Changes during my abscence

[Guest TJRamone]

I have not attended Mass consistently in over ten years, and a few things have changed that I am curious about. Can anyone please provide some clarity on where these customs come from - are they directives?

1) I notice that people raise their hands as the "Our Father" is receited - I was taught to bow my head and clasp my hands.

2) When giving the sign of peace, people now look around, raise a hand and gesture a single wave to others. I was taught that you shake hands with all those around you.

3) When is it appropriate to sit after communion? I was taught that you knelt until the priest stood and said "Let Us Pray".

Not trying to be nit-picky - I'm just curious. Thank you to anyone with some 4-1-1!

God Bless

[Sojourner]

1) you can still bow your head and clasp your hands. I do.

2) We shake hands in our parish, and in others I've attended.

3) We kneel after communion. I believe that's the norm.

[PedroX]

TJ,

Welcome back!

The General Instruction does not specify a gesture for the laity during the Our Father. Approved gestures are to clasp your hands, or to raise them in the "orans" position.

The sign of peace should be carried out in a dignified manner. Mass is not a ho-down, or an informal gathering. Shaking hands with those who are next to you is appropriate.

At seminary, we kneel until the presider regains his seat. At the parish, I usually kneel until the tabernacle is closed. Follow the custom of the local assembly in this. There is great beauty and grace when we have uniformity of posture and gestures.

peace...

[Guest TJRamone]

Thank you both for your replies! I thought I had missed a memo or something.... (hee,hee)

[Dennis]

1.) I don't remember ever doing the "Our Father" prayer any other way than holding hands and raising them. And I regularly went to latin Masses when I was a kid (yeah, I'm THAT old... )

2.) I've never been to a Mass where we waved instead of shaking hands..

3.) I was taught that after Communion you were not allowed to sit until the Consecrated Host was placed back into the Tabernacle and the Tabernacle was closed. To do otherwise would be to show disrespect to Jesus (who is in the Host - [i]Real Presence[/i]). I believe that the Priest always waits until the Host is in the Tabernacle before he says, [i]"Let us pray..."[/i]