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

Well then, how about I slip a joy buzzer in my hand just before the "Our Father"?

61 posted on 07/25/2005 11:37:36 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (Many Democrats are not weak Americans. But nearly all weak Americans are Democrats.)
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To: COBOL2Java

"Well then, how about I slip a joy buzzer in my hand just before the "Our Father"?

I'll have to consult Don Camillo on that one and get back to you.


62 posted on 07/25/2005 11:42:44 AM PDT by dsc
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To: netmilsmom
See Item #53 from Diocese of Charlotte, PDF format, Adobe Reader Needed

If every Bishop handled things so forthrightly...

Frank

63 posted on 07/25/2005 4:20:32 PM PDT by Frank Sheed
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To: netmilsmom; NYer; Aquinasfan

Someone recently posted the fact that the "Orans" position of the hands is a "presidential" posture (meaning reserved to the Presider or Priest). I think it was either NYer or Aquinasfan, if memory serves (it rarely does any more!). In any case, I believe it is used only three times in the Mass and it is NOT encouraged for the laity as the laity are not to mimic postures reserved to the Priest celebrant. I think this began with the Charismatic movement.

Frank


64 posted on 07/25/2005 4:26:12 PM PDT by Frank Sheed
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To: netmilsmom

Holding hands during Mass was something new when I moved to Milwaukee, but it is, I think, a great way to pray as a community - one Body. If all the Catholic churches were doing so every Sunday, could you imagine the power of the prayer? The Archdiocese in Milwaukee I'm pretty sure prefers this - Archbishop Dolan performed our 50th Anniversary Mass and made sure that everyone held hands. In fact, we reached across aisles. We have a large membership so it's very moving. Getting over the initial awkwardness is worth it.


65 posted on 07/25/2005 4:38:24 PM PDT by Right in Wisconsin
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To: Frank Sheed; netmilsmom
I live in Boston.
Last service I went to I was shocked to see everyone hands up saying the ' Our father '. I saw this as I was lowering my head, hands clasped in front of me. I literally froze and stared out at everyone with their hands out. I had no idea what they were doing. Everyone was doing it. I had never seen this before.

What really got me was the ' now let us all offer each other a group hug as a sign of peace ' which went on for 30 minutes.
Okay - I'm joking but ' coming to a Catholic Church near you! ' soon enough at this rate.

I still don't touch the Eucharist with my hands. I can not get over that one at all.
66 posted on 07/25/2005 4:40:23 PM PDT by warsaw44
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To: warsaw44; Right in Wisconsin

Warsaw,

This Pope seems to believe that prayer--especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the ultimate worship--is vertical, not horizontal; God focused, not people focused. The old cathedrals were designed to lift our eyes and thoughts upwards to God. Now, the presider stares at us and feels the need to ad lib.

This is what the Holy Father seems to sense. I think the moves toward Gregorian Chant in the coming Synod are a first signal to where things may be going--the Divine. I am really hoping we get a strong signal at World Youth Day when, Lord willing, the kids will come home "stoked" about the Latin Mass. No, not just the Tridentine; even the Novus Ordo beautifully done.

Our patrimony is on hold and has been for 40 years. Who can say they were not moved at the funeral Mass and the Installation? People literally called EWTN and asked how they could convert. Holding hands while saying the Our Father and preparing to receive communion is so very wrong liturgically. It's all about us when we should be thinking solely of Him: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Sorry RIW, I beg to differ.

Frank


67 posted on 07/25/2005 5:12:03 PM PDT by Frank Sheed
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To: Right in Wisconsin

>>Holding hands during Mass was something new when I moved to Milwaukee, but it is, I think, a great way to pray as a community - one Body. If all the Catholic churches were doing so every Sunday, could you imagine the power of the prayer?<<

Isn't spiritually being together enough of a prayer? After all Jesus is there on the Altar, but not in a physical body. I would much rather have fellowship after Holy Mass.
If Jesus appeared visually to you Body and Soul, standing on the Altar, would you be looking for your neighbor's hand?

I would be laying prostrate on the floor knowing I am not worthy to meet His glance.


68 posted on 07/25/2005 5:42:29 PM PDT by netmilsmom (God blessed me with a wonderful husband.)
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To: Frank Sheed

You know what's really funny, the man I'm discussing this with is from the Charlotte Diocese. When I posted what you did he stated that Bishop Jurgis made no clear statement there.

How about that for denial?


