BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Is there a proper hand gesture when praying the Our Father during Mass?

I get this question a lot. There are people who fold their hands, some are in orans position (the priest posture; hands outstretched sideways, palms up), and some hold hands with others. Before I go any further, let me just say that the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) is relatively silent on the topic. Because of its silence, many people take this to mean that the faithful may use any prayer posture they are comfortable with. However, there are documents that reveal something different.

In a 1997 Vatican document, Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests (ICP Practical Provisions), it’s states:
"In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to "quasi preside" at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity." (ICP Article 6.2)
What the above statement means is that we may not say the Eucharistic prayers along with the priest. And more specific to this topic, the faithful should not use the same gestures that are reserved for the priest celebrant.

As mentioned earlier, the GIRM is silent with regard to the posture of the faithful during the Our Father, however, the Sacramentary (the book of prayers for Mass used by the priest) instructs that the celebrant is to pray the Our Father with hands extended. Looking back at ICP and applying its guidelines, the faithful are not to use gestures or actions proper to the priest celebrant. (Note: I am not trying to be divisive nor telling anyone to stop holding hands. I am simply relaying my understanding.)
The Our Father takes place during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This time of prayer is directed to God (as is the entire Mass, but more specifically during the Liturgy of the Eucharist). As it is directed toward God, the extending and/or holding of hands creates a horizontal emphasis on the prayer, as opposed to the vertical emphasis that it demands. Many in the congregation who prefer hand holding or the orans posture may argue that the Our Father is a community prayer, and as such holding and/or extending hands is a visible sign of that community – a valid point. But the Our Father is a community prayer, not because we hold or extend our hands, but because we pray it together as the Body of Christ.

As part of the clergy, I have no desire to instruct families to stop holding hands during the Our Father. My family held hands and I loved it. We did not use the orans position. It seemed awkward and still does.

So, here is my advice. One should not pray the Our Father with hands extended in the orans position like a priest. Holding hands with one’s family or friends is not envisioned by the rubrics of the Mass, but neither is it something that needs to be corrected. Just remember that the Our Father is a solemn prayer for our Lord, and no one else. And if in doubt regarding prayer posture, just mimic the deacon.

Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn