Holding Hands during the Our Father

  • Thread starter Thread starter Donna_P
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Donna_P said:
Does this bother anyone else? I mostly just let it go but when a Priest tells the congregation to hold hands during the Our Father it really just peeves me. This happened at a funeral at another church. Not only did the Priest tell everyone to hold hands, he finished the Our Father with …and thine is the kingdom and the …etc.
Click to expand...
When we first moved we went to mass at a catholic church we had never gone to before. They started holding hands I do what I typically do fold my hands and bow my head. The guy next to me kept clawing at my arm to hold his hand. I ignored him and sufferd through the rest of mass having to listen to loud drums and electirc guitars.

The presit made comments like When I first walked in I thought I was walking into a protestant church Everyone laughed. He also stated I have two other brothers that are preists they call us the Holy Trinity again laughter. So sad
 
aicirt said:
If it is out of line, than there are many who don’t care. I don’t understand this pushing of the rules. Holding hands has been going on for years. Certainly the bishops know. How long does it take to say, “Stop it.” And what’s with these parish priests?
Click to expand...
Bishops have known a lot of things that have been going on for years that they chose not to stop, for whatever reason.

If you don’t believe me, ask any victim of a pervert padre, who was passed around from parish to parish.

I know some of these padres personally and I know one of the bishops, who kept his head in the sand. I could easily name names on this one, but forum rules preclude my doing so.

It in no way surprises me that holding hands and other abuses (liturgical and otherwise) are ignored. At least the bishops appear to be getting a handle on the perverts and getting rid of a lot of them.
 
It doesn’t bother me if families want to hold hands and they are the only ones I really see doing this. I personally don’t want to hold hands during the Our Father so I just keep my hands together.
 
So does that mean we can stand on our hands and spit wooden nickles during the Our Father?

If not, why not?
 
roadsend said:
From Notitiae:
"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. "

ewtn.com/expert/answers/holding_hands_at_mass.htm
Click to expand...
Sorry, but apples & oranges here.
I have ***NEVER *** been to a Church where holding hands during the Our Father has been substituted for the sign of peace.

So again, I ask, where does it say, explicitly, that the Chruch “disapproves” of a family (or group of friends, or a couple) holding hands during the Our Father?

I know that Father “should not” encourage it, and that anyone who does not feel “called” to do so should not be forced, but until there is an out right statement form the Holy See that is is completely & totally “verboten”, I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with others holding hands.

And FWIW, I am not a “hand-holder”, even with my family. There are just much “bigger fish to fry” as far as I am concerned, and that is where I will put my energy.
 
Joe_5859 said:
“For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever” is in the Missal. Why wouldn’t it be said? :confused:

There used to be a moratorium on hand-holding-during-the-Our-Father threads. Has that been lifted?
Click to expand...
Um… yeah… that’s what I was wondering. That’s actually part of the liturgy… :confused:
 
nickybr38 said:
Um… yeah… that’s what I was wondering. That’s actually part of the liturgy… :confused:
Click to expand...
I think the complaint is that it was, for whatever reason, inserted into the OF Missal when it was compiled in the first place. It was never part of the Roman Missal before that.
 
roadsend said:
Bishops have known a lot of things that have been going on for years that they chose not to stop, for whatever reason.

If you don’t believe me, ask any victim of a pervert padre, who was passed around from parish to parish.

I know some of these padres personally and I know one of the bishops, who kept his head in the sand. I could easily name names on this one, but forum rules preclude my doing so.

It in no way surprises me that holding hands and other abuses (liturgical and otherwise) are ignored. At least the bishops appear to be getting a handle on the perverts and getting rid of a lot of them.
Click to expand...
One Bishop makes a mistakes so all Bishops are corrupt with their heads in the sand? Furthermore, how can you know the Bishop in question WASN’T trying to do something? Just because he moved that priest from parish to parish doesn’t mean he had his head in the sand. It may mean there wasn’t enough evidence and he believed the priest. It may mean he believed the priest was truly repentant. It may mean he bought the lie that people of this nature can be rehabilitated. There is so much that could have been going on behind the scenes that you know nothing about. I wouldn’t hasten to be so quick to cast judgment. The same stick will be used to judge you.

Furthermore, how is our country any less perverted and corrupt? Any less vile? My father sexually molested SO MANY little girls. When he was caught, and when he confessed ALL OF IT, he was sent to jail for one year. ONE YEAR. Is that justice? (PS: I’m referring to my biological father here, not a priest)

Back on topic, I think our Bishop’s have much, much, much bigger fish to fry and hand holding is probably the least of their concerns.
 
nickybr38 said:
One Bishop makes a mistakes so all Bishops are corrupt with their heads in the sand? Furthermore, how can you know the Bishop in question WASN’T trying to do something? Just because he moved that priest from parish to parish doesn’t mean he had his head in the sand. It may mean there wasn’t enough evidence and he believed the priest. It may mean he believed the priest was truly repentant. It may mean he bought the lie that people of this nature can be rehabilitated. There is so much that could have been going on behind the scenes that you know nothing about. I wouldn’t hasten to be so quick to cast judgment. The same stick will be used to judge you.

