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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Bishop of Manchester • Letter Re: “Ad Orientem”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 5, 2016

O MY KNOWLEDGE, three American bishops have attempted to forbid “ad orientem” celebration. The first was the bishop of Little Rock, whose letter went out in July. That was followed quickly by the bishop of Davenport, Iowa, who also sent a letter. Now—by means of the CCW Facebook—I was sent this letter from the diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire:

599 ad orientem


Some have argued “expectation” is different than “command”—but that doesn’t hold up. I worked at a Cathedral for four years. When our bishop said “I expect XYZ to happen…” you better believe we made XYZ happen.

It’s difficult to understand how the bishop can require a “personal, in-depth conversation” before priests choose a legitimate option, especially in light of the CDW statement (SEE BELOW). 1

Celebration facing the people is certainly a legitimate option. The GIRM paragraphs dealing with altar construction clearly say:

{ 299. Altare maius exstruatur a pariete seiunctum, ut facile circumiri et in eo celebratio versus populum peragi possit, quod expedit ubicumque possibile sit. }
299. Where it is possible to do so, the main altar should be built separated from the wall. This allows for the possibility of Mass “facing the people” and also walking around the altar.

The CDW on 10 April 2000 (PROTOCOL NO. 564/00/L) settled the question of “ad orientem” in the 2000 (2002) Missal:

“This dicastery wishes to state that Holy Mass may be celebrated versus populum or versus apsidem. Both positions are in accord with liturgical law; both are to be considered correct. There is no preference expressed in the liturgical legislation for either position. As both positions enjoy the favor of law, the legislation may not be invoked to say that one position or the other accords more closely with the mind of the Church.”

Bishop Amos (of Davenport, Iowa) has argued that “versus populum” celebration is necessary so everyone can face the Altar:

“However, it is clear that the normative position of the priest when presiding at Mass in the Ordinary Form is facing the people, or, better, of the priest and the assembly facing the Altar together, the Altar that is a symbol of Christ in our midst and of our participation in the feast of the Kingdom.”

But don’t we all face the Altar either way?

598 ad orientem


The rector at the Cathedral where I served for four years had all the Masses “ad orientem” one Sunday, even the Spanish Mass. I asked him what the response was, and he said hardly anyone noticed! Remember that—in Ordinary Form Masses—when “ad orientem” is chosen, the priest and people face the same way only about 10% of the time. (It’s primarily during the Canon.)

The universal practice of the Church, as far back as we have documentation, has always been to have priest and people face the same direction:

593 Cardinal Sarah ad orientem


I was taught that Christ will return from the East, and the priest is leading us to Christ—but there are many other explanations.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   I wonder if the letter could (perhaps) be amended? Perhaps Bishop Libasci could simply recommend that priests switching to “ad orientem” come to him for advice and tips first.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, Robert Cardinal Sarah Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“There are some so restless that when they are free from labour they labour all the more, because the more leisure they have for thought, the worse interior turmoil they have to bear.”

— Pope Gregory the Great

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