Do any Christian groups regularly practice the "lifting up of holy hands" during prayer?

Upvote:2

The New American Bible (used at the Catholic Mass) uses the "Holy Hands" translation and that's a pretty 1-to-1 translation from the Latin puras manus don't know about the greek, but other Bibles translate it as

hands that are sanctified

which means the same thing, but certainly reads differently and might have a different connotation.

In the Catholic tradition, the hands of a priest are venerated and considered holy as it is his hands who consecrate the bread and wine which become the Body and Blood of Christ. At ordination, a priest's hands are anointed with oil.

The priest also lifts his hands when he prays the Lord's Prayer at mass.

Priest lifting hands during Lord's Prayer at mass

And in some congregations, the people for some strange reason follow along, maybe their hands are holy too?

Upvote:3

Many Christian groups practice this. It's quite common. So much so, that it's considered ordinary among many groups. It's especially common in Charismatic groups, but it's also found in more conservative groups such as Baptists.

From Joyful Heart Ministries:

To classic Pentecostals lifting the hands in praise and prayer is second nature, flowing from a tradition decades old. But to the new convert or non-Pentecostal just entering the Charismatic movement, the custom may be new and awkward. Most traditional Protestants have only seen the minister lift his hands to give the benediction or blessing upon the people. Questions follow: Why lift hands to worship and pray? What does this practice mean? As we explore the twenty-eight verses in the Bible on this subject we will find answers to these questions.

And later on in the article:

Lifted hands must not mask sin. Worship offered to God while still practicing iniquity is an abomination (cf. Ps 40:6-8; 50:7-23; 51:16-19; Is 1:11-18). Defiled lives must be cleansed by repentance: "When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean ...." (Isaiah 1:15-16; cf. 59:1-3). R*ather we are to lift up "holy hands without anger or quarreling" (1 Timothy 2:8).* The prophet Jeremiah admonishes the Israelites mourning the destruction of Jerusalem, "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens" (Lamentations 3:40-41, KJV).

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