“Ad Orientem” Explained
This year, the priest at my parish will be offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ad orientem on Fridays during Lent. I wrote the following “explainer” to help my parishioners understand what’s going on and why.
Ad Orientem
PDF Download • “Order of the Mass without a Congregation” (1970)
I find it interesting that the “Order of the Mass without a congregation” also tells the priest when he should face the Altar and when he not should face the Altar.
Yikes! • More Plagiarism from Boise’s Bishop
I did some digging—and the results aren’t pretty. I hope Bishop Christensen will immediately retract his directive, which contains false statements.
One more regrettable mistake by the Bishop of Boise, Idaho
See for yourself. On the left is the letter from 2020; on the right is a blog from 2016.
Banning “Ad Orientem” • Six Regrettable Mistakes by the Bishop of Boise, Idaho
Nobody’s perfect; we all make mistakes. His Excellency’s letter must be retracted as soon as possible.
The Turns at Benediction
To the Right or to the Left?
Ratzinger talks “Ad Orientem” (2003)
Cardinal Ratzinger’s English is *fantastic* (as this video shows).
“Table Altar” vs. “High Altar” (Novus Ordo)
It’s incorrect to say new Churches must be constructed with table altars.
“Ad Orientem” • Archbishop Naumann’s Letter
“…there are, in the core of the Church’s sacramental teaching and experience, good contentions and corollary arguments to be made for both practices.” —Archbishop Naumann
Bishop of Manchester • Letter Re: “Ad Orientem”
A $12,000 reward will be given to anyone who can produce a Vatican II document mentioning “celebration facing the people.”
Chief Reasons For Mass “Facing The People”
Are you being rude to people sitting in pews behind you?
“Ad Orientem” • Why I’m Rejoicing over Sloppy Errors in the Catholic Herald
His assertion that “smoking out enemies” is best done by appointing them to high positions in the Vatican is absurd.
Major Media Outlet Re: “Ad Orientem”
Corpus Christi Watershed is mentioned and cited!
“Ad Orientem” and Granovetter’s Threshold Models of Collective Behavior
The people deserve to know the truth. It is time for ignorance to end so that the faithful may develop informed opinions.
Does Your Bishop Enforce The GIRM?
They will assume—and why shouldn’t they?—that “approved by the USCCB” applies to the hymns and songs…
Saints and the “Ad Orientem” Worship
What did the saints say about celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass facing East?
Showdown in Arkansas over “Ad Orientem”
The Bishop of Little Rock has sent a letter (14 July 2016) forbidding his priests to celebrate Mass “ad orientem.”
Letter from USCCB Committee on Divine Worship on “Ad Orientem”
Most Rev’d Serratelli says the current rubrics “reflect the real possibility that the celebrant might be facing away from the assembly.”
Three False Ideas about “Ad Orientem” Celebration
Three common misconceptions about the Mass and “ad orientem” worship.
Shocking Developments From Westminster
If Cardinal Nichols had simply sent a letter saying why he prefers “versus populum,” I believe that would have been a better choice.