A different Our Father hand holding question

[Corki]

I’m a bit unclear about your question. Does it really matter what you do with the other hand?

No, it matters not at whit. It just took me by surprize and I felt awkward. I was hoping someone would give some constuctive advice with out disolving into another hand holding thread.

You did the right thing. And, btw, I just put my other hand on the rail of the pew in front of me.

We don’t have pews or that would be a good choice. Thanks.

 

[THurifer2]

Actually the problem is with you and that is lost on a great many.

Let’s review what you typed:

If someone is grabbing you or incessantly tapping on you that’s one thing, but to be driven bonkers by the sight of people holding hands or employing the oran positions is squarely on YOU, not them.

I will pray for you to come to the understanding of what a hyperbole is… Perhaps you could pray for me to stop using hyperboles in case of the potentially limited discernment others may demonstrate when they are used?

 

[THurifer2]

Do you realize that problem is with you and not the hand-holders?

TO remedy my problem what do you suggest?

Who is wrong the person refusing to hold hands or the person prying to hold hands?

Which one would be closer to assault? The person staying away or the person attempting to touch a part of a persons body they don’t want to be touched?

We don’t do the KumBYA hand holding in our parish. I am glad we don’t.

 

[THurifer2]

Since no position is prescribed does that mean I can stand on my head during the Our Father?

JUST KIDDING! I dont have a dog in this hunt.

No it is a perfectly good point. What if I want to stick my thumbs in my ears and flap my fingers during the Lord’s prayer.

Its perfectly acceptable because the USCCB has not forbidden it.

It makes me feel closer in spirit (the spirit of VII no doubt) to do this practice.
What you say its distracting? Oh whats that?..it drives you bonkers…YOU have a problem then don’t you!!

 

[ibkc]

TO remedy my problem what do you suggest?

Who is wrong the person refusing to hold hands or the person prying to hold hands?

Which one would be closer to assault? The person staying away or the person attempting to touch a part of a persons body they don’t want to be touched?

In addition to this situation, another problem with the hand-holding comes when someone winds up missing half the prayer because they are swiveling around looking for a hand to grab. Again here, I find it ridiculous to suggest that the person who advocates not holding hands at all is the one with the problem.

 

[estesbob]

TO remedy my problem what do you suggest?

Who is wrong the person refusing to hold hands or the person prying to hold hands?

Which one would be closer to assault? The person staying away or the person attempting to touch a part of a persons body they don’t want to be touched?

We don’t do the KumBYA hand holding in our parish. I am glad we don’t.

This subject seems to drive many people bonkers.! I was once told quite seriously that I was going to go to hell for holding hands at the our father. And now somebody jumping all over you because of an innocent use of hyperbole. This kind of stuff drives me stark raving mad!

 

[porthos11]

Bonkers indeed. Anyway, I’ve given my piece regarding hand-holding. I am of the opinion that hand-holding is NOT a proper gesture during Mass according to the principle of “lex orandi, lex credendi”. Holding hands at the Lord’s prayer emphasizes the right thing, but at the wrong time and makes the faithful forget the right time at which to emphasize the right thing.

But as for the orans by the laity, it is prohibited by the Holy See, in the 1997 “Instruction on Collaboration”, which says,

“Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant.” (Art. 6 sec. 2). This includes orans (which is now prescribed for the priest, not for anyone else by the rubrics), and the “backatcha” gesture.

A solution to this problem (hand-holding and orans by the laity), is for the Holy See to amend the rubrics and have the priest fold his hands during the Lord’s Prayer. The present prescribed orans by the priest is a carryover from the time when the Lord’s Prayer was said by the priest alone (in which case it was a presidential prayer). Since under the present rite it is now a common prayer, the priest really should not do orans anymore. But this requires the Holy See’s approval.