What do you do during the Our Father at Mass (besides pray)

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SteveGC said:
Where/when did the holding hands originate? Has it slowly evolved from evangelical/charismatic converts into the Church? Or are there instances historically where it’s been done by Catholics themselves?

It’s hard to criticize it, although I personally don’t prefer it. Seems like an ad-lib to the missal. I like the notion of an outward display of parishioner unity, but I just think that the norms of the rubrics that all of us already accomplish in unison at Mass is plenty satisfactory for this display. Why the need to add to it?

Anyone have any suggestions for helping one’s family understand why I would want to cease doing this, even though we’ve been doing it for the past several years?

Does Rome have nothing to say about it?
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Holding hands is silly, superfluous, distracting, intrusive, and has never been an approved part of the liturgy. Reference:

Holding hands during the Our Father has become commonplace, but it is an illicit addition to the Liturgy. Clarifications and Interpretations of the GIRM “Notitiae” Vol. XI (1975) p. 226] explains:

“. . .holding hands is a sign of intimacy and not reconciliation or unity, and as such disrupts the flow of the Sacramental signs in the Mass which leads to the Sacramental sign of intimacy with Christ and our neighbor, Holy Communion.”
 
On the hand thing, I just hold them together in front of myself. Kinda like a school boy lol
 
I see all the mentioned positions at my local parish and at the Servite Shrine where I attend with my Community. The proper/prefered position for laity is hands folded in prayer. That is how I prefer, even if I’m with my family. I want to close my eyes, go inward and pray, alone. To avoid appearing to shrug off the hand holders, I begin the position a moment prior to the beginning of the Our Father. I’m already with eyes closed, hands folded so there isn’t a question how I’ll be praying. I have tried hand holding as it is very popular in places I worship but it’s distracting to me and I want to pray alone in posture but aloud with the congregation. The orans position is for clergy. Lots of people from our charismatic group and others commonly pray that way however. I’m open and friendly at the sign of peace but keep it to a small hug, not embrace, with my husband and handshake with others. At times when I’ve been ill or fearing the flu season or if I’m holding a handkerchief (the gift of tears never fails me at Mass) I don’t want to handshake at the sign of peace. I will keep my hands folded to my chest and give a big smile and slight bow as greeting whilst saying ‘Peace be with you’.
 
I fold my hands. I used to see people in various parishes hold hands, but over the years that has become less and less.

It’s not so common anymore, that it’s very noticeable when people do it. I’ve noticed that the parishes in my area which still do it are of a certain kind (not across the board, and not that this is bad, but just tends to be) … mostly in more extroverted (meaning very active), suburban parishes and will tend to do more contemporary/praise-type of music for mass.

I personally don’t like holding hands. . And although I believe that those people who do try to hold others’ hands mean well, I don’t think it is being considerate. It’s like someone who doesn’t believe in holding hands physically grabbing both of the hands of another and placing them in the folded position. Although they’d mean well, it would be very inconsiderate to do that to them.
 
macmur said:
I keep my hands folded in prayer.I am not fond of having to hold hands with other people it is a germ phobia for me.Our church sings the Lords Prayer,and our priest usually invites the children up to the altar with him to sing it.
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I don’t think he is suppose to do that. That bothers me more than people holding hands with their family:shrug:
 
I checked “other” in my vote because I hold the missal and read from it while praying the Our Father. I do this so that my neighbors do not reach out to hold my hand. It works out well.
 
Am I the only person who has never had someone try to hold their hand? My husband, yes, but anyone else I happen to sit by, never!
 
I always join my hands in the traditional manner - palms together, fingers pointing up, thumbs crossed right over left. I generally have my hands in this position any time I am standing or kneeling at Mass.
My parish doesn’t do the hands-holding thing, except some visitors and newer parishioners. But we’re the exception. As far as I can tell, holding hands is the norm at all the other parishes in the area (except, of course, the FSSP/EF/Latin Mass community). If I’m somewhere where I think someone might try to grab my hand, I close my eyes and put my hands together firmly before they get the chance. (Then I try to smile warmly at the Sign of Peace, even though I don’t really like that part.)
 
I hold hands and thank God we don’t sing the Our Father anymore, just say it the way Jesus taught it!

Anyway, the custom at our Church is to hold hands, raise them as above poster mentioned.

I have always reflected on how Christ set up His Church as a community. Pauls analogy of us being different parts of the body of the Church, that through communion we truly take part in being the body of Christ in communion with our fellow catholics on earth, the saints and angels in heaven et.c
 
I’ve seen people use the orans position…okay, okay I’ve done it too countless times (mostly to let others know I don’t want to hold hands), but I’ve never heard of it as being a bad thing. I guess I’m just used to it because of seeing people praise and worship in that way (sometimes in Mass but mostly outside of Mass). Just curious, what is bad about it apart from the fact that it’s something the priest does? That is, is it something that is addressed in the GIRM?
 
TheRealJuliane said:
The custom at one parish is to hold the interior hands, the person on the end holds up the unoccupied hand in the orans position. If you are the “piggy in the middle,” you are holding both hands.

When the phrase, “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever,” is spoken, we elevate our hands, the ones being held and the ones in the orans position, if you are on the end of the row or the outside member of your family.

At the other parish (much more orthodox), very few people hold hands and I have yet to notice any solo folks with their hands up. At the weekday Mass, almost no one holds hands (a lot of singles attend) and I am very happy not to have to join hands like I’m going to play “Red Rover.” I do not like this aspect of the Mass although I love to recite the Our Father in unison. But having been away from the Church for over 20 years, I just thought that was something I’d have to accept and adapt to, until I went to the other parish and saw it was optional.

It certainly does have a sort of charismatic feel to it.
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This is how it is at the parish I used to go to as well (holding in the middle, orans on the ends, elevated at the end). Interesting, since we live in the same area. It must really be a geographical thing then.

Personally, I used to always clasp my hands, but after a couple times of doing that despite someone reaching for my hand, it just made me so uncomfortable to refuse them. I felt so mean, since they most likely didn’t know why I was doing it. They probably just thought I was being stuck up or rude. Now I hold hands, unless the person next to me doesn’t reach for mine. If I’m alone, orans.
 
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