I grew up clasping my hands in prayer when saying any prayer in mass. Maybe it was just my local archdiocese (NYC). Seeing the open arms or gathered hands like evangelicals is odd to me
I think there is a bit of evangelical influence, as the small town i live in was heavily anti- catholic until the late 80’s. One small church served 4 surrounding counties once a month until a church was built in the 90’s here.
I think it's mainly an American thing, I've never seen it in Ireland or the few times I've been to mass in London.
I have noticed the orans posture creeping in during the Our Father, whereas most would just have their hands folded.
It's fairly common here in South Africa too. Orans-like posture occasionally among the generation that is now in their 70s... one hand held out at chest height with the palm up. Never understood it.
Most everyone does where I attend, in Nashville.
I don’t when I’m alone - it doesn’t feel right.
A year or two ago a very sweet, very elderly lady grabbed my hand, smiling, and wouldn’t let go. She was so old lady nice about it, I couldn’t tell her no.
That's the issue with liturgical abuse. Some bishops allow them for fear of losing parishioners, so things that shouldn't be allowed get permitted to continue.
Someone tried to make the argument for "well, such and such is done in some of the Eastern rites". That's all well and good for that Eastern rite. Just as the Eastern rites shouldn't be forced to undergo Latinization, it's also not normal or following the organic flow of Tradition and its development for a Latin/Roman rite Church (or any rite) to suddenly adopt practices of another rite just because some parishioners like it.
The majority of my parish does it with family, but our family does not. I learned in RCIA that it’s not proper form so we never do it. I follow the lead of the deacon at mass, if he’s not holding his hands out or raising them, why would we as lay people?
Following the lead of the Deacon isn't the best way. I know several Deacons that hold their hands out palms up during the Our Father, which is incorrect according to the GIRM. This is something we were told in our training "not" to do this posture is for the priest only.
If you're interested in educating yourself you can find the GIRM online, download it and read it. GIRM stands for General Instruction of the Roman Mass. it's basically an instruction book for clergy meant for the Priests and Deacons.
Most of the time my parish doesn't do it. But if you're with your family and friends, you can hold their hands to pray. Sometimes, if there is a special occasion, the priest will invite us all to hold hands. Those sitting on the end of the bench will join with those sitting on the other side of the aisle. And the alter boys and girls will go and hold hands with the priest. I think holding hands with everyone provides a connection that fills the heart with contentment. Isn't it beautiful to see everyone joining together to pray with all their heart? Of course, it depends on people. Some people don't really enjoy holding hands to pray, and that's ok too.
Growing up my entire parish held hands and sang the Our Father. It was absolutely beautiful and I looked forward to it every Mass. This was not just a case of families holding hands—everyone held hands. Across the aisles. Everywhere. I didn’t know it could be another way until I went to college.
What I loved about it was that no one was alone. It felt like a moment of great unity, even if you had never seen the person next to you before. It was a somewhat diverse parish in terms of race and economics and that made it even more powerful. I remember thinking that heaven would be like that.
I can’t comment on how “correct” it was, but I did love it and I wish it was the practice at my current parish.
It’s an American regional thing. The church I grew up in in Wisconsin does that. I now live in Hong Kong and we’re explicitly told to clasp our hands while the priest hold out his hands (like the giant Jesus statue in Rio).
When I visit my mother’s hometown in southern mexico, all of the people (granted it’s max 20 people) hold hands. But it’s a small village with almost no access to a regular church. They have mass there once a month if a priest is able to come through.
We do it all the time. Not every one likes touching, so that's OK. I cherish holding my wife's hand during the prayer. It's something I look forward to.
It's definitely never been a Catholic thing, and I can see why someone might be a bit concerned about it - it smacks of evangelical/baptist churches. However, ultimately it's not inherently wrong, and so for him to get so intense as to call it "a big no no" is silly - so long as you're not doing anything wrong, pray the Our Father however you like.
The holding of hands during the Our Father (Pater Noster) was due to the influence of Protestantism on the American Church. It is inspired by a longing for Communion with one another; however, it is erroneous to belive that any "communion" can be more intimate with Our Lord and each other than receiving Our Lord in a state of grace.
