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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
holding hands	Claire	Saturday, May 31, 2008
Question: Hi again Br. Ignatius, What do I do if I have already brought up holding hands during Mass as being illicit (not in the GIRM) to the Bishop and he tells me in so many words that it's not against the GIRM. We have a great Bishop, but this has disturbed me. When I saw our Deacon use the Orans position during the Our Father in Mass I did mention to him that the deacon is not allowed to use any position that is limited to Priestly use, so he stopped for awhile. Then during our RCIA neophyte Mass for our newest members, the Priest said, before we prayed the Lord's Prayer, for all of us to join hands...I refused politely by shaking my head and smiling at the person beside when they went to grab my hands. It is getting so bad that the Choir will not only join hands, but make a link to join those at the pews... What to do? Would it be wrong to write the Pope if I can, and ask His direct teaching on this? How does one contact the Pope's office? thank you, God bless, Claire
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Claire: The Congregation for Divine Worship answer a similar question some time ago in the Notitiae, the Journal of the Congregation where they make official interpretations of liturgical law. These interpretations are binding: QUERY: In some places there is a current practice whereby those taking part in the Mass replace the giving of the sign of peace at the deacon's invitation by holding hands during the singing of the Lord's Prayer. Is this acceptable? REPLY: The prolonged holding of hands is of itself a sign of communion rather than of peace. Further, it is a liturgical gesture introduced spontaneously but on personal initiative; it is not in the rubrics. Nor is there any clear explanation of why the sign of peace at the invitation: "Let us offer each other the sign of peace" should be supplanted in order to bring a different gesture with less meaning into another part of the Mass: the sign of peace is filled with meaning, graciousness, and Christian inspiration. Any substitution for it must be repudiated. [Notitiae 11 (1975) 226] The specific question here deals with holding hands during the Our Father as a replacement for the Sign of Peace, but the principle established here applies elsewhere in the Liturgy. What I do is close my eyes, lower my head, and hold my hands in a gesture of prayer. This usually gets the message across that I do not wish to hold hands. If anyone asks simply tell them that this gesture as a congregation wide practice is not authorized by the Holy See. Holding Hands is not in the rubrics and thus may not be done. Those who argue that it is permitted because it is not specifically prohibited are using false logic. Why not do jumping-jacks during the Our Father. That is not specifically prohibited either. We cannot argue from silence. The liturgical law requires us to follow the rubrics as written and no one, not even a priest, has the authority to change even one dotted eye according to Vatican II's "Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy" #22 and canon 838 of the Code of Canon Law. If you have gone to the pastor and then the bishop with no results to correct this liturgical abuse then you may, if you wish write a letter to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Their address is: Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum Palazzo delle Congregazioni Piazza Pio XII, 10 00193 Roma ITALY That is all you can do. Your job is done. If nothing happens then the bishop will be held accountable before God and you are excused from any further responsibility of fraternal correction. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

holding hands

Claire

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Question:

Hi again Br. Ignatius,

What do I do if I have already brought up holding hands during Mass as being illicit (not in the GIRM) to the Bishop and he tells me in so many words that it's not against the GIRM. We have a great Bishop, but this has disturbed me. When I saw our Deacon use the Orans position during the Our Father in Mass I did mention to him that the deacon is not allowed to use any position that is limited to Priestly use, so he stopped for awhile. Then during our RCIA neophyte Mass for our newest members, the Priest said, before we prayed the Lord's Prayer, for all of us to join hands...I refused politely by shaking my head and smiling at the person beside when they went to grab my hands.

It is getting so bad that the Choir will not only join hands, but make a link to join those at the pews...

What to do? Would it be wrong to write the Pope if I can, and ask His direct teaching on this? How does one contact the Pope's office?

thank you,
God bless,
Claire

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Claire:

The Congregation for Divine Worship answer a similar question some time ago in the Notitiae, the Journal of the Congregation where they make official interpretations of liturgical law. These interpretations are binding:

QUERY: In some places there is a current practice whereby those taking part in the Mass replace the giving of the sign of peace at the deacon's invitation by holding hands during the singing of the Lord's Prayer. Is this acceptable?
REPLY: The prolonged holding of hands is of itself a sign of communion rather than of peace. Further, it is a liturgical gesture introduced spontaneously but on personal initiative; it is not in the rubrics. Nor is there any clear explanation of why the sign of peace at the invitation: "Let us offer each other the sign of peace" should be supplanted in order to bring a different gesture with less meaning into another part of the Mass: the sign of peace is filled with meaning, graciousness, and Christian inspiration. Any substitution for it must be repudiated. [Notitiae 11 (1975) 226]

The specific question here deals with holding hands during the Our Father as a replacement for the Sign of Peace, but the principle established here applies elsewhere in the Liturgy.

What I do is close my eyes, lower my head, and hold my hands in a gesture of prayer. This usually gets the message across that I do not wish to hold hands.

If anyone asks simply tell them that this gesture as a congregation wide practice is not authorized by the Holy See.

Holding Hands is not in the rubrics and thus may not be done. Those who argue that it is permitted because it is not specifically prohibited are using false logic. Why not do jumping-jacks during the Our Father. That is not specifically prohibited either.

We cannot argue from silence. The liturgical law requires us to follow the rubrics as written and no one, not even a priest, has the authority to change even one dotted eye according to Vatican II's "Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy" #22 and canon 838 of the Code of Canon Law.

If you have gone to the pastor and then the bishop with no results to correct this liturgical abuse then you may, if you wish write a letter to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Their address is:

Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect
Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum
Palazzo delle Congregazioni
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00193 Roma
ITALY

That is all you can do. Your job is done. If nothing happens then the bishop will be held accountable before God and you are excused from any further responsibility of fraternal correction.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum