"Catholic Prayer Hands" - Why the Folded Hands in Prayer?

The question is : why do Catholics "fold their hands in prayer" (the form we tell our kids is "Prayer Hands")?

The reason for the question is -- young men who socially defend themselves against criticisms, peer pressure, bullying etc., with knowledge and awareness, need to know "why" we do what we do. A discussion of this led to the question "why?" is a young man walking to the communion rail and back with folded hands?

Some of the Responses to the Question:

Bringing the more of the body/the whole body into prayer

You can't receive in the hand if your hands are folded!

It's like wearing a tie: the neck tie brings your outfit together, eliminating the awkwardness and sloppiness of "freestyle" dressing, and helps define the jacket/tie/slacks as one communication of respect for the witness.Prayer Hands are the tie.

It eliminates the awkwardness of what-to-do-with-your-hands

It is symbolic of a candle flame.... you are the light of the world

In Italian culture, "begging hands" demonstrate submission, usually accompanied by a plea for mercy.

It is an ancient symbolic gesture of submission and reverence to God

It’s actually explained in one of the liturgical books of the Church, called the Ceremonial of Bishops: "When it says ‘with hands folded,’ it is to be understood in this way: palms extended and joined together in front of the breast, with the right thumb over the left in the form of a cross" (Ceremonial of Bishops [1985] #107, n.80).Reference: Diocese of Tyler, Texas article on Hands

"This comes from the world of feudalism. The recipient of a feudal estate, on taking tenure, placed his joined hands in those of his lord--a wonderful symbolic act. I lay my hands in yours, allow yours to enclose mine. This is an expression of trust as well as of fidelity." (Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, 204)...That is what priests do during their ordination. When a priest promises obedience and respect to his bishop, the priest places his joined hands in front of himself, and the bishop places his own hands over the new priest’s hands. Trust and fidelity. When we pray with our hands joined flat, pointing upward, we are placing our hands in the invisible hands of God. Ratzinger says: "This, then, is what is meant when we join our hands to pray: we are placing our hands in his, and with our hands we place in his hands our personal destiny. Trusting in his fidelity, we pledge our fidelity to him." (Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, 205)"

We join our hands together, flat, with fingers extended, right thumb over left, because the Church asks us to do so. The Church asks it of us in order to give us one more way to show our trust in the Lord who cares for us. With trustful obedience to the Lord, we place our hands in his when we pray, knowing that "the Lord cares for those who trust in him" (Nahum 1:7).