It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. The idea of praying by “lifting up holy hands” reflects the common prayer practice of the early church. Portraits in the catacombs and other early Christian art portray people standing with arms upraised, palms up during prayer. (This is known as the orante position.) The priest adopts that posture during the Eucharistic Prayer and some of the faithful also use it while reciting the Lord’s Prayer. The prayer posture we are accustomed to — people on their knees with hands folded — did not become common until the eleventh century. Another vivid reminder that there are many different bodily postures to express one’s prayerful piety.
