Dear Editor, Many people are uncomfortable with clapping during Mass. Cardinal Francis Arinze said: “When we come to Mass, we don’t come to clap. We don’t come to watch people, to admire people. We want to adore God, to thank Him, to ask Him pardon for our sins, and to ask Him for what we need.”
Pope Benedict himself said: “Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of the liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.” (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Spirit of the Liturgy).
Number 45 of the General Instruction for the Roman Missal says: “Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times.”
The Conciliar Fathers of Trent taught: “They shall also banish from church all…noise and clamour, that so the house of God may be seen to be…truly a house of prayer.” (Council of Trent, Session XXII, 17 September 1562, ‘Decree Concerning the Things to be Observed and to be Avoided in the Celebration of Mass’.)
When a man is being ordained to the diaconate, priesthood or episcopacy, when a diocese is erected (and the new bishop appointed) or in the Rite of Sending for the RCIA, applause is used to signify the Faithful’s assent. But these are the only times when clapping is allowed.
Applause generally signifies gratitude or admiration for a job well done. If people are applauding the choir at the end of Mass, that is inappropriate. The function of liturgical musicians and choirs is to assist people in their praise of God through the Mass, not to perform for entertainment.
The crowds at St Peter’s do not applaud during Good Friday. The crowds at St John Lateran do not applaud as the Holy Father is processing the Blessed Sacrament throughout his Cathedral on Holy Thursday. During the Corpus Christi procession, there is no applause as the procession moves from St John Lateran to the Basilica of St Mary Major. So we should not applaud during Mass.
Yours etc.,
Kieron Wood,
Rathfarnham, Dublin.
The power of musicians and film stars to inspire
Dear Editor, It was wonderful to see your article on the music group Snow Patrol’s lead singer Gary Lightbody calling for Christian unity (IC 06/02/2020) during the Four Corners Festival in Belfast.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see more talented, much-renowned celebrities speak like this at Christian events the world over? Unfortunately many of them seem to show no regard for religion and its ability to bring about peace, instead they focus on the negatives. Young people would benefit greatly from artists expressing the opinion that Christianity is not some archaic ‘uncool’ thing that only older people care about, but can bring about positive and monumental change to families, communities and even countries. It seems these kind of celebrities are few and far between.
Yours etc.,
Jess Kelly,
Galway City, Galway.
Concern about future of Accord
Dear Editor, I was sad to see that Accord has continued to see a decline in the amount of people availing of its marriage and counselling services (IC 13/02/2020). It is a wonderful service.
They’ve managed to outlive the Government’s threats of pulling funding and retained their State funding but it seems they’re still losing popularity, I hope people will come to realise, and continue to realise, the importance of their work.
Yours etc.,
Gary Donnelly,
Navan, Meath.
Unfortunate timing of Archbishop Martin’s recommendation
Dear Editor, The Archbishop of Armagh, Éamon Martin, has recently recommended that politicians work towards a border poll in Ireland (IC 06/02/20). This might seem to be reasonable recommendation for a person of influence in the Catholic community in Northern Ireland and would be consistent with provisions in the Good Friday Agreement.
I believe however that the timing of the Archbishop’s statement is unfortunate. The main group / party actively promoting the holding of a border poll is Sinn Féin. The relevant context is that the Catholic Church has an unambiguous pro-life stance and opposes the provision of abortion services, while Sinn Féin has in the last two years facilitated the introduction of abortion services in both parts of Ireland.
In the Republic of Ireland, the party strongly supported the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and passing of consequential legislation. In Northern Ireland, by standing aside, they frustrated attempts by other parties in the Assembly to resist the extension to Northern Ireland of British abortion laws.
Suffice to say that in 21st Century Ireland the previously established patterns of loyalties and allegiances lack the clarity they once had.
Yours etc.,
Michael Walsh,
Clontarf, Dublin.
Mary Immaculate morals testament to immorality
Dear Editor, Why should we sully the good work of Mary Immaculate College in Limerick by so called proponents of morals? Their concept of morals is testament to immorality. If only they could see that.
Yours etc.,
Patrick Quigley,
Ballyfermot, Dublin.
