The Lord's Prayer during Mass

[Ame]

I grew up a in a very rural Catholic church an hour north of New Orleans. My mother taught me that when it was time to say the Lord’s Prayer, you bowed your head, folded your hands in prayer, closed your eyes, and spoke the words with all your heart. It was a special moment when all the voices in the church came together, yet it was a very personal experience. In the 1980’s when it suddenly became part of the Mass to hold hands with the person next to you, it really went against the way my mother taught us to pray. She told us that we did not have to hold anyone’s hand to say the Lord’s Prayer and she let it be our decision.

In February 2001, my mother was diagnosed with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphona - a slow-moving cancer of the lymphatic system. It is not like other cancers that must be removed or treated immediately. In fact, my mother is still alive and healthier than ever and has not had to endure any treatments (praise God). However, we all know that my mother could catch a cold or flu and not have the “immune power” to fight it. We know that her compromised immune system is what could lead to her death. During cold and flu season, my mother feels very leary of the whole idea of shaking hands for the “sign of peace” and holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer at Mass. She sees and hears people around her sneezing, coughing, and blowing their noses and she knows it would not be wise to make contact.

With all of this being said, I would like to know how this whole tradition of holding hands with strangers during Mass got started? Should I feel that I am rejecting my fellow parishoners when I do as I was raised and bow my head during the Lord’s prayer? When the hands are released, I notice a big sigh of relief fall over the entire church telling me people are not so comfortable with this fairly new tradition. I would like to know how other people feel about it. I have a four year old son who has begun to reach out and hold hands with other people during Mass and he recently asked me why I do not hold hands in church. I would like to present different perspectives, other than my “germ-phobic” one!

 

[puzzleannie]

I . In the 1980’s when it suddenly became part of the Mass to hold hands with the person next to you, it really went against the way my mother taught us to pray. She told us that we did not have to hold anyone’s hand to say the Lord’s Prayer and she let it be our decision.

In!

it never became part of the Mass, and still is not. nothing in the rubrics directs the congregation to do this. My guess is it comes from non-liturgical ecumenical settings like AA where the hand holding in a circle may be common (reminds me of the girl scout friendship circle).

Blessings on your family, what a wonderful mama and what a beautiful gift “my mother taught us to pray”.

 

[Kenneth_Jones]

In these parts, the congregation generally holds their hands somewhat out in front of them, palms up in supplication, while they pray. Seems to me we’re mimicking the Priest’s actions, and kind of praying back to him in a gesture he regularly uses. There’s a whole 'nother thread here for the ad orientem folks.

I just fold my hands and pray. Works for me.
Ken

 

[porthos11]

In these parts, the congregation generally holds their hands somewhat out in front of them, palms up in supplication, while they pray. Seems to me we’re mimicking the Priest’s actions, and kind of praying back to him in a gesture he regularly uses. There’s a whole 'nother thread here for the ad orientem folks.

I just fold my hands and pray. Works for me.
Ken

The mimicking the priest thing is actually the problem. One thing that should have been done during the reform was that when the Our Father was made a communal prayer, the rubrics should have been amended to keep the priest’s hands together, since it was no longer a presidential prayer. This would have stopped the whole hand-holding business in the bud.

I guess it’s not too late yet, but it must come from Rome.

 

[jkarp]

The mimicking the priest thing is actually the problem. One thing that should have been done during the reform was that when the Our Father was made a communal prayer, the rubrics should have been amended to keep the priest’s hands together, since it was no longer a presidential prayer. This would have stopped the whole hand-holding business in the bud.

I guess it’s not too late yet, but it must come from Rome.

Actually, in this you are wrong; the proper posture during the Lord’s Prayer (for the congregation) is the Orans posture (the posture described above), not with hands folded. There is a wide spread problem with hand-holding during this part of the Mass but the instruction given by the bishops is that, while this posture isn’t correct, for pastoral reasons, it is best just left alone and dealt with through proper formation & Catechesis.

 

[Dicerning]

Actually, in this you are wrong; the proper posture during the Lord’s Prayer (for the congregation) is the Orans posture (the posture described above), not with hands folded. There is a wide spread problem with hand-holding during this part of the Mass but the instruction given by the bishops is that, while this posture isn’t correct, for pastoral reasons, it is best just left alone and dealt with through proper formation & Catechesis.

This is not true. The posture of the people at prayer is not on this list or mentioned in the GIRM.

Holding hands and the orans posture are right there with doing the lotus position during the lords prayer.

If one can hold hands and if one can do the orans posture …then one can stand on their head during the Lords prayer as well.

