Up-turned palms when praying the Our Father

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Arimor

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I attend both the TLM and the NO, and I’ve noticed in the latter, some of the congregation turn their palms up when praying the Our Father.

I don’t recall seeing this when I was younger, is this a relatively new thing?

I had never done this, however have started doing it during the NO, and wanted to know how this came about, as my initial thought was that it almost seems slightly Protestant.

Many thanks.
 
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It’s called the “orans position”, it seems to have caught on in the last 20 years, and it’s apparently allowed in USA. Some priests and some people, including me, do not like it because it’s not how we were taught to hold our hands while praying and it seems imitative of the priest’s gestures. However, I don’t feel strongly enough about it to complain. I just continue to fold my hands or whatever because I feel silly making a gesture that I associate with the priest or deacon.

I will say that it’s preferable to holding hands during the Our Father.
 
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Thank you for the explanation Tis_Bearself. I have to say that it really isn’t my thing and have felt slightly self-conscious the last couple of times I’ve done it. Now that I know a bit more, I don’t think I’ll continue doing it.

Many thanks.
 
I feel like it only has been used in my church in the last few years. I’m one of the very few that just stands with my hands folded in prayer. I just feel it is more reverent.
 
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Arimor said:
have felt slightly self-conscious the last couple of times I’ve done it. Now that I know a bit more, I don’t think I’ll continue doing it.
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I came to the same conclusion. I think of it as a posture appropriate to the priest but not myself.
 
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Tis_Bearself said:
It’s called the “orans position”, it seems to have caught on in the last 20 years, and it’s apparently allowed in USA.
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I recall seeing a document to the effect that it’s discouraged. My understanding is that the orans position is reserved to the celebrant. But I certainly could be mistaken.
 
I was taught to hold hands during the Our Father.

One theological connection I have come to appreciate from raising my hands during the Our Father is the reflection of embracing Crucifixion as Jesus is Crucified. Reflecting on doing the will of the Father by sharing the forgiveness of sins.
 
Going back a year or two, we used to get thread after thread in the Liturgy & Sacraments forum, asking this same question. After a time, the topic dropped out of sight. Why that was, I don’t know. As for my own view, it hasn’t changed since I posted this last year:
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Holding hands during Pater Noster — Why? Liturgy and Sacraments
When we first moved to the parish where we live now, the parish administrator who was temporarily in charge wanted the whole congregation to hold hands for the Our Father, all along every row. Nearly everyone did that, including my wife and me. Then a new pastor was appointed and he wanted it done differently. Now nearly everyone in the congregation, including us, uses the orans posture. I’m okay with it either way. The priest is the boss and I do what I’m told.
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Holding hands during Pater Noster — Why? said:
When we first moved to the parish where we live now, the parish administrator who was temporarily in charge wanted the whole congregation to hold hands for the Our Father, all along every row.
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LOL! I remember the human chains reaching across aisles and pews to make sure everyone held someone’s hand during the prayer. I tried to sit where I would be unavailable for the “chain.” I suppose that is supposed to foster togetherness and unity, but one priest whom I admire said it is nonsense, since unity is created when receiving the eucharist.
 
neophyte said:
I recall seeing a document to the effect that it’s discouraged. My understanding is that the orans position is reserved to the celebrant. But I certainly could be mistaken.
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There are such documents. However, in some of the dioceses I visit, 90 percent of the people in the pews do it. It does not appear to be discouraged, or the bishop would surely issue some sort of a guidance based on almost everyone using the position.

When I was young, the position was primarily used by Catholic charismatics. I can tell you the sisters who taught us kids would have definitely “discouraged” any elementary schooler they saw praying in that manner.
 
BartholomewB said:
After a time, the topic dropped out of sight. Why that was, I don’t know.
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COVID has kiboshed a lot of this “contact” stuff. Kind of hard to hold hands with anyone but your spouse and kids when people are sitting 6 feet apart. It has also done away with handshaking, socializing and hugging at the Sign of Peace.

As a practical matter, even in non-COVID times I would prefer not to grab a stranger’s hand just before I go up and use my hands to receive Communion (since I normally receive in the hand). I could carry hand sanitizer and use it after we drop hands, but that strikes me as looking rather unmannerly, like you’re indicating that the other person has germs.

If we must give a sign of fellowship, I am fine with the upraised hand, “peace sign”, or nod. I prefer not to touch people.
 
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It is not how I was taught as a child. However, I think it is an excellent way to pray. If you don’t care for it, don’t do it!
 
I wonder if it is a “gift” from the charismatic side of the aisle, whether Catholic or otherwise. I kind of like it. And I’m guessing this is why it is done in charismatic circles, but I like the fact that it is a bodily gesture that is expressing what I feel inside, namely, that I am open and eager to receive whatever God wants to give me. Of course you can have this attitude in your heart without having your palms upraised, but sometimes it is nice to express with your body what your heart is feeling.
 
My understanding is that it is a prayer position used in the early centuries of the Church.

I might use it if I were out on a hill somewhere just talking to Jesus myself. It seems rather St. Francis-ish in that context.

Just not in church. Apart from this being a typical clergy gesture, when pews are at normal capacity, you’re likely to be bumping your neighbor’s arms if you all try to do this position in a row.
 
Some bishops have discouraged it because it looks as though the people are imitating the priest during the Our Father, but some are ok with it.

I used to be more distracted seeing other people doing it, especially if I happened to be accidentally ‘elbowed’, but not so much anymore. I have to admit that I used to be slightly annoyed when I was told (often here) to just ‘not be distracted’. I was in a situation where the Mass had so many ‘distractions’ and oddities that it just ate into me. Thankfully I moved and my current parish is just wonderful. Probably the last 9 months or so of happiness helped take some of the crank out of me. But I do have a lot of sympathy for people who have to deal with distraction, even if it’s just ‘one little thing’, it can eat away into a person.
 
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It’s a body language of openness. Of opening up to God during prayer. I don’t think it has anything to do with trying to imitate the priest. It’s personal. The spirit of openness is going to open up the body, as well. So, open palms upward, directed toward God.

What’s wrong with that?
 
I don’t do it myself, but even though the Church doesn’t favor it, if local custom allows it, and if the local bishop doesn’t object, then I don’t object either. Not the hill I’d die on, not by a long shot.

As far as hand-holding, again, I don’t do it myself, but if I were in a setting where it would appear confrontational, or even racist (that could be an issue in my part of the country), not to do it, I will join in, even if it’s not my preference.

I have to think that the evil one is delighted to see us quibbling over what kind of bodily posture we use while praying. The mere fact that we pray is more important than any posture.
 
I do both - holding my hands together and the orans posture. I wasn’t aware of people being “allowed” or " not allowed". My first ever church attendance was in a Protestant’s ( it was while trying to “study and observe” Christians when I belonged to an absolutely different faith). . There, I saw people holding their hands high (some crying). I have adopted both the postures, since then. Am I offending the Catholic faith by doing so?
 
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