Holding Hands during the Our Father

[Frankencow]

I want to get to the bottom of this matter once and for all! From which church or area did this liturgical oddity of holding hands during the Our Father originate? Is this defined as illicit? Is there any mention of it in liturgical law? (If not, how would one go about adding that into liturgical law?) Sources and books on the subject would be great since I'm doing a research project!

Also, does anyone from the pre-Vatican II era remember doing this?


I posted this in the official Q & A forum, but I was wondering what the laypersons' understanding of this matter is as well.

[Totus Tuus]

[i]I believe[/i] it was during the Pentacostal movement and furthered by the Charasmatic movement, when speaking in tongues and being moved by the Spirit were highly emphasized (moreso than now) this practice was introduced. It is not something that is in the Rubrics/GIRM of the Mass, and should not be participated in if one does not feel comfortable or prayerful in this position. One should not feel pressured by those next to him to take part in this position, either.

Personally I find it extremely distracting, particularly because in the Mass of Vatican II, the Pater Noster takes place [i]right[/i] before the Agnus Dei, while Jesus is already present on the altar. For me personally, I used to compeltely lose my focus on the Holy Sacrifice because I was thinking about whether my hands were sweaty, etc.

I have heard good, holy, well-informed persons on EWTN discourage this practice; however they said that if it were taken to the Pope, he would most likely say that if you felt moved to hold hands, and your family did as well, there would probably be nothing wrong with doing so among yourself. But it should never be forced on another person, nor should one be looked down upon for preferring to remain in a position not involving the holding of hands during this prayer.

I hope that helps. God bless

Edited October 7, 2005 by Totus Tuus

[journeyman]

no authority for this, but "holding hands" is approximately the same posture as the "orans" position . . . we Americans can't be doing nothing, so it was "adapted" to grab your neighbor

slightly more seriously - one rationale for this practice is related to the communal participation in the Mass . . . We enter the sanctuary as a community, we sing as a community (my community appreciates that I don't sing too loud), we process to the Eucharist as a community, and we leave Mass and re-enter the world as a community . . . holding hands when we pray to "our" Father is another way of expressing our unity

where did it come from . . . I've heard some blame the evangelical protestants . . . Totus Tuus placed the origin within the evangelical charismatic Catholic community . . . I'd love to hear the answer, too . . . if you find out, post it here

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='journeyman' date='Oct 6 2005, 09:44 PM']no authority for this, but "holding hands" is approximately the same posture as the "orans" position . . . we Americans can't be doing nothing, so it was "adapted" to grab your neighbor

slightly more seriously - one rationale for this practice is related to the communal participation in the Mass . . . We enter the sanctuary as a community, we sing as a community (my community appreciates that I don't sing too loud), we process to the Eucharist as a community, and we leave Mass and re-enter the world as a community . . . holding hands when we pray to "our" Father is another  way of expressing our unity

where did it come from . . . I've heard some blame the evangelical protestants . . . Totus Tuus placed the origin within the evangelical charismatic Catholic community . . . I'd love to hear the answer, too . . . if you find out, post it here
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we are united spiritually by our prayer when we say the Our Father. Extraneous hand-holding is an innovation and detracts from the real purpose of Mass. That being to glorify God, not the community.


You should try not holding hands one week, Dad. See what kind of chaos that causes. If the absence of a non-essential and non proscribed gesture causes a problem then that raises questions in my mind about whether that gesture should be in the Mass. I guess I just want to mess with the fuzzy wuzzies there...

By the way, happy birthday tomorrow. I'll call you before I go to Philly.

[Philosopher]

Yes it is a bad idea that is all part of the movement to change (mess up/destroy) the litugy.

I recommend all the youth here hold hands in prayer during the Our Father and properly praise God.

Maybe that could have a positive impact on what people think.

[Cow of Shame]

It seems like a new phenomenon to me...I don't remember it growing up. Seems like it's appeared on my radar in the past, oh...5-8 years?

[Frankencow]

[quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Oct 6 2005, 11:32 PM']It seems like a new phenomenon to me...I don't remember it growing up.  Seems like it's appeared on my radar in the past, oh...5-8 years?
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Where abouts are you geographically?

[Cow of Shame]

[quote name='Frankencow' date='Oct 6 2005, 11:55 PM']Where abouts are you geographically?
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41:40:45.642N 86:02:42.151W

[Frankencow]

[quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Oct 7 2005, 12:41 AM']41:40:45.642N  86:02:42.151W
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"Midwest USA" would have sufficed. ;-)

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

[quote name='Frankencow' date='Oct 6 2005, 08:09 PM']I want to get to the bottom of this matter once and for all!  From which church or area did this liturgical oddity of holding hands during the Our Father originate? Is this defined as illicit? Is there any mention of it in liturgical law? (If not, how would one go about adding that into liturgical law?) Sources and books on the subject would be great since I'm doing a research project!

Also, does anyone from the pre-Vatican II era remember doing this?
I posted this in the official Q & A forum, but I was wondering what the laypersons' understanding of this matter is as well.
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Holding hands during the "Our Father" is a liturgical abuse and should not be done. I'll have to find the article at home that explains this.

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

It was me.

[Theoketos]

The problem with the neighsayers' arguement is that the logical conculsion would be that I should not touch my wife or child at all during the Pater Noster. That would not seem very loving at all. Of course I should be able to approperiately touch my family during mass...even during the Pater Noster. However one should not be doing anything that detracts from the Mass, I do not think holding my wife does.

Would you all should be arguing for in a norm.

[argent_paladin]

Theoketos,
Perhaps you got cut off, but what does your last sentence mean?
Also, it is not correct to say that just because a single person can do something during the liturgy, it is improper to discourage it as a group activity. For example, it is not wrong to stretch your neck at the end of the second reading, but if everyone did it at every mass, it would be distracting, and wrong.
And of course, we are not talking about families or married couples but people generally. It is the difference between a private activity and a public work (the actual meaning of liturgy). Once holding hands crosses the line between private and public, it needs to be regulated. Although that line is not always clear, it is evident that when 95% of the congregation holds hands, then raises them at the end of the prayer, then squeezes before letting go, we have a new liturgical practice.
My sense is that it came into fashion at different times in different places. Even now it is not practiced in some parts of the country. The big problem I have (as mentioned earlier) is that it is difficult to avoid offense if one doesn't hold hands. It is quite silly but common for people to be offended by this, even if you have a cold.
A big pet peeve of mine was the practice of withholding the Cup from the faithful during flu season but continuing the practice of holding hands at the Our Father. I know of hundreds of scientific studies that directly link hand-holding to transmitting disease but none that confirm that it is common through communion wine. Does that make any sense?
Also, it is sad how small children have to have their arms almost straight up in the air to participate, and then they get them raised higher at the end. Worst of all is when a priest holds the hands of servers. I detest that. That truly crosses the line of public and private.
Also, I find it hilarious that people keep adding to the practice. It started as a hand-hold, then added the raise at "For the kingdom..." and now the squeeze before letting go is spreading. What next? Perhaps a finger snap?

[Catholictothecore]

I've always been taught that its a matter of ones choice, really. God's not condemn you for doing it, nor canonize you for not.

[Cow of Shame]

[quote name='argent_paladin' date='Oct 7 2005, 09:37 AM'] then raises them at the end of the prayer, then squeezes before letting go,
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For some reason, the hand raising bit always irritated me. *shrug*