• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Pope Francis Celebrates Mass “Ad Orientem”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2013

243 Pope Francis Ad Orientam Pope Francis “ad orientem” EVERAL YEARS AGO, someone did the world a beautiful favor by creating a Facebook “fan” page for Msgr. Guido Marini, who entered the national spotlight when he became Papal M.C. during the pontificate of Benedict XVI. Msgr. Marini is one of the “cooler heads” carefully evaluating the post-Conciliar liturgical reforms and observing that some went beyond what the Council fathers wanted.

Those who follow his FB page were recently shown pictures of Pope Francis offering Mass according to the traditional arrangment: ad orientem (a.k.a. “versus apsidem”). In the past, we’ve spoken about ad orientem many times, for example, here, here, here, and here.   (By the way, I very much doubt that Msgr. Marini personally maintains this “fan” page, although he’s probably aware of its existence.)

Pope Francis celebrating in this manner was a bit of a surprise, since members of his generation aren’t usually accustomed to ad orientem. On the other hand, it’s possible that Cardinal Bergoglio was serving on the Congregation for Divine Worship when it issued a famous ruling (25 September 2000) saying Mass should not be offered versus populum (“facing the people”) if a High Altar be present. [Can anyone confirm the dates Cardinal Bergoglio served on that Committee?] I would suggest that, while his ad orientem celebration is encouraging, it does not merit the frenzy observed in certain circles.

Finally, I would like to point out that the correct spelling is ad orientem — not “ad orientam.” This can be a deadly trap, since we have words in English like “orientation” and “orientate.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, Mass Facing The People Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Church officials frequently asked Tomás Luis de Victoria for his opinion on cathedral appointments because of his fame and knowledge. He was faithful to his position as convent organist even after his professional debut as an organist, and never accepted any extra pay for being a chapelmaster. Held in great esteem, his contract allowed him frequent travel away from the convent, and he attended Palestrina’s funeral (in Rome) in 1594.”

— ‘Dr. Robert Stevenson, 1961 (mod.)’

Recent Posts

  • Four (4) Shimmery Hymns for Lent & Passiontide
  • “Go!” • The Word That Changed My Life Forever
  • Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
  • At the Cross • Stabat Mater
  • Summer Ward Method Courses • CUA 2023

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.