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:

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?

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:

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.