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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Doxology and Gestures	Dottye	Thursday, September 30, 2004
Question: Dear Father, I have a follow-up to an earlier question: I have attended several Parishes in my area where local Parish traditions differ. There are a couple of Parishes where the doxology-"Through Him, with Him and in Him....." are either sung by the congregation or recited by the Celebrant and the congregation. At some, there are hand gestures-raised open palm, followed by lifting of the arms with palms up at the "For the Kingdom the power and the glory are yours...."-by the Celebrant and the congregation. I have continued to resist these changes, but often someone next to me will grab my hand at the Our Father, and lift it at the end. I believe that I heard on the EWTN "Web of Faith" that these are not appropriate things for the congregation to engage in. What is the Church's official stand on these changes/local traditions? Thanks for your answer to my question.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Dottye: Thanks for the promotion, but I am not a priest, just a lowly brother in private vows. :) The "customs" you have listed are all illegal. According to the official teaching of the Church, no one, not even a priest, may change the words or the rubrics of the Mass on his own authority. These "local traditions" are rebellious and illegal and need to stop immediately. 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

Doxology and Gestures

Dottye

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Question:

Dear Father,
I have a follow-up to an earlier question:

I have attended several Parishes in my area where local Parish traditions differ. There are a couple of Parishes where the doxology-"Through Him, with Him and in Him....." are either sung by the congregation or recited by the Celebrant and the congregation. At some, there are hand gestures-raised open palm, followed by lifting of the arms with palms up at the "For the Kingdom the power and the glory are yours...."-by the Celebrant and the congregation. I have continued to resist these changes, but often someone next to me will grab my hand at the Our Father, and lift it at the end.

I believe that I heard on the EWTN "Web of Faith" that these are not appropriate things for the congregation to engage in.

What is the Church's official stand on these changes/local traditions?

Thanks for your answer to my question.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Dottye:

Thanks for the promotion, but I am not a priest, just a lowly brother in private vows. :)

The "customs" you have listed are all illegal. According to the official teaching of the Church, no one, not even a priest, may change the words or the rubrics of the Mass on his own authority. These "local traditions" are rebellious and illegal and need to stop immediately.

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