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Holding Hands for the "Our Father"

Posted on 07/23/2005 9:15:15 AM PDT by netmilsmom

I have a general question for the Catholics here. How many of you live in a Diocese that openly encourages holding hands for the "Our Father"?

Not in the parishes but the Diocese. I know that St. Louis and Charlotte discourage this practice. How about yours?


TOPICS: Catholic; Worship
KEYWORDS: holdinghands; liberalcatholics; orans
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To: GrannyML

"Otherwise, the people next to you actually grab your hand and won't take no for an answer..."

How about a good, loud, "Get your hands off me!"


41 posted on 07/24/2005 9:51:12 PM PDT by dsc
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To: livius

AMEN!!!!!I dislike the touchy-feely part especially when someone has been coughing all through mass and using their hand to cover it up,then wants me to hold the hand...It amazes me how quickly the liberals wanted to kill all the good parts of the liturgy and how looooooong it takes to get parts of it back...The only thing I know is that the libs won't be successful.Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against his church...


42 posted on 07/25/2005 3:26:10 AM PDT by fishbabe
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To: steve8714
"I refuse any sign of false closeness to strangers. I have always hated the sign of peace.

Not having been a cradle Catholic (my wife and I converted from a Protestant denomination over a decade ago), I am admittedly not up on all the fine points of liturgy being discussed here. That said, we do have a different take on the holding of hands , which is practiced both in our home parish in northern Minnesota, and also in the parishes we attend in Arizona in the winter. We find it to be a moving, tangible example of oneness in the Lord, a physical demonstration of the fellowship of believers, a reminder that faith in Jesus Christ is a far more important bond linking us all together than all the social, economic, racial, and other less relevant criteria we use to separate and cubby-hole ourselves and others into familiar, safe, and isolated little boxes. We take care not to force hand-holding on those next to us if they seem hesitant, but I always feel a little sad for them. But then I have always loved the passage from Eph 2 about how once we were strangers to the covenants of promise.... but now in Christ Jesus we have been brought near.... Now we are no longer strangers, no longer aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. God bless.

43 posted on 07/25/2005 5:09:50 AM PDT by Reo
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To: netmilsmom

My experience in Milwaukee is:

1) The Archdiocese has not issued any statements about the practice, at least in the media-at-large;

2) There are some parishes where it seems that everybody holds hands (except me and mine...); in other parishes, a few hold hands, others play priest with the 'orans' position, and a few do neither;

3) Outside of the Old Rite group, to my knowledge, there are NO parishes in which NOBODY "holds hands."


44 posted on 07/25/2005 5:17:43 AM PDT by ninenot (Minister of Membership, Tomas Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: netmilsmom

My parish does it and I flat out refuse to do it. I am literally always the only one at Mass that stands with my hands gripping the pew in front of me.


45 posted on 07/25/2005 5:18:50 AM PDT by ShadowDancer (As for the types of comments I make,sometimes I just, By God,get carried away with my own eloquence.)
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To: netmilsmom

Not here in the Hartford archdiocese.

It is done at my parents church in the Minneapolis archdiocese though.


46 posted on 07/25/2005 5:26:01 AM PDT by kidd
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To: Siobhan

Here in St. Louis, the practice is not promoted, but being the land of the Jesuits, fads like this spread like wildfire.

Me? I follow the veiled sisters' example. They stand with their heads slightly bowed, their hands at their waists before them with their fingers laced. It's very moving and solemn to see.


47 posted on 07/25/2005 5:29:35 AM PDT by Desdemona (Music Librarian and provider of cucumber sandwiches, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary. Hats required.)
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To: GrannyML
I take my glasses off and hold them in my left hand just before the Our Father, and in my right hand I try to either hold the missalette or the hymnal. Works for me.

BTW I have theumatoid arthritis, and it is actually painful sometimes to have anyone grab my hand.

I make an exception for little children.

48 posted on 07/25/2005 5:58:40 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Just the facts, ma'am.)
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To: Conservative til I die

We sing the Our Father in a lively rendition and hold hands while doing so. Don't know if it is encouraged in the Diocese of Richmond. I like it pretty well.


