Non solum: Thanking liturgical ministers

Today’s Question: Thanking Liturgical Ministers

Gratitude, toward God and others, is a basic Christian stance. It is appropriate to thank those who offer their gifts and talents to common worship. But how to do so??

I’m not sure that an announcement during worship is the way to do it. A round of applause for everyone who helped out puts the focus in the wrong place, and doesn’t quite fit the spirit of the liturgy.

Pope Emeritus Benedict once wrote, “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liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.” That’s over-stated, and even a bit cranky. I’m pretty sure that celebrants who invite applause are good-hearted people with good intentions. The “essence of the liturgy” hasn’t necessarily “totally disappeared” when gratitude is expressed, and the service contributed could well have made for reverent worship (at least up until the applause), not necessarily religious entertainment. If there is a problem with applause in the liturgy, this isn’t quite it.

Whenever I’ve been very involved in a liturgy – as planner or choir director or organist – I feel quite uneasy when a round of applause is given for me and the others. I didn’t do my ministry, I’d like to think, for the applause of others. It would be too simple to say that I “did it for God,” because I also did it for the community, and it’s never good theology to pit God against humans. But I did it for the sake of reverent and worthy worship, and the applause disrupts that. And I certainly didn’t do it for the celebrant, so why is he the one thanking me? Similarly, I don’t think it’s ever appropriate for a celebrant to thank the people for their attendance. They didn’t come on his account, one would hope, and it’s not his liturgy anyway, so why is he thanking them for worshiping God?

I suppose before the final blessing the celebrant could offer, on behalf of everyone, a brief appreciation for everyone involved, without singling any one or any group, and ending with a phrase precluding applause leading into the blessing: “…and everyone who has contributed to our worship of God. Let us ask now for God’s blessing. The Lord be with you…” Or, better yet, this all could be omitted and the worship leaflet could offer thanks for all those (listed thoroughly and accurately) who contributed to the community’s worship.

What do you think?

Moderator’s note: “Non solum” is a feature at Pray Tell for our readership community to discuss practical liturgical issues. The title comes from article 11 of the Vatican II liturgy constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium: “Therefore there is to be vigilance among holy pastors that in liturgical action not only are laws for valid and licit celebration to be observed, but that the faithful should participate knowingly, actively, and fruitfully.” (Ideo sacris pastoribus advigilandum est ut in actione liturgica non solum observentur leges ad validam et licitam celebrationem, sed ut fideles scienter, actuose et fructuose eandem participent.) May the series contribute to good liturgical practice – not only following the law, but especially grasping the spirit of the liturgy!

Anthony Ruff, OSB

Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, is a monk of St. John's Abbey. He teaches liturgy, liturgical music, and Gregorian chant at St. John's University School of Theology-Seminary. He is widely published and frequently presents across the country on liturgy and music. He is the author of Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform: Treasures and Transformations, and of Responsorial Psalms for Weekday Mass: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter. He does priestly ministry at the neighboring community of Benedictine sisters in St. Joseph.

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Comments

32 responses to “Non solum: Thanking liturgical ministers”

  1. Peter Rehwaldt

    I go back and forth on applause.

    In some ways, it is no different than the “Amen!” offered in response to powerful preaching in the African-American community — a spontaneous expression of solidarity with what is being proclaimed. It offers both thanks to the preacher for saying what was said, and also expresses the faith of the one offering the Amen. “Yes!” say the voices in the pews, “This is our faith, too.” [And I pity the preacher in the black church that *can’t* get an Amen from the pews.]

    To applaud an organist, following this line of thought, is both to say “thank you” and also “if I could play the organ, I’d like to enhance and enable worship in the way that you did today.”

    And then there are days when applause feels forced, or feels like the parish’s way of distancing itself from the worship. I’m reminded of Jesus preaching in his hometown, and the reaction of the community: “Oh, look at the carpenter’s son, all grown up, and such a good teacher.” I can easily imagine them applauding, and Jesus saying “This is why prophets can’t preach at home — people are too focused on the person and not on the message.”

