Why Do People Do What They Do During The Our Father?

[clg01]

Why is it that this question keeps getting re-asked here? Not too long ago, I posed the exact same question. People, before posing questions such as this, please do a search on phatmass forum for the topic to see if it's been answered!

[HeavenlyCalling]

Even though I am generally a very touchy- feely person ( not in a creepy way, I was just raised like that) I dont think the mass is the place for it. If I wanted to hold hands I would go to a campfire. If I wanted to shake hands I would go to a business meeting. I go to Church to worship God, and I dont like distractions ( like everyone shuffling in and out of pews during the Our Father and stretching across you to give someone the sign of peace) Just my two bits.

Edited April 30, 2007 by HeavenlyCalling

[Ash Wednesday]

[quote name='Knight of the Holy Rosary' post='1260005' date='Apr 29 2007, 09:08 PM']Immediately, I closed my eyes and folded my hands and somebody actually slapped my arm and said, with a reprimanding tone, 'we hold hands at this parish'.[/quote]

I'm feelin' the love, man. "HOLD MY HAND OR ELSE!!!!" "WE ARE A PARISH COMMUNITY!!! ACCEPT IT OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!!!"

[Daniel Nekic]

I hate the holding of hands.
I brought the matter up with my associate priest, and he told me that the Fillippinos brought it from their culture, it has become the culture of the parish, and that I should worry about stuff worth worrying over.

I seethed.

[quote name='Mercy Me']The GIRM defines the proper possition for the priest but not the rest of us.[/quote]
General rule of thumb - if the GIRM doesn't say we can't do it, that doesn't provide an excuse for us to do it.
The GIRM [i]is[/i] silent on the matter, but that doesn't mean that we should jump across the aisle to grab the other person's hand.

[Church Punk]

Cardinal Arinze said that it is too small of an issue to get worked up over when heard him speak at a conferance.

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='Church Punk' post='1260568' date='Apr 30 2007, 10:35 AM']Cardinal Arinze said that it is too small of an issue to get worked up over when heard him speak at a conferance.[/quote]

One of the first balanced and rational things I've ever heard him say!

[Maggyie]

I am also a big personal space person, so the sign of peace is difficult enough for me, let alone holding hands at the Our Father! But it isn't really a big deal, I do get over it when *gasp* someone wants to hold my hand. Luckily (and mysteriously) nobody has tried to recently... I must be scaring them off somehow

At one parish I heard of, the pastor was trying to get people to do the orates "outstretched hands" position so as to cut down on the hand-holding. That is an interesting tactic. Of course the orates position isn't a particularly comfortable prayer position for me, either

[Sojourner]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1260572' date='Apr 30 2007, 09:46 AM']One of the first balanced and rational things I've ever heard him say![/quote]
was this really necessary?

Our bishops and cardinals deserve respect, even when we don't agree with them.

Edited April 30, 2007 by Terra Firma

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1260537' date='Apr 30 2007, 06:12 AM']I'm feelin' the love, man. "HOLD MY HAND OR ELSE!!!!" "WE ARE A PARISH COMMUNITY!!! ACCEPT IT OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!!!"[/quote]

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='Terra Firma' post='1260575' date='Apr 30 2007, 10:52 AM'] was this really necessary?

Our bishops and cardinals deserve respect, even when we don't agree with them.[/quote]

I was simply stating the extent to which i had heard Arinze speak with balance and reason.

If you're concerned about respect for prelates, I won't tell you what I've heard priests say about Arinze....

[Sojourner]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1260590' date='Apr 30 2007, 10:03 AM']I was simply stating the extent to which i had heard Arinze speak with balance and reason.

If you're concerned about respect for prelates, I won't tell you what I've heard priests say about Arinze....[/quote]
If you're going to be insulting at least be honest about it.

You were implying that he rarely speaks with balance and reason.

Just because others are disrespectful does not give you license to be so.


Now back to hand-holding ...

[Maggyie]

The more I think about it, the more I wish I was more comfortable with the orates position. The early Christians did it, didn't they? So why do I feel weird and self-conscious when I do it?

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='Maggie' post='1260600' date='Apr 30 2007, 11:12 AM']The more I think about it, the more I wish I was more comfortable with the orates position. The early Christians did it, didn't they? So why do I feel weird and self-conscious when I do it?[/quote]

Because the position leaves us exposed. By opening up your arms, your physically leave your abdomen exposed, something we are biologically not predisposed to do, because that can leave us open to severe injury. Spiritually, by opening your arms, you leave yourself vulnerable to God.

[Maggyie]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1260602' date='Apr 30 2007, 12:19 PM']Because the position leaves us exposed. By opening up your arms, your physically leave your abdomen exposed, something we are biologically not predisposed to do, because that can leave us open to severe injury. Spiritually, by opening your arms, you leave yourself vulnerable to God.[/quote]

Ohhhh...

[Sojourner]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1260602' date='Apr 30 2007, 10:19 AM']Because the position leaves us exposed. By opening up your arms, your physically leave your abdomen exposed, something we are biologically not predisposed to do, because that can leave us open to severe injury. Spiritually, by opening your arms, you leave yourself vulnerable to God.[/quote]
This is true. Although I don't pray often in this posture myself, it is a powerful means of demonstrating physically the openness of one's heart to God.