The end of touchy-feely practices at Mass in the United States?

[CB_Catholic]

Our Bishop has not said anything yet, and our Pastor recently wrote in the bulletin that no changes will be made yet, but that people who are ill or suspect they are becoming ill should stay home, and stay home until they are better. He also said that we all should take common sense precautions–washing hands, covering our mouths if we cough, and consider refraining from the cup and shaking hands if we feel it necessary, but the cup will still be offered. Nothing will be changed until more definitive guidelines are issued by the CDC, but we are all expected to use common sense and proper hygeine precautions and stay home if ill and not come back too early.

I think this is the most common sense approach, take responsibility and do your part in not spreading Swine Flu or any other illness. I also would like to emphasize that it can be spread during the prodomal stages, when you aren’t up to par, maybe feeling fluish, achy, headachy, etc. and think you may be coming down with something, but still aren’t hit with the full-blown illness, so take precautions and stay home if you think you are getting sick.

 

[dashso40]

This is my personal opinion:

Every posture at a Catholic Mass has a specific purpose and meaning. The USCCB has stated that there is no defined gesture for the assembly during the Our Father prayer. So, when people start adding things to the liturgy, despite their well-meaning intentions, they are alienating those of us who want to stick to what’s proper.

I personally don’t get worked up about it if I see a couple in front of me doing it. But at some parishes, it is expected that you “play along.” The parish I went to RCIA with, for example is one of those parishes: they will grab your hands and they will go across the aisle to join hands with the people on that side. I went to Mass there this past Saturday (to see if things have changed) and when the Our Father came, I put my hands up to my chest in a prayer position. The people on my left and right, simultaneously, grabbed my hands. Do you know how difficult it was to then offer them the Sign of Peace? They totally disrespected me.

Anyways, I rant, but that’s one reason for ya.

Goodness, people at my parish grab hands but don’t force others…if I were you, I would try another church

 

[barb_finnegan]

I have nothing against people holding hands during the Our Father of their own volition. If a family wants to hold hands during the Our Father (which is, after all, about our Father, not just my Father and your Father, but our Father), then they should be permitted to do so, since the Church does not prescribe how they should hold their hands.

I do object, however, to being told to hold hands, or being forced to hold hands. I much prefer to keep the “traditional” posture of prayer, hands clasped or palm-against-palm. Since the Church does not legislate the posture for the faithful’s hands, the priest nor the bishop has the right to tell us to hold hands with one another at this time, whether by a general announcement before Mass, or by an addition of words to the Mass itself.

I also object to members of the congregation using the orans posture (hands outstretched) during the Our Father. They’re mimicking the priest’s posture (which is not permitted), and they only do it then, as opposed to all the other times the priest uses this posture for his arms. Furthermore, there’s liturgical speculation that the priest shouldn’t be using the orans posture at this time (even though that’s what he’s told to use in the books) because he is not praying on behalf of the congregation, but with the congregation: every time the priest uses the orans posture in the Mass, he’s the only one speaking, praying on behalf of the Church, except for the Our Father.

That’s my stance on the matter.

That’s how I feel about it, too. And especially with the flu season upon us.

And that’s one of the reasons why I go to the TLM exclusively.

And for heaven’s sake, people-if you feel sick, STAY HOME! Don’t spread your germs around!