    That said . . .

    Including thanks in the worship folder for all the participants is always appropriate. Similarly, verbal recognition of worship leaders can be done in various places, particularly the homily. Instead of saying “As Paul Gerhardt wrote in our opening hymn . . .” the preacher might say “As Fr Anthony played the organ for our opening hymn, we sang together Paul Gerhardt’s powerful words . . .” Instead of “when you come to the altar for the bread and wine . . .” the preacher might say “when you receive the bread and wine from . . .” and then name the eucharistic ministers. References to “light” in the readings can be linked to the light brought into the sanctuary by the acolytes — again, naming them specifically, or on a Sunday where “preparation” is a central theme, we can note and name those who prepared for today’s worship.

    Reply
  2. Rory Cooney

    I’m with both of you, which ought to make you rethink your positions. Thank you for thoughtful and kindly-stated posts. My favorite sentence is, “It would be too simple to say that I “did it for God,” because I also did it for the community, and it’s never good theology to pit God against humans.” I’m sure I’ll quote that one of these days!

    I would just ask about two facts, Fr. Anthony, not presented into evidence. You wrote, “But I did it for the sake of reverent and worthy worship, and (1) the applause disrupts that. And I certainly didn’t do it for the celebrant, so (2) why is he the one thanking me?” On both counts, it seems that one could make a case from incarnation and baptism-ordination that applause doesn’t necessarily disrupt worship, as Peter mentions, because it happens organically in many communities. Since the “reign of God is among you,” what might appear to be self-congratulation may in fact be recognition of solidarity (his word) with it, or at least what we hope is solidarity with it. Likewise, it may be theologically unsophisticated of me to say this, but if, in persona Christi, the presiding celebrant can say, “this is my body” and “do this in memory of me” and “peace be with you” &c &c (“i absolve you of your sins”, “i pronounce you to be among the elect of God”), then “Thank you” seems like less of a stretch. Personally, I’m generally NOT comfortable with anyone asking for applause. But when ministry is acknowledged as ministry, as part of the work of salvation, well, I can’t imagine what’s wrong with that bit of that mutual support “downstairs” among us servants.

    Reply
  3. John Swencki

    Two issues come to my mind: clericalism and “insiders’-self-congratulations”.
    As we know clericalism is not restricted to the ordained. In their book “Rebuilt”, authors Michael White and Tom Corcoran suggest that some parishes, when they say, “All are welcome here”, are really saying, “All are welcome to be present as we meet our needs.” It’s to easy to give the (mis)impression that he parish exists for the benefit of its employees and clergy rather than for “the people”.

    I arrived late for a meeting at a parish and, asking one staff member where everyone was, she told me, “Oh, they’re all in the church telling God what they expect of Him.” A bit harsh.. but maybe a bit true, as well. Sometimes staffs can become engrossed in themselves and go home each day feeling, “Well, we saved the church one more day”, patting each other on the back.

    I have presided at liturgies that, because of the reverence, skill and expertise of the ministers, moved me almost to tears feeling I have truly experienced Christ. If I did not thank them publicly at Mass’s end (which I have done, but rarely), I sure did so after Mass to each of them individually.

    I do believe most parish staffs try very hard to truly be servants who serve, who put their own needs aside, and I believe most of the time succeed very well. But sometimes, unwillingly and unconsciously, we run the risk of sending a wrong message.

    Reply
  4. Alan Hommerding

    I’m particularly uncomfortable that applause gets used almost exclusively for the musicians who exercise particular ministerial roles – choir, soloists, band, organist, etc. The assembly doesn’t applaud itself after they’ve given a particularly rousing rendition of the opening hymn, do they? Do they applaud the lector who REALLY conveyed the suffering of the Suffering Servant? The deacon who truly imparted the prayerfulness of each intention?
    So my concern is about an over-the-course of time mis-formation about the role and place of music and musicians in the assembly. THEY do IT for US. I have no problem when the musicians are thanked along with all the other liturgical ministers whose work has combined to empower the prayer of the community.

