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Christianity

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3 votes
1 answers
124 views
What's the tradition behind congregational gestures during processions?
I've been going to Latin Mass on and off for a while and noticed that some people have adopted as some sort of meme a habit of bowing when the priest passes by and genuflecting when the processional cross passes by. I am personally, an obstinate stubborn sort of fool who won't adopt any practice, no...
I've been going to Latin Mass on and off for a while and noticed that some people have adopted as some sort of meme a habit of bowing when the priest passes by and genuflecting when the processional cross passes by. I am personally, an obstinate stubborn sort of fool who won't adopt any practice, no matter how pious, unless it is explained to me personally. (I never dipped my hand in holy water until I heard a homily about it in my teens.) So, I'd really like to know whether or not this is a good, true and beautiful practice or just some Latin LARPer accretion which I would be best to avoid. Furthermore, if it is a good thing to do for TLM, should I do this during the *Novus Ordo* Mass? Why or why not?
Peter Turner (34504 rep)
Sep 17, 2025, 07:19 PM • Last activity: Sep 22, 2025, 02:42 AM
9 votes
1 answers
3490 views
What's the tradition behind hand holding during the Our Father at Mass?
In traveling around my diocese I've noticed that there are some parishes that are hand-holders and some parishes that are non-hand-holders and some people in the non-hand-holder parishes who persist in hand holding and some people in the hand holder parishes who abstain from hand holding. Also, ther...
In traveling around my diocese I've noticed that there are some parishes that are hand-holders and some parishes that are non-hand-holders and some people in the non-hand-holder parishes who persist in hand holding and some people in the hand holder parishes who abstain from hand holding. Also, there are some parishes where it is common to raise up your hands together for the doxology of the prayer. And some parishes where even unheld hands are held up like the priest does. I know that pure imitation of the priest isn't good (his hands are blessed, mine aren't), but what I don't know is if spontaneous hand holding by the congregation is totally licit and where the tradition came from. My mom told me it was, "something Protestants did in the 60's that Catholic's picked up on" is that all it is? Was there ever a Bishop who told his diocese to hold hands or not to hold hands?
Peter Turner (34504 rep)
Aug 15, 2012, 03:06 AM • Last activity: Sep 18, 2025, 03:31 AM
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