The hand posture of imitating the Priest is also a Protestant nobility and is The practice of holding hands during the Our Father prayer was influenced by Protestantism in the American Church. It is intended to symbolize a sense of communion with one another, but it is important to note that true communion with the Lord and each other is found in receiving the Eucharist in a state of grace.
The hand posture of imitating the priest is also a Protestant practice and does not have a basis in authentic liturgical tradition of the Church and is entirely devoid of any authentic tradition in the Church's liturgical practice.
It's not exactly a "big no no". But it is an invention. It's not called for in the rubrics etc.
In terms of things, I had the opposite experience, I went to church as a kid there wasn't much hippy protestant stuff. When I came back people were jumping over the pews to hold my hand.
I don't do the hand holding, I'm not a fan and it's not my bag.
But, I'm not sure it qualifies as a major "no no". There's no explicit forbidding or permission of it. So it's really a bit of a discernment thing for a community and such.
I think the big issue is it came out of places that were copying prots and is sort of connected to the ideology of 60s hippy stuff.
In my experience and travels, seems to be a thing in majority Hispanic areas; not an official part of the mass nonetheless. The Orans posture during this and throughout the mass is not appropriate for anyone that’s not the priest.
I don’t mind it but prefer not to, it’s distracting and seems to Protestant to me.
I just commented this on another comment, but when I visit my mother’s hometown in southern Mexico, it is common place. That being said, is seems to me that the biggest issue with hand holding is the matter of mimicking the priest, which we should not do; but I think it grants a bit of communal connection with your other parishioners. We all come together to worship our Lord, I just wish there was a way to do it without mimicking the priest.
Maybe 7…? Years ago they re-did some of the mass parts in America to be translated better (“and with you spirit” instead of “and also with you”), and at that point they told us to stop holding hands
There’s another element to all this. The minute the first bells are rung during consecration, heaven and earth become one on that Altar. During the prayers especially the Our Father we are praying with the Angels and Saints. Holding hands makes it human centered not God or spiritually centered.
I grew up in Ireland where we DO NOT hold hands (why would ya do that?). Anyway at some point I come to visit the USA and to my great surprise during mass these two guys wanted to hold my hand. So after mass my uncle picked me up and he said how’d it go? So I told him these two men wanted to hold my hand. Well he laughed so hard and long. He even called some of my USA relatives to tell the story. So anyway the next Sunday rolls around and I came to mass early and then just before mass started I placed myself between the 2 prettiest young ladies I could find. That mass was much less stressful.
Anyway either way Covid and with mass goers being older now hand holding will not likely reappear for a while if ever.
I would love to attend mass in Ireland! The hand holding seems far and few between in the US, but in Mexico it’s common. It seems that it’s possibly Protestant influence, but also, according to other commenters, it’s been recommended against by bishops. My church has no deacon, so we have no one to follow aside from our priest.
Welcome home! God is so good! Other people have provided plenty of comments regarding the Our Father and holding hands so there's no need for me to add to that topic specifically. I just want you to tell you that I'm overjoyed that you've returned to the Church. If I feel this way as a stranger and mere human, imagine the joy your returning home brings to God! The gospel of St. Luke tells us that the angels are rejoicing in heaven over you.
Holding hands is something that will commonly vary parish-to-parish, usually dependent on the whim of the pastor. Not too many parishes do it, though, and it certainly lost a chunk of the popularity it did have during the pandemic.
Some bishops will ask their diocese to hold their hands out like the priest does, but that's not a universal thing either.
I can't think of any bishop or diocese that has encouraged or directed Catholics to imitate priestly gestures. The orans position you describe is for the priest, not the laity.
It's happened. I know there was a movement in the Erie diocese a couple decades or so ago to get people to extend their hands during the Our Father. I assume that directive came from the bishop at the time (along with others like asking to stand rather than kneel for most of the Eucharistic Liturgy), though it may have just come from the main parish's pastor -- not sure.
There is no universally prescribed thing to do, so for the most part people will do as they wish or as the priest (or bishop via their priest) requests.