Furthermore, how is our country any less perverted and corrupt? Any less vile? My father sexually molested SO MANY little girls. When he was caught, and when he confessed ALL OF IT, he was sent to jail for one year. ONE YEAR. Is that justice? (PS: I’m referring to my biological father here, not a priest)

Back on topic, I think our Bishop’s have much, much, much bigger fish to fry and hand holding is probably the least of their concerns.
Click to expand...
You make my point that bishops do not always address liturgical abuse when they can’t help but know that it exists.
That said, please do not put words into my mouth. I did not say that “all Bishops are corrupt” only that some bishops did not act to protect children.
As to “Furthermore, how can you know the Bishop in question WASN’T trying to do something?”. The answer as to how I know this, I cannot give without violating forum rules.
I realize that the abuse issue is far more common in the family, the schools, and other institutions than in the Church, yet I used this example to show in spades that bishops do not always take action when matters of concern are brought to their attention, the assertion of an upstream poster notwithstanding.
 
I was taught in my RCIA classes that we’re suppose to be praying the Our Father individually, even though we’re praying it out loud and at the same time.
 
roadsend said:
So does that mean we can stand on our hands and spit wooden nickles during the Our Father?

If not, why not?
Click to expand...
Because that would be absurd.

Holding hands with someone whom you just asked in the opening prayers of the Mass to pray for you, with whom you will be united in Christ in the Eucharist, and whom you may be called as a follower of Christ to die for - that is not absurd. It may be unpleasant or uncomfortable and it may even be against the rules, but it is not absurd.

The Deacon who has sacrificed 20 hours per week studying in formation for five years and has given a significant part of his life in service to you and me and the Church, if for no other reason than that, deserves more respect than to be challenged with absurdities.

-Tim-
 
I don’t like the holding hands. I really can’t stand when individuals assume the orans position during the Our Father. I feel like it takes the focus from God and puts it on the person sitting in the 4th row.

All of this is about catechisis. Nobody’s being taught and nobody cares to learn.
 
TimothyH said:
Because that would be absurd.

Holding hands with someone whom you just asked in the opening prayers of the Mass to pray for you, with whom you will be united in Christ in the Eucharist, and whom you may be called as a follower of Christ to die for - that is not absurd. It may be unpleasant or uncomfortable and it may even be against the rules, but it is not absurd.

The Deacon who has sacrificed 20 hours per week studying in formation for five years and has given a significant part of his life in service to you and me and the Church, if for no other reason than that, deserves more respect than to be challenged with absurdities.

-Tim-
Click to expand...
If you had seen or were dragged into the turmoil of the Across the Aisles Human Chain Holding Hands Rituals as I have, you might rethink what is absurd and what isn’t.
I think the good Deacon took my comment in the spirit in which it was offered.
 
roadsend said:
If you had seen or were dragged into the turmoil of the Across the Aisles Human Chain Holding Hands Rituals as I have, you might rethink what is absurd and what isn’t.
I think the good Deacon took my comment in the spirit in which it was offered.
Click to expand...
👍

I have been subject to the Human Chain of Hand Holding and it is the most awkward thing ever. I absolutely loathe it… but I participate because I would hate to offend anyone over hand holding.
 
nickybr38 said:
👍

I have been subject to the Human Chain of Hand Holding and it is the most awkward thing ever. I absolutely loathe it… but I participate because I would hate to offend anyone over hand holding.
Click to expand...
I also don’t want to be a stumbling block, here. I’ve found, though, that by closing my eyes and putting my hands together moments before others begin holding hands, I can avoid it without rebuffing anyone. I hope if they notice they think, “gee, he seems deep in prayer; maybe I should focus on the interior more at this time, too.”
 
Rich_C said:
I also don’t want to be a stumbling block, here. I’ve found, though, that by closing my eyes and putting my hands together moments before others begin holding hands, I can avoid it without rebuffing anyone. I hope if they notice they think, “gee, he seems deep in prayer; maybe I should focus on the interior more at this time, too.”
Click to expand...
As an aside, I tried a great experiment at Mass on Sunday. We have 3 small children and many friends. Mass is chaotic, even when the children behave, so, last week I told my 6 year old that I wanted to pray for the whole Mass and so I needed her to participate as best she could and keep her siblings happy for mommy and me. She did, and I kept my eyes closed the entire Mass. Concentrating on the words, prayers, homily, readings. It was absolutely amazing. Taking away the stimulation of visual (name removed by moderator)ut allowed me to focus deeper and for the first time in a long time I saw the Mass cleaner and clearer than I usually do. What flow, what beauty!

Thank goodness I didn’t fall asleep and snore though.:eek:
 
The Church doesn’t regulate the laitys hand holding at mass.
I do not hold hands, I keep them pressed together as I was taught many , many years ago. I look at the crucifix.
If asked to hold hands i smile and refuse.
I do not concern myself with those that hold hands, nor will i let it bother me.
 
I get that Father shouldn’t tell you to do so. I agree with that.

But to be honest, sometimes I start to wonder whether you guys are against human contact in general… inside OR outside of Mass…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top