proper position for the Our Father

[littleflower+JMJ]

in mass, what is the proper way to have our hands during this time?

i know we shouldn't be holding hands but im unsure whether to keep them clasped or what

thanks!

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
8/11 - St. Clare of Assisi

littleflower+JMJ,

Good question. One is allowed to clasp his hands during the Our Father, just as he is allowed to hold out his hands (called the [i]orans[/i] ("praying") position). Either one is permitted and praiseworthy. The folded/clasped hands position comes from the medieval era, when a vassal would place his folded hands into the open hands of his lord in order to show his loyalty (this still happens at the ordination of priests and deacons). The [i]orans[/i] position comes from ancient Christianity, and as far as I remember, it represents one crucified with Christ.

To quote a recent document put out for the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina...
[quote]Holding hands does not appear in the ritual.[/quote]
Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono

[cappie]

In some countries, Italy, for example, the Holy See has granted the bishops' request to allow anyone who wishes to adopt this posture during the Our Father. Usually about a third to one-half of the assembled faithful choose to do so.

Despite appearances, this gesture is not, strictly speaking, a case of the laity trying to usurp priestly functions.

The Our Father is the prayer of the entire assembly and not a priestly or presidential prayer. In fact, it is perhaps the only case when the rubrics direct the priest to pray with arms extended in a prayer that he does not say alone or only with other priests. Therefore, in the case of the Our Father, the orantes posture expresses the prayer directed to God by his children.

The U.S. bishops' conference debated a proposal by some bishops to allow the use of the orantes posture while discussing the "American Adaptations to the General Instruction to the Roman Missal" last year. Some bishops even argued that it was the best way of ridding the country of holding hands. The proposal failed to garner the required two-thirds majority of votes, however, and was dropped from the agenda.