Bishop Foy - Thou Shalt NOT Hold Hands During the Our Father at Mass

Or even raise them like the priest.

Fr. Z over at his blog & Fr Tim Finigan @ his are reporting on a letter sent out by the Bishop of the Diocese of Covington KY, Roger J. Foys. (D. Covington: Bp. Foys issues liturgical decrees – No joy for “hand holders”, Bishop saves his people from having to hold hands at Mass) The letter is accompanied by a decree to insure proper implimentation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal in English in his diocese. He makes it clear that what he is doing is "in conformity with the decree Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Council". (Talk about taking a preemptive shot at the "Spirit of Vatican II"!)

He starts out by making it clear that he won't tolerate any of his priests  rewriting the text because they don't like what it says. "The text of the Roman Missal be used exactly as it is written." He also deals with an abuse of Form C of the Penetential Rite that is very sorely abused. "Priests and deacons are restricted in their use of the Penitential Act – Form C, to those invocations found in the Order of Mass of the Roman Missal and those in Appendix VI." Too often that form is used with invocations that have nothing to do with being sorry for our sins & are instead a bunch of feel good statements that make saying "Lord (or Christ) have mercy" in response sound ridiculous.

Next he takes on the music used in the Mass. "The music used in the Sacred Liturgy be theologically sound and properly composed in accord with the teaching of the Church on Sacred Music." He has put some strict limits on what is to be used for "Music for the Ordinary Parts of the Mass (also known as Service Music – e.g. Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)" He puts special emphasis on the Hymns used being theologically sound & properly composed.

He next makes a point that hymns are NOT to be substituted for the Responsorial Psalm. 

The largest part is section 4 where he talks about the proper gestures for the priests, deacons, religious & lay faithful. They are to be "strictly carried out in accord with the rubrics of the Roman Missal, for "the gestures and bodily posture of both the Priest, the Deacon, and the ministers, and also of the people, must be conducive to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, to making clear the true and full meaning of its different parts, and to fostering the participation of all." He goes on to spell out in detail how this is done, including making it clear that the laity holding hands at the Our Father is a no-no. Our Father. Only the priest is given the instruction to "extend" his hands. Neither the deacon nor the lay faithful are instructed to do this. No gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, therefore the extending or holding of hands by the faithful should not be performed."  I will admit that I am often guilty of not keeping silence after Mass. That having been said, I also see this as an end to choirs/musicians praciticng before Mass in Church while people gather to pray as well as talking by them & talking to each other by people in the pews before Mass. This means that they will either have to show up earlier, like I see at some parishes or have a seperate place to practice, like I see at some parishes as well. This probably also puts an end to those mood setting performances right before Mass as well.

It is clear that Bishop Foys understands why the changes were made as well as the importance of properly implimenting them. He sees his responsibility & is fulfilling it.

In some dioceses, much of what Bishop Foys is saying is already being done to a greater or lesser extent. But even in those dioceses where there are fewer problems a reminder like this from the Bishop would be a good thing. & as for those Bishops who are still allowing an attitude of anything goes, they could learn a lesson from Bishop Foys about what it means to properly exercise tehir role as Bishop of their dioceses.

"c. Special note should also be made concerning the gesture for the

In short, as Fr. Z puts it “Say The Black – Do The Red”

Next he goes on to the proper location of the choir as well as their proper role. "It should be noted that the primary purpose of any choir is to support the singing of the faithful gathered in prayer, so as to allow the full, active, and conscious participation of all the faithful. While this does not eliminate pieces of Sacred Music restricted to just the choir, it is a reminder that choirs are not preforming at Mass." That last line is a reminder that applauding the choir at the end of Mass is wrong as well since it implies they are performing for their glory, not serving for the glory of God.

He also makes it clear they have no place up front in the sanctuary. "The sanctuary is reserved for the Priest Celebrant, concelebrants, the Deacon and the other ministers who serve at the Altar."

He ends by talking about Sacred Silence before & after Mass as well as during.

"Sacred Silence be observed in our churches prior to the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy to allow the clergy and the faithful to properly prepare and dispose themselves for the Sacred Mysteries to which they are about to participate. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal reminds us: "Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times…. Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence is observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner." (GIRM 45) Silence following the Mass is also encouraged for those who might want to remain in the church to pray."