What gets my goat is the intrusion of laughter and/or applause, which for me completely interrupts the liturgy. And those are instigated by the celebrant either as jokes during the homily, or as congratulations of some person or group.
Then there’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day: “Would all mothers please stand?” (applause) or, “Would all fathers please stand?” (applause).
We couples not so blessed remain glued to our seats.
And of course the Sign of Peace where the Mass grinds to a halt while people shake hands, hug, wave, and nowadays whip out the Purell. Recently a pandemic was raging & the celebrant told us to “wai” to each other (hands together & bow Hindu/Buddhist style).
Topped off with liturgical music accompanied by guitars & tambourines.
The applause thing is one of my pet peeves. Now at Mass someone in the congregation is applauding the homily and others follow suit. I refuse to participate in any applause at Mass.
Oh, I know what you mean. And how about applauding the musicians or singers? Fortunately, this does not happen in my church, but I have visited some where it does occur.
Don’t get me started on the stupid “Sign of Peace”. I still do not understand the meaning of it. If I am expected to give such a sign to those around me, wouldn’t it make much more sense to do so at the beginning of the Mass, or when I first enter? Dumb and disrespectful of the Mass, IMO.
Even when it's not, the music chosen seems designed to appeal to 10-year-old girls. It's a shame.
That is most unfortunate. In the Maronite Catholic Church, the Sign of Peace is quite different. The priest kisses the alter, places his hands on the chalice, then passes God's peace to an acolyte, who then gives it to two children standing just beyond the sanctuary. They "carry" the peace to the first person in each pew and it passes down the pews from there. There is no hand pumping, no back slapping and its exchange is limited to those in the pew. Very rich and respectful, indeed!