Views from the Choir Loft

Chief Reasons For Mass “Facing The People”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2016

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.

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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—Corpus Christi Watershed

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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