Do you like holding hands during the Our Father at Mass?

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benedictgal said:
As I said before, hand-holding during the Pater Noster (and swaying, for that matter) is not in the GIRM. If only people would do the red and read the black and not invent rubrics just to suit their own idiosyncracies and personal tastes.
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Benedict Gal, I tend to agree with much of what you say, but as far as I’m aware, the GIRM doesn’t say anything at all about what posture the laity should take during the Pater Noster. I agree that priests shouldn’t take it upon themselves to mandate it and, in that sense, insert something into the Mass that isn’t there. But since the GIRM is silent on the posture of the laity, isn’t there room for people to hold hands or not if they choose to do so?

One could argue that since it is not in the GIRM, you shouldn’t do it. But, by that same logic, one could say that the faithful shouldn’t put their hands together in prayer, as it does not mention that either.

I’m not trying to be argumentative, but I’m interested to hear your explanation of this. 👍
 
Joe_5859 said:
Benedict Gal, I tend to agree with much of what you say, but as far as I’m aware, the GIRM doesn’t say anything at all about what posture the laity should take during the Pater Noster. I agree that priests shouldn’t take it upon themselves to mandate it and, in that sense, insert something into the Mass that isn’t there. But since the GIRM is silent on the posture of the laity, isn’t there room for people to hold hands or not if they choose to do so?

One could argue that since it is not in the GIRM, you shouldn’t do it. But, by that same logic, one could say that the faithful shouldn’t put their hands together in prayer, as it does not mention that either.

I’m not trying to be argumentative, but I’m interested to hear your explanation of this. 👍
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I guess this is what happens when I post at night, while watching QVC. 😃

My comment simply concerned the fact that if this particular posture isn’t in the GIRM, then it is not something that needs to be done. Now, there is guidance for the faithful as far as when to sit, stand and kneel. But, it says nothing about the position of one’s hands.

The bone of contention here is that there are many of us who do not want to hold hands during the Pater Noster and should not be obligated, or, in my case, literally manhandled, to do so. Nor, as you rightly stated, should the priest insert his own personal taste and idiosyncracy into the Mass by telling the faithful to hold hands during the Pater Noster. When we start acting on our own so-called authority and impose things into the Holy Sacrifice that have no business being there, then problems arise.
 
benedictgal said:
I guess this is what happens when I post at night, while watching QVC. 😃

My comment simply concerned the fact that if this particular posture isn’t in the GIRM, then it is not something that needs to be done. Now, there is guidance for the faithful as far as when to sit, stand and kneel. But, it says nothing about the position of one’s hands.

The bone of contention here is that there are many of us who do not want to hold hands during the Pater Noster and should not be obligated, or, in my case, literally manhandled, to do so. Nor, as you rightly stated, should the priest insert his own personal taste and idiosyncracy into the Mass by telling the faithful to hold hands during the Pater Noster. When we start acting on our own so-called authority and impose things into the Holy Sacrifice that have no business being there, then problems arise.
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Gotcha! Thanks! 👍 Hope you found something nice on QVC! 😃
 
Benedictgal,

I’m quite new here. What does GIRM stand for? Where can I get one?

Short bio: I’m a cradle Catholic who had a long unfortunate sojourn away from the church from 18 til about 40. My wife went through RCIA and joined the church last Easter. I attended RCIA with her, but our parish priest is extremely liberal, and he packed the catechists that way, too. RCIA was all about feelings and nothing is really a sin and how suicide bombers go to heaven because they’re following their consciences and all - more like a hazing initiation than an informative one.

Where are all the good, theologically sound, traditional resouces (books, websites, etc) I can go to to relearn my faith?

Thanks!
 
Weetabix said:
Benedictgal,

I’m quite new here. What does GIRM stand for? Where can I get one?

Short bio: I’m a cradle Catholic who had a long unfortunate sojourn away from the church from 18 til about 40. My wife went through RCIA and joined the church last Easter. I attended RCIA with her, but our parish priest is extremely liberal, and he packed the catechists that way, too. RCIA was all about feelings and nothing is really a sin and how suicide bombers go to heaven because they’re following their consciences and all - more like a hazing initiation than an informative one.

Where are all the good, theologically sound, traditional resouces (books, websites, etc) I can go to to relearn my faith?

Thanks!
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The GIRM stands for the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. The one that we are using, at least for the Novus Ordo or Ordinary Form of the Mass was issued in 2000, with the English translation used by the United States coming out in, I think, 2002-03.