    Reply
  5. Norm Langenbrunner

    The whole expression of Eucharist is giving thanks — primarily to God to be sure (that is right and just), but surely there is room for a congregation to express gratitude on occasion to those who have contributed to that thanksgiving celebration. What we give to others we give to God.
    A Catholic in the rural South was asked why members of his congregation, on their way back from receiving communion, stopped at pews along the way and greeted and spoke with members of the congregation. His response: “Why that’s just the Jesus in me talking to the Jesus in you.”
    If the intention of asking for applause at the end of a Mass is to express joy and gratitude over a work (worship) well-done, then the liturgy has not become “entertainment,” but rather a recognition, as Bernanos’ priest said, “It’s all grace.”
    There are so many problems in our Church to be addressed, I cannot imagine how expressing gratitude at Mass (even letting people know that their presence is welcome) could posibly rise to the top of that agenda. Perhaps this giving thanks/applause issue is a simply a matter of taste. At any rate, thank you for allowing me to express my opinion.

    Reply
  6. Fr. Allan. McDonald

    Of course there is a lot of applause at papal Masses, including Benedict’s. His last Mass on Ash Wednesday was racous. But normally the pope is greeted with applause at both the entrance and recessional. Pope Franics also receives appaluse during his homily and I think Benedict did as well.

    In terms of recognizing people at Mass, I usually do it on Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve/Day in terms of everyone who in any way made the Liturgies so beautiful, including those who decorate. They are recognized in the bulletin too.

    I don’t encourate applause and I don’t like it when one person starts it and then everyone else knows they must join–it is manipulative. But occassionally there is applause.

    We also have a once a year dinner for all volunteers in the parish and we recongize everyone at that dinner where we serve wine and the applause is quite welcome there.

    Reply
  7. Fritz Bauerschmidt

    I don’t know why, but I really dislike being thanked in public — in any context.

    Reply
  8. Andrew rex

    I’ve always thought spontaneous applause during mass or other liturgies can be very appropriate. Here in England we are usually reserved but gracious, perhaps becoming less so with the influence of other super-cultures. Usually after baptisms, weddings, ordinations or other blessings, the congregation will clap hands without any prompting as a sign of congratulations or welcome. Mostly it occurs during a transition in the liturgy and doesn’t interrupt the flow of the rites or feel artificial or jarring. I find it very pleasing and dislike when ‘traditionally minded’ priests try to stop it by starting to pronounce a prayer or frown disapprovingly etc.

    Interestingly, the applause so common during Benedict’s liturgies (at least in the Basilicas) appears to be subsiding – it was getting so out of hand especially with people stretching out to touch him or take photos/videos with their cameras/ipads. It’s noticeable that during the entrance procession, Francis no longer tends to stop and greet people or give a blessing. It’s mostly eyes forward and staying in procession which has helped dampen down a lot of the exuberance. However he engages more with the congregation at an individual level during the recessional or during non-liturgical walkarounds in St Peter’s Square.

    One of my pet hates are priests who thank the choir etc always after every mass. I can always think of people who they have left out. On special occasions such as at the end of the Christmas or Easter liturgies, it can be appropriate and my own parish usually breaks into applause spontaneously after the final hymn or musical piece. I suppose technically that’s outside of the liturgy.

    Reply
  9. Paul Schlachter

    Occasionally I have seen a conscious attempt to entertain at liturgy, via rhetorical flourishes or Panis Angelicus solos at which the assembly is reduced to an audience. Most often I have sensed the assembly’s applauding as a way of expressing its separation from the liturgical ministers or even the liturgical act itself. Regardless, in my opinion applause has no place in our prayer together. That is why I do not join in it when it arises, but express gratitude or congratulations individually as John S. said.

