The Sacred Liturgy: Gestures, Postures and Etiquette - Part IV (February 2, 2025)
It has become common in many parishes for the faithful to extend their hands or hold hands during the Our Father. The position of extending hands during prayer is called the 'orans' position. "Orans' is Latin for 'Praying'. One principle of the Sacred Liturgy is the clear distinction between the laity and the clergy in the context of the Mass and other Rites. That means that the priest has his proper gestures, words, etc. and the laity have theirs and the two should not be confused. Based on that principle one rule of Sacred Liturgy is that the laity should not mimic those gestures or say those words that are exclusive to the Priest during the Liturgy. During the Our Father the rite prescribes that the Priest extends his hands to offer the prayer while it says nothing about the laity.
The Sacred Liturgy: Gestures, Postures and Etiquette - Part III (January 26, 2025)
We continue last week’s explanation of gestures and postures in the Sacred Liturgy and Holy Mass. The previous article ended with a paragraph regarding standing during the Holy Mass. As we go through the Mass the next gesture of note is the ‘striking of the breast’. This gesture is part of the penitential rite during the ‘Confiteor’ – the ‘I confess…’. When we say the words ‘through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault’ we strike our breast as a sign of repentance and contrition. By tradition we strike our breast three times, however one time is sufficient.
The Sacred Liturgy: Gestures, Postures and Etiquette - Part II (January 19, 2025)
The Sacred Liturgy: Gestures, Postures and Etiquette - Part I (January 12, 2025)