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Views from the Choir Loft

The Vatican Has Already Responded To Cardinal Nichols Regarding “Ad Orientem”

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 11, 2016

“It should be borne in mind that there is no preference expressed in the liturgical legislation for either position. As both positions enjoy the favor of law, legislation may not be invoked to say that one position or the other accords more closely with the mind of the Church.”
—Congregation for Divine Worship (10 April 2000)


338 Pope John Paul II AD ORIENTEM 1999 Poland ODAY in the Catholic Herald, an article appeared by Madeleine Teahan about the Archbishop of Westminster. Specifically, the article says Vincent Cardinal Nichols has cited a mistranslated rubric—instead of the official Latin—to discourage his priests from celebrating Mass “ad orientem.” This is being done even though the current 2000 (2002) GIRM and Missal both presume the celebrant and people will face the same direction at certain times, while still allowing for the possibility of “versus populum” celebration.

An examination of the rubrics is necessary, during which it must be borne in mind that English relies heavily on word order, whereas Latin almost never does. On 26 September 1964, INTER ŒCUMENICI said the following in Paragraph 91:

91. Praestat ut altare maius exstruatur a pariete seiunctum, ut facile circumiri et in eo celebration versus populum peragi possit.

91. “Preferably, the main altar should be constructed freestanding, to permit walking around it and celebration facing the people.”

The 1969, Paragraph 262 of the GIRM eliminated the words “praestat ut ” but otherwise copied verbatim:

262. Altare maius exstruatur a pariete seiunctum, ut facile circumiri et in eo celebratio versus populum peragi possit.

The 2000 (2002) GIRM added several words, in an attempt stop people from damaging altars that had already been constructed:

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.

That translation is correct according to Latin scholars, who point out that the “QUOD” phrase cannot modify “celebratio versus populum” since “quod” is neuter while “celebratio” is feminine. Specifically, Dr. J. W. Hunwicke of Lansing College (Sussex, England) wrote in 2001:

QUOD clearly refers to the preceding sentence as a whole, where the crucial term is POSSIT. Throughout the GIRM, this verb is commonly used for things which are genuinely optional—as in the preceding two and following two paragraphs.

THE VATICAN HAS ALREADY RESPONDED to this controversy. Specifically, Jorge A. Cardinal Medina Estévez on 10 April 2000 (Protocol No. 564/00/L) settled the question of “ad orientem” in the 2000 (2002) Missal:

Cardinal Medina wrote as Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship, the final authority on rubrics in the current Missal, and the document was signed by CDW Secretary, Archbishop Francesco Pio Tamburrino. Moreover, the current Prefect, Robert Cardinal Sarah, made public statements on this subject.

Some, however, cite an erroneous English translation:

Incorrect Translation: The main altar should be built separated from the wall, making it possible to walk around as well as celebration “facing the people.” Celebration facing the people is desirable wherever possible.

This faulty translation contradicts a 25 September 2000 letter (Protocol No. 2036/00/L) sent by the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship:

The word “expedit” does not constitute an obligation but a suggestion that refers to the construction of the altar a pariete sejunctum (“detached from the wall”) …

Other examples demonstrate Latin rubrics being translated incorrectly for official liturgical books. For example, the rubric “quando celebratur Baptisma” was translated correctly in the 1970 Lectionary but incorrectly in the 1998 edition. A more famous example was an American GIRM adaptation which so mangled the rubric it became incomprehensible.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

Fr. Antonio Spadaro, editor La Civiltà Cattolica, recently attempted to discredit Cardinal Sarah’s statement by means of a tweet comment. He was immediately castigated on his twitter account for making reference only to where the Missal says “facing the people,” while ignoring where it says to “turn back and face the Altar.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, GIRM Paragraph 299 Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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President’s Corner

    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
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

“It is also customary in many lands that a brief but meaningful hymn be sung between the Gospel and the sermon. (I note in passing that this custom also preserves the original and primary function of the medieval congregational hymn, which was to frame the sermon.)”

— Professor László Dobszay (2003)

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