No one told me we weren't supposed to hold hands!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Abundant
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Abundant said:
So, I was just browsing through the Forums, when I came across this response from Father:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=129571&highlight=communion+blessing+non-catholics

It says we are NOT supposed to hold hand’s during the Lord’s Prayer? I had no idea. :eek:

I have NEVER been to a parish where people didn’t hold hands. Occasionally I have been next to someone who didn’t, but I just figured they had a cold, were shy, whatever… I live in Texas, is this a Southern custom? Even at Spanish masses I have been to people hold hands (probably more there than in the English masses).

So, are we NOT supposed to hold hands really? I don’t know how I missed this my whole life!
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I wonder just how much energy and time has been wasted debating this matter? 😦

You want to hold hands? Then hold hands, but don’t ever force/coerce anyone else to!

It’s as simple as that!
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
I don’t understand how holding my wife’s hand down by our side “mimics the priest’s hand gestures.” The priest a) isn’t holding anyone’s hand, and b) has his hands outstretched at this point of the Mass.
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Why hold hands just for the Pater Noster and not for the Collect or the Agnus Dei? It’s notable for being the only congregational prayer in the Ordinary that has the priest with outstretched arms. It also seems to be a near-universal custom for the people holding hands to then raise them during the doxology.

It seems plainly obvious to me that the point of holding hands at this part of the Holy Mass is because it mimics the priest’s gestures. Same goes for holding your hands up when you respond “and with your spirit”.
 
EphelDuath said:
Why hold hands just for the Pater Noster and not for the Collect or the Agnus Dei? It’s notable for being the only congregational prayer in the Ordinary that has the priest with outstretched arms. It also seems to be a near-universal custom for the people holding hands to then raise them during the doxology.

It seems plainly obvious to me that the point of holding hands at this part of the Holy Mass is because it mimics the priest’s gestures. Same goes for holding your hands up when you respond “and with your spirit”.
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Maybe by some, but not by all. And for those who do not intend it as a sign that there is no difference between them and the priest or as a sign that they have the same power of imparting a blessing that the priest has its just not a problem to hold hands so long as it is not thought of as a part of the rite itself. You don’t know why they are holding hands, so please don’t claim that you do.
 
clem456 said:
Families are holding hands now? :eek:
What’s next, hugs, kisses, singing of songs?
We live in a dangerous world!!
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Don’t worry, we have already had our knuckles rapped for hugs and kisses. :sad_yes:

Maybe the best thing to do is to walk into Mass and not sit near anyone you know. That way you won’t accidentally touch your family member. And dear Lord forbid if we touch on purpose.
 
thewanderer said:
Maybe by some, but not by all. And for those who do not intend it as a sign that there is no difference between them and the priest or as a sign that they have the same power of imparting a blessing that the priest has its just not a problem to hold hands so long as it is not thought of as a part of the rite itself. You don’t know why they are holding hands, so please don’t claim that you do.
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I didn’t say they are intending something bad. They probably don’t even realize the theological significance of it.
Orogeny said:
What does the Church mean when she speaks of extraordinary and ordinary ministers of Holy Communion?
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GIRM 162. The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion.

RS 88 Only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the Priest celebrant in accordance with the norm of law.
 
Originally Posted by EphelDuath
It’s the same reason why turning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion into ordinary ministers is bad.

Now I agree with Orogeny - if an EMHC becomes an ordinary minister - it must be via ordination, and I don’t think that is bad.

Some of those on CAF tend to think all protestants are united. We got hand holding from the protestants - really which one of the thousands of denominations out there. Growing up as a dutch Calvinist we did not hold hands. - and they are Protestant.
 