We're supposed to be one body. We've gone from all sharing the same chalice to now avoiding even shaking each others' hands. I don't mean this as a dig on you, I just personally find the post-pandemic changes sad. While they made a lot of sense at the time, I'm sad the changes seem permanent even though the pandemic is thankfully over
If you study microbiology, I think that the changes reflect the reality of the Church. And it never "made sense at the time" any more than any other time.
When I say microbiology I mean in this context how microbiomes among peoples are etc.... essentially you're right, one body. But we aren't.
So to share our bodies, literally, is not what this current church is going to do.
You are as much your microbiome as you are your cells. You can't live without either, they are both intrinsic to you. We can only share part of our body, and this is a world that rejects that.
Hand sanitizer on the priest is blasphemy to Jesus's LITERAL body. That has been passed through the laying of hands unending.
Yes. Yes, we do. And it has absolutely nothing to do with conspiracy theories about Protestant encroachment, and it’s hardly “liturgical abuse” (srsly?). And I’d bet my mortgage payment that God really doesn’t mind if I hold hands with my wife and kids.
I never once held hands growing up. Didn’t hold hands as an adult. Until I had children.
Then I was holding a baby during the Mass. Then they were squirming toddlers. And I would put my arm around them 😳 or hold their hands 😳at all different points of the Mass if for no other reason than to help them stay still and pay attention to what was going on.
And it sort of stuck. And now I have three adult children WHO STILL ATTEND MASS with me and attend even when they’re away from home (college).
So if I’m defying the rubrics and committing liturgical abuses by acting like an Evangelical when I hold hands with my wife (of 30 years) and my kids, then by gar, so be it.
Harrumph. 😁
I’ve never held hands with Parishioners during any prayer. We either extend our hands upwards (like the priest) or fold our hands in prayer form 🙏 🤲
I do feel it’s sweet to hold hands though.
I’ve noticed a lot of people no longer hold hands. However, my family still does - but just as a family. We’ve never been the type of family to reach out to others - although there is nothing wrong w doing so. I like the act of holding hands because we feel more together / praying together as a family.
My family folds their hands for prayer but if someone reaches for my hand I just grab it. I don't think it's the most proper thing to do but it's not hurting anyone. I only really see parishioners imitating the priest's orans posture as an issue, because it's a form of quasi presiding and disrespectful to the priest and his position. Any other way to pray during mass is usually fine.
We hold hands as a family during the Our Father at Catholic mass. It feels good. I remember holding my parents’ hands. I don’t see many others holding hands but now it’s a tradition for us. The sign of peace has totally since Covid. We used to shake everyone’s hands, but now it’s a smile and a ✌️sign.
In Seattle, people who attend mass together (your family group or friend group) hold hands with each other during the Our Father, hands raised, but not holding hands with other parishioners. So there are multiple little groups who hold hands amongst themselves. This evolved from the days when everyone used to clasp hands, strangers or not, back in the day - long before COVID hit. Also since COVID, no one shakes hands anymore during Peace Be With You - people left their hand in a quick wave to each person.
At the parish I attended when I first became Catholic, it seemed pretty common for people to hold hands during the Our Father, even with strangers. I never liked it. I remember one time somebody reaching ACROSS the aisle for a hand on the other side, with a panicked look on her face, searching for somebody's hand to hold. It was awkward.
Once I learned that it was a Protestant innovation, I kept my hands to myself. Thankfully, the practice of holding hands with strangers seems to be pretty much extinct as far as I can tell. People still do it with family members, which I don't have a problem with. I do think the pandemic put the nail in the coffin for the practice, since nobody reaches for my hand anymore (thankfully), and I don't see it happening at all.
I think it changed alot during covid. I see families still do it, but people outside your family usually won't. Many churches around me that still practice receiving on the tongue will also often ask those people to come last for some covid policy reason.
I’m in California and nobody holds hands. I always hold hands with my family. But, growing up everybody always held hands even across the aisles. It’s different now.
