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Views from the Choir Loft

“Table Altar” vs. “High Altar” (Novus Ordo)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2017

WHEN AN ORDINARY FORM Mass is offered “ad orientem,” the priest and congregation face the same direction approximately 11% of the time. The vast majority of the Mass—the Liturgy of the Word, Homily, and so on—is celebrated facing the people. 1

Viewing photographs like the following, I cry out: “What have we done?”



The Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship—those responsible for our current GIRM—closed the ad orientem conversation once and for all:

THIS DICASTERY wishes to state that Holy Mass may be celebrated versus populum or versus apsidem. Both positions are in accord with liturgical law; both are to be considered correct. There is no preference expressed in the liturgical legislation for either position. As both positions enjoy the favor of law, the legislation may not be invoked to say that one position or the other accords more closely with the mind of the Church.
—|10 April 2000 (PROTOCOL NO. 564/00/L)


Certain groups become irate when this topic is broached. The Collegeville press (a “progressive” organization) once published an article claiming the GIRM’s Latin edition omits ad orientem rubrics. However, we posted screenshots demonstrating the inaccuracy of their assertion.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to maintain that 100% of Ordinary Form Masses must be ad orientem, because (in the section dealing with construction of new churches) the GIRM says:

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, which allows for the possibility of Mass “facing the people” as well as circling the altar.

On the other hand, claiming that new churches must have a free-standing altar is also erroneous, because the Bishops’ Liturgy Committee has said on 14 February 2012: “The GIRM never speaks to every possible scenario that could take place.” 2



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   To my knowledge, the first person to publicly speak about this was Rev. Mr. Andrew Leung. Cf. his second point here.

2   It is easy to see where churches could be built the traditional way. For example, consider architects with a special sensitivity to the Roman Catholic traditions. Or, consider those who feel a special desire to respond to the request of the CDF Prefect appointed by Pope Francis.

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

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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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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

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“One must pray to God not only with theologically precise formulas, but also in a beautiful and dignified way. The Christian community must make an examination of conscience so that the beauty of music and song will return increasingly to the liturgy.”

— Pope Saint John Paul II (26 February 2003)

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