Posted on 07/23/2005 9:15:15 AM PDT by netmilsmom
"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!"
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...
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.
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."
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.
Not here in the Hartford archdiocese.
It is done at my parents church in the Minneapolis archdiocese though.
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.
BTW I have theumatoid arthritis, and it is actually painful sometimes to have anyone grab my hand.
I make an exception for little children.
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.
Glad to see I'm not the only one who feels that way.
I think a sharp slap of their grabby hands would focus their attention nicely...
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!
keep a small bottle of purell with you at all times...
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.
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
Yeah, good point.
I just liked mass alot better when it was mass, not a community worship celebration.............
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:
"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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.