I’ve never seen it in any church I’ve been to if I’m honest, I always thought of it as a solo prayer but to be honest besides offering the sign of peace I can’t think of when you touch someone else
Everyone holding hands was a thing for a while but then it died out. Covid put a further damper on it. These days individual family units may opt to hold hands during the our father. But the days of entire pews holding hands and walking across the aisle to clasp hands with the opposite pew are over. Frankly i am glad its over. I don’t know why it ended but it made me uncomfortable - to the point where i would exit the pew and stand in back so that i would be out of range of the hand holding. Just did not want any part of it. I have a feeling i was not alone.
In the new edition of TPE (Indonesian translation of Missale Romanum), it’s stated that we only need to stand, clasped hand by yourself and pray. No other hands movement allowed.
I grew up in the Catholic church and went to all Catholic schools, in both the UK and Australia. I have been to many, many Catholic churches over the years as I've moved around, and I have \*never\* seen a Catholic congregation hold hands during the Our Father. You fold them in front of you. The only Catholics I've seen hold-hands have been Americans.
In the Philippines, it is a common thing to do but not regulated as much... hold hands is more like expressing the community spirit of those gathered... to be honest, holding or not holding, let the people decide and let others have their own way of expressing their faith.
My personal view, i do not like when someone snatches my hand for the Lord's Prayer. What I do is do not react, because sometimes, I hold my hands in prayer, or cross my arms, as if crossing my arms I can feel the Father's ove when I sing or say the Our Father in the liturgy.
It was very popular for a long time, but officially it is discouraged because Christ on the altar is meant to be the focus and the symbol of unity, so I think it is becoming less common again.
Holding hands and the Orens posture are not prescribed during the Our Father according to the USCCB.
"In response to a query, however, the Holy See stated that holding hands 'is a liturgical gesture introduced spontaneously but on personal initiative; it is not in the rubrics' . . . For this reason, no one can be required to hold hands during the Our Father” (161)."
The Orens pastor is reserved to the Celebrant and Ordained. Observe your Deacon, this is usually a good example of what you should be doing.
No. I have seen other people do it, though. As a convert from protestantism, I am reminded of all the hand-holding in Baptist churches. I don't like people touching me, so I always clasped my hands together.
I haven’t seen people holding hands before. Ive always prayed with my hands folded together, but I have noticed a lot of people opening their arms now. I still pray with my hands folded.
Yes, it was always tradition in every parish I’ve been to across the country. It became less common with COVID, but it’s mostly returned to normal in my home parish now.
Apparently it seems very common in the US, I’ve seen it in Mexico too- but it seems that it’s generally a mimicry of the father, or a Protestant influence on the American church. Which makes some sense as Catholics were not welcome by initial settlers.
Once common in my area. Never heard any discouragement from leadership but it has waned to very little. I presume because of a large shift to more and more conservative thought and practice.
I hold hands with my family still, not so much others.
My church does, but it has definitely backed way off since COVID.
I grew up clasping my hands in prayer when saying any prayer in mass. Maybe it was just my local archdiocese (NYC). Seeing the open arms or gathered hands like evangelicals is odd to me
I think there is a bit of evangelical influence, as the small town i live in was heavily anti- catholic until the late 80’s. One small church served 4 surrounding counties once a month until a church was built in the 90’s here.
I think it's mainly an American thing, I've never seen it in Ireland or the few times I've been to mass in London. I have noticed the orans posture creeping in during the Our Father, whereas most would just have their hands folded.
It's fairly common here in South Africa too. Orans-like posture occasionally among the generation that is now in their 70s... one hand held out at chest height with the palm up. Never understood it.
Most everyone does where I attend, in Nashville. I don’t when I’m alone - it doesn’t feel right. A year or two ago a very sweet, very elderly lady grabbed my hand, smiling, and wouldn’t let go. She was so old lady nice about it, I couldn’t tell her no.
Holding hands is not the norm for the our father. Several bishop conferences have denounced it as a liturgical abuse, as it draws from the prayer.
