A quick question for Catholics

Moogle Pepper · September 19, 2010

I just shot a wedding, and at the ceremony the priest had the guests raise their right arms. Kinda like the hitler salute.

Where did that tradition start and what is the idea behind it? Curious about it since it looked pretty weird.

marikris · September 19, 2010

Do you have a picture, by any chance? I don't recall any such gesture

Moogle Pepper · September 19, 2010

Attached. I mean it might not be in the perfect form, but it looks highly similar. Granted that I don't know the reasons, but, that's why I am asking. I do want to know why.

marikris · September 19, 2010

I can honestly say I have never seen that before

I'd love to know too.

tenoverthenose · September 19, 2010

It comes from the biblical tradition of laying on hands. A type of blessing.

Moogle Pepper · September 19, 2010

Really? Strange. Would they normally put their hands on the B&G? Since touch is one of the traditional forms of giving blessings.

hgernhardtjr · September 19, 2010

tenoverthenose has it right, and it is very common (one arm and two arms) in many of the more fundamental Protestant churches, also. For example, you see the raising of arms at all services in the various Pentacostal (including Church of God, UPC, etc.) churches; it is a gesture of supplication, NOT a salute.

Moogle Pepper · September 19, 2010

This is good to know, when I saw it, I was kinda curious to know what that was about. And wanted to pause a moment to try to piece it altogether, from what the priest said to this.

lifeinfocus · September 20, 2010

Moogle Pepper wrote: »

This is good to know, when I saw it, I was kinda curious to know what that was about. And wanted to pause a moment to try to piece it altogether, from what the priest said to this.

Often both hands are raised.

mmmatt · September 20, 2010

I saw this a couple of times this year. Seems very evangelistic/church of god to me, but whatever. Different churches have their own traditions.

Matt

yendikeno · September 22, 2010

Wow,
guess I've been away for too long, as this is the first time I've seen this as part of a ceremony.

Matthew Saville · September 22, 2010

hgernhardtjr wrote: »

tenoverthenose has it right, and it is very common (one arm and two arms) in many of the more fundamental Protestant churches, also. For example, you see the raising of arms at all services in the various Pentacostal (including Church of God, UPC, etc.) churches; it is a gesture of supplication, NOT a salute.

Yep, not just a catholic thing, I see it at various types of ceremonies.

=Matt=

marikris · September 22, 2010

I really need to go to Church (it's been so long!), but yeah the only (Catholic) gesture I know of is the "Our Father" linking of hands, or its variation of lifting the hands palms up.

But the Laying of Hands makes so much sense now, though I haven't seen it in mass before and hadn't realized it was also a Catholic thing.

deleskie · September 22, 2010

Not that I'm in church every week, but I've never seen this before in a Catholic service.

asp87 · September 22, 2010

This is also a common practice at Catholic baptisms and confirmation ceremonies. Remember that every congregation will do things a little differently. I have noticed great differences simply due to which priest is saying mass.

cmonroe · September 22, 2010

asp87 wrote: »

This is also a common practice at Catholic baptisms and confirmation ceremonies. Remember that every congregation will do things a little differently. I have noticed great differences simply due to which priest is saying mass.

Agreed. I have belonged to a couple of Catholic parishes, and we have not used this type of gesture. We have used the holding of the hands palms up during prayers.

ASP, my wife is from N. Dartmouth. Small world!

Craig

asp87 · September 22, 2010

Small world indeed. I'm new to this area about a year and a half ago. I grew up in Grafton, went to school at UMass Amherst and now I work (but refuse to live in) Newport, RI.

Just to keep this thread on track: I have also been at various congregations where, for the Our Father, people do nothing, palms up, or hold hands, and raise hands for the end or any combo thereof

sara505 · September 29, 2010

Moogle Pepper wrote: »

Really? Strange. Would they normally put their hands on the B&G? Since touch is one of the traditional forms of giving blessings.

It dates back to the priestly benediction, from the book of Numbers, and no touch is involved or required.

kittien · September 29, 2010

Its a practice that (as was previously stated) usually happens during ceremonies involving blessings, like baptisms, confirmations, and weddings.

@Moogle - a lot of parishes have the immediate family approach the bride and groom and put their hands on them, and the rest of the congregation just raises their hands to (as also previously said) create a "laying on of hands." - Everyone there offers their blessings to the bride and groom (or baby, or new member of the Church)

The open palms during the Our Father or other prayers are more of a gesture of supplication.

Blurmore · September 29, 2010

Matthew Saville wrote: »

Yep, not just a catholic thing, I see it at various types of ceremonies.

=Matt=

That shot is an awesome catch...very thoughtful.

A quick question for Catholics

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