How does one pray the Our Father during mass?
A life long confusion I always had and still have… as a child it was on of the first prayers I learnt from my mother so I would fold my hands in prayer, bow my head and say it out aloud in Mass so I would feel like a participant of the Eucharistic celebration , prior to my profession of the sacrament of the Holy communion!
Over the years, as the charismatic movement took over my state church the preteen me noticed some elder women and men, raise their hands upwards spread apart and palms to the skies and pray the Lords prayer.. I was not sure why though! When I asked my mother , rolling her eyes she said ” Oh those charismatic people.. they want to show off they say prayers !” I assumed it was not the right way and stuck to my childhood methods and slowly shifting between languages as I attend mass in mother tongue, Konkani most of the time!
As a 20 something newly passed out medical graduate, I had the opportunity to attend a silent retreat at a nearby state during Lent and watched a new form of prayer, where the youth would raise their arms in air and face the palms towards the altar and say the prayer.. I was a fascinated by the newer version and since a friend adhered to it I asked him why, he responded ” I am asking Lord for HIs blessings and through the prayer I am connecting with the Lord by raising my arms. ” Well I wasnt convinced that the Lord, needed a double high five from us but nevertheless was amused!
I confess I sneakily tried to spread my hands in prayer when my mother was not around ( for fear of being judged and scolded) and prayed the Our Father and from my own research , concluded, it didnt make much difference rather I just felt more conscious of being stared at by others and was less attentive in prayer!
In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
There the answer is in the same passage! While I was brought up to believe that prayer should be silent and personal, I also felt very joyous singing at the top of my lungs during mass, especially when I knew the hymns ! It was and is probably the only time I dont feel awkward about singing in public!
Whatever form of prayer we adopt, it is our own connection with the Lord! while I stick to reading the gospel for the reflection, some do it daily.. My parents pray the rosary every evening prior to dinner never failing …. my dad attended every Thursday for the blessings of Padre Agnelo, a saint in the making from my state who my parents have undying faith in …. while rest of my state Catholics throng the southern part of my Country for a visit to the Church of our Lady , at Velankanni in state of Tamil nadu, so much so almost every house has a female child named in some version of the place in Goa!
Faith can make us do strange things… sing out in church or raise our hands in prayer or travel across borders to visit a certain shrine ! I think faith is what should guide us to be better persons – less judgemental, alot more loving and above all better humans especially in days of competition, bigotry , confusion about everything and constant need to conform with the world for fear of trolling or cancellation!
While I say this , I am not model citizen to give advice to all of you and have my flaws constantly reminding me of how I should not cringe when people feel the need to give their opinion on my reflections personally … or run away from any social interactions cause it comes down to the vicious cycle of questions and queries into my personal life and decisions! But instead just bow my head in prayer for blessings from the Lord… and say the prayer he taught us all… and focus on being a better human every day and each day!
PRAYER: (say the our father in your native tongue !)
Amchea Bapa , Tum Sorgar assai
Tujem Naum vhodd zaum
Tujem raj amcam eum
Tuji khoxi, zossi sorgar zata
tossi sonunsarant zaun .
Ani amcho dispot’to giras aiz amcam di
ani amchim patcam bogos
zossim ami amcher chuclelanc bogsitaum
Ani amcam tallneant poddone diun naca
punn amcher sorv vait vign eta titlei-im nivar
AMEN!
