How our are hands supposed to look like during mass?

[Inquiringperson]

GIRM tells us to sit, stand, or kneel but it doesn’t tell us how our hands are supposed to be like. What position does our hands need to be in?

 

[Prague]

I keep my hands folded in front of me.

 

[jmcrae]

GIRM tells us to sit, stand, or kneel but it doesn’t tell us how our hands are supposed to be like. What position does our hands need to be in?

It doesn’t really matter. It is up to you. I generally tend to keep my hands by my side, or else folded in prayer.

 

[Inquiringperson]

Ok.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Mine is either holding on to the book, or holding on to my son. But if I’m serving then its holding on to a candle or holding on to some incense ready to drop it in the censer.

 

[Julian0404]

As the Christian were led to their deaths in the public arena’s, their hands were tied together in front of them. That is the root “example” of the hands held together in the front, to demonstrate our surrender to the will of GOD, as the early Christians demonstrated by going to their deaths with their hands bound together in front of them.

 

[catholictiger]

GIRM tells us to sit, stand, or kneel but it doesn’t tell us how our hands are supposed to be like. What position does our hands need to be in?

doesn’t matter if the GIRM doesn’t say what to do it doesn’t matter what you do.

 

[puzzleannie]

GIRM tells us to sit, stand, or kneel but it doesn’t tell us how our hands are supposed to be like. What position does our hands need to be in?

the usually don’t give any instruction to the people, only to the priest.
back in the day, we were taught in Catholic school, and altar servers are still taught this way, whenever you are not doing a specific action–crossing yourself, holding a book etc. – your hands should be folded. If you are doing an action that takes one hand–holding a candle, handing something to the priest, the other hand is held against your chest.

if the missal does not give any direction you hold your hands still in the most reverent position.

 

[Inquiringperson]

the usually don’t give any instruction to the people, only to the priest.
back in the day, we were taught in Catholic school, and altar servers are still taught this way, whenever you are not doing a specific action–crossing yourself, holding a book etc. – your hands should be folded. If you are doing an action that takes one hand–holding a candle, handing something to the priest, the other hand is held against your chest.

if the missal does not give any direction you hold your hands still in the most reverent position.

Does that mean we can’t hold hands during the Our Father?

 

[Digitonomy]

As the Christian were led to their deaths in the public arena’s, their hands were tied together in front of them.

Do you have a cite for this? Seems like it would have been more effective to tie their hands behind their backs.

 

[JediHockey]

Does that mean we can’t hold hands during the Our Father?

Kind of. I think the official position of the US bishops is that holding hands during the Our Father is discouraged. It is amazing how many churches still do it though.
EDIT: actually, after looking it up again, it appears that there is no official position for the assembly during the Our Father. Here is a thread about it:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=553598

 

[filiae]

doesn’t matter if the GIRM doesn’t say what to do it doesn’t matter what you do.

Although we are not supposed to hold them in the Orans position. That is for the priest only.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Greetings Inquiringperson,

My hands are usually holding my Missal. If they are not thus occupied, then I hold them in a prayer position.

God bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Georgia]

I see people doing the Orans posture at every Mass. They are likely unaware that it is reserved for the celebrating priest. It happens most when a person is alone during the Our Father. I suppose that it is because that person is used to holding hands and the Orans posture puts a person at about the same position.

Everyone in my family folds hands during the prayers, including the Our Father.

 

[Bezant]

GIRM tells us to sit, stand, or kneel but it doesn’t tell us how our hands are supposed to be like. What position does our hands need to be in?

Good God, does it matter? My parish is pretty orthodox in outlook but very lazy in practice.

 

[Inquiringperson]

Good God, does it matter? My parish is pretty orthodox in outlook but very lazy in practice.

I think it does. After all, the Benedictines are strict in obedience.

 

[GKCT]

During the Lord’s Prayer and Communion especially my hands are in the praying position, that is, with hands together pointing up. During the gospel I hold them in front of me. When lectoring I hold them in the praying position Orans is for the priest, not the laity. I have a missal, but would rather listen to the priest and the lector than follow along. Some in our church hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer, but not many. .

 

[zab]

clean