Catholics: Should we be holding hands during the prayer Our father during mass?

Question

Also, I will see people not holding hands, but holding their hands out with their palms toward the priest and praying the our father. Is this acceptable? I thought I had heard once that you should never pray over a priest?.....Maybe this doesnt count as praying over a priest I guess I am just trying to understand why we do this in America but I have not seen it in other countries?

Answer 1

I think people mean well, but what we do in Mass says something about what we believe, so we MUST be careful what we do.

Holding hands says we feel good about the person next to us and want to express this by holding their hand.

BUT when we are praying the Our Father, we should not be concerned about feelings towards our neighbor. It is a solemn moment in the Mass when we are petitioning our Father and our focus should be FORWARD not to either side of us.

Prayer to God is not about good feelings. It's about giving Him proper respect and showing Him love.\

And about extending the hands....this is a charismatic-type gesture and is therefore Protestant in its roots. Behind this gesture is the belief that "we are all priests" and it takes away from the special office that belongs to the Catholic priest alone.

It has no place in the Catholic Mass. In fact, the Popes have always encouraged us to "pray the mass with the priest" and we do this interiorly while the Priest performs the actions.

Answer 2

Holding your hands outward is not praying over a priest but another way of praying and praising God; it originates here with the charismatics, but it was the traditional way for the jews to pray. The charismatics probably also influenced the hand holding during the Our Father. I have heard some priests invite the congregation to hold hands and pray the Our Father, but in the 1950's and before it was not done this way. People held hands at the dinner table to say grace in many homes, but not all. I have also heard different priests say that they do not like to see Catholics holding hands during prayer because it is a sign of unity, and it used to be recognized that the sign of unity in the Catholic church was in receiving the body and blood of Christ for we are then one body together in Christ. The thing is most priests do not have a problem with it. We need to understand the difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.

Answer 3

Hand holding at Mass is not in the rubrics, nor is lifting up hands in the same manner as the Priest. Neither is conducive to the purpose of the Mass.

Hand holding is a practice that has developed among American Catholics as a gesture of "unity" and "friendship." It gives people a warm fuzzy during the Mass.

But really, is the Our Father the place for it? The Mass is for God. After Mass we are free to socialize and meet with friends.

Never forget, the sign of UNITY in the Mass is receiving with our fellow Catholics the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!

Answer 4

<> I do not fairly handle it, usually considering the fact that I believe find it irresistible takes clear of praying the Our Father. Instead of targeting what I am pronouncing, I am distracted for the primary few strains as I am making an attempt to "hook up" with the humans on my left and correct. Fortunately, the parish I attend Mass at does no longer hassle with having every person maintain palms for the duration of the Our Father. <> The Mass is, amongst different matters, an pastime in viewers participation. We don't seem to be mere spectators at Mass, we're lively members in it. Therefore, I don't frown on each and every detail of Mass that promotes the lively involvment of any person within the congregation. <> I have an understanding of what they are seeking to do, and it is a best gesture. It promotes the cohesion and universality of the congregation as they pray the Our Father. But once more, I believe it is too distracting to hope and be hooking up whilst. Perhaps if the Mass paused, for even 15 seconds, permitting every person to grab palms earlier than praying, I might receive it. <> Not the whole lot non-Catholic Christianity does is always dangerous and even improper. I believe anything like it is a subject of individual opinion. If there are any similarities among something Catholicism does and something non-Catholic Christianity does, it is them copying Catholicism, no longer the opposite direction round, considering the fact that Catholicism was once right here first.

Answer 5

I have never heard of anything called "praying over the priest". As far as I know, it isn't a requirement to hold hands, but I do. I like the sense of unity it invokes. Yes, I do see people holding their hands up to God, which is perfectly fine, too.

Answer 6

Holding neighbors hands while reciting the Our Father is the norm in Catholic Masses since Vatican Two. Some people are uncomfortable holding hands so they do as you say, only with palms upward and praying WITH the priest. God Bless you.

Answer 7

People who hold their palm outstretched are not praying over the priest. They are reaching out to the one they are addressing - God. As for holding hands - officially, no. It is not an approved part of the rubrics. But most parishes consider it "harmless", and don't insist on doing it "by the book" on this particular matter.

Answer 8

I don't know whether Catholics should stand with palms up to pray or not, but it is interesting to note that among some wiccans, this is known as the goddess position. hmmmmmm, Christians emulating pagans again?

Seriously tho, I think anyway one prays should be acceptable. At least the person is praying.

Answer 9

It really doesn't matter, the thing that counts is the prayer.

Also, there is nothing wrong with praying over a priest.

Answer 10

I don't hold hands...I find it distracting. If others wish to hold hands, that's up to them. But please do not grab my hand or nudge me on the arm to hold your hand. That is inconsiderate and disrespectful. I would also suggest focusing on the Mass and not on everyone else.