    Reply
  10. Jan Larson

    The applause for the pope is due to his celebrity status. I’m inclined to think that gospel simplicity ought to preclude star power, and I’m sure Pope Francis is terribly uncomfortable with his superstar status. As for thanking people at the Sunday liturgy, I feel profound thanks are due to those common folk in the assembly who make our liturgies work – particularly thanks to that couple who has to muster all their energies to get their kids dressed and organized for their drive to church, to the countless good people who tolerate horrendous preaching, and to those people who are made to feel that they are second-class Christians because they are women, divorced, or gay or lesbian, yet faithfully join the Sunday assembly week after week. These folks are my superstars.

    Reply
    1. Dan Schulte

      @Jan Larson – comment #10:
      Your comments move me greatly. I hope you are not offended if I thank you for your sense of inclusiveness. All are welcome. Thanks!

      Reply
  11. Jordan Zarembo

    Another possibility is to thank liturgical ministers outside of Mass. This could take place at any celebratory event (church supper, birthday, anniversary, etc.) Instead of saying “Let’s thank Father for his service to our parish” before the blessing and dismissal, the entire community could be invited to a party where Father is thanked for his years as pastor.

    Reply
  12. Charles Day

    I am not a big fan of applause for ministry. We never applaud the priest, or the servers or the sacristans or the ushers. Or the extraordinary ministers. and when it comes to musicians, applause seems to put an undesirable emphasis on “performance” – when I am a Cantor, I don’t want to be perceived as a lounge singer who seeks applause. A few years ago, I was serving as cantor at one of the lesser Christmas Masses and at the end a group of folks broke out into a small amount of applause and the truth is I was a little embarrassed.

    That said, if someone approaches me as I am leaving and tells me I did a good job or that they enjoyed it I am all for that. Affirmation never hurt anyone.

    Reply
  13. Todd Flowerday

    I appreciate Fritz’s comment at #7.

    As a parish staff member, I make a point to go out of my way to thank people individually. Even if someone has done a subpar job, I will thank them. If for nothing else, for getting involved. And the gratitude there is sincere.

    If someone has done something well, I will be specific in my praise and thank them again. I make a point of making eye contact when I think someone else. On the rare occasion when I get applauded (say, if I’m on the road) I often avoid eye contact and decline any other acknowledgement. Though I’ve had to train myself to say a simple “thank you,” then change the subject. And also, I frequently get compliments for someone else’s work. In such cases, I urge a direct thank-you for the minister or volunteer.

    Lastly, I don’t get trussed up about applause. Pope Benedict missed definition number two, a general affirmation for the point made, and nothing necessarily connected to performance. When people applaud on Oprah or the Daily Show, usually it’s for agreement on a key point. As long as pastors and liturgists don’t seek it out at worship, I’m okay with the occasional spontaneous clapping.

    Reply
  14. Claire Mathieu

    “applause doesn’t necessarily disrupt worship, as Peter mentions, because it happens organically in many communities”.

    I was once in a parish with a new priest. People were a bit nervous about him and wondered what he would be like. Then after a few weeks, one Sunday in his homily, he said something in support of gay people, and, oh, what a rousing applause he got for it! Oh, the relief in that assembly! It arose “organically”, as you wrote. Far from “expressing separation”, the applause was a sign of communion of minds.

    Reply
    1. Elisabeth Ahn

      @Claire Mathieu – comment #14:

      “… the applause was a sign of communion of minds.”

      That is a lovely way to put it.

      Around here, occasionally, before the final blessing, the celebrant leads the applause to, for example, thank the the choir for their “particularly beautiful” music.

      I also don’t mind it, and have thought nothing of it.

      Reply
  15. Karl Liam Saur

    Not a fan of applause at Mass. I can still remember Ted Marier, about 30 years ago, asking the congregation to cease applauding the boys’ choir at the end of the Masses at which it sang. As a spontaneous acclamatio, “Amen” is less likely to be equivocal than applause in our culture. Applauding liturgical ministers has too much of the quality of treating them like a cast in a production. Hold the applause for an appreciation event outside of Mass.

    Reply
  16. Jack Rakosky

    The primary responsibility for calling forth the gifts of people in the parish rests with the pastor, and therefore it is his primary responsibility to recognize and be thankful for those gifts on behalf of the parish.

