Which way does God face?

by Mark Francis

The Vatican’s most senior liturgist recommends that the priest celebrating Mass should face east. But there are powerful theological and pastoral reasons why he should not

Cardinal Robert Sarah, the current Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (CDW), has made an impassioned plea for bishops and priests to start celebrating Mass this coming Advent versus orientem (towards the east), that is with the celebrant’s back to the people, as was the customary usage in the Tridentine Rite.

Speaking to a receptive group of liturgical traditionalists in London he said: “I believe that it is very important that we return as soon as possible to a common orientation, of priests and faithful turned in the same direction – eastwards or at least towards the apse – [towards] the Lord who comes, in those parts of the liturgical rites when we are addressing God … I think it is a very important step in ensuring that in our celebrations the Lord is truly at the centre.”

The cardinal explained that this change requires no special legislation since current liturgical law does not forbid versus orientem celebrations. He contends that celebrating facing the people went beyond the mandate of the Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium (“Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy”) and needed to be rethought along with other practices that seem to “desacralise” the celebration of the Eucharist such as the reception of Communion while standing.

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User Comments (4)

Comment by: Ishvara

Posted: 17/07/2016 03:12:16

Like so many things in life, how we perceive the Eucharist is important. If it is a celebration of the Last Supper then it is a community event, a meal. It is an extension of the Sabbath Meal, with readings, singing and eating of unleavened bread and drinking of wine in thanksgiving. We do not turn our backs at a meal but face each other and affirm our unity. Too much is made of theological significance. Going back to the origins is the key to reform. It is returning to the future, as they say.
About Sarah, less is better.

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Comment by: sprietsma29

Posted: 15/07/2016 21:01:35

Let's praynthat Card Sarah can be replaced before he causes too much damage!

Comment by: Mahrt

Posted: 15/07/2016 19:18:58

Fr. Francis claims that the ad orientem posture is against the participation of the people. He fails to mention, however, that as Cardinal Sarah described it, the entire Liturgy of the Word would be celebrated at the chair, thus facing the people, with the Liturgy of the Eucharist ad orientem. The issue is that should they participate in? If they should be brought to be united with Christ in offering a sacrifice to the Father, then a posture focusing on a transcendent direction would be more effective. This is not just "Tridentine" but is consistent with the language of the Eucharistic Prayers. Fr. Lombardi claims that discussion of the "reform of the reform" might introduce confusion, but this is ironic, since he has had to spend considerable effort to remedy the potential confusion created by the off-the-cuff remarks of the Holy Father. Cardinal Nichols claimed that this posture would introduce confusion and disunity, but the posture facing the people has meant that the rationale and manner of celebration of Mass has been so diversified from parish to parish that it is sometime hard to recognize the unity.