Apparently, Clapping During Mass Shouldn't Be a Thing
At least some church figures say so.
(SPOT.ph) Anyone who has ever attended Mass will have heard the phrase “Palakpakan natin ang Panginoon” at some point. Clapping seems like a harmless expression of joy, but a recent post by the community Facebook page Catholic Knows has sparked a debate about whether it belongs in the liturgical celebration.
Here's the thing: the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) does not provide specific guidance on the matter, leaving it to local customs and clergy discretion.
The lack of clear direction from the GIRM has led to various interpretations, with Catholic Knows seeming to lean towards discouraging clapping, especially during Lent. Its Facebook post pointed to comments from several church figures, with the Facebook post gaining over 13,000 shares since it was published on March 4.
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Is clapping allowed during Mass?
Among those cited by Catholic Knows is Saint Pius X, who said, “It is not fitting that the servant should be applauded in his Master’s house.” Pope Benedict XVI also cautioned that applause during the liturgy could turn the sacred celebration into “religious entertainment.”
As one would expect, the Catholic community is divided on the issue.
The majority seem to believe clapping is simply an expression of gratitude for God's blessings, especially when encouraged by the priest. However, some of them note an exception during Lent.
In 2020, Archbishop Socrates Villegas called for abstaining from applause during Lent: “Let us add more abstinence to this sober season. Let us abstain from applause in Church. May this abstinence from clapping flow over into the other days of the year.” His comments align with the belief that Lent is a time of reflection and fasting, which extends to the "fasting" of applause.
At this point, clapping during Mass is one of those things that depends on where you are and who you ask. Some parishes welcome it, others prefer silence, and unless the Church issues a clear directive, the (one-sided?) debate isn’t going anywhere.
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