Folding Hands

[brian24]

I’m curious. Is there a way we are supposed to fold our hands? When I had a nun in first grade, we always folded our hands palms together as such

http://afteramerica.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/prayer-hands.jpg

As time went on of course, it’s easier to fold hands with fingers interlocking like this



I know it isn’t all-important. I’m just curious if one of these is sanctioned. It just seems like it takes more to do it the first way, since you have to hold your hands together, where your fingers hold your hands together in the second form.

 

[Dan_Daly]

Good topic for a post, and one I’ve been thinking about over the past year. I too have fallen into the “easier” interlocked fingers position most of my life. It does take more effort and attention to fold them the other way, which I think is part of the point of praying like that. Our physical posture can reflect our mental and spiritual ones. So for times of specially focused prayer such as receiving the Eucharist, praying the Angelus, and morning and evening prayers, I’m working on building the habit of maintaing the non-interlocked folded hands.

At the same time, we should be praying throughout the whole day. Folded hands aren’t required to pray, and not every prayer comes from a formal praying position.

So I guess my personal reflection on the topic could be summed up with the saying “if you are going to do it, do it right”.

Pax

 

[Christine85]

Hi, I think about this a lot myself. I was taught when I was younger that we are to do it the first way in front of our chest (heart)
I sometimes do that, eg when praying the Our Father in Mass.I agree with the first reply that it takes more effort to do it the first way. But I think that could be the good thing about it , is that we are making an effort to get ourself in the mode of prayer.
I see the first way as a more proper way to have our hands, the second way is more casual and relaxed.

 

[odile53]

A lot of adults can’t hyperflex their wrists to assume the first position, and it’s tiring for the shoulders. I’d go with a more comfortable prayer posture, to avoid having the more formal posture be a distraction to my thoughts and prayers if I had a problem with wrist flexibility. I’ve never heard anything where one posture was prescribed, other than in Catholic grade school in the late 1960’s, where Sister St. Anthony, God rest her soul, said the second position looked lazy. She (Sister) was pretty much my liturgical “authority,” in my own mind, anyways, for the better part of my life.

Either position looks better than the orans position (which I secretly refer to as the “priest wannabe position.”)

 

[figs]

A lot of adults can’t hyperflex their wrists to assume the first position, and it’s tiring for the shoulders. I’d go with a more comfortable prayer posture, to avoid having the more formal posture be a distraction to my thoughts and prayers if I had a problem with wrist flexibility. I’ve never heard anything where one posture was prescribed, other than in Catholic grade school in the late 1960’s, where Sister St. Anthony, God rest her soul, said the second position looked lazy. She (Sister) was pretty much my liturgical “authority,” in my own mind, anyways, for the better part of my life.

Either position looks better than the orans position (which I secretly refer to as the “priest wannabe position.”)

I agree with what you said, except mine was Sr. Celeste :nun1:. lol She must have graduated from the same ‘Nun school’ lol I can still hear her lecture about proper posture for prayer.
I use both styles and even ocasionally bow my face into my hands. But NO orans :tsktsk:

 

[Agape_Thom]

Worrying about the position of your hands is a waste of time, effort and purpose. If you are concentrating on this you are not concentrating on your prayer(s). God does not care what position your hands are in…He care s about your heart.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Hi, I think about this a lot myself. I was taught when I was younger that we are to do it the first way in front of our chest (heart)
I sometimes do that, eg when praying the Our Father in Mass.I agree with the first reply that it takes more effort to do it the first way. But I think that could be the good thing about it , is that we are making an effort to get ourself in the mode of prayer.
I see the first way as a more proper way to have our hands, the second way is more casual and relaxed.

As you get older and develop such things as arthritis, you will not find this position more casual and relaxed. You will find it to be rather painful at times, because one’s fingers become stiff and painful when bent, and it may be hard to unlock them.

The first position may become desirable out of necessity, and according to the age my teachers were when they taught me how to fold my hands, I suspect that was the reason many times for preferring it.

In other words, things are not always as they seem, one position is not necessarily more pious than the other.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Worrying about the position of your hands is a waste of time, effort and purpose. If you are concentrating on this you are not concentrating on your prayer(s). God does not care what position your hands are in…He care s about your heart.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I really don’t think God cares, as long as the prayer is sincere.