 

[Ame]

I’m starting to think that maybe this holding hands thing got started in the area where I grew up (one hour north of New Orleans) after Pope John Paul II visited New Orleans in the 80s. So many of our parishoners participated in that celebration and came back to our parish desiring to hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer.

The answers provided on this forum, so far, are helping me understand that I am not as wrong as I seem to those around me when I do not wish to hold hands. It may even be a “Southern” thing - who knows? I’m still wondering if I should teach my four year old to “go with the flow” and do the hand holding or not…

 

[tobinatorstark]

my church also holds hands during the Lord’s prayer but we aren’t obligated to. Our priest frowns upon it whereas all the priests that I have had in the past encouraged it.

 

[jkarp]

This is not true. The posture of the people at prayer is not on this list or mentioned in the GIRM.

Holding hands and the orans posture are right there with doing the lotus position during the lords prayer.

If one can hold hands and if one can do the orans posture …then one can stand on their head during the Lords prayer as well.

The USCCB has released a statement on the matter, perhaps start there.

 

[japhy]

Actually, in this you are wrong; the proper posture during the Lord’s Prayer (for the congregation) is the Orans posture (the posture described above), not with hands folded.

The USCCB has released a statement on the matter, perhaps start there.

Perhaps you could start by providing a link to the statement.

Here’s what I’ve found on the matter: a USCCB Q&A on the orans posture during the Lord’s Prayer, and an Adoremus article on the orans posture (which mentions a USCCB BCL statement).

Another USCCB document says that “Only the principal celebrant maintains the orans posture for the “Deliver us, Lord, from every evil…”” (n. 36) The context of this statement is that the concelebrants are instructed to assume the orans posture during the Lord’s Prayer; only the principal celebrant maintains that posture during the embolism of the prayer. Since the laity are not concelebrants, and the concelebrants are not permitted to maintain the orans posture after the Lord’s Prayer, then at most the laity may assume that posture (if at all) only through “and deliver us from evil”.

There is no document (that I can find) from any competent authority which calls the orans posture “proper” for the laity during the Our Father as you suggest.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

This is not true. The posture of the people at prayer is not on this list or mentioned in the GIRM.

Holding hands and the orans posture are right there with doing the lotus position during the lords prayer.

If one can hold hands and if one can do the orans posture …then one can stand on their head during the Lords prayer as well.

Hi,

This argument is quite popular, but really very wrong. The GIRM instructions would definitely refute this on—

Movements and Posture

1. The gestures and posture of the priest, the deacon, and the ministers, as well as those of the people, ought to contribute to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, so that the true and full meaning of the different parts of the celebration is evident and that the participation of all is fostered.52 Therefore, attention should be paid to what is determined by this General Instruction and the traditional practice of the Roman Rite and to what serves the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or arbitrary choice.

A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.

…
With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according to whatever is indicated in the Missal.

Since there is no posture prescribed for the Lord’s prayer, it is most in the spirit of public community worship (which is the liturgy) to do what is the custom of the parish where you attend Mass. Orans or even holding hands is a respectful prayer posture—standing on one’s head is definitely not acceptable Catholic prayer posture.

Lux

 

[ac_claire]

The answers provided on this forum, so far, are helping me understand that I am not as wrong as I seem to those around me when I do not wish to hold hands. It may even be a “Southern” thing - who knows? I’m still wondering if I should teach my four year old to “go with the flow” and do the hand holding or not…

Well that’s up to you of course, but in my opinion you should not. Kids are so young, and they’ll grow up with whatever you instill in them right now. Just teach him to pray the traditional, normal way. When he grows up it’ll be up to him if he wants to participate in this non-authorized custom or not.

Just my opinion.

I’m starting to think that maybe this holding hands thing got started in the area where I grew up (one hour north of New Orleans) after Pope John Paul II visited New Orleans in the 80s. So many of our parishoners participated in that celebration and came back to our parish desiring to hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer.

This is interesting…do you know why, like what exactly happened during the Holy Father’s visit that inspired people to start holding hands in your area?

 

[FrDavid96]

I grew up a in a very rural Catholic church an hour north of New Orleans. My mother taught me that when it was time to say the Lord’s Prayer, you bowed your head, folded your hands in prayer, closed your eyes, and spoke the words with all your heart. It was a special moment when all the voices in the church came together, yet it was a very personal experience. In the 1980’s when it suddenly became part of the Mass to hold hands with the person next to you, it really went against the way my mother taught us to pray. She told us that we did not have to hold anyone’s hand to say the Lord’s Prayer and she let it be our decision.