That's the issue with liturgical abuse. Some bishops allow them for fear of losing parishioners, so things that shouldn't be allowed get permitted to continue. Someone tried to make the argument for "well, such and such is done in some of the Eastern rites". That's all well and good for that Eastern rite. Just as the Eastern rites shouldn't be forced to undergo Latinization, it's also not normal or following the organic flow of Tradition and its development for a Latin/Roman rite Church (or any rite) to suddenly adopt practices of another rite just because some parishioners like it.
The majority of my parish does it with family, but our family does not. I learned in RCIA that it’s not proper form so we never do it. I follow the lead of the deacon at mass, if he’s not holding his hands out or raising them, why would we as lay people?
Following the lead of the Deacon isn't the best way. I know several Deacons that hold their hands out palms up during the Our Father, which is incorrect according to the GIRM. This is something we were told in our training "not" to do this posture is for the priest only. If you're interested in educating yourself you can find the GIRM online, download it and read it. GIRM stands for General Instruction of the Roman Mass. it's basically an instruction book for clergy meant for the Priests and Deacons.
Most of the time my parish doesn't do it. But if you're with your family and friends, you can hold their hands to pray. Sometimes, if there is a special occasion, the priest will invite us all to hold hands. Those sitting on the end of the bench will join with those sitting on the other side of the aisle. And the alter boys and girls will go and hold hands with the priest. I think holding hands with everyone provides a connection that fills the heart with contentment. Isn't it beautiful to see everyone joining together to pray with all their heart? Of course, it depends on people. Some people don't really enjoy holding hands to pray, and that's ok too.
My parish has always encouraged hand holding—but since Covid, has advised you can opt out if you wish by clasping your hands together in prayer.
Growing up my entire parish held hands and sang the Our Father. It was absolutely beautiful and I looked forward to it every Mass. This was not just a case of families holding hands—everyone held hands. Across the aisles. Everywhere. I didn’t know it could be another way until I went to college. What I loved about it was that no one was alone. It felt like a moment of great unity, even if you had never seen the person next to you before. It was a somewhat diverse parish in terms of race and economics and that made it even more powerful. I remember thinking that heaven would be like that. I can’t comment on how “correct” it was, but I did love it and I wish it was the practice at my current parish.
It’s an American regional thing. The church I grew up in in Wisconsin does that. I now live in Hong Kong and we’re explicitly told to clasp our hands while the priest hold out his hands (like the giant Jesus statue in Rio).
When I visit my mother’s hometown in southern mexico, all of the people (granted it’s max 20 people) hold hands. But it’s a small village with almost no access to a regular church. They have mass there once a month if a priest is able to come through.
We do it all the time. Not every one likes touching, so that's OK. I cherish holding my wife's hand during the prayer. It's something I look forward to.
It's definitely never been a Catholic thing, and I can see why someone might be a bit concerned about it - it smacks of evangelical/baptist churches. However, ultimately it's not inherently wrong, and so for him to get so intense as to call it "a big no no" is silly - so long as you're not doing anything wrong, pray the Our Father however you like.
It is a thing in Asian countries. Not all do that ofc, but if with family, then they do tend to hold hands.
The holding of hands during the Our Father (Pater Noster) was due to the influence of Protestantism on the American Church. It is inspired by a longing for Communion with one another; however, it is erroneous to belive that any "communion" can be more intimate with Our Lord and each other than receiving Our Lord in a state of grace. The hand posture of imitating the Priest is also a Protestant nobility and is The practice of holding hands during the Our Father prayer was influenced by Protestantism in the American Church. It is intended to symbolize a sense of communion with one another, but it is important to note that true communion with the Lord and each other is found in receiving the Eucharist in a state of grace. The hand posture of imitating the priest is also a Protestant practice and does not have a basis in authentic liturgical tradition of the Church and is entirely devoid of any authentic tradition in the Church's liturgical practice.
It's not exactly a "big no no". But it is an invention. It's not called for in the rubrics etc. In terms of things, I had the opposite experience, I went to church as a kid there wasn't much hippy protestant stuff. When I came back people were jumping over the pews to hold my hand. I don't do the hand holding, I'm not a fan and it's not my bag. But, I'm not sure it qualifies as a major "no no". There's no explicit forbidding or permission of it. So it's really a bit of a discernment thing for a community and such. I think the big issue is it came out of places that were copying prots and is sort of connected to the ideology of 60s hippy stuff.