    In most parishes, the parish bulletin is probably the best place for doing this. Some pastors are particularly good at expressing and giving thanks for all the wonder things and wonderful people there are in the parish. The bulletin allows for giving a well- rounded view of the parish so that particular ministries are not left out. It allows people to accept praise and thanksgiving in the context of whole parish rather than being singled out.

    Mass time is not a particularly appropriate time for doing this. It tends to bias the ministries and people who are singled out, and embarrasses many people. It is also inappropriate for the pastor, or other ministers to ask the people to applaud people whom the pastor directly or indirectly has largely chosen. It is just one step removed from saying “am I not a great pastor”

    The reality of the world of parish voluntarism is that the people who volunteer are largely selected by the pastor and pastoral staff that the pastor has chosen. Parishes and ministries are often dominated by individuals and cliques who complain that they do all the work. That usually happens because they are unwilling to let other talented people come in and take charge. Sometimes they are in their positions only because a pastor or pastoral staff member “trusts” them and has become totally dependent upon their reliability. When pastoral staff ask people to applaud they are really asking them to buy into the social world which the pastoral staff has constructed.

    The pastor and staff should be thankful for all the people who have helped them in parish ministry. However the parish is sociologically more like a religious business (non-profit corporation) than a real community in which people know everyone well, e.g. not only their families but their occupations. My pastor and the people in my parish knew very little about what I did in the public mental health system even though it was the primary locus of my being a Christian for several decades.

    Music ministry merits a very limited exception to a no applause rule. In my experience parishes often spontaneously applaud at the end of the Easter Vigil Mass or the end of Midnight Mass. Often this is to a finale like the Hallelujah chorus (even if everyone who knows it by heart is invited to join). It is clearly using a musical convention to generally affirm the musicians of the parish for their musical leadership. It comes a lot from the psychology of a finale. It has little to do with evaluation. It is neither recognition of individual musicians nor a specific performance. We don’t applaud until the choir does an encore, or single out the choir director or individual soloists.

    Reply
  17. John Swencki

    I can’t remember whose funeral it was —a priest’s— maybe even Paul VI…. but it was the first time I had witnessed applause at a funeral, as the casket was being taken out. At first it took me aback (“My God, they’re happy he’s gone!!”), but then I realised it was a spontaneous, sincere heartfelt expression of appreciation and affection. And it seemed very appropriate. I loved the ovation Benedict received on Ash Wednesday. The poor man heard lots of criticism during his priestly life, and he has just a much a human need for affirmation as any of us. I felt good for him (especially when the bishops all removed their mitres.)
    There are times when you just gotta let these things happen; otherwise you run the risk of the rocks and stones themselves starting to sing.

    Reply
  18. George Hayhoe

    As a PIP, I always make it a point to thank the rector or guest preacher for the insights that he or she shared in the sermon, especially when the text was difficult or obscure.

    As a verger (like a master of ceremonies for those unfamiliar with Anglican/Episcopal liturgy), I always thank the acolytes, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, and other ministers for their contributions to our worship experience after the service.

    A little applause now and then doesn’t bother me. I’m particularly moved by the greeting of the newly baptized and the newly married couple by our parish community. And we’ve been known to erupt in spontaneous applause after a particularly rousing hymn. Not a bad thing, in my opinion.

    Reply
  19. Peter Rehwaldt

    One other note on applause. In the Lutheran rite of installation of a new pastor or bishop, the rubrics explicitly invite applause when the rite is complete, as a part of the assembly’s welcome of the new leader into his or her new role.

    As the master of ceremonies at the installation of our new bishop two weeks ago, I was facing the assembly when this took place, and so could view the assembly as they applauded. The joy that was visible on their faces as they clapped was truly a thing of beauty. For the new bishop, the applause was a kind of audible-but-non-verbal prayer of support — something any new bishop needs.

