THUNDER IN THE PEWS

 

For years I have objected to the felt need of many in my congregation (or any other congregation) to applaud when the choir or the handbell choir give a "recital" (not the right word but you know what I mean) during the liturgy.  Hymns and music are supposed to be acts of worship of God--not an entertaining performance for the assembled.  I do believe it’s the human honorees who are being applauded more than the Spirit in most of the actual cases.

This battle had long been lost before I came along so I am under no illusions this will ever change.  When the subject does come, my fellow members of our parish will pat my head and dismiss me as a eccentric crank.  I love it when the children sing their little hymns during worship; but, when I do not clap when they have finished, I am regarded as some sort of heartless Grinch.

As I said, the battle has long been lost.

Still, it is nice Pope Benedict agrees with me. This comes from an article titled Tidings of Discomfort And Liturgical Abuse:

Applause and praise to individuals at Mass during the Mass (directed at my own family, which was even more embarrassing). Here’s a quote from Pope Benedict on this practice (with my emphasis): “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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.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.” I was chastised by a parishioner for bristling at this and was told that the applause was to God. However, we were the only ones asked to stand and if the applause was directed to God, me and my family should be added to the ranks of the Blessed Trinity. I really do appreciate the sentiment — it was honoring and sincere — but if it is necessary or appropriate, please, please, please do this after Mass or some other time. The Mass is to bring us to worship Christ, not us.)

The retort can (and will be) "that is why I am a Protestant". OK. But really…

I am all for ecumenism (ecumenism, that is, with a small "e").  But there is something odd when a Lutheran has to have the Pope to commiserate with him!