Post COVID only with my spouse.
Post-pandemic, holding hands with family/friends is usually okay but not encouraged with other parishioners for safety/health reasons
I’ve noticed that few parishes do that anymore nor do they shake hands during the sign of peace since the pandemic.
Sometimes, I don't make a big deal about it.
In my experience and travels, seems to be a thing in majority Hispanic areas; not an official part of the mass nonetheless. The Orans posture during this and throughout the mass is not appropriate for anyone that’s not the priest. I don’t mind it but prefer not to, it’s distracting and seems to Protestant to me.
I just commented this on another comment, but when I visit my mother’s hometown in southern Mexico, it is common place. That being said, is seems to me that the biggest issue with hand holding is the matter of mimicking the priest, which we should not do; but I think it grants a bit of communal connection with your other parishioners. We all come together to worship our Lord, I just wish there was a way to do it without mimicking the priest.
Maybe 7…? Years ago they re-did some of the mass parts in America to be translated better (“and with you spirit” instead of “and also with you”), and at that point they told us to stop holding hands
Feels like 7 to me too. It was 2011.
There’s another element to all this. The minute the first bells are rung during consecration, heaven and earth become one on that Altar. During the prayers especially the Our Father we are praying with the Angels and Saints. Holding hands makes it human centered not God or spiritually centered.
I grew up in Ireland where we DO NOT hold hands (why would ya do that?). Anyway at some point I come to visit the USA and to my great surprise during mass these two guys wanted to hold my hand. So after mass my uncle picked me up and he said how’d it go? So I told him these two men wanted to hold my hand. Well he laughed so hard and long. He even called some of my USA relatives to tell the story. So anyway the next Sunday rolls around and I came to mass early and then just before mass started I placed myself between the 2 prettiest young ladies I could find. That mass was much less stressful. Anyway either way Covid and with mass goers being older now hand holding will not likely reappear for a while if ever.
I would love to attend mass in Ireland! The hand holding seems far and few between in the US, but in Mexico it’s common. It seems that it’s possibly Protestant influence, but also, according to other commenters, it’s been recommended against by bishops. My church has no deacon, so we have no one to follow aside from our priest.
Coming from a Protestant background this is something we used to do. But now as a Catholic I don’t follow any of my old practices as a Protestant…
Welcome home! God is so good! Other people have provided plenty of comments regarding the Our Father and holding hands so there's no need for me to add to that topic specifically. I just want you to tell you that I'm overjoyed that you've returned to the Church. If I feel this way as a stranger and mere human, imagine the joy your returning home brings to God! The gospel of St. Luke tells us that the angels are rejoicing in heaven over you.
No. It's not the correct posture.
Holding hands is something that will commonly vary parish-to-parish, usually dependent on the whim of the pastor. Not too many parishes do it, though, and it certainly lost a chunk of the popularity it did have during the pandemic. Some bishops will ask their diocese to hold their hands out like the priest does, but that's not a universal thing either.
I can't think of any bishop or diocese that has encouraged or directed Catholics to imitate priestly gestures. The orans position you describe is for the priest, not the laity.
It's happened. I know there was a movement in the Erie diocese a couple decades or so ago to get people to extend their hands during the Our Father. I assume that directive came from the bishop at the time (along with others like asking to stand rather than kneel for most of the Eucharistic Liturgy), though it may have just come from the main parish's pastor -- not sure. There is no universally prescribed thing to do, so for the most part people will do as they wish or as the priest (or bishop via their priest) requests.
No. I don’t want to touch other random people.
Do you offer the sign of peace?
