Amory Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1345527412' post='2471134'] You're welcome to individually express appreciation, rather than clap, but clapping is not objectively inappropriate as it is outside of the context of the liturgy. There is nothing intrinsically profane, disrespectful or irreverent about clapping. [/quote] Clapping would be disruptive toward those who are still praying after Mass has ended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonNovi Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Thank God I did not have to experience anything like this yet: [img]http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/clownmass.gif[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) [quote name='NonNovi' timestamp='1345562825' post='2471252'] Thank God I did not have to experience anything like this yet: [img]http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/clownmass.gif[/img] [/quote] From my internet search, it seems that was at an Episcopal Church, not a Catholic Mass. Still makes me shudder, though. Edited August 21, 2012 by Lisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='LittleWaySoul' timestamp='1345528312' post='2471138'] So... I've never heard of a clown Mass before. It sounds horrible. Can anyone give me a quick summary/history of what is/how it came to be? [/quote] California. Beware. [quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345529007' post='2471139'] I agree, mostly, I just find that for my own devotional 'needs', as it were, applauding is not helpful, and better suited for other situations. [/quote] I must have missed where anyone suggested that applause is somehow devotional. [quote name='Amory' timestamp='1345529325' post='2471142'] Clapping [s]would[/s] could be disruptive toward those who are still praying after Mass has ended. [/quote] Fixed. Also: screaming babies are disruptive. People who cackle with their friends as they exit the sanctuary are disruptive. People who insist on praying the rosary out loud immediately after the Mass are disruptive. And yet, I somehow manage to pray anyway, to grow anyway, to make it through anyway. Personally, I very much enjoy the postludes presented at my church (the preludes too!) and do often clap for my organist to show him my sincere appreciation for the time and effort he puts in to his work. He chooses magnificent pieces that often lift my mind and heart to God in a very special way following a very reverent Mass. I can turn, clap, smile and return to prayers. I would be sad if my organist did not play preludes or postludes, and I would be remiss in not showing him some appreciation from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleWaySoul Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Why would... what the... I can't even... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='franciscanheart' timestamp='1345564575' post='2471263'] I must have missed where anyone suggested that applause is somehow devotional. [/quote] I don't know why that needed to be said. Directly following Mass is a time for personal devotion, is it not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1345527412' post='2471134'] You're welcome to individually express appreciation, rather than clap, but clapping is not objectively inappropriate as it is outside of the context of the liturgy. There is nothing intrinsically profane, disrespectful or irreverent about clapping. [/quote] I know you are right, but I would rather not have the clapping. After Mass is over, I like to kneel and have a brief dialog with Christ. Unrelated, I would also like to have all the chit-chat socializing take place in the narthex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmenchristi Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='franciscanheart' timestamp='1345564575' post='2471263'] People who insist on praying the rosary out loud immediately after the Mass are disruptive. [/quote] THANK YOU! I agree that preludes and postludes are beautiful and help uplift the soul. I'm not so sure that I agree that applause is the appropriate way to express appreciation... but then again, I don't find it to be the most horrible thing out there either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='Lisa' timestamp='1345506341' post='2470911'] In every debate/discussion about the Liturgy, I see the term "clown Mass". Being relatively new to the Catholic internet world, when I first joined Phatmass, I looked it up. Seeing minimal videos and photos of the supposedly frequent occurrence, I thought I'd take a survey. It's lobbed around in debates like it happens all the time and like most Catholics that attend the OF wouldn't consider it an affront to the liturgy. I'm curious about the use of the term and the thought that goes into saying it. If you say "yes", what do you consider a clown Mass: is it the full-out costumes and face-paint shindig or do you apply that to any less-reverent-than-it-should-be liturgy? For my answer, I assist at OF Masses, although I have been to an EF Mass, which I loved and was beautiful! I've attended a few Masses in my life that have made me want to bang my head against the wall, but the vast majority of the Masses I've ever attended have been just fine [/quote] Does attending Mass with Hasan count? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='carmenchristi' timestamp='1345573967' post='2471340'] THANK YOU! I agree that preludes and postludes are beautiful and help uplift the soul. I'm not so sure that I agree that applause is the appropriate way to express appreciation... but then again, I don't find it to be the most horrible thing out there either. [/quote] Another thing to realize is that the clapping does't have to be a hooping-hollering kind of clapping. No one is going to town, slapping their hands together at my parish. Frankly, there are maybe 5-8 people who clap each Sunday who are not sitting in the choir loft with the organist, and the choir members are quite reserved with their physical appreciation. Our sanctuary isn't large, but it's certainly a decent size; most people wouldn't notice clapping if in deep prayer. I don't think it's awful, and I don't expect everyone to do it. I won't do it every time, but I don't mind those who do. I am lucky enough to be friends with our organist, so I can express my appreciation at any time (and often do). But if especially moved, I will give him a respectful clap and go back to my prayers or go on about my day outside the sanctuary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 We pray the rosary before Mass. It is not disruptive. Most people stay in the pew for a good five to ten minutes after the Leonine Prayers or the recession, as the case may be, praying whatever devotions are most helpful for them. I know the lady who sits in front of me usually prays the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary after Mass ends. Some leave the pew and kneel at the altar rail in front of the tabernacle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximilianus Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Well, I need silence to pray, but I accept that that there is a 'grace' period of racket after Mass, get the clapping and yapping out of the way, but if there is still a cacophony after 8-10 minutes people are just being rude whether they realize it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1345576672' post='2471359'] Well, I need silence to pray, but I accept that that there is a 'grace' period of racket after Mass, get the clapping and yapping out of the way, but if there is still a cacophony after 8-10 minutes people are just being rude whether they realize it or not. [/quote] I don't think we necessarily need to accept the talking as par for the course. A few announcements over the course of a couple months would probably take care of that for at least a little while. Make follow-up announcements every few months. I only say that because at my parish I do not have to deal with that, showing that it is possible, and probably not particularly difficult. Just takes a bit of effort, like anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I have come to realize that I really like silence before Mass to center my thoughts on God. However, the choir is really disruptive because the organist and the choir director like to practice before Mass so it's hard to concentrate. When they do this, I get up from my pew and go to the Chapel where the Tabernacle is and kneel in front of it for deep prayer. I can still hear the organ playing and the singing, but it's much more quiet to where I can concentrate because the door on the choir side in the chapel is closed. I really wish that the choir wouldn't practice right before Mass. They have practice during the week so there really is no need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 [quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1345577028' post='2471362'] I have come to realize that I really like silence before Mass to center my thoughts on God. However, the choir is really disruptive because the organist and the choir director like to practice before Mass so it's hard to concentrate. When they do this, I get up from my pew and go to the Chapel where the Tabernacle is and kneel in front of it for deep prayer. I can still hear the organ playing and the singing, but it's much more quiet to where I can concentrate because the door on the choir side in the chapel is closed. I really wish that the choir wouldn't practice right before Mass. They have practice during the week so there really is no need. [/quote] Clearly you've never been in a church choir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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