49 posted on 07/25/2005 6:09:23 AM PDT by tob2 (Old Fossil and Proud of It!)
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To: livius

Glad to see I'm not the only one who feels that way.


50 posted on 07/25/2005 6:11:12 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dsc; GrannyML
How about a good, loud, "Get your hands off me!"

I think a sharp slap of their grabby hands would focus their attention nicely...

51 posted on 07/25/2005 6:13:28 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (Many Democrats are not weak Americans. But nearly all weak Americans are Democrats.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

For the longest time I would use my children as an excuse not to hold hands...I'd be holding the kids instead! That would work unless someone reached over and touched my hand or shoulder instead. Ugh! Now I clasp my hands, bow my head and close my eyes. If someone attempts to hold hands I just shake my head. When I lived in the Milwaukee diocese the people would cross over the aisle to join hands trying to connect the entire congregation. I know those people hated me! I always sat in front and on the end and refused to move. Just my little way of protesting where the priest could see. I'm in a little bit better place now in the KC/St. Joe diocese. I am having to church shop but have found several possibilities!


52 posted on 07/25/2005 6:18:08 AM PDT by samiam1972 (Live simply so that others may simply live!)
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To: netmilsmom

keep a small bottle of purell with you at all times...


53 posted on 07/25/2005 6:20:43 AM PDT by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
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To: netmilsmom
Ours does................

I detest this practice.

Its so.........Protestant
54 posted on 07/25/2005 6:30:55 AM PDT by WhiteGuy (Vote for gridlock - Make the elected personally liable for their wasteful spending)
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To: WhiteGuy

More Pentecostal than anything, I think. Catholic immigrants to this country have typically been from cultures wherein people are very demonstrative, for example Italy, Ireland, Latin America and none of these brought this on us. The "New Agers" and charismaticsdid, for who knows what reason. Catholics are not Catholic for emotional fulfillment; we are Catholic because we believe in the Creed, and revere the scriptural and traditional bases of the Faith.


55 posted on 07/25/2005 6:46:26 AM PDT by steve8714
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To: Reo

Dear Reo,

"Not having been a cradle Catholic (my wife and I converted from a Protestant denomination over a decade ago), I am admittedly not up on all the fine points of liturgy being discussed here."

Have no fear. Most cradle Catholics have no idea about most of this stuff, either. ;-)


sitetest


56 posted on 07/25/2005 6:54:02 AM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: steve8714

Yeah, good point.

I just liked mass alot better when it was mass, not a community worship celebration.............


57 posted on 07/25/2005 8:18:16 AM PDT by WhiteGuy (Vote for gridlock - Make the elected personally liable for their wasteful spending)
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To: netmilsmom; NYer
What does the Vatican do? I'll just have to watch EWTN.

I was at a Catholic Mass in the Far East where all bowed to each other instead of clasping hands with a handshake. I had to get use to this as it was obvious that Mr. White Boy here stuck his hand out more than once and quickly withdrew with a sheepish "Ooops, uh...Peace be with you!"

The larger controversy I've witness is kneeling or standing before the Body and Blood of Christ where some US Bishops would want us to stand. I find that more awkward than accidentally sticking out my hand for a handshake and being received with a courteous bow.

The Churches that have repeatedly tried to enforce the "standing in unity" concept have (from what I've seen) not had as much success as those congregations that kneel before Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Call me a silly feudal serf, but I just enjoy kneeling before my King.
58 posted on 07/25/2005 9:50:57 AM PDT by SaltyJoe ("Social Justice" begins with the unborn child.)
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To: visualops; netmilsmom
I'm happy to say that during RCIA we were taught this

Good to know that RCIA teaches proper catechesis. The pastor should enforce those teachings in the church, as well.

The following was written by Father Edward McNamara for Zenit News Agency:

Holding Hands at the Our Father?

59 posted on 07/25/2005 10:36:44 AM PDT by NYer ("Each person is meant to exist. Each person is God's own idea." - Pope Benedict XVI)
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To: COBOL2Java

"I think a sharp slap of their grabby hands would focus their attention nicely..."

That would probably work for a person of the contradictory gender. When big, hairy men do it, people tend to react differently.


60 posted on 07/25/2005 11:29:28 AM PDT by dsc
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