The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, has asked laypeople to refrain from holding hands or raising their hands during the Our Father prayer at Masses in the archdiocese.
While the Catholic liturgy is fairly uniform across Catholic parishes, some Mass attendees raise their hands in the “orans” posture of prayer or hold hands during the Our Father prayer, while others don’t. The Archdiocese of Portland through an official instruction has asked laypeople to refrain from doing either.
“Over the last few decades there has been some confusion as to whether the lay faithful should extend or raise their hands (and even holding hands with others) when the Lord’s Prayer is prayed during Mass, as the priest does,” stated the announcement in the Archdiocese of Portland’s November 2026 issue of its Divine Worship Newsletter.
“Neither the deacons assisting at Mass, nor the lay faithful, are ever instructed to use this posture,” the announcement continued. “It is a liturgical posture that is proper to the priest. When the priest uses this posture, he is praying on behalf of the people.”
In arriving at its decision, the archdiocese cited various Church documents and instructions concerning liturgical norms.
The archdiocese referred to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), a foundational Vatican document on liturgy.
“While the GIRM does not explicitly forbid the lay faithful from using the Orans posture during the Our Father, it gives guidance as to why the lay faithful should not use this posture,” the announcement read. “Whenever the GIRM gives the instructions for hands to be extended, it is always with reference to the priest specifically, whether it be the principal celebrant or concelebrants.”
The archdiocese also referenced instructions given in Vatican II documents.
“Further, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, states that ‘no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.’ (SC 22.3),” the archdiocese continued. “Since the GIRM is very specific that the priest is instructed by the GIRM (152) to extend his hands when he prays the Lord’s Prayer, for the deacons or the laity to extend their hands would be adding to the liturgy.”
The archdiocese also referenced the Church’s guiding legal system, the Code of Canon Law.
“The Church gives further guidance on this issue. Code of Canon Law (CIC) 907 states, ‘In the Eucharistic celebration deacons and lay persons are not permitted to offer prayers, especially the Eucharistic prayer, or to perform actions which are proper to the celebrating priest,’” the document states.
Finally, the archdiocese cited tradition prior to the New Roman Missal of 1970.
“Prior to the New Roman Missal of 1970, only the priest prayed the Lord’s Prayer as a part of the Liturgy and had his hands extended while he prayed on behalf of the people. Nothing in the Roman Missal of 1970, nor the documents of the Second Vatican Council, indicated that there would be a change in posture during the Lord’s Prayer.”
Where does the ‘orans’ posture come from?
In the Catholic liturgy, the priest takes on the “orans” posture as a sign of praying on behalf of the people.
The posture was common in most ancient religions. In Christianity, it can be seen throughout Scripture, memorably in Exodus 17 when Moses lifts his hands during the battle against Amalek. While his hands are raised, the Israelites are winning, but when his hands fall, they start to lose the battle.
This posture can also be seen throughout some of the Psalms and in the New Testament as well. The “orans” posture of prayer is also depicted in early Christian art, including in the catacombs.
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