And I happen to love the Orans position, an ancient and venerable prayer posture.

 

[JohnnyK]

A while ago I went with the first picture above, as we did as a child. I find it feels morereverent to me. But as long as we are praying fervently, not sure it matters.

 

[catholictiger]

I’m curious. Is there a way we are supposed to fold our hands? When I had a nun in first grade, we always folded our hands palms together as such

http://afteramerica.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/prayer-hands.jpg

As time went on of course, it’s easier to fold hands with fingers interlocking like this

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2Ks_Im1Ni...0/Jesus_Prayer_Hands_Bacjgrouds_Wallpaper.jpg

I know it isn’t all-important. I’m just curious if one of these is sanctioned. It just seems like it takes more to do it the first way, since you have to hold your hands together, where your fingers hold your hands together in the second form.

the roman missal says nothing as how to fold your hands, I say do whatever you are most comfy with you don’t want to do something that may be more “pius” but keeps you distracted from the mystery that happens in the mass.

 

[asia53]

I overheard Father M instructing the new altar servers the other day. He said, “Remember when you fold your hands–fingers pointing to heaven.”

It’s the first position for our new altar servers.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

I always pray like your pic number 2. It was supposed to symbolize something like how we are connected with God when we pray. And thinking more about it it can show our communion with the saints and God. Of course, praying with fingers toward heaven isn’t bad either and might be more traditional. I’m not entirely sure. Just do whatever seems best to you.

 

[zab]

I overheard Father M instructing the new altar servers the other day. He said, "Remember when you fold your hands–fingers pointing to heaven."

It’s the first position for our new altar servers.

This is what I remember hearing as well, from my grade school teaching Sisters. I use both positions pictured. I don’t worry about it, but I do make an effort at times “to point my fingers to heaven”, For example, when walking in line to receive Communion, my hands are folded with fingers crosses, then as part of the reverence shown when receiving Communion, my hands are folded fingers pointing up.

 

[jonbhorton]

And are we allowed to pick absentmindedly pick a few heads of wheat on the sabbath as we walk, and if so, with what fingers and what prayers should we say?

And how should one properly make the Sign of the Cross on themselves? 2, 3 all 5 fingers? Should we kiss the hand and double back over the transverse “beam”?

And if one is not rigid during Adoration Hour, and chooses to sit in the pew and read and reflect on Our Lord sporadically from the seat than the knees, do they benefit any more than the one who makes no effort of a show and realizes that Jesus is on the altar and present in the midst of us if just 2 are there for HIM?

Walk right into the Protestant trap of “see! see! told ya so!” why don’t ya.

FWIW, I use 3 hand positions depending on body position. I can’t speak for anyone else, but, the more earnestly I pray the more I clasp my fingers without even realizing it. White knuckles sometimes.

What brings you closest to a state of prayer? If one over worried about certain things as personal as personal prayer, I gotta wonder if they even “get it”.

I direct this at no one but who would accept the charge, for they charge themselves.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I thought some of you would like to read The Nine Ways of Prayer of St Dominic.

I love the 9th way!

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

OUR FATHER, Saint Dominic, observed this mode of prayer while traveling from one country to another, especially when he passed through some deserted region. He then delighted in giving himself completely to meditation, disposing for contemplation, and he would say to his companion on the journey: It is written in Osee “I will lead her (my spouse) into the wilderness and I will speak to her ear” (Osee 2:14). Parting from his companion, he would go on ahead or, more frequently, follow at some distance. Thus withdrawn, he would walk and pray; in his meditation he was inflamed and the fire of charity was enkindled. While he prayed it appeared as if he were brushing dust or bothersome flies from his face when he repeatedly fortified himself with the Sign of the Cross.

The brethren thought that it was while praying in this way that the saint obtained his extensive penetration of Sacred Scripture and profound understanding of the divine words, the power to preach so fervently and courageously, and that intimate acquaintance with the Holy Spirit by which he came to know the hidden things of God.

Note that Osee is Hosea.

 

[brian24]

Worrying about the position of your hands is a waste of time, effort and purpose. If you are concentrating on this you are not concentrating on your prayer(s). God does not care what position your hands are in…He care s about your heart.

