Catholic Replies
Q. In many local parishes, it is common to see people in the pews raising their hands or holding hands during the Our Father. In one parish, the congregation stands as the gifts are brought forward. Are these postures allowed, and where can I find what the proper postures are for each part of the Mass? — J.M., New York. A. You can find the proper postures during the Mass in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which spells out the manner in which Mass is to be celebrated, both for the priests and those assisting him at Mass and for the congregation. For example, paragraphs 42-44 deal with “Gestures and Bodily Posture,” and paragraphs 274 and 275 refer…Continue Reading