Holding Hands during Our Father

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I will be perfectly honest. We hold hands as a family when we pray the Lord’s prayer at mass. It is a carryover from my days of single motherhood. I would be at mass with my 3 and sometimes with an additional 3 kids by myself. In order to get them to stop fidgeting and disturbing others, I insisted that they hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer. In that respect, I know many of you hate holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer… but in my mind, I was letting you all pray in peace because my kids were holding hands.

Sorry, I just had to get that out. If we were told by our priest not to, we would of course comply.
 
To make matters worse, we now have the cantor using the Orans posture to lead the congregation during the singing of the Psalms(when we actually use the Psalms!) between readings. And this posture is mandated by the diocese!
:hmmm:
 
JU2 said:
I heard (but can’t confirm) that the US Bishops put out a letter of some sort discussing the issue of the congregation holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer. I was told it was not generally in favor of it.
Google came up with a number of different discussions on this, but nothing from the USCCB. Does anyone have a link to this letter?
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i dont think there is any rule against a family holding hands during the our father. half our parish does this while some keep their hands together some just keep them in their pockets also(unfortunately) there are those who hold their hands out like a priest does also, personally i keep my hands together because thats how the nuns taught me in catholic school when i was young.
 
I’m not yet Catholic, and will be confirmed at the Easter Vigil, but, Personally, I don’t like to hold hands during the Our Father. Actually I came to my decision by reading a lot of the posts on CAF. I also noticed that many of the people in my parish seem uncomfortable holding hands but they do it anyway. Since I felt more comfortable with my hands together while praying I just made sure to go to the 8am mass where there are more traditional members and I sit on a pew with only two other people so its too hard to hold hands. Just my :twocents: !
 
Sir_Knight said:
And when we “evangelize” and bring new members to the faith, we tell them to do WHAT during the “Our Father”?

Some folks have their hands folded, some outstretched, others holding hands, etc. – this certainly doesn’t shows the unity of Catholics in prayer.
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WSell, I would tell them the synopsis of what Archbishop Chaput said: there is no rule as to what to do with their hands; if they are comfortable holding hands with someone else that’s fine, and if they are not comfortable holding hands, they are not required to do so and that too, is fine, and that some people use to orans position and that is fine too, as the Church does not micro-regulate postures.

And if they were to ask me what I think, I would say that I don’t have a dog in this fight, and I am willing to cooperate with my neighbor in charity.
 
otjm said:
It makes no more sense now than it did before Vatican 2, when the Church did not say then what you should do with your hands. Granted that people did not generally hold hands then, but for those who claim to be confused, I would suggest that the confusion is a personal proble, not a problem of the majority of those in the pew.

Those who choose to be confused are perhaps those who expect that the minutest detail will be legislated; they long fo those days of yore when all was. Except that those days didn’t exist; it is a figment of the imagination.
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I agree that the smallest details are not likely to be legislated. But this is an example of where something has crept into most churches and even overtaken some. I don’t like it, but I would do it if I were told to (by someone with authority over these matters). Historically the Church has spoken out against heresies when they became widespread. Granted, this may not be a heresy - but it is a widespread “problem” in that no one knows for sure if it is right or wrong.
 
I would probably play along, but I would always wonder why they came up with it. As for Orans, not for me. I don’t like the idea of it in church if you press me to the wall with the question, although I find it proper for individual prayer, where it has a certain Old Testament connotation, but I don’t do it. This doesn’t mean I’m a formalist, in fact, I never have my hands clasped together flat or almost never, but I don’t really see Orans as proper for laity at Our Father in the mass. At least in normal circumstances. Wouldn’t have a shade of a problem with it if it were a traditional posture somewhere and I can’t really say I have a problem per se. Not really. Just a weird feeling. Same as kiss of peace instead of handshake or bow (again, I’ll play along so long as it’s just cheek, though I will not elect it unless between friends and family or elected by the other person). But I like the handshake.
 
While one could argue that the GIRM doesn’t specifically rule out or define a hand position, it also doesn’t define a leg position. So, could someone stand on one leg, other leg in the air, and both hands raised above their heads like a swimmer jumping into the water? How about if, while kneeling, one decides to extend their arms way up in the air in sort of a V-shape. Absurd, yes, but it seems that people are simply going to do these distracting postures until someone in authority makes a statement.
Some of the postings above are somewhat critical of the mass celebrant for asking the congregation to not assume the Orans position. First, I’ll bet most of not all are not familiar with any of the discussions on this thread, and probably don’t know what the GIRM is. Second, when I was young, if my father told me to do something, I obeyed. It might not have been the way I’d do it, but he was the authority figure. So when the priest asked this of the congregation, they should have obeyed. After mass, they could go and discuss the matter with him, and do a little research to back up their position. However, the open defiance is disrespectful, uncalled for, and seemingly a bit sinful.
 
I’m no authority on Canon Law either, but if the Orans posture as defined is reserved for the Priest Celebrant praying on behalf of the congregation, I find no basis for the laity to assume this posture at any time during Mass for whatever reason. Period. No discussion.
 
I’ve only seen people doing the orans at more protestant leaning parishes(meaning their service is becoming more and more like protestants with each passing week) When I see someone doing orans I feel very uncomfortable cause in Protestant churches when people do that the next thing you know they’re dancing in the aisles. All merely a way to get attention and take focus off of the service IMO. To me they’re just saying “ooh look at me! I’m praying!” I definitely can’t think of any other reason why they’d want to do it. I don’t mind holding hands, though its not for me personally. Though doing this in a showy way(like swaying back and forth) can also be distracting.

