Hand "Posture"

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Pariah_Pirana

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All this talk of the orans reminds me of something very personal.

As a server I keept my hands clasped (fingers interwoven) next to my chest. This felt “right” and it’s a lot better than holding one’s arms down, next to their sides. The rest of the servers at my Mass slowly adopted the practice.

For a long time now I have noted how the servers on EWTN Masses hold their hands – at “heart level”, away from their bodies, “5 on 5” at about a 45 degree angle. They also place one hand on their chests if they are holding something with their other hand. I’ve always wanted to adopt these postures but it feels TOO submissive, too “naked” – I’m just too proud is all.

Then I received a prayer card of JPII shortly before his passing. He was holding his hands in the perfect “5 on 5” posture. I steeled myself and adpoted the posture on the spot.

Good Lord! I felt NAKED for the first couple of Masses when I held my hands in that position. It didn’t take more than 2 weeks for our “altar server coordinator” to tell me to stop – “too old fashioned looking.” So far I have ignored her, but it’s sure to become an “issue.”

Tell those orans people to adopt this this posture throughout the Mass if they are indeed as pius as they believe they are…
 
Pariah Pirana:
All this talk of the orans reminds me of something very personal.

As a server I keept my hands clasped (fingers interwoven) next to my chest. This felt “right” and it’s a lot better than holding one’s arms down, next to their sides. The rest of the servers at my Mass slowly adopted the practice.

For a long time now I have noted how the servers on EWTN Masses hold their hands – at “heart level”, away from their bodies, “5 on 5” at about a 45 degree angle. They also place one hand on their chests if they are holding something with their other hand. I’ve always wanted to adopt these postures but it feels TOO submissive, too “naked” – I’m just too proud is all.

Then I received a prayer card of JPII shortly before his passing. He was holding his hands in the perfect “5 on 5” posture. I steeled myself and adpoted the posture on the spot.

Good Lord! I felt NAKED for the first couple of Masses when I held my hands in that position. It didn’t take more than 2 weeks for our “altar server coordinator” to tell me to stop – “too old fashioned looking.” So far I have ignored her, but it’s sure to become an “issue.”

Tell those orans people to adopt this this posture throughout the Mass if they are indeed as pius as they believe they are…
Click to expand...
I’m sorry, I don’t get the way your hands are.
Do you mean that your fingers are pointed up? That’s what we do.
Our Very Holy Priests also hold their hands over their hearts when holding something else.
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
I’m sorry, I don’t get the way your hands are.
Do you mean that your fingers are pointed up? That’s what we do.
Our Very Holy Priests also hold their hands over their hearts when holding something else.
Click to expand...
Heart level, flat palm against flat palm, fingers at about a 20-25 degree angle away from chest.
 
Pariah Pirana:
Heart level, flat palm against flat palm, fingers at about a 20-25 degree angle away from chest.
Click to expand...
I assume that is like the sculpture of the praying hands. Is that correct?
 
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SnorterLuster:
I assume that is like the sculpture of the praying hands. Is that correct?
Click to expand...
That’s what I thought!

Oh that’s too Old Fashioned nowadays!

Except at mt parish with our 200 Altar BOYS and 8 seminarians.
All hold their hands this way.

Go PP! You are the best!!!
 
Ahem Would someone please tell me just what this notorious “orans” posture *is? :ehh: *
 
surf(name removed by moderator)ure said:
Ahem Would someone please tell me just what this notorious “orans” posture *is? :ehh: *
Click to expand...

Go to the main Liturgy & Sacraments page and look up this thread
Code: 
                                  Poll:             [What do you think about the Orans Posture? Do you like it?](http://showthread.php?t=56068)                                                                           dumspirospero
It’s a closed thread and be careful, the flames are still smoldering.
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
Go to the main Liturgy & Sacraments page and look up this thread
Code: 
                                  Poll:             [What do you think about the Orans Posture? Do you like it?](http://showthread.php/?t=56068)                                                 images/rating/rating_5.gif                              dumspirospero
It’s a closed thread and be careful, the flames are still smoldering.
Click to expand...
I was just over there, as a matter of fact. :eek: Among all the confusion I gathered that this refers to the posture I associate with the Charismatic movement, after spending some time in it myself before converting. Is that correct?

