Has Anyone Actually Been To A Clown Mass?

[Groo the Wanderer]

[quote name='Adrestia' timestamp='1345517234' post='2471044']
I cringe when I hear announcements.
[/quote]

We finally convinced our pastor to move the announcements to the end of Mass instead of immediately following the Universal Prayer.

YAY!!!

now just gotta implement it.

Next on the list: entrance antiphons, then moving the tabernacle back into the sanctuary

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='dUSt' timestamp='1345512119' post='2471001']
I attend the most reverent parish in my hometown (besides the Anglican Use parish), and for the most part, I don't find myself cringing anywhere in the mass... except when it's over. After the closing song, the organist will go into like a solo organ bit--and to me, it comes off as kinda showy. All the people still in the church will clap after he's finished.

Annoying.
[/quote]
That's called a voluntary/postlude. It's not part of the mass anymore, so it can be a little more like a performance. Accordingly, it's acceptable to clap. It sort of shows appreciation for all the music in the mass, since it takes a lot more effort than what it would seem on the surface. He has had to suppress his personal showmanship for the entire mass, putting his personal ability and pride aside for the sake of the reverence of the Sacrifice, and so now he has a chance to be a little more flashy.
Truly, it would be more bizarre if he didn't do that (give at least a short postlude). It would make me, as a fellow organist, question his capability.

[Nihil Obstat]

I'd rather not clap in a situation like that, because even after Mass for me the church proper remains a place where I want to pray and reflect (rather than applaud), but I'd absolutely express my appreciation to the organist personally when I got a chance.

[the171]

NCYC...

[the171]

Kites, tribal drums, liturgical dancing, vestments with multi colored handprints with matching altar linens, random story during Eucharistic liturgy, and it gets worse.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1345526765' post='2471124']
I'd rather not clap in a situation like that, because even after Mass for me the church proper remains a place where I want to pray and reflect (rather than applaud), but I'd absolutely express my appreciation to the organist personally when I got a chance.
[/quote]
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.

[PhuturePriest]

[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 heard a Priest once say that nowhere in the Mass was applauding appropriate. I'm not sure if he was right, though.

[Vincent Vega]

He was absolutely right.

A postlude occurs after Mass has ended.

[LittleWaySoul]

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?

[Nihil Obstat]

[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 agree, mostly, I just find that for my own devotional 'needs', as it were, applauding is not helpful, and better suited for other situations.

[Amory]

[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.

[NonNovi]

Thank God I did not have to experience anything like this yet:

[img]http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/clownmass.gif[/img]

[Lisa]

[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

[franciscanheart]

[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.

[LittleWaySoul]

Why would... what the... I can't even...

[Nihil Obstat]

[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?

[Papist]

[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.

[carmenchristi]

[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.

[Papist]

[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?

[franciscanheart]

[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.