During the "Lord's Prayer" CBCP says holding of hands is allowed

There is no prohibition on the holding of hands during the singing of the Lord's Prayer during the Mass. This was the clarification being made by Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB, executive secretary of the Commission on Liturgy of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Chupungco in a statement over the CBCP website said that there has been no directive from the bishops that bans this practice among priests and laypeople during the celebration of the Mass. The statement coming out of the 20th National Meeting of Diocesan Directors of Liturgy made no mention of such prohibition. While it suggested that certain "indecorous movements" must be "eliminated" these did not refer to "holding hands" during the singing of the Lord's Prayer.

The 20th National Meeting of Diocesan Directors of Liturgy stated that among a growing number of clergy and laity there is a praiseworthy desire for a type of liturgical celebration, especially of the Holy Mass, that is characterized by ritual dignity, sense of the sacred and personal devotion.

"Such traits are present in the Vatican II Mass. Without detriment to the conciliar principle of full, active and intelligent participation, it is possible to pray and sing certain parts of the Mass in Latin, sing Gregorian Chant or polyphonic music, use the pipe organ, this exhort fidelity and loyalty to the liturgical reform of Vatican II," Chupungco said.

Rubrics are necessary guides for correct and dignified celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Some rubrics like laying on of hands over bread and wine are integral parts of the sacramental action, while others like the bodily postures of kneeling and standing carry doctrinal messages about the meaning of Holy Mass. Rubrics deserve our attention and respect.

Without falling into rigidity and rubricism, and in keeping with the dictates of common sense, all should carefully study and observe the rubrics of the Holy Mass. Where exceptions to the rubrics are to be made, the criterion should always be the full, active, and intelligent participation of the assembly. Unnecessary and frequent exceptions to rubrics can send the wrong message that the liturgy of the Holy Mass is a trivial matter.

Rubrics have doctrinal, pastoral and cultural dimensions. The Filipino Church prides itself of an inculturated form of the Roman Order of Mass that expresses the doctrine of the Mass and reflects the religious culture of Filipinos.

Fr. Chupungco issued the clarification on behalf of Bishop Romulo Valles, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy. - Jasmin R. Uy