I was always taught to pray in a humble manner, with my hands folded(and I was raised Baptist:eek: ) For me, Mass is not a time to socialize and show off my spirituality. I had enough of that growing up. I really do wish a real answer to this question would be given. Sure, maybe the little things aren’t THAT important. But the little things are where division often begins.
 
Chancellare said:
I’m no authority on Canon Law either, but if the Orans posture as defined is reserved for the Priest Celebrant praying on behalf of the congregation, I find no basis for the laity to assume this posture at any time during Mass for whatever reason. Period. No discussion.
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Except, for the Roman rite, there appears to be a specific exception in part or all of Italy… so there is a basis by specific legislation.

For the rest of us, there is no legislation at all. So if it is specifically allowed for some and not regulated for others, then it is hard to say that for those not regulated that there is no basis.
 
homewardbound said:
I’ve only seen people doing the orans at more protestant leaning parishes(meaning their service is becoming more and more like protestants with each passing week) When I see someone doing orans I feel very uncomfortable cause in Protestant churches when people do that the next thing you know they’re dancing in the aisles. All merely a way to get attention and take focus off of the service IMO. To me they’re just saying “ooh look at me! I’m praying!” I definitely can’t think of any other reason why they’d want to do it. I don’t mind holding hands, though its not for me personally. Though doing this in a showy way(like swaying back and forth) can also be distracting.

I was always taught to pray in a humble manner, with my hands folded(and I was raised Baptist:eek: ) For me, Mass is not a time to socialize and show off my spirituality. I had enough of that growing up. I really do wish a real answer to this question would be given. Sure, maybe the little things aren’t THAT important. But the little things are where division often begins.
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I would really be interested in which Protestant churches your afore-mentioned Catholic churches are starting to resemble; I have been to a number of services of various Protestants, and the only ones I have seen that even begin to resemble the Catholic Mass are the high Anglican and the High Lutheran. Are those the ones you are referring to? I know of no others that have a Eucharistic part of their service that is even within light-years of the Mass.
 
otjm said:
I would really be interested in which Protestant churches your afore-mentioned Catholic churches are starting to resemble; I have been to a number of services of various Protestants, and the only ones I have seen that even begin to resemble the Catholic Mass are the high Anglican and the High Lutheran. Are those the ones you are referring to? I know of no others that have a Eucharistic part of their service that is even within light-years of the Mass.
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There are some, that without the Eucharist, would be indistinguishable from any evangelical protestant church. Thats the kind of parish I’m referring too. I’m speaking of one parish in particular in my post, not of the Church as a whole.
 
homewardbound said:
There are some, that without the Eucharist, would be indistinguishable from any evangelical protestant church. Thats the kind of parish I’m referring too. I’m speaking of one parish in particular in my post, not of the Church as a whole.
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Hmmm. You must have some interesting churches out there. Of course, I believe that at least some of the Presbyterians and Methodists have adopted the three year cycle of readings, so I guess, if they are reading the same OT reading, Psalm, and the same two NT readings, there would be a valid point of looking at them as similar to the Catholic Mass - Liturgy of the Word. But reverse? I think not…
 
otjm said:
Hmmm. You must have some interesting churches out there. Of course, I believe that at least some of the Presbyterians and Methodists have adopted the three year cycle of readings, so I guess, if they are reading the same OT reading, Psalm, and the same two NT readings, there would be a valid point of looking at them as similar to the Catholic Mass - Liturgy of the Word. But reverse? I think not…
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I just mean the focus seems turned. Its rarely focused on God and worship. At this parish, its all about performing and being together as a community, not as prayerful children of God. I was told by the RCIA instructor that private prayer and reflection isn’t allowed during Communion cause we all have to sing. There’s constant talking and distraction. The music is over the top, so loud I can’t understand whats going on, and there as a way for people to show off their voice, not to worship God. Also, several things are done during their Mass that seem off…such as changing words during prayers and the priest sitting down throughout most of the distribution of the Eucharist(and no he’s not old or disabled) Its a Newman Center, so I guess it tries to be like this in order to attract the students. I just don’t care for it, if I wanted showy theatrics and a social club atmosphere I’d still be protestant. Its just the vibe I get from it.
 
Thank you for the response. My conclusion is that holding hands is not In the GIRM, therefore should not be forced on anyone.
 
OraLabora said:
Why the theatrics? Jesus instructs us to shut the door and pray to Our Father in private, and not make a show of it. The unity comes from the prayer, not the gestures.
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So we don’t have to come to Mass anymore, then?
 
Today at mass there was a beautiful family probably visiting our parish.
I say that because mom and the daughters were covered. The 2 sons and 8 daughters were exceptionally quiet and attentive during mass.
However, when it came time during the service to pray the Our Father the children and parents quietly folded their hands. An elderly man, possibly grandfather, attampted to take the hand of the oldest girl. She whispered to him, “We don’t do it like that”. Grandpa said “We do.” and took the child’s hand.
I don’t know what should have happened there, do you?
 
Holding hands forces people (like me) to either comply with somthing that is not in the Liturgy or worse makes people like me look unfriendly. I will not EVER hold anyones hand during the Our Father…unless the POPE issues a statement that says it is to be done. I will however hug a total stranger during the kiss of peace. I have no problem with holding someones hand…but I will not do it during a time that my prayer is to be directed upwards to God.
 
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