XIX

During the Eucharistic prayer the congregation was on its knees. Why

By kneeling, we’re completely surrendering ourselves to God and humbling our spirits before Him. It’s incredibly profound. We believe that Jesus becomes really present in the Eucharistic elements once the priest prays the Eucharistic Prayers which Christ taught us during the last supper.

At consecration the bells are rung which is an ancient practice, alerting the congregation that Jesus is really here in those elements.

Once we’re kneeling we only rise again for two things which happen back to back: The Lord’s Prayer and the Sign of Peace.

Our Father:

The priest raises his hands to heaven just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ hands while he prayed for Israel’s triumph over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12).

Before the revised version of the mass came out congregation in some places used to hold hands. There is no prescribed posture for the hands during the Our Father and that, so far at least, neither the Holy See nor the U.S. bishops' conference has officially addressed it. 

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal is completely silent about it, indicating only that “all the faithful say the prayer with” the priest. “No position is prescribed in the Roman Missal for an assembly gesture during the Lord’s Prayer.”

However, the General Instruction also encourages “a common bodily posture” as “a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community.” 

And in this diocese the bishop directed that practice of holding hands be discontinued; may be to bring a uniformity throughout the diocese. When the flu season is around people are hesitant to hold hands any way.