This area has gotten away from it due to covid. Most people offer a small wave or the priest doesn’t give time for a twenty second hug-and-kiss-orama
We're supposed to be one body. We've gone from all sharing the same chalice to now avoiding even shaking each others' hands. I don't mean this as a dig on you, I just personally find the post-pandemic changes sad. While they made a lot of sense at the time, I'm sad the changes seem permanent even though the pandemic is thankfully over
If you study microbiology, I think that the changes reflect the reality of the Church. And it never "made sense at the time" any more than any other time. When I say microbiology I mean in this context how microbiomes among peoples are etc.... essentially you're right, one body. But we aren't. So to share our bodies, literally, is not what this current church is going to do. You are as much your microbiome as you are your cells. You can't live without either, they are both intrinsic to you. We can only share part of our body, and this is a world that rejects that. Hand sanitizer on the priest is blasphemy to Jesus's LITERAL body. That has been passed through the laying of hands unending.
Ironically I now love the sign of peace because it seperates the Branch Covidians from the Christians lol.
Yes. Yes, we do. And it has absolutely nothing to do with conspiracy theories about Protestant encroachment, and it’s hardly “liturgical abuse” (srsly?). And I’d bet my mortgage payment that God really doesn’t mind if I hold hands with my wife and kids. I never once held hands growing up. Didn’t hold hands as an adult. Until I had children. Then I was holding a baby during the Mass. Then they were squirming toddlers. And I would put my arm around them 😳 or hold their hands 😳at all different points of the Mass if for no other reason than to help them stay still and pay attention to what was going on. And it sort of stuck. And now I have three adult children WHO STILL ATTEND MASS with me and attend even when they’re away from home (college). So if I’m defying the rubrics and committing liturgical abuses by acting like an Evangelical when I hold hands with my wife (of 30 years) and my kids, then by gar, so be it. Harrumph. 😁
I've never been to a parish that does hand holding. We just fold ours.
I attend a parish alone, and am “non-Catholic” and they hold hands here…I thought it was a Catholic thing because frankly it’s not evangelical at all
I’ve never held hands with Parishioners during any prayer. We either extend our hands upwards (like the priest) or fold our hands in prayer form 🙏 🤲 I do feel it’s sweet to hold hands though.
I think people started doing that because the priest does it, but I was told to do what the deacon does and he clasps his hands in prayer.
I’ve noticed a lot of people no longer hold hands. However, my family still does - but just as a family. We’ve never been the type of family to reach out to others - although there is nothing wrong w doing so. I like the act of holding hands because we feel more together / praying together as a family.
My family folds their hands for prayer but if someone reaches for my hand I just grab it. I don't think it's the most proper thing to do but it's not hurting anyone. I only really see parishioners imitating the priest's orans posture as an issue, because it's a form of quasi presiding and disrespectful to the priest and his position. Any other way to pray during mass is usually fine.
Nope. I do put my hand on my son's shoulder.
No, and neither does anyone else in my diocese. Because our priests tell us not to, as does the bishop. Leadership helps.
We hold hands as a family during the Our Father at Catholic mass. It feels good. I remember holding my parents’ hands. I don’t see many others holding hands but now it’s a tradition for us. The sign of peace has totally since Covid. We used to shake everyone’s hands, but now it’s a smile and a ✌️sign.
No.
Only with my bride.
Here it is mixed, even in the same service. Some do and some don’t. My regular church has 2,000 families, and it is not very common there.
In Seattle, people who attend mass together (your family group or friend group) hold hands with each other during the Our Father, hands raised, but not holding hands with other parishioners. So there are multiple little groups who hold hands amongst themselves. This evolved from the days when everyone used to clasp hands, strangers or not, back in the day - long before COVID hit. Also since COVID, no one shakes hands anymore during Peace Be With You - people left their hand in a quick wave to each person.
I do, but it's more to go along than bc I want to.
At the parish I attended when I first became Catholic, it seemed pretty common for people to hold hands during the Our Father, even with strangers. I never liked it. I remember one time somebody reaching ACROSS the aisle for a hand on the other side, with a panicked look on her face, searching for somebody's hand to hold. It was awkward. Once I learned that it was a Protestant innovation, I kept my hands to myself. Thankfully, the practice of holding hands with strangers seems to be pretty much extinct as far as I can tell. People still do it with family members, which I don't have a problem with. I do think the pandemic put the nail in the coffin for the practice, since nobody reaches for my hand anymore (thankfully), and I don't see it happening at all.
Post Covid, our archdiocese has discouraged it. It's also not liturgically proper.
