A blessed Advent to all!
Concerning the topic at hand, I was surprised, to be honest, to hear that a number of Catholics find holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer highly inappropriate at mass.
Where I come from the faithful, or the vast majority for sure, welcome holding hands especially in what we call ‘goddas kabiie’ (big mass) usually when there is a feast. You see hands eagerly extended, faces lit with friendly expressions before turning to focus on the Lord’s Prayer, often sung. You can easily realise then that this physical gesture of unity of children of one Father is meaningful to us and thus appreciated. NEVER heard a complaint about it, and I’m a cradle Catholic and have been active in the church working among young and adult Catholics for years.
I couldn’t remember any teaching or canon of the Catholic Church prohibiting holding hands. So I decided to do some searching and came out with some good articles. Check out these two on
www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur10.htm and
www.catholicmatters.com/holdhand.htm
So there are no specific directives concerning faithful posture during the Lord’s Prayer. It is a matter of opinion then. Some find it inappropriate, distracting, meaningless, silly or just uncomfortable, others think it’s ok or even ‘love it’ like me or Catholics in my country – maybe there is a cultural aspect to it.
As for the main celebrant and other priests, I read what the rubrics say, but does ‘extends his hand’ means they must/should not extend and join hands?
I hope things are clear for them.
As a Catholic, where there IS a teaching of the Church then ‘my opinion’ = what the Catholic Church teaches. For I have absolute faith and trust ing the One Holy Universal Church of God.
Peace,
Rina
