Holding Hands during the Our Father

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Moore11 said:
Oh come on. No one would condemn a common sense thing like the above. it happens but apparently it happens in your experience often. I think it is pretty obvious that we are talking about human chain hand holding.
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What qualifies something as “human chain hand holding”?
 
thewanderer said:
What qualifies something as “human chain hand holding”?
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Boy, I must live in a bad place? You know, when you look across the Church and everyone is holding hands every week all over the place, like a human chain. Picture a red rover like scenario. Hand holding does not happen like this at your parish?
I have lived in every diocese in the Northwest and every single parish I have seen does this.
Like I said, on 9-11 2001 or a family holding hands, or a loved one who needs comfort or even a stranger in obvious tears or pain. Sure, but it just isn’t that common. At our parish we get the raising hands at the doxology which adds to the red rover effect;) and the awesome hand squeeze at the end.
 
Moore11 said:
Oh come on. No one would condemn a common sense thing like the above. it happens but apparently it happens in your experience often. I think it is pretty obvious that we are talking about human chain hand holding.
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And what is your definition of “human chain hand holding”?

That more than 2 people hold hands? Is it not possible that more than 2 people could hold hands with a good purpose and intention just as well? What if a group of friends loses someone they loved who really liked this practice, would there be anything wrong with them taking up this practice even though there are more than just 2 of them?

As I said earlier, yes, there is an abuse going on, but it is wrong to say that any time a group of people consistantly hold hands at the Our Father an abuse is occuring. 🤷 Is it really that hard to acknowledge this in the way we speak about it?
 
Moore11 said:
Boy, I must live in a bad place? You know, when you look across the Church and everyone is holding hands every week all over the place, like a human chain. Picture a red rover like scenario. Hand holding does not happen like this at your parish?
I have lived in every diocese in the Northwest and every single parish I have seen does this.
Like I said, on 9-11 2001 or a family holding hands, or a loved one who needs comfort or even a stranger in obvious tears or pain. Sure, but it just isn’t that common. At our parish we get the raising hands at the doxology which adds to the red rover effect;) and the awesome hand squeeze at the end.
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Every diocese in the Northwest? That’s a lot of places…
 
I think the custom of joining hands for the Our Father is good thing. It helps build the common bond that we all have, to reach out to people when we might normally be hesitant.
 
thewanderer said:
And what is your definition of “human chain hand holding”?

That more than 2 people hold hands? Is it not possible that more than 2 people could hold hands with a good purpose and intention just as well? What if a group of friends loses someone they loved who really liked this practice, would there be anything wrong with them taking up this practice even though there are more than just 2 of them?

As I said earlier, yes, there is an abuse going on, but it is wrong to say that any time a group of people consistantly hold hands at the Our Father an abuse is occuring. 🤷 Is it really that hard to acknowledge this in the way we speak about it?
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I think we are ships passing in the night here. I don’t find anyone who is talking about the things you are describing, I will say again. Of course those things are not the problem.
I’m not sure why we are even talking about them. What is it like at your parish? do many people hold hands? Do they hold hands with people they don’t know every time the prayer is said?
For the sake of this discussion I think we can all agree that hand holding in extraordinary circumstances is ok. Ad with holding say, a child’s hand in Mass or a wife.
I’m not sure you are familiar with the practice as it is being described.
 
clem456 said:
I think the custom of joining hands for the Our Father is good thing. It helps build the common bond that we all have, to reach out to people when we might normally be hesitant.
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The apostles shared a “kiss of peace” perhaps that would reach out to people even more and in a more passionate way, which would be a good thing!😉
 
I have quite a few friends from Spain, Chili and Brazil. They have the wonderful greeting of the kisses.
It is the same style as you are mentioning, a kiss of peace.
Right cheek, then left…but is more of a brush of the lips gently to the skin, or just a touch cheek to cheek right then left.
It is a warm greeting, and I so miss it if we happen to not do it.

I’ve seen a few of the Hispanic population at Mass do the same.
 
roadsend said:
It is not in the rubrics and the Church has disapproved of it.
That is good enough for me If a padre directs this, he is out of line and I will ignore him.
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Please provide an official church source stating it does not approve of it.
 
CatherineOH said:
I have quite a few friends from Spain, Chili and Brazil. They have the wonderful greeting of the kisses.
It is the same style as you are mentioning, a kiss of peace.
Right cheek, then left…but is more of a brush of the lips gently to the skin, or just a touch cheek to cheek right then left.
It is a warm greeting, and I so miss it if we happen to not do it.

