MOVEMENTS AND POSTURES
I converted to the Catholic faith two years ago - i was attending a Pentecostal church. In the Pentecostal church people pray with their hands raised often, and it does teach in the Bible to do this - definitely -
QUESTION from Arnold on November 27, 2003
since becoming Catholic i have felt i should at least raise my hands in prayer during the Gloria and Sanctus .. but i barely raise the at - i juts raise them in front of me where people behind me might not be able to even see that i am doing it - my goal is to not create a spectacle of my self while observing want i consider to be an important Biblical teaching of raising one's hands in prayer ..
Now that i have been a Catholic for almost two years i wish totally to worship in the congregation according to the rules or rubrics as set forth in the GIRM, yet the GIRM is very vague on this.
When i don't have my hands raised (discreetly) in front of me (during the Gloria and Sanctus) i have them folded in prayer ..
Should i just be standing there not using my hands at all???
What are your thoughts on this?? What should i do in regards to my hands during Mass to be the perfect Catholic ??Thanks so much for your help!
ANSWER by Mr. Jacob Slavek on December 3, 2003
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Dear Arnold, I am glad to hear that you want to do everything as a "perfect" catholic, it is refreshing since so many others do not care. you are correct, neither the rubrics nor the General Instruction state what is to be done, so simply folding hands or holding a missal would be appropriate. Holding yours hands up in prayer is fine while you are praying alone or with others at home or somewhere else. It is an excellent posture for prayer, and it is called for in the Mass for the priest. In the Catholic Church we have "Liturgical" prayer, that is, prayer that is united with all others in the Church. You will not have seen this with the Pentecostals. (I believe) Nowhere in the Latin Rite will you see the people holding their hands up (licitly, anyway) for we all follow the same norms. It simply isn't called for. Thanks for writing, Mr. Slavek |