to pray that God might have mercy on their soul? A Catholic funeral is not supposed to be a “celebration” the departed person’s life–that is a rather modern protestant/secular idea.

I disagree. There is an element of both sadness and joy. Joy in that we pray our departed are in heaven, and sadness at losing their company here on earth but knowing one day we will be together again.

Every funeral I’ve been to celebrates the individual. Grieving is normal also, but worse when you don’t believe in the afterlife.

 

[Anima_Christi]

I disagree. There is an element of both sadness and joy. Joy in that we pray our departed are in heaven, and sadness at losing their company here on earth but knowing one day we will be together again.

Every funeral I’ve been to celebrates the individual. Grieving is normal also, but worse when you don’t believe in the afterlife.

How do you know they are in heaven??

 

[jonfan]

In the AAA section, a question was asked about the “kiss” during a wedding ceremony, and why there is none in some weddings. In Michelle Arnolds answer, she wrote this:

Can someone tell me what is wrong with applause in church?

This is a simple human expression of joy, and it is not disrespectful in any way to God (IMO). Am I missing something here?

Our Church applauds after Mass is done. Also I see many people clapping at Weddings.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Our Church applauds after Mass is done.

Stop it.

 

[Superstar905]

How do you know they are in heaven??

I don’t, but believing they are is a wonderful thing, and quite comforting.

 

[Anima_Christi]

I don’t, but believing they are is a wonderful thing, and quite comforting.

Maybe it’s not so comfortable to them…maybe they are suffering in purgatory and need your prayers and Masses all the while you are pretending they’re in heaven to make yourself feel comfortable.

 

[DonProfondo]

Can someone tell me what is wrong with applause in church?

The Church is not a concert hall, and Mass is not an award ceremony.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Hmmm, when members of our folk group retired or moved away, the congregation gave them an applause of thanks for the service they provided. I guess we’re all going to burn in hell for all eternity for this offense.

Really, Jim, you should read the entire post, not just the lines that push your buttons. I distinctly remember saying that applause is not inherently sinful. This directly negates the punishment of eternal damnation for applause in church. I’d probably clap too if our folk group retired. Also, the use of an apostrophe indicates posession, not necessarily plurality. When it is spelled “heretic’s,” my first question is what belonged to the heretic, like the heretic’s hat, the heretic’s bicycle, or maybe a group of heretics arguing over who gets the Heretics’ Choice Award for most heretical heresy, in which case he becomes a heretic’s heretic among heretics!

A world without humour would be a sad place, kind of like a feminist bookshop.

 

[Superstar905]

Maybe it’s not so comfortable to them…maybe they are suffering in purgatory and need your prayers and Masses all the while you are pretending they’re in heaven to make yourself feel comfortable.

An applause at a Funeral may be much, but it doesn’t mean one should be mired in sadness, but rather in JOY for the hope of eternal life. Either way you pray for those departed.

Why do you create a false dichotomy here, as if you cannot be joyous and praying at the same time?

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Also, the use of an apostrophe indicates posession, not necessarily plurality.

Yes, possession was spelt wrong.

Aah, humility.

 

[nas_matko]

I came across few topics stating, that applauding at the mass is very unfortunate modern habit. I do agree with this.
My question is, is there any official church document dealing with this matter?
Thnak you.

 

[gelsbern]

I think there are some mentions in the original thread.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=114530

 

[viktor_aleksndr]

I think applauding in the mass must be placed in the right time. It could be just before the final blessing. It must never interrupt the flow of the Mass.

For example, applauding after singing the gloria can interrupt the flow of the mass.

Applauding can be a sign of great joy or appreciation but must always be restricted in some parts of the Mass. I think God doesn’t much appreciate your clapping, but it is your heart which God really looked at. I can clap my hands and smile but not happy at the same time. Or i can frown but at the same time overflowing of joy in my heart.

 

[jbuck919]

Applauding in an ordinary context is an unfortunate side effect of asking for it, i.e., the priest himself asking for that kind of acknowledgment for something that is essentially extra-ligurgical, like perhaps something in his own so-called homily. Appalauding for musical things is more of a problem in protestand denominations, it being the case that Catholics these days in the US at least almost never produce a music product worth acknowledgment unless it was to boo and hiss. I’m sorrry, but it’s true.

Ironically, it used to be routine to applaud the pope (and even to shout “viva!” as he enetered St. Peter’s. Perhaps it still is, but I do know this. When the 40 English martyrs were canonized by Pope Paul VI, a request was made and honored: There would be proper seats placed in St. Peter’s, (pews are a modern innovation and owe something to the Reformation), and there would be no ovation for the pope. A sensible Anglo/Catholic solution to the usual Roman chaos.

 

[TradyDaddy]

The Pope has this to say about it:

Quote:
“Whenever 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
The Spirit of the Liturgy (Pg 198)

Wait a minute… is this the same guy I saw presiding over the stadium Mass at WYD 2005 in Germany where there were beach balls being bounced around and rock concert like atmosphere???

 

[steve_green_2]

I’ll start applauding after the TLM when the universal indult is signed by HHPBXVI !!!

 

[nas_matko]

I read very carefully this discussion and I am kindly asking you to came back to post number 43 and read carefully. Ratzinger says applause “because of some human achievement”. To me it sounds quite cleraly, that he is talking about applause for choir who sung nicely that day, or applause for extraordinary Eucharistic ministers for beeing those ministers etc. I came across these kind of applauses myself and I felt bad without knowing about Ratzinger’s text. Now he has only confirmed what I already felt.