And what of the “folding hands?” Does this refer to some sort of crossing the hands over the chest, or rather just praying with fingertips pointed upward and palms together, such as in “Praying Hands?”

All of these things are quite new to me.
 
surf(name removed by moderator)ure:
I was just over there, as a matter of fact. :eek: Among all the confusion I gathered that this refers to the posture I associate with the Charismatic movement, after spending some time in it myself before converting. Is that correct?

And what of the “folding hands?” Does this refer to some sort of crossing the hands over the chest, or rather just praying with fingertips pointed upward and palms together, such as in “Praying Hands?”

All of these things are quite new to me.
Click to expand...
You’ve got it! The Praying Hands is what he is talking about.
Very good!
 
surf(name removed by moderator)ure:
I was just over there, as a matter of fact. :eek: Among all the confusion I gathered that this refers to the posture I associate with the Charismatic movement, after spending some time in it myself before converting. Is that correct?

All of these things are quite new to me.
Click to expand...
To avoid confusion, are you speaking of a Catholic or non-Catholic Charismatic movement?
 
Pariah Pirana:
All this talk of the orans reminds me of something very personal.

Good Lord! I felt NAKED for the first couple of Masses when I held my hands in that position. It didn’t take more than 2 weeks for our “altar server coordinator” to tell me to stop – “too old fashioned looking.” So far I have ignored her, but it’s sure to become an “issue.”

Tell those orans people to adopt this this posture throughout the Mass if they are indeed as pius as they believe they are…
Click to expand...
Btw, is she on medication?
 
Our priest, who I consider a very spiritual and humble man, usually holds his free hand over his heart/chest when he is holding something in only one hand.

Our Deacon always uses the ‘5 on 5’ hand position.

I wish they would teach our altar servers to do the same. They usually stand with their hands clasped, hanging down in front of them, dangling somewhere below their waist. sigh.
 
From the whole congregation, only a minority of us use the ‘praying hands’ position… me, a representative of a 16 year old teen, and and two old women. But as old fashioned as it is, I have adopted that position of prayer since I came back to the sheepfold of Mother Church in 2004.

I love being unique! 🙂 Praise the Lord, Alleluia style!
 
Pariah Pirana:
… Tell those orans people to adopt this this posture throughout the Mass if they are indeed as pius as they believe they are…
Click to expand...
OK, I am an orans person, I guess.
Do I understand you right? If I put my hands together, palm to palm at heart level, I will then be more pius???

As I have understood it, Jesus lifted his hands up to the Father when He prayed, the Apostles did as did the early Christian Church. It is very Biblical.

I have heard several stories about the palms together thing (which by the way, I believe looks pretty silly, but that is only my opinion.) I heard middle age Catholics saw this in the east with Muslims and Buddhists and others and brought it back to the Church. It never had any roots in the Jewish Faith, possibly came out of Paganism. I also read that a group of nuns “borrowed” the practice from Islam to keep childrends hands quiet.

Ever wonder why Priests use the orans position is so pius? Hmmmm???
 
Makes me wonder why we do not pray in hand extensions like that of Catholic Charismatics, since it is indeed biblical…
 
I personally like the 5 on 5 hand position at a 30-40 degree angle from my chest…I believe it to be a very pious and holy look.
 
Personally, I think it is more important what we do with those hands when we are done praying. That said…

A deacon who always held his hands with fingers entwined at heart level told me he did so to represent persecuted Christians in chains. I avoid the orans position as it comes off like I am trying to emulate the priest presiding at Mass. The praying hands position never captured my fancy. Even though it may look more pious, it never made me more pious.
 
40.png
dumspirospero:
I personally like the 5 on 5 hand position at a 30-40 degree angle from my chest…I believe it to be a very pious and holy look.
Click to expand...
It has a VERY submissive feel to me – the perfect hand position for praying and the Mass…
 
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