I do agree, and that is why I said it isn’t all-important. It is just something I wondered about last night while not praying.

I did ask the priest today after mass today, before I had a chance to come check these posts, and he said the official position is hands folded palms together like the first picture, hands pointed upward. And whether the roman missal says it or not, I’ll take what they teach at the seminary, maybe an unwritten tradition, over something that happens to be missing from the missal. He said that during the our father, the concelebrant (Priest not actually leading the mass) should fold his hands like that during the our father, not with his arms out. Servers also should fold their hands like that.

It’s not like I ever “worried” about doing something the right way, and it never takes away from my prayer. But wanting to know if there is an official way is not a waste of time.

 

[jonbhorton]

Splag-

Excellent resource.

Prayer is the end-all-be-all in the daily life and spiritual health.

It has been more time than I wish that I have gone into the woods, and for this I suffer, for those times are when, alone or with another of similar mindset, I truly remove myself from world and can be open to God. I despise the city. I love the Mass, and the parish. Anything outside the walls of that drives me back inside.

St. Dominic’s 9th way is one which truly is available everywhere. It is probably the most ignored and I wonder if the ease of technology reduces its effect.

I can only imagine the benefits of walking to Mass, as every step and heavy breath (uphill both ways in the snow!) would be a prayer unto God. I don’t know how prayerful it is to start the car and turn on the radio. A financial sacrifice for some, for sure, but for most? Nah.

Instead of hand positioning, lets focus on doing what we can and should within the systems we have at our disposal.

Interlocked, straight out, or just reflecting on God’s love while shedding a few calories, it’s all good- or it’s all bad depending.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I really don’t think God cares, as long as the prayer is sincere.

And I happen to love the Orans position, an ancient and venerable prayer posture.

The orans is a venerable prayer posture, but I would like to point out that its appropriateness at mass is highly questionable at best. I am not responding to you because you do it at mas–after all, you didn’t say that, and I am not implying you are–but I am responding to you only to clarify for later readers.

There exists a 1997 document of the Holy See signed by eight dicasteries, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, called Ecclesia de mysterio.

Article 6 paragraph 2 states:

To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of canon 907 are to be eradicated. In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity.

The bold is mine. Since the Roman Missal is clear in that it only commands priests (and bishops, obviously) to raise their hands in the orans posture and mentions no one else, not even deacons, it seems then that according to Ecclesia de mysterio that it is improper and perhaps even a grave abuse for the lay faithful to assume the orans posture at mass.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

Splag-

Excellent resource.

Prayer is the end-all-be-all in the daily life and spiritual health.

It has been more time than I wish that I have gone into the woods, and for this I suffer, for those times are when, alone or with another of similar mindset, I truly remove myself from world and can be open to God. I despise the city. I love the Mass, and the parish. Anything outside the walls of that drives me back inside.

St. Dominic’s 9th way is one which truly is available everywhere. It is probably the most ignored and I wonder if the ease of technology reduces its effect.

I can only imagine the benefits of walking to Mass, as every step and heavy breath (uphill both ways in the snow!) would be a prayer unto God. I don’t know how prayerful it is to start the car and turn on the radio. A financial sacrifice for some, for sure, but for most? Nah.

Instead of hand positioning, lets focus on doing what we can and should within the systems we have at our disposal.

Interlocked, straight out, or just reflecting on God’s love while shedding a few calories, it’s all good- or it’s all bad depending.

I’ve thought about walking to Mass as well, but I think St Dominic’s Ninth Way can be used broadly – car, train, bus, bike, plane, etc.

 

[figs]

St. Dominic’s 9th way is one which truly is available everywhere. It is probably the most ignored and I wonder if the ease of technology reduces its effect.

I can only imagine the benefits of walking to Mass, as every step and heavy breath (uphill both ways in the snow!) would be a prayer unto God. I don’t know how prayerful it is to start the car and turn on the radio. A financial sacrifice for some, for sure, but for most? Nah.

Oh yes, walking to Mass! (moan and winge) how 'bout uphill one way in the freezing rain and sleet? lol
I wish I could say I was doing it as a saintly sacrafice, alas, no, I just don’t have a car. It is close to a mile and I DO try and say a prayer or two along the way so all is not lost …except I don’t fold my hands though lol