Q: I just read an article that said “The Deacon is expressly forbidden to hold his hands up in prayer.” If we learned this in formation I have forgotten it. Is it true? Many years ago, (during a training session on the GIRM, I think) it was suggested that the followers of Jesus would have prayed with their hands held up. I have prayed that way for many years. I do not want to continue a practice that is ‘expressly forbidden’. If I change now it will be quite noticeable and I anticipate people will question why. Can you provide a citation so I can explain the change, if indeed, a change is required? Thanks.
A: Nowhere does it “expressly forbid” a deacon to hold his hands up in prayer. However, the Vatican did issue an instruction in 1997 on certain questions on collaboration of the non-ordained faithful: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html.
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In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity. |
If you are holding your hands up during the eucharistic prayer in the same way that a priest does, you shouldn’t do that. But if you’’re praying on your own apart from the eucharist, there’s no harm in it.