WHO SHOULD LIFT THEIR HANDS DURING THE "OUR FATHER" AT MASS?
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Have you ever wondered during Mass if you're supposed to lift your hands while praying the Our Father? Some do it, others don’t. So what’s correct?
Let’s look at what the Church actually teaches through the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), the official guide for how Mass should be celebrated.
The Priest and the Orans Posture
GIRM §152 says:
“After the invitation, the priest, with hands extended, says the Lord’s Prayer together with the people.”
This hand-lifting gesture is called the Orans posture (Latin: orare, “to pray”). It's an ancient biblical posture of intercession and priestly mediation.
Here’s the key:
The Orans posture is mentioned 28 times in the GIRM, and every single time, it refers exclusively to the priest.
Not once is it assigned to the lay faithful.
This is not accidental. It reflects the Church’s clear intention that the Orans posture at Mass is reserved to the priest, especially during key prayers where he acts in persona Christi (in the person of Christ).
What about the Laity?
For the lay faithful, the Church does not prescribe any hand gesture during the Our Father.
The only instruction is that the faithful stand and pray.
No mention of hand-raising.
No mention of hand-holding.
Just reverent participation.
So, if you're standing with hands folded or by your side during the Our Father, you're doing exactly what the Church expects of the laity.
But Can a Diocese Allow a particular posture for the Laity?
Yes, and here’s where liturgical uniformity comes in:
GIRM §42 encourages a common posture among the faithful, as a sign of unity.
So, in some dioceses, bishops may permit or tolerate a particular posture or even hand-holding for pastoral reasons, provided it's done uniformly.
But this is local adaptation, not universal law. And it must never blur the distinction between the ministerial priesthood and the common priesthood of the baptized.
Let’s rediscover the beauty of the liturgy by honoring its sacred structure.
Even the smallest gesture, done in obedience and love, becomes a prayer in itself.
The Mass is heaven on earth. Let us let heaven form us.
On June 10th, Richmond Council 2667 welcomed Dennis Shaffer into the 3rd Degree! Many Knights were in attendance for the ceremony, including Past State Deputy Walter Winkle, District Deputy John Vermeesch, and Richmond Grand Knight Shaun Rapske!
Arrangements for Eleanor Unterbrink, wife of Past State Deputy Kenneth Unterbrink are listed.Below. Please pray for Ellie and the Unterbrink family.
Visitation: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm with a rosary at 7:30pm at
Staffan Mitchell Funeral Home
901 N. Main
Chelsea, MI 48118
Mass of Christian Burial will be prayed on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Steven Shroeder and Con -Celebrant V. Rev. Dr. William J. Canon Turner. Visitation 10am to 10:50am. Funeral Mass - 11am
St, Mary Catholic Church
14200 E. Old US Hwy 12
Chelsea, MI 48118
Fr. Enzo, Lady Eleanor Unterbrink, and Worthy PSD Ken Unterbrink
Who is king “Melchizedek”? Any why do he and Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 show up on a day dedicated to celebrating the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist? Learn the answers to these questions - and more - in this week's Dad Talk:
Since Richard Fron DD PGK PFN was unavailable for the 2025 MI State Convention, his outstanding service as District Deputy of 110 was recognized at the June, Fr. Patrick O’Kelley (Dearborn/Dearborn Hgts.) Council Meeting.
Richard Shelt PGK CRSD presented Fron with Rubens' "Assumption of the Divine and Holy Virgin" icon — a gift given to retiring leaders at the State Convention in appreciation of their time and talents.
Congratulations and thank you Worthy DD Richard Fron. (Together, these two Brother Knights represent 115 years of exceptional Columbian service!!)
From left, front row, District Deputy Mike Karpus, new Knights Garrett Rockburn, Colt Graves and Kevin Morris, and Council 2084 chaplain Fr. James Wyse;
second row, Elijah Jeffers, Stewart Smith, Robert Pratt and Council 2084 Grand Knight Kevin Norton.
On Sunday, June 15th, District Deputy 312, Mike Karpus, and Council 2084 held an Exemplification to bring in three new Brothers into our Order. With these three new members, Council 2084 meets 125% of its membership quota and qualifies for Star Council for the third straight year. Welcome Brothers and Congratuations 2084 on your Star Council again this year!
Today's amazing readings help us better understand the Most Holy Trinity - that God is three persons in one - and how we benefit when we have faith in God. We'll explore this incredible mystery in today's Dad Talk:
In August of 1953, three major developments occurred in the life of my father, William J. Karpus. That month, he turned 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and he became a member of Knights of Columbus Council 414 in Bay City.
In 2000, he proudly showed me the Honorary Life card he received when he turned 65. In 2001, he died of complications of cancer. After his death, my mother gave to me, out of all five sons, my dad's prayer books, his various Knights paraphernalia, since I was his only son who was a Knight at the time, and his only set of cuff links.
Today, I will be wearing those cuff links in his honor as I take part in the Exemplification of three new brother Knights for my Council 2084 in Greenville.
Happy Father's Day to all of my brother Knights who are fathers and future fathers. St. Joseph, pray for us in this most important role.
WHO SHOULD LIFT THEIR HANDS DURING THE "OUR FATHER" AT MASS?
Some do it, others don’t. So what’s correct?
The Priest and the Orans Posture
GIRM §152 says:
The Orans posture is mentioned 28 times in the GIRM, and every single time, it refers exclusively to the priest.
What about the Laity?
The only instruction is that the faithful stand and pray.
No mention of hand-raising.
But Can a Diocese Allow a particular posture for the Laity?
GIRM §42 encourages a common posture among the faithful, as a sign of unity.
The Mass is heaven on earth. Let us let heaven form us.