In February 2001, my mother was diagnosed with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphona - a slow-moving cancer of the lymphatic system. It is not like other cancers that must be removed or treated immediately. In fact, my mother is still alive and healthier than ever and has not had to endure any treatments (praise God). However, we all know that my mother could catch a cold or flu and not have the “immune power” to fight it. We know that her compromised immune system is what could lead to her death. During cold and flu season, my mother feels very leary of the whole idea of shaking hands for the “sign of peace” and holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer at Mass. She sees and hears people around her sneezing, coughing, and blowing their noses and she knows it would not be wise to make contact.

With all of this being said, I would like to know how this whole tradition of holding hands with strangers during Mass got started? Should I feel that I am rejecting my fellow parishoners when I do as I was raised and bow my head during the Lord’s prayer? When the hands are released, I notice a big sigh of relief fall over the entire church telling me people are not so comfortable with this fairly new tradition. I would like to know how other people feel about it. I have a four year old son who has begun to reach out and hold hands with other people during Mass and he recently asked me why I do not hold hands in church. I would like to present different perspectives, other than my “germ-phobic” one!

Ame,
Holding hands during the Our Father, or imitating the gesture of the priest-celebrant with the orans position are both liturgical abuses. There is absolutely no obligation on your part to participate in these, regardless of the “pressure” that people around you apply to get you to do these. In fact, the obligation is NOT to do these gestures. Neither your mother nor you need to justify not-holding-hands, nor do you need to provide any explanations other than the fact that these are not legitimate actions during the Mass–it need go no further than that.

As for your young son, that’s a matter of you as a parent explaining to him that not everything he sees other people doing is the right thing to do–and of course, that won’t be the only time you have to say that to him.

 

[love4mary]

God bless your mom and the wonderful teachings and direction she has given you.

But as for holding hands during the Our Father, most of my parish prays in this way. Of course, if one has a compromised immune system or some cold/flu bug, then they usually fold their hands in front of them and never shake hands during the Peace offering.

I am a HUGE supporter of holding hands during the Our Father (health exception for others factored in of course) and when I attend other parishes that do Not do this, I feel uncomfortable.

 

[pismopal]

I have sometimes ignored hand holding and my mass neighbors would sometimes be miffed over it…soo I go along to get along but I dislike the hand holding thing and always enjoy visiting a parish which has not adopted the practise. I also carry a small container of hand sanitizer in my pocket and always use it before Holy Communion. If you think I’m odd…maybe you have not had a serious case of flu. I go to mass to think about God and my short comings not interact with parishoners…sorry:shrug:

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Hi again,

Since there is no posture prescribed, it is fine to pray however you choose, and the only problem is if someone wishes to force their preference regardless of what it is.

it is just as wrong to speak against those who wish to hold hands, as it is to “grab” someone’s hand or make them feel uncomfortable, if they do not wish to hold hands.

Lux

 

[bpbasilphx]

Throughout all the Antiochene churches (Orthodox, Melkite, Syriac, Assyro-Chaldean), the people assume the orans posture during the Lord’s Prayer.

 

[Ame]

As for your young son, that’s a matter of you as a parent explaining to him that not everything he sees other people doing is the right thing to do–and of course, that won’t be the only time you have to say that to him.

Absolutely! I’m extremely old-fashioned as compared to my peers, so I better get comfortable about explaining to my son why I do not follow the crowd. You guys have helped me feel less guilty about not holding hands and more confident in my decision to pray the way dear old mom taught us.

 

[Ruthie]

…attention should be paid to what is determined by this General Instruction and the traditional practice of the Roman Rite and to what serves the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or arbitrary choice.

Bolding mine. The orans posture, and holding hands during the Our Father are **not **traditional. At least, not before Vat. II.

With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according to whatever is indicated in the Missal.

My missal tells me to stand, sit and kneel, and bow during the Creed when we say the part referring to the Incarnation. Nowhere does it say “hold hands” or “orans posture.”

Sorry if I’m sounding grumpy. I’m tired, and may be descending into curmudgeonism.

God bless us all,

Ruthie

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

it never became part of the Mass, and still is not. nothing in the rubrics directs the congregation to do this. My guess is it comes from non-liturgical ecumenical settings like AA where the hand holding in a circle may be common (reminds me of the girl scout friendship circle).

Blessings on your family, what a wonderful mama and what a beautiful gift “my mother taught us to pray”.

Ya know, when there is an excessive number of people holding hands during the Our Father, I wait at the end for somebody to strike up “Taps.” “Day is done, gone the sunnnnnnnnnnn…”