Posted on 07/29/2015 5:08:22 PM PDT by ebb tide
Special note should also be made concerning the gesture for the Our Father. Only the priest is given the instruction to “extend” his hands. Neither the deacon nor the lay faithful are instructed to do this. No gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, therefore the extending or holding of hands by the faithful should not be performed.
(Excerpt) Read more at praytellblog.com ...
Now if we could only get rid of the “Peace be with you but not if you want to get out of your parking spot in front of me” handshake
Seriously? “No gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, therefore the extending or holding of hands by the faithful should not be performed.” So in other words, the Roman Missal doesn’t say anything about it therefore it should not happen.
Is this really what the priests and bishops think is important right now?
So glad to hear this! Holding hands with pew neighbors is way too touchy feely / 70’s for me. Not sure when / where this terrible habit began.
I was taught that
no gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal,
thus any instruction of how to gesture during the Our Father from anyone other than the Roman Missal in not authorized.
However, the holding of hands can symbolize a community, but this should not take place until AFTER communion, thus holding hands during the Our Father is not preferable.
What else does he need to tell you? To stop picking your nose, during Mass?
It IS important, because it affects the nature of the prayer, because it affects the mental inclination of those performing it.
Same thing with kneeling, genuflecting, etc. As C.S. Lewis said, we are souls, but we have bodies, and our physical situation (including our posture) does affect our souls.
we agree
I went to an English language Mass south of the border. There are a lot of retired Americans living in that beach community. Before the Mass starts the congregation is instructed to hold their own two hands together palm to palm during the Our Father. It is the bishop who made the decision.
Also, down there they kneel while receiving communion on the tongue.
My wife and I hold hands when pray at church for the sense of unity in Christ it gives us....
I’m an interpreter for the deaf at Mass. The particular church where I interpret is chock full of these “hand holders” during the Lord’s Prayer.
Problem is, my deaf worshipers sign the Lord’s Prayer! There have been instances where hearing people standing next to them have actually reached over and grabbed their hands mid-sign and tried to hold hands! Yes, they can be that clueless and insensitive. When that’s happened I’ve had to step over and say to the clutzes “They’re deaf; they’re signing - they need to use their hands.” Their reaction? Usually “Oh! I didn’t realize...”
Lol!
Lol!
When I lived in Germany, the people there followed the dictum:
“What is not explicitly allowed is forbidden.”
Here in the USA, our dictum has generally been:
“What is not explicitly forbidden is allowed.”
I say the Our Father several times per day and on the few occasions when Mr. M goes to Mass with me I rejoice that I can pray while holding his hand. We also kiss afterwards which I am sure is not in the Roman Missal.
Holding hands started in AA meetings in the 60s and it caught on in protestant services. It then of course was mimicked by lax Catholics. Just more protestant poison that needs to be eliminated in the Catholic Church.
I’m afraid it is. Don’t expect anything much on Planned Parenthood or gay marriage, however, except a reminder to be nice and hold hands.
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