Actually, the first thing to do is get hold of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the big chunky one (which is the complete version) or the Compendium (looks more like our old Baltimore Catechism). The Catholic Answers website is pretty good, as is the EWTN site (www.ewtn.com)). I would also try to read some of Pope Benedict’s books such as God is Near (on the Eucharist) and his writings on the Mass. Ignatius Press has most of all of his books because they are his American publisher.

And, welcome aboard!
 
Interesting. I just found this thread. I’m honored to have inspired such a tell-tale thread.

Now, if we could only get parishes to do this.

I know, have parish websites do a weekly poll for parishioners to “give feedback”. Slip this question in one week and see what happens.
 
Windmill said:
Interesting. I just found this thread. I’m honored to have inspired such a tell-tale thread.

Now, if we could only get parishes to do this.

I know, have parish websites do a weekly poll for parishioners to “give feedback”. Slip this question in one week and see what happens.
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There’s an intereseting idea! A weekly poll that parishioners can respond to and drop in the collection basket (or in anohter basket on their way out of Mass). That could actually be quite helpful for the priest in many different areas. Plus, if it’s a regular thing, no one will feel unjustly targeted as they might if it was a one-time, one-question poll.
 
Joe_5859 said:
There’s an intereseting idea! A weekly poll that parishioners can respond to and drop in the collection basket (or in anohter basket on their way out of Mass). That could actually be quite helpful for the priest in many different areas. Plus, if it’s a regular thing, no one will feel unjustly targeted as they might if it was a one-time, one-question poll.
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A write-in type of arrangement would be too much of a hassle as far as tallying and reporting the results. A less work-intensive solution would be to have the parish website post a weekly poll on the website for parishioners to give feedback on. It would be much like the poll on this thread. That way, the server does all the tallying and reporting. AND, everyone sees the feedback.
 
:twocents: I personally dislike holding hands during the Our Father, but that is mostly because I come from a Pentecostal background – the Assemblies of God – and holding hands during group prayer is not uncommon with them. I am also fairly reserved, so that contributes to my dislike as well. However, I believe the motive behind the holding hands is perfectly fine, and if others want to, I can respect that. 🙂
 
Windmill said:
A write-in type of arrangement would be too much of a hassle as far as tallying and reporting the results. A less work-intensive solution would be to have the parish website post a weekly poll on the website for parishioners to give feedback on. It would be much like the poll on this thread. That way, the server does all the tallying and reporting. AND, everyone sees the feedback.
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Even better! Of course, this only works if your parish actually has a website and people actually visit it regularly! 😉
 
When it comes down to it, I have three things to say:
  1. If you want to hold hands with someone, make sure you have their assent.
  2. I don’t want to hold your hand.
  3. No priest has the right to “invite” us to hold hands before the Our Father.
 
anamchara said:
Oh here we go again 😃 :whacky: How funny, reading this poll you sure get an idea of what Catholics hang out in here! :eek: 😛

I’ve decided whenever someone doesn’t want to hold my hand, I’ll just smile and say that’s ok and give them a hug :hug1: “yo dude, I respect your right and space” 😛

I actually picked, it doesn’t matter one way or other. I do like holding hands but only if the guy is really cute…:eek: jk. I can’t take the poll seriously. 😊
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Then don’t answer the poll. This is a serious issue and I thought you were serious when you said you hug someone if they refuse. That is horribly disrespectful of Jesus and of anyone you do it to.

I don’t hold hands because we are not united with our brothers and sisters by holding hands. We are already fully united in the Eucharist. It isn’t necessary and often times it is distracting.
 
japhy said:
When it comes down to it, I have three things to say:
  1. If you want to hold hands with someone, make sure you have their assent.
  2. I don’t want to hold your hand.
  3. No priest has the right to “invite” us to hold hands before the Our Father.
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LOL!!!

You forgot:
  1. If you’re sick or pick your nose without a Kleenex, don’t hold anyone’s hand.
 
Where I go to church, there are a few very short pews where only one person can sit. They are right beside a pillar. I always sit there since there, no one can hold my hand. I hate holding hands with the white hot hate of a googleplex of suns. Father never asks us to hold hands, but there are always a few touchy feeeeeely types who want to.

I’m not unfriendly, really. But I hate to hold hands in church more than I can express.
 
I hate this and I hate that, the list in this forum never ends.

I wonder if the hymn will ever ring true here; “and they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” :rolleyes:

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
I hate this and I hate that, the list in this forum never ends.

I wonder if the hymn will ever ring true here; “and they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” :rolleyes:

Jim
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We love to pray the Our Father without holding hands?
🙂
 
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