What Is the Correct Posture During the Our Father?

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I always thought it grew out of not being able to hold hands with anyone. When people hold hands here if there is no one to hold their other hand they just hold it out. It is something that grew gradually here. At first, the hands were only held for the Our Father. Then the priest started having the congregation hold hand through the doxology. In fact, hand holding started here through the instruction of the priest. I don’t know when they started to raise their hands up at the doxology. I wonder what they will do next. It does seem to be progressive. There are thing that I think would be good. Bringing children around the altar at special times of the year. Having blessing in the Communion line but as my priest says it is not the Church of me. Obedience is a lost virtue.
 
I had never thought of the not knowing what to do when they cannot hold hands…It could be.
I have always felt very comfortable at Mass anywhere sincerely.
And even that folding hands upon the chest for a blessing,that was new too. But it moved me.
I ve already said this but in one of our visits home,I told my then priest here how humbling it was to see people go for a blessing . I attributed a lot of that to the fact that there are many different religions and branches of Protestantism and mixed marriages.
I was just sharing what was then something different but it didn t strike me the wrong way.
 
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colonel, sir

i disagree

the laity is not supposed to be monkeying the priest

we’ve gone over this time & again, sir…

sk the board deacons & priests,
 
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if you want to raise your palms & hold hands during the mass

far be it from me me to stop you

it is improper, & not within official rubrics

and frankly, sir, a little silly-looking…
 
Perhaps this will help. There are many sites stating that the orans posture is reserved for the presiding priest alone and is not clearly stated in the GIRM, and thus became confusing to the people and they just followed suit without proper instruction.

http://www.canonlaw.info/liturgysacraments_orans.htm

But, do read the final paragraph which basically states that to “un-confuse” the people and to have them follow suit, the presiding priest should pray the Lord’s Prayer with the people with hands in prayer position.
 
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Canon Law does not forbid the orans by laity, so this is merely commentary.
 
Colonel, since he is a priest ,he may be looking at it this way:
There is a part when a priest speaks.
And a part when we answer.
It doesn’t t say there that we are not to speak together with the priest.
This Posture,since he is a priest ,may be as hearing around from a couple of members from the pews saying the words of Consecration with him aloud.
You won t find a prohibition,written like that:" it is prohibited/ forbidden for the Congregation to say the words…etc etc etc."

And if I am speaking apples and oranges,it was nice to meet you and no big deal!
 
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Nice to meet you too, soldier. But at this point, I’m just about to throw my hands up! 😎
 
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TheOldColonel said:
Canon Law does not forbid the orans by laity, so this is merely commentary.
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Maybe so, but so many Catholic scholars are writing these. One stated that it is mentioned in the Sacramentary which we don’t read in our missal.
 
It’s not in the sacramentary. It’s not anywhere.👾
 
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colonel is heavy rank

as you know; equivalent to “captain in USN”

maybe we were serving at the same time, who knows… ?

Sir…
 
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TheOldColonel said:
You’re the one who introduce monkeys into the conversation. So, enjoy playing with your monkey analogy.

Yet, I still challenge you to produce any official church document clearly prohibiting the orans posture for laity. You know and I know you will not be able to do so.
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22 3 Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority. Vatican II Sacrosanctum Concilium
Therefore, your comments are mere opinion.
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Nonsense.
At least mine are base on actual practice at masses, around the world everyday. Indeed, it’s happening somewhere as I write.
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The fact that abuses do happen in no way whatever justifies them.
I’ve seen clergy try to stop it. They fail miserable each time and finally just get transferred to another parish. The orans posture among laity is here to stay because we’re here to stay.
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The laity being “here to stay” has nothing to do with the topic at hand. You’re merely rambling.
 
rondirect said:
Perhaps this will help. There are many sites stating that the orans posture is reserved for the presiding priest alone and is not clearly stated in the GIRM, and thus became confusing to the people and they just followed suit without proper instruction.

Liturgy & Sacraments Documentation

But, do read the final paragraph which basically states that to “un-confuse” the people and to have them follow suit, the presiding priest should pray the Lord’s Prayer with the people with hands in prayer position.
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With regard to the last paragraph: I’ve heard that proposal before. I don’t accept it.

I don’t see how the solution makes any sense. I don’t see how changing the rubrics so that the priest no longer uses the orans position at the Our Father in any way solves the problem at hand, which is the laity assuming the gesture of the celebrant.

If we were to do that, would we then apply the same “solution” to other instances?

I don’t see how it actually solves the problem.
 
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I think the bigger issue is individualism.
The specific “orans” practice is well, in practice now, and it’s near impossible to put the cat back in the bag.

But we can speak about individualism. And limits to self expression. And have good catechesis in regards to the Mass.
People aren’t going to stop doing this because someone says so, they will stop doing it when they see no reason to do it.
I don;t do it. Others do. Maybe in the future fewer people will but I’m not losing sleep over the particular practice.
 
brian_custer said:
colonel is heavy rank

as you know; equivalent to “captain in USN”

maybe we were serving at the same time, who knows… ?

Sir…
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(salutes)

Calling a Naval hospital as an Air Force captain was always momentarily amusing…I’d be like, naw, dude, I’m just a Lieutenant!

Always got my call transferred pretty quick though, and always appropriately, through no fault of my own! 😁😁😁
 
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