Topic:  What caused the church to declare it more reverent to not hold hands during the Our Father?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: April 6, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father John

Question:  What caused the church to declare it more reverent to not hold hands during the Our Father?

Answer: 

Dear Curious,

The traditional posture for praying The Lord’s Prayer at Mass is standing with hands extended palms facing upwards, a gesture that signifies our need, our humble dependence on God, and our openness to receiving the gifts of daily bread and forgiveness which we seek in this prayer. I know that in some places worshippers do hold hands for the Lord’s Prayer, and do consider this posture to be both a sign of unity and reverent. I think the Church’s Office of the Liturgy would agree that this holding of hands can be a sign of unity and reverent for the individual doing such, but would prefer if members of the congregation stuck to the more traditional posture of hands extended palms facing upwards. You may want to apply the adage: “When in Rome…”

Father John