I kind of lean toward saying the words of the consecration with the priest. What do you think? If I start it will it catch on?
Sadly, I think it already has caught on some places, along with all other kinds of abuses.
Since Lance through out his question on hand holding, and congregants mimicking the Priest's gestures, I'll throw out mine:
Has anyone been to Mass where folks stand for the Consecration?
I was visiting a Church and the Priest actually stopped saying the Mass, and said out loud to me, "You don't have to kneel for the Consecration."
To which I replied, "Oh, I can lay prostrate, if you prefer."
He put up his hands, and shook his head back and forth, and said, "No, no, that's all right."
Not to be accepted. These are holy words to be spoken only by the priest saying the Mass or those co-officiating with him, while the chalice and consecrated host are elevated. Kneeling at this time should continue through the "Great Amen" in reverence to the Blessed Sacrament. People should stand only after the "Great Amen" is finished.
Only if you want to contribute to the breakdown in the roles between priest and laity. Parts of the Mass are for the people, parts are reserved to the priest.
The parts left for the priest, like the words of consecration, are better left to the priest.
Ditto for the outstretched, open palm posture in praying the Our Father. If you have a deacon, notice his posture and the priest's. The priest has the open palm (Orans) position, while the deacon has his hands folded. Only when the deacon is ordained as priest is his gesture changed.
And the folks in the pews are all mimicking the priest (if they're not holding hands, that is.)
SD