Catholic Action Prayer: The Meaning of Public gestures at Mass
Gestures b4 Mass: Part 1 We are not always aware of that 70-90% of our communication is gesture and ritual: displaying or retireing (pic above) a US flag, tone of voice while inter-acting in a grocery line or placing the items on the conveyor belt, and handing over bank slips for money or deposit, buying tickets for a game or show, taking your seat in the stadium or theatre. All these require actions particular to place and context. I could never convince my Mom to use paper plates for a family reception, however they were necessary to a picnic. Learning how to use hands, feet, eyes, legs to engage “things” efficiently and properly is part to growing up (the work and play of hands in the Family Vine Chapel pic below). Toy pots, pans, plastic hammers and saws exist for this reason. However, day-to-day multi-tasking does make us lose a conscious hand-to-handling connection. Did you ever do something “without thinking?” Here’s an opportunity to restore connections between
