Holding hands at the Lord's Prayer

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Micki:
I no longer hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer. I also no longer sing Kumbaya either!!
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Hmm, maybe it’s just a holdover from 60’s nostalgia?

JimG
 
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buffalo:
Concerning holding hands in the Eucharistic Liturgy the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome responded as follows:QUERY: In some places there is a current practice whereby those taking part in the Mass replace the giving of the sign of peace at the deacon’s invitation by holding hands during the singing of the Lord’s Prayer. Is this acceptable? REPLY: The prolonged holding of hands is of itself a sign of communion rather than of peace. Further, it is a liturgical gesture introduced spontaneously but on personal initiative; it is not in the rubrics. Rest of post deleted for brevity…QUOTE]

Good enough for Rome, good enough for me. They must have a Great Bishop of Rome. Oh yeah…😉
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I don’t like it either, and I also close my eyes and just pray. I heard the priest say, “Hold hands, we are a family” or something. I think it is a ‘feel-good’ addition which has no place in the service. Personally.
 
If people want to hold each other’s hands - okay but not mine.

However the rubics for the priest are clear - he is to hold his hands in the Orans position when praying the Our Father. Too often I see that ignored and the priest too is holding hands with altar servers.

What does your priest do?
 
You know they do that at AA and Alanon meetings. They get in a circle and say the Our Father at the end of a meeting and then they shout “keep coming back” - I always had the urge to say that when they do it at the Mass too.
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Me too! I don’t know if it would go over to well if we actually did that. 🙂
 
I find it kind of amusing that people at my parish hold hands for The Lords Prayer, but do not bow at the words of The Incarnation during the Creed. I get all sorts of hell for folding my hands and closing my eyes for The Lords Prayer, but you should hear the excuses they give me for not bowing!

oremus
 
It’s also interesting that, while the rubrics call for the bow during the Creed, I can find no authoritative instruction (or even “permission” or “approval”) for the hand-holding.
 
We - my family & a few friends - bow during the Creed. Until recently, we were the only ones to remain kneeling to the end of the Great Amen. For some reason our priest decided that everyone should remain kneeling. It’s too bad that he never explains things - I don’t think anyone else knows why they are kneeling. 😦
 
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oremus:
I find it kind of amusing that people at my parish hold hands for The Lords Prayer, but do not bow at the words of The Incarnation during the Creed. I get all sorts of hell for folding my hands and closing my eyes for The Lords Prayer, but you should hear the excuses they give me for not bowing!

oremus
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Grab a missalette and show them where it gives the directive to bow during the creed.

Then, hand it to them and ask them to find the directive to hold hands. 👍
 
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Ham1:
Then, hand it to them and ask them to find the directive to hold hands. 👍
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Maybe just hand them that missalette right before the Lord’s Prayer, then their hands will be occupied and they will keep them to themselves. :bounce:
 
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deogratias:
If people want to hold each other’s hands - okay but not mine.

However the rubics for the priest are clear - he is to hold his hands in the Orans position when praying the Our Father. Too often I see that ignored and the priest too is holding hands with altar servers.

What does your priest do?
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Our priest is in the Orans during the Our Father. He brings his hands together during the “wait in joyful hope” part before the doxology. That makes for the rather unusual situation where the priest has his hands together for the doxology and the congregation (some, not all) is standing there in the Orans. Talk about role reversals…

I would rather see the congregation abandon the gestures of the priest (like the Orans) and let people hold hands if it makes them happy. Just leave mine alone.
 
Another interesting facet of this issue is that many of the people who go to significant lengths to hold hands during the “Our Father” (or who assume the “orans” position during that prayer) seem to pay little or no attention to hand position during the rest of Mass. It’s rather distracting to have the people immediately in front or on either side jamming their hands in their pockets, clasping them behind their backs, stroking their spouse’s hair or back, etc. until the “Our Father”. They then assume the special position until the prayer is over, then go back to business as usual. Lord, help us not to be distracted or discouraged by these things.
 
Oh I see a lot of people erroneously assuming the orans position each time they say “and with your spirit” also in imitation of the priest.

But if no one tells them any different, how can they be held accountable. Do we know because we have a computer and are internet literate, know where to find documents, participate in forums, etc. Would we otherwise know what is right or wrong with the liturgy or would we just follow the crowd as many do.

If the Priests won’t give them the catachesis they need to do it correctly and if the Bishops won’t lead the Priests then who is to blame? It is they who should be shepherding the people and not the people having to monitor the Priests and Bishops.😦
 
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deogratias:
Oh I see a lot of people erroneously assuming the orans position each time they say “and with your spirit” also in imitation of the priest.
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Wouldn’t this fall into the private devotion category, and therefore be acceptable (unless of course you forced someone else to do it.)
 
I don’t think so - they are doing it at Mass as a rubic that is not prescribed. We are to respond only with words, not with orans.
 
wow, all this talk about not holding your hands out being allowed seems quite silly to me. There have been many times that I have been moved to just hold out my hands in front of me as a posture of prayer as opposed to folding them. Am I breaking the rubrics and creating a liturgical abuse?
 
Since many here think its OK to do what they want and not what is proscribed, I think I will stand on my head during the Lord’s Prayer.
 
Interesting website… I still do not understand the significance. I have many problems with it. These are the rules only for the United States, correct?
 
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buffalo:
Since many here think its OK to do what they want and not what is proscribed, I think I will stand on my head during the Lord’s Prayer.
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Just for clarity’s sake to proscribe is to forbid, and you probably meant to use the word prescribed.

For instance, receiving communion when not in a state of grace would be proscribed. Going to confession before receiving communion is prescribed.

It’s a common error to interchange the two words and one I used to do myself until some kind soul brought it to my attention also. Hope you consider me a kind soul too:)
 
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