Tag Archives: congregation

The Prayer of The Faithful

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During Mass, and after the Readings and Homily of the day, we have the citing of all of the Nicene Creed.  Next comes what is called the Prayer of the Faithful.

This consist of a series of prayer, typically four to five such prayers with a closing of each by the Prayer Leader saying words to the effect of “We pray to the Lord”, and the congregation responds “Lord, hear our prayer.”

Notice no “s” in the congregation response there…  This is one prayer from all of us, at one time, even when we are asked to add our private intentions, again, it is a singular prayer not multiple prayers (see the s in that last one?) from multiple people.

In responds “Lord, hear our prayers” you are taking yourself out of the group prayer and sending up/or implying your own prayer(s).  While sending up your own prayers is good, at this point in Mass, it is ONE PRAYER from the whole Church.

I do think this post may lead to an in depth discussion of the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) in the very near future.

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Orans Posture

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Since my entrance into the Catholic Church I have spent my days and evenings reading the Canon (laws of the Church), the Rubrics, and documents of the Church.  I have many more to read and understand, but one thing has been pretty clear, what should be done in Mass and what should not be done.

There is a posture taken by Priest called the Orans Posture in which they place their hands out and up when praying singularly for the Congregation.

Orans Posture

Orans Posture

In reading the rubrics prior to 1950, this was a position that only Priest were to take that were celebrating or con-celebrating when they were praying on behalf of the Congregation, and while the Congregation was silent.  The rubrics stated that the hands of a Priest, when praying WITH the Congregation were to be together “in a prayerful manner”.

If you read the rubrics now, it still has the Priest in this position when praying on behalf of the the congregation and people of the world, but continues to have the Priest take this posture when praying the “Our Father”, which now shows the Congregation praying, where before they did not pray with the Priest during Mass.  The Deacon, if present is still to be in the “prayerful manner”, which was described in the past as hands together, fingers extended and thumbs cross or fingers interlaced and crossed.  (The Deacon or non-concelibrating but present Priest were not to take the Orans Posture…)

In the late 60s to early 70s the Charismatic groups and Nuns in the United States started holding hands with the advent of the text from Vatican II.  There was never a proclamation to do so, and there was no rubrics changes published by the Church to do so, they just started to do it to show togetherness.

However if you go back in history, the only time we see this posture being taken was when a LEADER/ELDER/PRIEST was praying for the people, it was never a posture taken by the lay or religious people unless they were the ones leading the prayer and praying on behalf of the people present.

It was a practice to hold hands at the dinner table when praying, but never was it so while in Church or at a Religious service!

We need to go away from the attempt to become like the Ordained and return to our roots in this case.  Don’t get me wrong!

I am all for change when change needs to happen, but this is not a change that makes since or needs to happen.  It is taking our actions to us and away from God and our love and need to be with Him and returning our focus on ourselves and not Him!

In Christ

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Prayer Life

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Well, for the past month and a half, I have been a bit slack on my spiritual life.  I haven’t really been reading much in the way of theology or within my faith (although I have done some “recreational” reading), and I have missed more of my prayer hours that I would have liked.  That has started to change today though, I am going back to my prayer life, although on a different schedule than I had as a Hermit.

I will not be getting up at Midnight to do the Office of the Readings, but will be doing them right after getting up at 5AM.  The Church I go to now does the Morning Offices prior to Mass, so I will be doing this Hour with the Congregation present at Mass.  The rest of the hours will remain at or close to their normal times. 🙂

In Christ,

Don

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