Are the faithful permitted to raise their hands at Mass?

[dmelosi]

I am having trouble posting, 4th time for this post, not showing up.

The question was…What does the church think of parishioners raising their hands with the priest? Isn’t this a protestant tradition?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Ok Dave,

The fourth time is the charm. Yours is the first question to be answered on the Forum in 2005! The General Instruction of the Roman Missal does not proscribe the raising of hands by the faithful at Mass. It does proscribe such at certain times by the priest.

In certain dioceses the bishop has ordered the faithful to raise their hands during the “Our Father” in an effort to break the habit of their joining each other’s hands for that prayer.

Protestants do not have a corner on the gesture. When Benedictine Monks make their profession of vows, they raise their hands in such a way—and have done so long before Luther ever came on the scene.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.