What are we supposed to do with our hands during mass?

[SueKrum]

I’ve recently heard a lot of comments from people debating on holding hands in church, raising one’s hands up during certian parts of the mass, etc.

I’ve been carefully watching everyone in church, trying to decide what the appropriate and inappropriate hand jestures are.

I know we are supposed to make the sign of the cross along with the priest, both at the begening of mass and the end. I also thought that right before the gospil reading, we are supposed to make a cross on our forheads, lips and over our hearts. am I right so far? my mom is totally blind, so never really has gotten into any hand jestures outside of these, so I was never tought any of the other things I see people doing. I’ve taken to just following what other people are doing because I’m really not sure what is proper.

so what are we supposed to do when we say “and also with you”? (I think we say it two or three times during the mass) I see people raise their hands in a sorda “it’s your turn” jesture. also, I’ve noticed that when they say, “life up your hearts” and the people say “we have already lifted them up to the Lord” people raise their hands from the previous jesture to up high as if making an offer of something invisable. are we supposed to do that? I don’t remember people doing that when I was a child.

anyway, I’m not losing sleep over it or anything, I just thought I’d ask. I’ve always sorda wondered.

thanks.

 

[Lucania]

I’ve taken to just following what other people are doing because I’m really not sure what is proper.

Sue, I think your above statement is why we see so many people doing those what some people have called “touchdown” gestures. I don’t know where or when it was started, maybe with the Charasmatic movement, not sure, but because people see others do it, they think they should be doing it too. I think it looks kind of silly if you ask me. I don’t believe it is in the GIRM to make these gestures. When the Priest says “The Lord be with you,” we are to say “and also with you.” No hand gestures(not to confuse you, but I go to Immaculate Conception downtown Jax, & we say “and with your spirit.”)The same with the other responses, we are to respond verbally(excluding mea culpa & the sign of the cross of course). That is how I was taught when I converted in 1995. I see it in alot of Churches around this area, but not very many do those hand/arm gestures in my Parish, at least I haven’t noticed. To answer your question about what to do with our hands, I just fold them in front of me at my waist, unless I am holding a Missalette .

 

[ComradeAndrei]

Do what has been proper in the past-the signs of the cross (optional also at the absolution if the confiteor is recited) striking the breast at the “mea culpa” in the confiteor if it is recited is another traditionally optional gesture. Aside from these, I just try to fold my hands or put them on the pew in front of me.

I wouldn’t recommend anything else.

 

[blessedtoo]

I keep my hands folded in prayer throughout the Mass because that’s how the nuns taught us back in the 60’s. The Mass is complete and has no need for innovation. Everything we do and say, along with the priest, expresses and confirms our unity as the Body of Christ, our communion with other Catholics, and our interaction with the celebrant. We do not “need” to add anything to what the Church has provided in the Liturgy.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

As I recall, it was semi-facetiously stated during Vatican I that the layman should have his rosary in one hand and his collection envelope in the other.

 

[buffalo]

We are not to mimic the Priests hand posture.

 

[kage_ar]

Not really done with the hands - but, we should remember to bow during the Creed at “by the Power of the Holy Spirit…”

 

[Lucania]

Not really done with the hands - but, we should remember to bow during the Creed at “by the Power of the Holy Spirit…”

Yes! It is written in the Missalette in case anyone forgets

 

[briang72]

so what are we supposed to do when we say “and also with you”? (I think we say it two or three times during the mass) I see people raise their hands in a sorda “it’s your turn” jesture. also, I’ve noticed that when they say, “life up your hearts” and the people say “we have already lifted them up to the Lord” people raise their hands from the previous jesture to up high as if making an offer of something invisable. are we supposed to do that? I don’t remember people doing that when I was a child.

Here is how one priest addressed your question:
goccn.org/Diocese/spcl/RefArcB2/07OTB.asp

In summary, the priest explains that if it hasn’t been introduced by the proper authorities, it has no place in the Mass.

Thus, answering the three questions that have been raised regarding the use of certain hand gestures in the Catholic Mass, I would conclude the following: 1) The use of hand gestures towards the priest with the response “And also with you” is an innovation that has no place within the Catholic Mass; 2) The use of the orans, a position with an established historical precedent in Christian prayer, should not be introduced into the Catholic Mass until a definition has been given by the authority of the Church; 3) The gesture of holding hands during the Our Father has no historical tradition in the Catholic liturgy and should not be introduced into the Catholic Mass unless the competent ecclesial authorities were to decide the contrary.

In conclusion, regarding the use of bodily gestures within the Catholic Mass, it seems to me that there needs to be unity. The people become confused when one parish does one thing and down the road or in the next town, another parish is doing something entirely different. “Therefore no other person whatsoever, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on their own authority” (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, #22.3).

 

[SueKrum]

so what about making a cross on the forhead, lips and heart before the gospil? are we not supposed to do that either?

 

[Katie1723]

Not really done with the hands - but, we should remember to bow during the Creed at “by the Power of the Holy Spirit…”

I remember as a kid when we had to genuflect at this part.
Kathy

 

[briang72]

It is in the GIRM:

In Mass without a deacon:

1. At the ambo, the priest opens the book and, with hands joined, says, Dominus vobiscum (The Lord be with you), and the people respond, Et cum spiritu tuo (And also with you). Then he says, Lectio sancti Evangelii (A reading from the holy gospel), ***making the sign of the cross with his thumb on the book and on his forehead, mouth, and breast, which everyone else does as well. ***The people say the acclamation Gloria tibi, Domine (Glory to you, Lord). The priest incenses the book, if incense is used (cf. below, nos. 276-277). Then he proclaims the Gospel and at the end says the acclamation Verbum Domini (The gospel of the Lord), to which all respond, Laus tibi, Christe (Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ). The priest kisses the book, saying quietly, Per evangelica dicta (May the words of the gospel).

In Mass with a deacon:

1. If incense is used, the deacon assists the priest when he puts incense in the thurible during the singing of the Alleluia or other chant. Then he makes a profound bow before the priest and asks for the blessing, saying in a low voice, Iube, domine, benedicere (Father, give me your blessing). The priest blesses him, saying, Dominus sit in corde tuo (The Lord be in your heart). The deacon signs himself with the Sign of the Cross and responds, Amen. Having bowed to the altar, he then takes up the Book of the Gospels which was placed upon it. He proceeds to the ambo, carrying the book slightly elevated. He is preceded by a thurifer, carrying a thurible with smoking incense, and by servers with lighted candles. There the deacon, with hands joined, greets the people, saying, Dominus vobiscum (The Lord be with you). Then, at the words Lectio sancti Evangelii (A reading from the holy gospel), he signs the book with his thumb and, afterwards, himself on his forehead, mouth, and breast. He incenses the book and proclaims the Gospel reading. When the reading is concluded, he says the acclamation Verbum Domini (The gospel of the Lord), and all respond, Laus tibi, Christe (Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ). He then venerates the book with a kiss, saying privately, Per evangelica dicta (May the words of the gospel), and returns to the priest’s side.

My own opinion is that we should still do this when in Mass with a deacon, even though it is not explicitly stated in 175. I was never instructed otherwise by the nuns at my Catholic school

 

[Lucania]

so what about making a cross on the forhead, lips and heart before the gospil? are we not supposed to do that either?

Yes. We are suppose to do that.

 

[A2SciTeach]

A good rule of thumb - keep your hands to yourself folded in prayer unless as previous people have replied, you are making the sign of the cross. At the sign of peace, you may nod to, or shake hands with the persons close to you, please no crawling over the pews or running about in the aisle. Making a two-fingered peace sign to people in the choir loft isn’t a good idea either.