Orans Gesture at Funerals
Date: October 18, 2026
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question: My question is related to the position of a priest’s hands in some of the prayers at funerals. For the prayer of commendation and committal, what is the proper gesture for the priest? The rite doesn't seem to specify. There are other prayers that don't seem to specify the gestures; I have seen different ways (for example, the concluding prayer of vespers—orans?). What are some principles to help guide the use of gestures in prayer if the liturgical books do not specify? — P.T., Baltimore, Maryland
Answer: Effectively, while some rites contain detailed prescriptions as to gestures and postures, others are not determined by the rubrics.
On occasions this might be a deliberate choice because the practical circumstances might be so varied that it would be cumbersome to prescribe certain gestures that later result impossible to fulfill.
The orans posture of a minister praying with arms extended is usually reserved for presidential prayers and, hence, to ordained ministers who preside over a liturgical assembly. Thus, it is used only by a bishop, priest and, in some situations, a deacon. Concelebrants will also use this gesture for some parts of the Eucharistic Prayer.
The nature of these presidential prayers is that, with a few exceptions, they are addressed to the Father as are the Eucharistic Prayers, the collect, the Prayer over the Gifts, the concluding prayer of the Prayer of the Faithful, and the Prayer after Communion at Mass. There are analogous prayers in other liturgical rites such as the Liturgy of the Hours.
Taking the above into account we could divide the rite of commendation into two parts.
The initial invitation of the rite of commendation in a funeral is not directly addressed to God the Father but toward the assembly. Thus, one option says:
"Before we go our separate ways, let us take leave of our brother/sister. May our farewell express our affection for him/her; may it ease our sadness and strengthen our hope. One day we shall joyfully greet him/her again when the love of Christ, which conquers all things, destroys even death itself."
After the sprinkling with holy water, incensation and the song of farewell, the minister proceeds to recite one of the prayers of commendation. To wit:
"Into your hands, Father of mercies,
we commend our brother/sister N.
in the sure and certain hope
that, together with all who have died in Christ,
he/she will rise with him.
(We give you thanks for the blessings
which you bestowed upon N. in this life:
they are signs to us of your goodness
and of our fellowship with the saints in Christ.)
Merciful Lord,
turn toward us and listen to our prayers:
open the gates of paradise to your servant
and help us who remain
to comfort one another with assurances of faith,
until we all meet in Christ
and are with you and with our brother/sister forever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen."
Since this latter prayer is addressed to the Father, the ordained minister could well extend his hands even though nothing is determined in the books and he would be under no obligation to do so.
This lack of determination of a gesture, however, is quite logical given that many other factors could be involved in a funeral liturgy: The minister might or might not have an acolyte to hold the ritual book; and sometimes this prayer is used at the cemetery where the minister would generally have the book in his hands.
Also, on some occasions a lay minister may be called upon to recite the formula of commendation; nevertheless, the orans gesture, as a presidential liturgical act, is reserved exclusively to the ordained minister when reciting such prayers.
Something similar would probably hold for situations such as the concluding prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours.
The recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, while always a liturgical act, is subject to every possible level of solemnity, from a group of friends praying together at home to a solemn office in a monastery or cathedral. In the modern world the Divine Office is increasingly recited and guided by laity without the presence of clergy.
Thus, I would say that, in a more solemn recitation, above all when presided over by a bishop, priest or deacon wearing the proper vestments, the concluding prayer would be recited using the orans posture but without saying "Let us pray" as the prayer follows immediately the Our Father. This was how Pope Leo XIV concluded solemn vespers on December 31, 2025.
In less solemn recitation in the presence of an ordained minister but without formal vestments, the minister could freely use the orans posture if he has his hands free but would not be required to do so.
In a celebration of any form (recited or sung) guided by a layperson, the orans posture would never be used for the concluding prayer.
This difference of gesture between clergy and laity is made quite explicit for other forms of prayer which may be recited by both. For example, while many of the blessing prayers in the Book of Blessings may be imparted by laypeople, the rubrics make clear distinctions with respect to the gestures used.
In blessing children, the rubric says that while reciting the prayer of blessing:
"A minister who is a priest or deacon says the prayer of blessing while laying hands on the child, a lay minister says the prayer with hands joined."
For the conclusion of the rite, it determines that the priest or deacon dismiss the assembly by making the sign of the cross over them with the formula: "May the Lord ... bless you ...," whereas the lay minister "concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross and saying: "May the Lord ... bless us ...."
In conclusion, when the liturgical books do not specify the gesture, but the style or form of the text is analogous to a presidential prayer addressed to the Father, the ordained minister may, but would not be obliged to, use the orans posture if this is deemed pastorally fruitful.
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