Why Hold Hands?

Question: Why do we hold hands during the Our Father?

Answer: The practice of members of the assembly holding hands while praying the Lord’s Prayer during the Mass is a custom that developed organically in the 1970s and 1980s. While some commentators acknowledge that the practice varies from place to place, it is a fairly universal reality in parishes across the United States. For some, this action symbolizes the communion of Christians praying together as one family of believers honoring the Father of All. Critics of the practice sometimes express concern that holding hands can be a distraction from the more significant unity that is experienced when we process to the altar to receive sacramental communion.

And so, we’re left to ask, what is the answer?

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (the document that offers specific instructions for the celebration of the Mass) is silent on the practice, saying only that “all the faithful say the prayer” with the priest. The website of the US Bishops simply observes that “No position is prescribed in the Roman Missal for an assembly gesture during the Lord’s Prayer.” And so, we’re left to discern within ourselves and within our parish and religious communities what is an authentic gesture of praise during this important point of the Mass. For some, this means continuing to hold hands, while for others, this may mean adopting another posture of prayer.