“It is not fitting to applaud the servant in the house of his Master.” Pope St. Pius X on clapping in church.
Lest I be accused of being a malcontent “rad-trad”, or some “internet anti-pope” who only quotes Pre-Conciliar Popes to enforce my own “subjective opinions”, a comment from our current Holy Father, (then Cardinal Ratzinger) on clapping during the Holy Mysteries: “Wherever 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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.” (Source)
I agree entirely…
I don’t think Cardinal Ratzinger’s statement applies to the applause that was offered at the papal mass, as I don’t believe it was offered as praise of human accomplishments.
For instance, the Holy Father stated at Yankee Stadium that Christians should defend the lives of the most vulnerable human beings, especially those in the womb. The people applauded not because they were praising his accomplishment in saying this, but because they wanted to say they shared his concern for the unborn, and that they enthusiastically agreed with him.
I suppose it’s a closer case with regard to the applause of Placido Domingo’s singing of Panis Angelicus, but then the Holy Father applauded him as well. Again, I think it was more of a way of adding the crowd’s endorsement of the beauty and sentiments of reverence that were expressed in the song (particularly in contrast to the other rather dismal musical offerings).
To be honest, I think the loudest applause occured at National’s stadium when Mr. Domingo knelt and reverently kissed the Holy Father’s ring. Again, I don’t believe the applause was intended to praise him for this accomplishment, but endorse his reverence and respect that he displayed to the Holy Father. And in a sense to say they joined in this mark of love and respect that he showed to the Holy Father on their behalf.
In short, applause can mean several things – it can be a way a crowd expresses welcome and respect, and unifies them in one of the few ways that a large crowd can be unified. When the crowds in St. Peter’s applauded upon hearing that John Paul II had completed his earthly life, it was a solemn expression of their affection and respect, not a way of praising an accomplishment. To be honest, it would be very difficult to express these heartfelt emotions in any other way – perhaps people should simply remain silent on such ocassions, but I honestly think that is a rather un-natural and strained reaction in a large crowd, and I don’t really see why it is necessary. It is not intended to take attention away from the liturgy, but to be a way of participating in it.
In contrast, I agree that it is awkward to simply applaud a song that you like in the context of a mass. I just think it’s hard to sort out which is which. And there are probably more important things to be worrying about than this!
Blessings!
Per usual, great photos….but the quote is just the icing on the cake!
I just cringe at clapping anytime I hear it in Mass and Pope Pious X puts it so well, as does our current Holy Father.
I remember when I was a kid at Catholic school, we would have an occasional Mass just for the schoolkids. And, one time, we clapped for some announcement after Mass, and the one nun we had scolded us. The priest came out of the sacristry, and yelled at us, and said we were never to clap in church. This was in Queens, NY circa- 1983. Now, it has become normal, along with communion in the paw.
Anon: Para-liturgical, sure. Mass- I don’t think so. And if people disagrees with what a priest/bishop/pope says during a homily, is it ok to boo?
I always tend to think that the people do not applaud the pope as a result of some lowly human achievement. I think they either applaud because of aggreement or out of praise for the pontiff’s words or simply because of the presence of “Peter among us”. People get a “spiritual high” from being around a the Holy Father and perhaps feel that clapping helps release it.
People are happy and they clap. It’s as simple as that. Sure, it shouldn’t happen every day at Mass, but this was an extraordinary ocassion. The pope himself applauded Placido Domingo at Mass, and got out of his chair to go and embrace him. I am sure he did this because he was over-whelmed by the beauty of the moment and got a little carried away, and not out of any disrespect for the Eucharist. Just as the people applauded to welcome him and express their love and respect. And there is no parallel in terms of saying they could boo if they disagreed – the two are apples and oranges in this context.
It’s a natural, human and spontaneous moment that happens once in a blue moon. Condemning people for failing to stand silently in the presence of someone they love and want to welcome in the only manner they can seems rather harsh and uncalled-for. The reverence and silence for the remainder of the time (probably 99.9% of the time and especially during the consecration and the other prayers of the Mass) was quite profound.
This is Really nothing to get excited about people.
I really don’t think the Holy Father “applauded” Placido Domingo at the DC Mass. I was there. Unless I am terribly mistaken, the Holy Father stood and offered his clasped hands out in a gesture of gratitude but it was hardly “applause.”
I found the applause DURING the DC Mass to be distracting and yet another symptom of our need for a more profound liturgical formation, especially with regard to liturgical music.
I did not find the applause, cheering, and flag waving upon the entrance of the “PopeMobile” to be inappropriate. It was a sign of welcome, affection, and reverence for the Holy Father. And Holy Mass had not yet begun.
God bless you.
Thank you Bailey, agreed. During his entrance in the Popemobile of course, people should clap. But once Mass begins, it’s Mass. Period.
Applause has absolutely no place at mass…as Ken said,”PERIOD”.
I must have been at a different mass at National’s Stadium. The ONLY applause I heard was when the pope arrived and left. There was a smattering of applause for Placido Domingo when the pope went to embrace him. It sured looked to me like the Holy Father was clapping (briefly) in appreciation of the wonderful song, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.
How this fleeting applause could have seriously disrupted anyone is a mystery to me — it was probably a total of three seconds during a 2 hour mass. I suppose I must not be quite as sensitive as others.
I am truly sorry if anyone was disturbed during a mass by anything, but I must say I do think that one should budget for some additional or unusual noises or distractions at a 2-hour mass for 46,000 people in a baseball stadium.
The noises I found most distracting were coming from a protestant preacher out on the sidewalk. He had a megaphone and was shouting anti-Catholic invective throughout the entire mass, saying we were all idol worshippers who were going to hell. He must have been about a block away, but his voice really carried. He never paused once for the entire mass. I was out near Third Base and he must have been down at that end of the stadium. I would think he must have been violating some kind of noise ordinance, but he was permitted to go on and on incessently. I could have used a bit more applause to drown out his voice!
Anon: I don’t think it was only the Washington Mass, but Yankee stadium, and St. Patricks too. And, just applause in general.
Who would have guessed a Protestant would be Protesting. Very sad. I thought disrupting a Religious service was a crime.
Applauding during Mass is absolutely inappropriate…I totally agree with Pope St. Pius X and Pope Benedict XVI