Joined Hands

79. For Mass with a bishop, according to CB 107 "concelebrants and ministers keep their hands joined when walking from place to place or when standing, unless they are holding something."

80. A footnote to CB 107 has: ""Hands joined" means: "Holding the palms sideward and together before the breast, with the right thumb crossed over the left." The expression "palms sideward" is an unusual translation of "palmas extensas", meaning "palms extended". [The text from Caeremoniale Episcoporum (Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1995) page 35, footnote 80: "Palmas extensas ac simul iunctas ante pectus habere, pollice dexterae super sinistro in crucis modum posito". ] This means that the palm is to be extended, so the fingers will be extended and joined together, as well as the palms of the hands.

81. The requirement to have "hands joined" does not appear in IG, and so is only required for Mass with a bishop (following IG 112). An alternative to having hands joined is to be holding something. This could be a Mass book, hymn book or other participation aid. Bishops could encourage or discourage this, in their diocese, following IG 107.

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