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Question
how and when did the practice of holding hands during the our father occur? is this something that the church looks favorably on. i have heard that the church has not given its ok.
thank you
dan
Hi, Dan.
Thanks for the question.
I am not sure precisely "when" the practice came about, but it was some time either in the late 1960s or during the 1970s from what I can gather. The "how" is that it was a gimmicky kind of "quick-fix" to engender misguided feelings about "community." I find that the "silent majority" often times allowed themselves to be manipulated into doing this in some locations by the "invitation" (read "expectation") on the part of some Priests, encouraging eveyone to "hold hands" and, or "fill in the aisles."
It is not a part of the Roman Rite of the Mass. The Church in her official teaching does not look favorably on it, and you are correct that she definitely has not given it her ok.
In the pastoral reality of the slack discipline these days, and old encouraged rebellious attitudes, the Priest is hardly in a position to make a verbal and threatening "demand" from the Altar that "nobody better dare hold hands"; however, it goes a LONG way for a Priest simply NEVER to make a public "invitation" to do so. This allows the vast majority of your normal and average people who have an instinctive aversion to such silliness simply not to be manipulated into engaging in the practice.
I mean, we can hardly go through systematically to each individual and physically "break them up" from spontaneously holding hands if this is some kind of thing they got themselves into the habit (for whatever reason) of doing, any more than one can systematically go through and throw chapel veils over the heads of women, monitor exactly whether they sit, stand, or kneel at the right times, etc.
Though authentic Catholic Tradition is always most desirable, and the attitude and approach of a sober and stable Priest will go a long way to foster an atmosphere toward the ending of abuses.
+ God bless you!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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