Philippines: Bishop’s conference allows holding or raising hands during ‘Our Father’ in Mass

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has decided to allow the faithful to hold or raise hands while singing or reciting the Lord’s Prayer during the Holy Mass.

Capiz Archbishop Victor Bendico, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy, said that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) “neither forbids nor prescribes raising hands or holding hands” during this particular part of the Mass.

“Both gestures are liturgically accepted to accompany the praying of the Lord’s Prayer,” said Bishop Bendico in his circular. “We are therefore exhorted to exercise sincere respect to each other in the gesture we express during the prayer.”

The bishop said that while the Roman Liturgy in the past considered Our Father a presidential prayer, the reforms of the Second Vatican Council transformed it into a prayer for the entire assembly.

“Since GIRM is silent on the gesture that should accompany the prayer, the faithful can recite or sing it with a gesture that can best help them to experience and express themselves as God’s children,” writes Bishop Bendico.

The bishop also cited the liturgical instruction from the Italian translation of the Roman Missal, stating that the faithful way is to hold one’s arms outstretched, provided that the gesture is “properly explained” and “is to take place with dignity in a fraternal atmosphere of prayer.”

Moreover, Bishop Bendico shared the Scriptural basis for this decision, explaining how Moses prayed with outstretched hands in Exodus 17:8–16. He also said that Solomon did the same in 1 Kings 8:54 and Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:8, as Paul instructed him.

The Archdiocese of Manila reiterated the CBCP’s decision on this matter.

“It is not proper to prohibit the raising of hands in praying the Lord’s Prayer, and equally, it is not proper to demand from the faithful to raise their hands in this part of the Mass,” said Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula in his own circular.

“The faithful are to be respected with the decision they make on this matter,” stated the cardinal.- Luke Godoy