Yes, but some might think that it starts with a correct understanding and orthodoxy of what the Mass is…and isn’t.
Whoa wait, you mean almost broke the Pater Noster Prayer Chain (© 1969)? You do realise that would have invalidated the Mass, right? Good thing those ladies were quick thinkers…
thank you! has any one bothered by holding hands in Our Father ever spoken to the Priest about their feelings on this? It should be brought up to the Priest to be delt with. No one can make you do something you feel is wrong and you shouldn’t if you feel it is inappropriate
Welcome. I returned to the Catholic church about 3 years ago. I have Methodist family also. That was probably a very awesome moment to be remembered. It is just when others who are not so inclined to hold hands while praying feel pushed into it, it becomes inappropriate.
True or it might be a distraction from those things listed above that seem to be much more important then getting bothered by people holding hands (as long as they are not pressured into it).
this is where we can be very short sighted…I think we are straying off topic. There are plenty of threads about all the “important” stuff. It seems like everyone puts a caveat to the hand holding. As long as the priest doesnt instruct, as long as no one is pressured… Well, How do you think this is happening. When the human chain forms, there is pressure.True or it might be a distraction from those things listed above that seem to be much more important then getting bothered by people holding hands (as long as they are not pressured into it).
My grandmother was greatly bothered by the hand holding thing…and yet her granddaughter who had been in protective custody from her mom…never learned anything of the faith or the beauty of the faith from her…as long as I wasn’t holding someone’s hand during the our father…
Well…but the rub is…how do you make people stop? And here is where it ties in.,…,is it for the priest to talk about? But he is not going to make people stop in general…and how much energy should be put into that when we have Catholics who don’t believe in the Real Presence…aren’t going to reconciliation, think abortion is fine, leave Mass early. To me, these are the things priest should be talking about…and has to continue to talk about.
A men’s group I attend concludes each meeting in this way. I like it there. Not sure I would like it in church.
Not much energy at all. after a half hour homily on any of the aforementioned topics a simple reminder that we are going to say the Lord’s Prayer now and that it isn’t necessary to hold hands. Like 5 seconds. But if you think 5 seconds to help teach proper liturgical things is a waste of time then I guess we wont agree.
Well…this Sunday I heard about abortion being wrong…and most Sundays I hear about the great gift of reconciliation…so I guess we are luckier then most. But I highly doubt anyone would stop holding hands during the Our Father…doesn’t matter how many times you say it. Just like keeping kids quiet and NOT letting them run back and forth…Not much energy at all. after a half hour homily on any of the aforementioned topics a simple reminder that we are going to say the Lord’s Prayer now and that it isn’t necessary to hold hands. Like 5 seconds. But if you think 5 seconds to help teach proper liturgical things is a waste of time then I guess we wont agree.
You are right in that there are more important things and I would agree with you if those important things were being shouted from the mountaintops by most of our clergy. But the fact is they all too often don’t get the treatment they deserve.
We had a homily a while back about helping the poor and that you could help the poor by buying college kids beer because they are poor. It was at a life teen Mass. Not exactly the “life” issue one would like to hear about!
Adrift:
I honestly don’t understand why you seem to be objecting to what I’ve said. I have admitted that there is an abuse going on, and that most of the time this practice is an abuse, but that we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it is not always an abuse. I’ve even said that I think it is preferable to avoid this practice, even when legitimate because of its widespread abuse. Is there really anything problematic in what I’ve said?Agree. I think most people would stop doing the handholding with a 5 second reminder. There would probably be those who wouldn’t want to stop or would get offended but just a little reminder of why and I think most people would stop. There might even be those in families who don’t want to do it, but that is what the family does, so they go along without saying anything and would love it if the priest would ask the parish to stop.
If it is from God then you cannot stop it and you had better not try.
If it is from God it will come down through the path and authority He established. His Church, not the laity.
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.Moore11: This is a perfect example of an occasion in which it is ok. It seems as though you agree with this, so I assume we are on the same page.
Adrift:
My point was to say that just because you are only talking about the abuse does not mean that other people aren’t talking about an appropriate occurance.
You are blessed to have a good priest. But I am saddened to think that your parish would not obey the request. It isn’t like keeping kids quiet, it is like keeping adult Christians obedient. Which sad to say seems to be hard to do.
Well…Rome was not built in a day…
Our priest does a really good job working on things but they do take time. Frankly I would rather have people stop talking before Mass…but that has been discussed and still happens. Well, not so much at the early Mass as the later one…which is why I go to the early one.the early one is quiet because all the other people are still asleep, or half asleep.Well…Rome was not built in a day…
But I think you can agree that there are some things that need to be addressed. And it has probably always been that way and always will. But that fact should not stop the correct way from being taught. Think, if those things bother you and you know that hand holding bothers someone else the same way you should probably not assume the person next to you wants to be grabbed at the same prayer every mass. Even if their sweaty little hand is out. They may just be doing it because it is expected. Every single parish in my city does it.