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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Ad Orientem” and Granovetter’s Threshold Models of Collective Behavior

Richard J. Clark · August 5, 2016

RJC_Francis_Ad-Orientem Pope Francis celebrates “ad orientem” • altar of St. John Paul II • 31 October 2013 ’M A BIT LATE to the party. Copious ink has already been spilled regarding Cardinal Sarah’s address at the Sacra Liturgia conference in London and his comments regarding celebrating Mass ad orientem in the Novus Ordo (“New order of the Mass”). Robert Cardinal Sarah was appointed by Pope Francis as Prefect for the Vatican’s CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP in 2014.

I’ve watched as many have been freaking out over Cardinal Sarah’s encouragement to follow rubrics that have been in place for over fifty years since Vatican II. The anxiety was so palpable that United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Divine Worship felt compelled to diffuse the brewing controversy in a letter clarifying that “no changes to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal are expected at this time, nor is there a new mandate for the celebrant to face away from the assembly.”

No new instructions. No new mandate. That’s exactly right and exactly the point.

The overreaction to Cardinal Sarah’s address is quite understandable because precious few Catholics know what ad orientem in the Novus Ordo is and what it is not. Lack of knowledge is not the people’s fault. In fact, they deserve to know the truth. It is time for catechesis to begin and for ignorance to end so that the faithful may develop their own informed opinions.

Andrew Leung has helpfully pointed out a few common misunderstandings. The most important misconception is that the priest faces the altar throughout the entire Mass. This is not even close to the truth. Leung sets the record straight in his article, Three False Ideas about “Ad Orientem” Celebration. The reality is a hybrid: the priest faces the people for most of the Mass, but faces the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist (with specific exceptions):

In the Novus Ordo, the priest begins the Introductory Rite at the presider’s chair, which faces the people in most cases. The Liturgy of the Word takes place at the ambo facing the people. The part celebrated ad orientem is the Liturgy of the Eucharist…After the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest returns to the presider’s chair for the Concluding Rite.

The following cannot be emphasized enough: When addressing the people (e.g., in the dialogues), the priest turns to face the people. When offering sacrifice to God, the priest faces the altar. Leung outlines the important distinctions, indicated in the rubrics here.

The priest is instructed by the rubrics to turn towards the people when he addresses them in the Liturgy of the Eucharist (at Oratre fratres; Pax Domini sit semper; and Ecce Agnus Dei).

ETTING BACK TO THE “freaking out”—understand this: the Novus Ordo finds both acceptable and always has. It is not an “either/or” but “both/and.” While the Roman Missal assumes Masses are celebrated ad orientem (hence the rubrics specify “facing the people” at specific times) the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (controversy over translation aside) states the following: “The altar should be built separate from the wall, in such a way that it is possible to walk around it easily and that Mass can be celebrated at it facing the people, which is desirable wherever possible.” (GIRM §299)

I am not advocating one way over the other at this time because our greatest priority is to celebrate the Mass with dignity and reverence. Facing East or West is secondary for now. But some find ad orientem a useful tool to this end. Regardless, we have much to learn from each practice and from the collective wisdom of the ages.

HILE “AD ORIENTEM” carries with it a good deal of emotional baggage for some, young Roman Catholics bring fresh perspectives not held by their parents and grandparents. With each passing year, the tide is turning. But adopting a different practice—even if from time to time—will be slow.

So what will this take?

THIS IS WHERE SOCIOLOGIST, Mark Granovetter comes in. His landmark 1978 publication Threshold Models of Collective Behavior (American Journal of Sociology 83 [May]: 489-515) is anything but dull. It has been applied to explaining everything from riots, the NFL draft, and miscues by politicos. (His theory is much discussed in this fascinating episode of WBEZ’s popular This American Life.)

Its main premise “is that of ‘threshold’: the number or proportion of others who must make one decision before a given actor does so.” Simply put, human nature dictates that many people are unwilling to act a certain way—even if one knows it’s a better choice—unless they see others doing it first. Many won’t “jump in” unless a large number of people are already engaging in a particular activity.

Key to this understanding, Granovetter explains that the “threshold” is different for different people. E.g., Many Millennials may have a lower threshold for adopting new digital technology while those of retirement age may have a higher threshold.

The threshold of a congregation is in play too, possibly causing the threshold of any pastor to be that much higher. What is required is a pastor with a “low threshold” who is willing to do the hard work of catechesis and willing to finesse the inevitable complaints that follow.

HE “SPIRIT OF VATICAN II” sometimes contradicts Vatican II. For decades, we were told that the priest celebrated Mass (for over a millennium) with his “back to the people.” Quite interestingly, in the early 1990s, one of my choir members opened my eyes to a new way of thinking. It was new to me then and will be new to many today. He said, “You know, the old Latin Mass made sense in this regard: the people and the priest faced the same way. They faced God together.”

I propose the idea that the Novus Ordo, a hybrid of both facing the people and facing God, got it right—a “both/and” scenario consistent with both Vatican II and the “Spirit of Vatican II.”

I propose the notion that priest and people facing God together is an act of unity. “…they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing, or above all by the common offering of the Sacrifice and by participating together at the Lord’s table. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and bodily postures observed together by the faithful.” (GIRM No. 96)

I propose the possibility that doing so deemphasizes the centrality of the priest (a humble servant acting In persona Christi), places him in union with the faithful, and ultimately emphasizes the centrality of Christ.

I acknowledge the reality that most of the faithful are not ready to embrace ad orientem on a regular basis, if at all. Perhaps in time, those with a “lower threshold” will model this and more may someday follow.

I hope someday, ad orientem will be less frightening when people actually know what it is, why it is, and what it is not. My hope is that it will be normative—“no big deal!”

But most assuredly, Jesus loves you no matter which way the priest faces. Don’t freak out!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, Bishop Arthur J Serratelli Vox Clara, Robert Cardinal Sarah Last Updated: February 18, 2023

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

On 26 July 1916—during the German occupation of Belgium—a student choir led by Van Nuffel performed his setting of the psalm “Super flumina Babylonis” in Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral. The text and the musical setting very aptly expressed the depressed and rebellious mood of the population. The acclaim was enormous, and it laid the foundation for Van Nuffel’s formation of the Saint Rumbold’s choir.

— Unknown

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