Wrap The Clap! Time To End Clapping At Mass

[dUSt]

Wrap The Clap! Time To End Clapping At Mass
And Flamenco dancing, of course.
by Pat Archbold 

 

You know how Sharia law calls for the hands of theives to be chopped off? Yeah, well my kids know that a similar penalty will be lovingly applied by their father if I ever catch them clapping at Mass. I have seen clapping too many times to count. Most of you probably have as well. Years ago I had a priest who, post communion, would ask for a round of applause for everybody from the ushers, to the altar persons, to the singers, to the groundskeepers.

Applause in Church is the thing that makes my eyes twitch and my brow furrow, forcing me to harshly pinch the skin on my leg so as to maintain control and not shout as loud as I can, "FOR HEAVEN"S SAKE!! STOP!!"

For me, applause at mass it the most visible sign of the anthropocentric corruption of our worship.

Cardinal Ratzinger famously said in Spirit of the Liturgy, (I think I will make shirts with this emblazoned on the back to wear to Mass)

 

"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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment. Such attraction fades quickly - it cannot compete in the market of leisure pursuits, incorporating as it increasingly does various forms of religious titillation..

 

Ah. Religious titillation. That seems outlandish!! Well, except for this video making the rounds. This is a video that the Daily News report upon:

 

"Jose Planas Moreno, or Father Pepe, as he is known, brings flocks of congregants to the Nuestra Senora del Carmen church in Campanilla by clicking his heels and strutting his stuff. The 66-year-old and female worshippers twirl down the aisles doing the sevillanas, a traditional dance very similar to flamenco."

 

http://youtu.be/jXsCgWuGre0

 

Religious titillation indeed. The Daily News lede on this article says it all. "It’s a lot more fun than going to Confession."

What does clapping have to do with a Flamenco dancing priest? Read Cardinal Ratzinger above again.

If Cardinal Ratzinger doesn't cut it for you, how about the Saint who called Vatican II? From New Liturgical Movement.
 

The fourth Sunday of Lent, John XXIII was once again among the crowd, at Ostia. (about 15 miles to the south-west of Rome.) Thousands of people were waiting for him along the street, in the piazza, in the church. They wanted to see him, to applaud him. They did not know that afterwards, he would rebuke them, in a good-natured way, in his simple , spontaneous, familiar way of speaking.

“I am very glad to have come here. But if I must express a wish, it is that in church you not shout out, that you not clap your hands, and that you not greet even the Pope, because ‘templum Dei, templum Dei.’ (‘The temple of God is the temple of God.’)

 

It is time to wrap the clap as a starting point to remove the anthropocentric mentality that has destroyed worship these past 45 years.

Original article found here

[CrossCuT]

Meh there are worse things in the world that could happen. Clapping doesnt really bother me. 

[dUSt]

Meh there are worse things in the world that could happen. Clapping doesnt really bother me. 

 

There are also worse things than mullets. Doesn't make them right.

 

I don't believe you anyway. The next time you are praying for a very serious intention, please allow me to come clap in your ear so we can see how much it doesn't bother you.

[CrossCuT]

You want to go to church with me?

[Luigi]

I've never approved of clapping in church, and I don't do it unless to not do so would make me seem like the curmudgeon I really am. For instance, at a wedding, when the newly married couple is introduced to the congregation and everybody else claps, I muster up three limp claps so as not to seem like I disapprove of this particular couple getting married. But that's all.

[dUSt]

You want to go to church with me?

 

What church.

[blazeingstar]

I think part of this is cultural, because clapping in some cultures (west) is not as accepted as it is in others (Middle America). 

 

However, I think there is a very big difference between clapping as part of participation and applause which is about self-recognition and human achievements.  The video is just abhorrent, but that doesn't mean that all  clapping in Mass is bad.  However, I think its fine to say all applause in Mass is bad.

[CrossCuT]

What church.

 

You pick

[dUSt]

You pick

 

http://www.wowwiki.com/Church_of_the_Holy_Light

[CrossCuT]

I think part of this is cultural, because clapping in some cultures (west) is not as accepted as it is in others (Middle America). 

 

However, I think there is a very big difference between clapping as part of participation and applause which is about self-recognition and human achievements.  The video is just abhorrent, but that doesn't mean that all  clapping in Mass is bad.  However, I think its fine to say all applause in Mass is bad.

 

I used to attend mass at a hispanic parish with my brother. He was the choir director and I would sing with them and their spanish masses were pretty intense. If people think simple clapping is bad, youd probably lose your mind going to a hispanic mass. Those people partaaaaay! 

[CrossCuT]

http://www.wowwiki.com/Church_of_the_Holy_Light

 

Did you just link me something from World of Warcraft, Dust?  :twitch: 

[dUSt]

I think part of this is cultural, because clapping in some cultures (west) is not as accepted as it is in others (Middle America). 

 

However, I think there is a very big difference between clapping as part of participation and applause which is about self-recognition and human achievements.  The video is just abhorrent, but that doesn't mean that all  clapping in Mass is bad.  However, I think its fine to say all applause in Mass is bad.

 

I clapped in mass once after a new priest delivered a homily about cleaning up the parish, ridding the mass of abuses, and reinforcing sound Catholic teaching. It was a very tense time at this particular parish because it was getting overthrown by liberals--so the clapping was a show of support for his message. Once one person started clapping, I didn't want this new priest to hear crickets and to think nobody else agreed with him.

 

Unfortunately, that priest didn't last very long at that parish. :(

[Benedictus]

I have to admit I don't like clapping, although I don't see it very often here at masses. I also don't like clapping at funeral professions, I see this more and more though. I sort of understand the sentiment but I find it a bit out of place.

What's worse than clapping? I hate holding hands (not keen on the peace handshake either). I was visiting the US a few years ago now and during parts of the liturgy my hand was held,  shaked, and I was hugged. I was thinking what the heck are they doing?  I don't even remember looking as if I was receptive. It wasn't comfortable for me at all. I don't remember this happening yonks ago, but maybe I was just unlucky this time round

[dUSt]

I have to admit I don't like clapping, although I don't see it very often here at masses. I also don't like clapping at funeral professions, I see this more and more though. I sort of understand the sentiment but I find it a bit out of place.

What's worse than clapping? I hate holding hands (not keen on the peace handshake either). I was visiting the US a few years ago now and during parts of the liturgy my hand was held,  shaked, and I was hugged. I was thinking what the heck are they doing?  I don't even remember looking as if I was receptive. It wasn't comfortable for me at all. I don't remember this happening yonks ago, but maybe I was just unlucky this time round

 

My family does not hold hands and nobody ever forces their hands upon us either, lol. It helps if you simply keep your hands folded in prayer in front of you instead of holding them out like the priest does.

[blazeingstar]

I used to attend mass at a hispanic parish with my brother. He was the choir director and I would sing with them and their spanish masses were pretty intense. If people think simple clapping is bad, youd probably lose your mind going to a hispanic mass. Those people partaaaaay! 

 

Yes, and from my understanding their Masses were like that before the 1960's.   Quite frankly, Mass in the venacular was not started in the 1960's as we are lead to believe, but in the 600's under permission of the Pope in some Asian countries.

 

And remember, Latin was the vernacular for the first several centuries of the church, as well as their normative positions.  This is why I think early on the Popes were much more understanding of Cultural norms....but the middle ages got things a bit backwards and it took us centuries to cut between history and culture.

 

I mean really, the proper position for Mass should be reclining.  Jesus "reclined at tables" which in His time would of literally been a recliner (the picture of the Last Supper is completely wrong and Latinized).