MyCatholicSource.com - 'Quick Help' Page: Should Catholics Hold Hands At The Lord's Prayer In Mass?

Answer / Resources:

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No. First, note that many people may object to this practice – for example, consider the following visitor query...

"Is dislike of the 'sign of peace' and hand holding at the Lord's Prayer cause to avoid Mass?"

In light of St. Paul's words...

"...it is good not to...do anything that causes your brother to stumble." (Rom. 14:21)

And...

"Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved." (1 Cor. 10:32-33)

Would you really wish to be the cause of someone wanting to avoid Mass?

Also, besides being unsanitary, this practice may result in...

* people's hands being grabbed against their will

* a loss of focus on the Lord's Prayer

* persons feeling uncomfortable by unwanted touching

* people feeling obliged to grab others' hands

* people being disturbed by the practice (e.g. if hands are jerked or held too long, if someone's hands appear filthy/diseased, etc.)

* children being touched by strangers and being pressured to touch other people (even unknown men & women)

* men/women feeling pressured to touch men/women that they do not know

* people being judged 'uncharitable' because they do not feel comfortable participating in this arguably inappropriate gesture

If you object to hand-holding at the Our Father, you might bring up your legitimate concerns with the priest (regrettably, however, you may not receive a warm reception). Nevertheless, note that the practice is NOT obligatory.

Should you find it possible to avoid the distracting/uncomfortable hand-holding at the Our Father at a Novus Ordo Mass, you might consider attending the Traditional Latin Mass (which, thankfully, should exclude such disagreeable practices). [Note: It is still possible – thanks be to God! – to lawfully attend the Traditional Latin Mass throughout the world. The highly reverent Traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass differs from the 1960's Novus Ordo Mass in many & significant ways (try here for more information). To locate a Traditional Latin Mass in your area, try here.]

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