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Views from the Choir Loft

Chief Reasons For Mass “Facing The People”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2016

129 Mannion ad orientem ERY SOON, the Society for Catholic Liturgy will visit Los Angeles. This is the same group that publishes ANTIPHON (the journal). Doing research on this group, I came across an article by a former editor, Monsignor Francis Mannion, titled “Should Mass be celebrated with the priest facing away from the people?” Published by the INTERMOUNTAIN CATHOLIC on 2 September 2016, his article is a quick read:

    * *  PDF Download • Intermountain Catholic Article

Monsignor Mannion gives what he considers the three reasons for “versus populum” celebration:

What are the advantages with Mass facing the people?
(1) It makes for better communication between priest and people. (2) It avoids the sense that the people are an appendum to the priest’s liturgy. (3) Not least, we live in an age of democracy and respect for the individual, in which facing away from someone in any context is generally insulting.

His first reason is rather flimsy, because during an OF “ad orientem” celebration, 90% happens facing the people. Even in the Extraordinary Form, the priest turns around to face the people whenever he’s communicating with them.

His second reason also seems dubious, because it assumes the congregation would automatically think in a certain way. Besides, if everyone faces the same direction except the celebrant, that draws attention to him in an awkward way.

His third reason—which he labels “not least”—is something I never thought of:

Not least, we live in an age of democracy and respect for the individual, in which facing away from someone in any context is generally insulting.

Monsignor Mannion here asserts that Catholics in the pews in front of you are being rude, because they have their backs to you. Moreover, he is saying that you are being rude to the people in pews behind you, because you have your back to them.

I suppose if everyone were arranged in a circle, nobody would be looking at someone’s back. However, that would severely limit the number of people who could fit inside a church. More importantly, we still would not be facing the person next to us…

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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“Parish Priests have to think first of the simple faithful: people now used to the Roman Missal at Mass. They don’t want change.”

— Cardinal Spellman (one of the Vatican II fathers)

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