EphelDuath said:
I didn’t say they are intending something bad. They probably don’t even realize the theological significance of it.
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Just curious… but if I stand at the same time as the priest would that not have the same theological significance of attempting to claim that there is no difference between me and the priest as well? Do you see what I’m getting at? Just because the people do something similar to the priest at some point does not mean that they are signifying that there is no difference between them and the priest. 🤷
 
Alas, if only the time would come when the holding of hands during the Lord’s Prayer is the biggest controversy in the liturgy. 😛
 
My parish has quite obviously been holding hands from the beginning when I got there. And I was just told by someone this past Sunday, that we don’t have to hold hands if we don’t want to. Most of them does tho. I, personally, don’t feel comfortable doing it for two reasons, I have had shoulder problems and one surgery on my right shoulder with the left messed up a bit which makes it uncomfortable for me to hold my hands up high and also, I have some muscle problems in my hands when nervous will squeeze the person’s hand to death. I can’t help what my body does. lol.
 
EphelDuath said:
GIRM 162. The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion.

RS 88 Only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the Priest celebrant in accordance with the norm of law.
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Let’s try this again. What does the Church mean when she speaks of **extraordinary **and **ordinary **ministers of Holy Communion? If you believe that it has anything to do with frequency of use, you are mistaken.

Who is the ordinary minister of Holy Communion? How about the Eucharistic Minister?

Peace

Tim
 
clem456 said:
Families are holding hands now? :eek:
What’s next, hugs, kisses, singing of songs?
We live in a dangerous world!!
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Ruuuuuuunnnn!!! It’s a Protestant love-fest!!! Don’t let anyone touch you!!! 😛
 
Orogeny said:
Let’s try this again. What does the Church mean when she speaks of **extraordinary **and **ordinary **ministers of Holy Communion? If you believe that it has anything to do with frequency of use, you are mistaken.

Who is the ordinary minister of Holy Communion? How about the Eucharistic Minister?
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I have no idea what you’re talking about. EMHC aren’t supposed to be overused. This has been emphasized by the USCCB and the Holy See. It diminishes the differences between priest and layperson. All I said was that holding hands during the Pater Noster is implicitly wrong for the same reason that letting EMHC become “ordinary” (i.e., used all of the time) is.
 
VeritasLuxMea said:
Ruuuuuuunnnn!!! It’s a Protestant love-fest!!! Don’t let anyone touch you!!! 😛
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Someone’s singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone’s singing Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbayah
:extrahappy:
:bounce:
:love:
:whacky:
👋
😉
:grouphug:

Et cum spiritu tuo
 
EphelDuath said:
I have no idea what you’re talking about. EMHC aren’t supposed to be overused. This has been emphasized by the USCCB and the Holy See. It diminishes the differences between priest and layperson. All I said was that holding hands during the Pater Noster is implicitly wrong for the same reason that letting EMHC become “ordinary” (i.e., used all of the time) is.
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OK, so you DON’T know what the Church means when she uses those terms.

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion - A lay person (not ORDAINED - Extra (outside) Ordinary (ordination)) who helps distribute Holy Communion.

Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion - A deacon (ORDAINED) who helps distribute Holy Communion.

Eucharistic Minister - A priest or bishop (ORDAINED) who consecrates the sacrament.

The terms have nothing to do with frequency of use.

Peace

Tim
 
Personally, I don’t really care if you hold hands, as long as you don’t raise them up two feet above your heads or call attention to yourself while doing it, and as long as no stranger tries to hold my hands.

So, I would just say don’t be distracting or pushy.
 
Orogeny said:
OK, so you DON’T know what the Church means when she uses those terms.

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion - A lay person (not ORDAINED - Extra (outside) Ordinary (ordination)) who helps distribute Holy Communion.

Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion - A deacon (ORDAINED) who helps distribute Holy Communion.
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Good thing I didn’t specifically call them an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. 🤷 Read my original post. I said that EMHC shouldn’t become ordinary ministers. I didn’t say they cannot be ordained. I said that their use should not be ORDINARY because they are by nature EXTRAordinary.

You obviously know what I meant, so please stop hounding me about this quibble, alright?
 
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