Congregation holding out hands for blessings

[Holland]

I’m going to add a little humor to this. As a person who returned to the Church after a very long absence I was really confused by all the hand movements the congregration was doing during Mass. I do not do the particular movement in question as it reminds me of “Heil Hitler” in all the old German news films. On a serious note, if asked, most people extending their hands during a blessing, would probably say they are participating in the blessing, helping the priest bless the person or group, which is not a good thing. That is probably the biggest reason why it shouldn’t be done. In a Catholic Faith were there seems to be a lot of confusion adding one more thing to be confused about is not a good thing.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The orans position is a priestly gesture. I suspect that its use during the Lord’s Prayer originates from someone wanting to make a statement about the “priesthood of all believers” or some such.

As I recall it was introduced by the USCCB to eliminate the hand holding. At the last minute they wisely removed it from their request to Rome to validate a number of adaptations they wanted. It seems a case of the cure being worse than the disease. While the directions are silent on hand holding, they definitely prohibit the copying of those gestures prescribed for the celebrant.

 

[John_Lilburne]

I concur. The liturgical books are prescriptive rather than proscriptive. That is to say they inform us what is to be done, not what is not to be done. If it’s not in the book, don’t do it. Do the red, say the black and all will be well.

AMDG
jsa

I agree with this. But I see many people make the Sign of the Cross at the end of Mass, blessing themselves, when the book does not direct this.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“167. Then the priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying,* Dominus vobiscum (The Lord be with you)*. They answer, Et cum spiritu tuo (And also with you). The priest, joining his hands again and then immediately placing his left hand on his breast, raises his right hand and adds, Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus (May Almighty God Bless you) and, as he makes the Sign of the Cross over the people, continues, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus (the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit). All answer, Amen.
On certain days and occasions this blessing, in accordance with the rubrics, is expanded and expressed by a prayer over the People or another more solemn formula.
A Bishop blesses the people with the appropriate formula, making the Sign of the Cross three times over the people.99”

Only the priest is directed to make the Sign of the Cross for this blessing at the end of Mass. The bishop is directed to do it thrice. The people are not told to do it once or thrice.

There should be: “A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together” (GIRM 275(a)). This is not limited to the priest, so everyone should do it, every time the three Divine Persons are n are named together in Mass.

At the end of Mass the priest should not say “May almighty God bless us …”. It should be “May almighty God bless you …”. A lay person leading a ceremony is directed to say “bless us”.

But at the same time, not everyone should be making the Sign of the Cross at the end of Mass with the priest. They should be just bowing their heads and receiving the blessing. Everyone blessing themselves tends to encourage this thinking that leads to this problem of everyone being asked to raise their hands for the prayer of exorcism.

 

[Elizium23]

John, thank you for your revelations concerning the GIRM. I was not aware of these occasions to bow, and I was not aware that it is an error to make the sign of the cross at the blessing. I have vowed to read the GIRM more closely in the days to come and make all the corrections necessary in my practice at the Mass.

 

[japhy]

I agree with this. But I see many people make the Sign of the Cross at the end of Mass, blessing themselves, when the book does not direct this.

I was not aware that it is an error to make the sign of the cross at the blessing.

This might actually be one of those unwritten liturgical traditions. Or, perhaps there is a general rule that whenever a priest blesses a person with the Sign of the Cross, it is permissible for that person to trace the Sign on themselves as well?

 

[roadsend]

…
Is it any different when we hold up our hands during the “Our Father”?
…

I don’t see any difference.
But,
Where in the rubrics does it say that we should be holding up our hands during the Our Father?
If you are referring to the Orans Posture, this gesture is prescribed for the celebrant, not the congregation IIRC.
If I am mistaken, please tell me where I can find any kind of authoritative instruction to the contrary.

 

[Palaeologos]

This might actually be one of those unwritten liturgical traditions. Or, perhaps there is a general rule that whenever a priest blesses a person with the Sign of the Cross, it is permissible for that person to trace the Sign on themselves as well?

The universality of the custom suggests that this is being taken for granted. I was brought up to believe that when a clerical gentleman is making a cruciform gesture at you, it’s at least polite to make the Sign; but perhaps times have changed.