69 posted on 07/25/2005 5:45:19 PM PDT by netmilsmom (God blessed me with a wonderful husband.)
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To: samiam1972; Mrs. Don-o

When I was at my old Protestant/Catholic Community, the seniors who would go to Florida for the summer, would come back to the new innovations. They, living through Vatican II, would just go along with anything because they didn't know that they didn't have to, thought they were wrong and the rest of the church was right or didn't want to look out of place. Like Mrs. Don-O, you could see these poor people grimace when someone grabbed their hands and pulled them up for the "Group Orans"
I would sit in the last pew at the corner with my six year old. When the Our Father started I would tell her to close her eyes and think of Jesus. I began to notice smiles around me and we got a little group going of non-hand holders in the two back pews!

It was not long after that I escaped.


70 posted on 07/25/2005 5:52:41 PM PDT by netmilsmom (God blessed me with a wonderful husband.)
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To: netmilsmom

We do it in our parish. Have since 1978 when it was the "in" thing to do. We also offer each other the sign of peace.


71 posted on 07/25/2005 5:56:59 PM PDT by Jaded (Hell sometimes has fluorescent lighting and a trumpet.)
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To: netmilsmom

Maybe the good Bishop's evil twin brother "Skippy" posted this on the official Diocesan website for Charlotte, N.C. instead of His Eminence!

Sorry, Netmilsmom, I can think of no rationale response to that objection from your friend!

Frank


72 posted on 07/25/2005 6:04:42 PM PDT by Frank Sheed
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To: netmilsmom

Hey, to each there own. It's only 3 minutes of an hour mass, and if someone doesn't feel like holding hands, don't. Not everyone participates, or they hold their hands up without holding their neighbors.


73 posted on 07/25/2005 6:14:35 PM PDT by Right in Wisconsin
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To: Frank Sheed

>>Maybe the good Bishop's evil twin brother "Skippy"<<

*snicker* That must be it.


74 posted on 07/25/2005 7:07:36 PM PDT by netmilsmom (God blessed me with a wonderful husband.)
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To: netmilsmom; Petronski; fortunecookie

I'm not a handholding type. I don't like community prayer either. My mom loves charismatic mass. I like to go in a corner by myself and am anti-social coming to my spiritual life.


75 posted on 07/25/2005 7:09:35 PM PDT by cyborg (That's Mrs.Petronski to you thank you very much.)
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To: Frank Sheed

I automatically do that when saying the our father. I don't think God cares. to each his own.


76 posted on 07/25/2005 7:11:46 PM PDT by cyborg (That's Mrs.Petronski to you thank you very much.)
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To: cyborg

>> am anti-social coming to my spiritual life.<<

Me too!
Actually, I'm one of those "Old time religion" people. I'm so blessed to be in the parish I'm in. We sing Latin and Greek during Holy Mass and say the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel at the end.

It's like stepping into 1970. No guitars, no handholding, no fluff. We even say a rosary before.
(six masses, 4 priests and 750 families and growing. Life is good here!)


77 posted on 07/26/2005 2:54:32 AM PDT by netmilsmom (God blessed me with a wonderful husband.)
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To: netmilsmom; NYer; jec1ny

No hand holding in the eastern Catholic churches that I'm aware of. We're far too busy chanting and crossing ourselves.

No "sign of peace" either. It's not in the liturgy.


78 posted on 07/26/2005 9:36:31 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Eastern Catholicism: tonic for the lapsed Catholic)
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To: RKBA Democrat; netmilsmom; jec1ny
No hand holding in the eastern Catholic churches that I'm aware of.

Not in the Maronite Church.

We're far too busy chanting and crossing ourselves.

Isn't that the truth!

No "sign of peace" either. It's not in the liturgy.

The Maronite Church includes the Sign of Peace in their liturgy. Our Lord also taught us that before we offer our gifts we must make peace with our brothers and sisters. The priest kisses the altar, places his hands on the chalice, then passes God's peace to the deacon, who then gives it to the acolyte, who passes it to the first person in the pews, who passes it to the next person, and so on. Very rich indeed!

Here is yet one more link brimming with information on the various Eastern Churches and their liturgies.

Eastern Catholic Churches and Liturgies

79 posted on 07/27/2005 2:30:33 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: NYer

Sorry for the delayed reply, but thank you for that reference.


80 posted on 07/28/2005 9:19:55 PM PDT by Horatio Gates (Fatiser Visus)
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