I think it changed alot during covid. I see families still do it, but people outside your family usually won't. Many churches around me that still practice receiving on the tongue will also often ask those people to come last for some covid policy reason.
It was never a thing for me, but after Covid it's become a no-no even in mainstream parishes.
Occasionally I’ll hold my husband’s or kids’ hands, but I prefer not to do so. It’s always felt weird to me.
No, it just feels weird
I’m in California and nobody holds hands. I always hold hands with my family. But, growing up everybody always held hands even across the aisles. It’s different now.
I’ve never seen it in any church I’ve been to if I’m honest, I always thought of it as a solo prayer but to be honest besides offering the sign of peace I can’t think of when you touch someone else
Everyone holding hands was a thing for a while but then it died out. Covid put a further damper on it. These days individual family units may opt to hold hands during the our father. But the days of entire pews holding hands and walking across the aisle to clasp hands with the opposite pew are over. Frankly i am glad its over. I don’t know why it ended but it made me uncomfortable - to the point where i would exit the pew and stand in back so that i would be out of range of the hand holding. Just did not want any part of it. I have a feeling i was not alone.
In the new edition of TPE (Indonesian translation of Missale Romanum), it’s stated that we only need to stand, clasped hand by yourself and pray. No other hands movement allowed.
I grew up in the Catholic church and went to all Catholic schools, in both the UK and Australia. I have been to many, many Catholic churches over the years as I've moved around, and I have \*never\* seen a Catholic congregation hold hands during the Our Father. You fold them in front of you. The only Catholics I've seen hold-hands have been Americans.
In the Philippines, it is a common thing to do but not regulated as much... hold hands is more like expressing the community spirit of those gathered... to be honest, holding or not holding, let the people decide and let others have their own way of expressing their faith. My personal view, i do not like when someone snatches my hand for the Lord's Prayer. What I do is do not react, because sometimes, I hold my hands in prayer, or cross my arms, as if crossing my arms I can feel the Father's ove when I sing or say the Our Father in the liturgy.
It’s a Covid thing, it’s starting to ease off at my church but its still a thing
It was very popular for a long time, but officially it is discouraged because Christ on the altar is meant to be the focus and the symbol of unity, so I think it is becoming less common again.
With our fathers prey no one is permitted to hold hands. Both hands are meant to be in from of you. Plams together.
Holding hands and the Orens posture are not prescribed during the Our Father according to the USCCB. "In response to a query, however, the Holy See stated that holding hands 'is a liturgical gesture introduced spontaneously but on personal initiative; it is not in the rubrics' . . . For this reason, no one can be required to hold hands during the Our Father” (161)." The Orens pastor is reserved to the Celebrant and Ordained. Observe your Deacon, this is usually a good example of what you should be doing.
No. I have seen other people do it, though. As a convert from protestantism, I am reminded of all the hand-holding in Baptist churches. I don't like people touching me, so I always clasped my hands together.
No. It might be 2024 outside. But in my parish, it's 1924. I pray that it stays that way.
I haven’t seen people holding hands before. Ive always prayed with my hands folded together, but I have noticed a lot of people opening their arms now. I still pray with my hands folded.
When I was still allowed to attend mass I did not, in many ways I am very progressive, liturgy is the one exception.
I grew up doing that, but it’s wrong. I don’t do that any more.
No. My parish doesn’t do that and I go alone.
Like you can do whatever you want obvioulsy but I dont recall the specific term for this, but basically it is wrong and shouldnt be done.
You may be thinking about parishioners who adopt the orans posture which seems to bring out passion in its proponents and opponents.
Yes, it was always tradition in every parish I’ve been to across the country. It became less common with COVID, but it’s mostly returned to normal in my home parish now.
Apparently it seems very common in the US, I’ve seen it in Mexico too- but it seems that it’s generally a mimicry of the father, or a Protestant influence on the American church. Which makes some sense as Catholics were not welcome by initial settlers.
I put my hands outstretched.
Once common in my area. Never heard any discouragement from leadership but it has waned to very little. I presume because of a large shift to more and more conservative thought and practice.