    Reply
  20. Chuck Middendorf

    The person doing the announcements at our parish just does a generic “thank you to everyone for worshipping with us this morning/evening.” I’ve felt that it includes presider, preacher, EMHC, lector, usher, greeter, lector, server, etc. as well as the person in the pew who visited us for the first time and prayed in silence. That usually takes care of all of it, for everyone.

    Regarding applause: for 3 years I was fortunate to be employed at a predominately African American Catholic church. When the choir applauded after a song, I think it would be obvious they weren’t applauding for themselves. I know it threw some visitors for a loop (including the former Director of Liturgy for our diocese), but if you worshipped with the community for more than 1 week, you wouldn’t need an explanation.

    Reply
  21. Ann Olivier

    It seems that applause is highly ambiguous. Perhaps we need a greater variety of physical symbols for the various meanings the community wishes to convey.

    Reply
  22. Ann Olivier

    After reviewing the varied meanings of applause above, it seems to me that there really is one common thread in all of them — applause always seems to mean, “Yay, yay, yay!”

    Don’t ask me to define “yay”, but i’m sure the meaning is extremely important.

    Reply
  23. Fritz Bauerschmidt

    Though I don’t like being publicly thanked (particularly if the person thanking me goes on at length), I’m not too troubled by applause in Church, since in our culture it’s simply a way of, as Ann put it, saying “yay!.” I don’t like applauding musicians or preachers, since that smacks too much of either a performance or a stump speech. But I always invite the assembly to applaud the bride and groom at the end of a wedding ceremony — obviously not as a way of saying “good job” to them but simply as the culturally appropriate way of saying “yay!”

    Reply
  24. Steven Surrency

    Just want to point out that the original post seems to set up a bit of a straw man. Benedict wasn’t talking in this instance about any applause during the liturgy, but about applause because of a human accomplishment. I agree with him that a musical “performance” that invites applause might be indicative of a misplaced emphasis. However, applause after an ordination or a baptism, for instance, are not instances of such misplaced emphasis.

    Reply
    1. Andrew rex

      @Steven Surrency – comment #26:
      I agree but these appropriate times for applause are often criticised by some using Ratzinger / Benedict’s comments as justification!

      Reply
  25. Andrea Duda

    Charles Day : I am not a big fan of applause for ministry. We never applaud the priest, or the servers or the sacristans or the ushers.

    I remember thinking one day when the priest asked for applause for the choir, “why don’t we applaud the lectors or the altar servers?” The next thing I knew he asked for applause for the lectors, servers, extraordinary ministers, environment committee, and everyone else he could think of. Fortunately that happened only once. 🙂

    Reply
  26. John Kohanski

    The leadership at my parish hosts a reception each January as a thank you for all those who served in any capacity over the year. In our weekly cycle of prayer, different parish groups, guilds, or classes of people are remembered and prayed for throughout that week. Mention is made in the bulletin at Christmas and the Paschal feast, or other special occasions for extraordinary service by groups as well.

    Another option could be sending a greeting from the parish and signed by the pastor on the birthday of each of those who serve, (or were baptized, confirmed, married, etc.). A little more work for this one, but I think it would be appreciated. There really is no need to interrupt Mass with lauds and applause when other thoughtful options for thanks and recognition are available and worthy. Psalm 47 exhorts us to clap our hands and shout with joy, but to God. Unfortunately all the clapping I’ve ever heard in church has nothing to do with the worship of God. When it does, then I’ll clap in church too.

    Reply
  27. Claire Mathieu

    John, surely you’ve heard some clapping in rhythm that goes with some modern hymns of praise – and then, what is it about if not worship of God? That would be the occasion!

    Reply
  28. John Kohanski

    Claire, Sure, I’ve seen worship bands performing songs for services with people clapping and swaying etc. on TV and You Tube videos, but have never experienced it live. And I agree it would be the occasion if I belonged to a community such as that. As I said my experience with clapping in church has been non-liturgical, clapping for someone, or about something. That’s not worship.

    Reply
  29. Jim McKay

    It is not worship. It is thanksgiving.

    Reply

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