Massive Applause

While visiting home for winter break last month, I was attending a Sunday Mass with my grandmother, when a challenging thing occurred. Between Eucharistic reception and the concluding rite, the pastor invited all of those who had upcoming birthdays to the front of the church, blessed them while the choir then sang ‘happy birthday’, and joyful applause broke out. I stood stone faced and arms crossed during this, noticing my absence from the clapping party, my grandmother asked after Mass, why I don't ‘lighten up’ and clap for the people. I responded politely, explaining that the Mass is not a performance centered around humans, but instead a holy and historical celebration with very specific rules that all derive from Jesus Christ.

Previously, at my home parish on the East coast I had enthusiastically clapped when the pastor would ask the congregation for a “token of our support” for those recently: confirmed, baptized, or special guests. In fact, I remember being a catechumen and feeling very welcomed with the congrations' applause, I, in return showed the same applause to future catechumens who came after me. However, as my faith deepened, I came to realize the Mass as not being “just another event” where humans are honored and everyone is polite, but a celebration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all of humanity.

For me, it was a quote by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger that shed light on the clapping dilemma stating: "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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.” If that does not articulate the solemnity and counterculture ways of the Mass, I am at a loss of what does. Frankly, applause and recognition of parishioners in a very blatant way is not called for in the missal, so it should not be practiced. For those like my dear grandmother who question why I don't be more “light” and genuinely want to honor their fellow parishioners with praise, there is a solution. Prayer and silent recognition at Mass is a most powerful way to rejoice in the blessings of God by the members of the congregation. Every time one should have the urge to clap at Mass, it would be most appropriate to instead thank God for the joyous moment in prayerful silence. This will provide for a new way to rejoice while being a faithful participant mass, gathering together as one holy church in prayerful communion is the premier way to express applause.