I’ve seen a few of the Hispanic population at Mass do the same.
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No doubt this happens. I did not see it in Italy or in Mexico. I doubt it is liturgically correct either way but it probably is more correct than hand holding during our Father. As it had a place in history and used to even be called the “kiss of peace” Try that on my wife however, and Hispanic or not, there will be more than hand holding going on in the pew.😉
 
Nicea325 said:
Please provide an official church source stating it does not approve of it.
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There isn’t one. We do however have the words of several prominent Cardinals and such. However it isn’t in the rubrics. But then again neither is a prohibition against flash mobs.
 
Moore11 said:
… As it had a place in history and used to even be called the “kiss of peace” Try that on my wife however, and Hispanic or not, there will be more than hand holding going on in the pew.😉
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Interesting, the different cultures.
To not offer peace is an affront to all, but we here in the US are afflicted by the Puritan Protestant ideals to such an extent that it pervades every aspect of our culture.

Ever stand a foot or two away from someone? In every other country it is part of having a conversation. In the US, it is evading the personal space of another and thus stops conversation.

I was hoping the thread would lead to this point, because I think the hand holding is both from the Protestant churches, and the aversion to the invasion of personal space is also from the Puritan Protestantism…,perhaps men and women should be sitting on oposite sides of the isle?

My problem is that I agree with both sides of the argument. There are times I just want to pray and feel the energy of Jesus within the congregation as I stand to my toes in prayer like a Jew.
 
CatherineOH said:
Interesting, the different cultures.
To not offer peace is an affront to all, but we here in the US are afflicted by the Puritan Protestant ideals to such an extent that it pervades every aspect of our culture.

I was hoping the thread would lead to this point, because I think the hand holding is both from the Protestant churches, and the aversion to the invasion of personal space is also from the Puritan Protestantism…,perhaps men and women should be sitting on oposite sides of the isle?
.
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I always find it amusing when in the middle of our sex crazed culture, someone talks of puritan influence. The porn industry would disagree with you!
The US, home of the playboy mansion, most pornography companies and scantily clad teens on TV having sex is hardly the puritan island some on the progressive side would have you believe. But that is another thread…
 
Moore11 said:
I always find it amusing when in the middle of our sex crazed culture, someone talks of puritan influence. The porn industry would disagree with you!
The US, home of the playboy mansion, most pornography companies and scantily clad teens on TV having sex is hardly the puritan island some on the progressive side would have you believe. But that is another thread…
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That is inappropriate, especially here in this tread. besides,
If what you say is true, then why was there was more money in alcohol during prohibition?
 
Moore11 said:
I always find it amusing when in the middle of our sex crazed culture, someone talks of puritan influence. The porn industry would disagree with you!
The US, home of the playboy mansion, most pornography companies and scantily clad teens on TV having sex is hardly the puritan island some on the progressive side would have you believe. But that is another thread…
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I thought the same thing.

Condoms and sex lubricants are available right on the rack next to the kids vitamins at Walmart. Twenty five percent of US men are addicted to porn. Disney Channel has show after show about pubescent teenagers crushing on each other.

Going to the mall is like going to a strip club. I havn’t been there in years, except to go to the tool department at Sears once in a while.

Fifty million abortions is not the result of a puritanical society, but an isatiable, sex crazed satanic society.

-Tim-
 
I only hold hands with my immediate family, children and wife. I don’t always do it then either. I was taught that this is okay and that there are two acceptable ways of holding our hands together, clasped (preferred for me) or (forget the name) up and forward. I choose to ignore until our bishops and priest declare not to do so because we’re here to love each other, not bicker, argue, etc., as Fr. Conner said this morning in the homily on EWTN. Most of the time I just hold my hands together if I’m standing next to my oldest son or wife without one of my little ones next to me. Hopefully I won’t roast for it.
 
Of course we know this! With the US in war status in almost 10 years, it is inevitable to not know that Soldiers are at risk, and that they do often take and knee and hold hands, that’s not what this is about!
 
poorsinner7 said:
I only hold hands with my immediate family, children and wife. I don’t always do it then either. I was taught that this is okay and that there are two acceptable ways of holding our hands together, clasped (preferred for me) or (forget the name) up and forward. I choose to ignore until our bishops and priest declare not to do so because we’re here to love each other, not bicker, argue, etc., as Fr. Conner said this morning in the homily on EWTN. Most of the time I just hold my hands together if I’m standing next to my oldest son or wife without one of my little ones next to me. Hopefully I won’t roast for it.
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I totally agree poor sinner 7,
But what or where is EWTN?

Yes, every city in the world is named Corinth. But we don’t need to bicker and argue about it.
 
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