“To suppose it was never done in church before some arbitrary date is like saying nobody ever smiled or frowned in church because it wasn’t part of the liturgy”
Not in a Catholic Mass. I could care less what happens in a protestant church. The Catholic Church has set criteria that is supposed to be adhered to at Mass. It is a very structured liturgical service. We have strict rules on how to behave at Mass. Devout Catholics that take their faith seriously abide by these rules. You are there to show reference to and worship God. Nothing else. If you want to hold someone’s hands you need to attend a protestant service, where anything goes.
And what if the Priest tells you to hold hands while saying The Lord's Prayer? Is it wrong then? I was at Mass last Sunday and that is exactly what happened.
Honestly, I find the hostility to "touching" one another's hands that has been demonstrated on this thread to be quite unChristian. What would you do if Jesus commanded you to wash anothers' feet as an act of submission? Would you refuse?
LOL! I’ve never been to an “anything goes” service in my whole Protestant life. Ah yes, but I forget. Only Catholics take their faith seriously. /sarc
I could care less...
How much less?