Those who attend daily Mass know that of late I have been celebrating Holy Mass Ad orientem, meaning facing the same direction as the people, oriented toward the Tabernacle and the Crucifix. A Roman Catholic priest may celebrate Mass this way without permission from the Bishop, and actually according to the Roman Missal (the big red book the priest prays from during Mass on the altar) it is the preferred way to celebrate Mass. The Roman Missal has what’s called rubrics. Rubrics are small red lettering appearing between the paragraphs which direct the priests actions. These rubrics are very important regarding the priests actions at Mass. It is taught to priests that they should not be ignored or altered. Interestingly, the rubrics of the Missal say, before the priest addresses the people: The priest now turns to address the people. By stating this, the rubrics are indicating that the priest is facing the same direction as the people and then when addressing them, needs to turn to face them. The priest celebrating Mass Ad orientem is excellent Theologically. When attending Mass having the priest facing the same direction as the congregants, it symbolizes that we are all praying in the same direction with the priest as the leader. Many, many of my young priest friends prefer to celebrate Holy Mass this way.
It is important for the priest to face this way because of what it symbolizes theologically. When the priest is celebrating Mass, it is really a prayer to God. The priest at Mass most of the time is directly speaking to God. However, there are times in the Mass when the priest is directly speaking to the people and invites them to engage in a particular action like offer a sign of peace to each other. Those times when the priest addresses the people, he turns to face them, then turns to address God as he beings the prayer again. Why Ad orientem is important then, is that it provides a great teachable experience to all regarding what is happening
theologically at Mass.
For example, when the priest is praying the Preface of the Mass, the beginning of the Preface he is addressing the people, so he should be facing the people.
He says: The Lord be with you.
And the people respond: And with your spirit.
Then the priest says: Lift up your hearts.
And the people respond: We lift them up to the Lord.
Then the priest says: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
And the people respond: It is right and just.
During this dialogue with the people when a priest is celebrating Mass Ad orientem, the priest is facing the people, then, the priest turns to face the Tabernacle when he begins to pray to God. It makes sense as you can see by the Preface prayer that there are times at Mass when the priest is speaking to the people and times when he is praying to God. That’s why it makes sense that when the priest is addressing the people he is facing the people and when the priest is praying to God he is facing the same direction as the people, all praying together. The priest is not “better,” nor shouldn’t be considered “more special” than anyone else at Mass, so all facing in the same direction indicates that we are all disciples of Christ and no one person praying at Mass is facing in a different direction. For these reasons it is a more humble and subservient position when the priest is facing the same direction as everyone else. The priest is not the center of attention or on display or the major attraction, but a servant of God who is offering the Sacrifice for the congregation, facing the same direction as them. I am perfectly comfortable celebrating Mass facing people, but I feel Ad orientem is an improvement to how we can celebrate the Mass together. Ad orientem also helps in other ways. When a priest is facing the people, at times the congregants can be distracted by the priest’s appearance, like the way he combs his hair or various other ways. Also, the priest when he is praying to God during Mass and facing the people, can be distracted by those in the pews and that take his focus off God. Both don’t always happen, but frequently can happen.
I believe our Church logistically works extremely well for Ad orientem due to its layout. The priest standing in front of the altar is actually closer to the people than when he is behind the altar. Our church, being a half circle, allows the priest when he is standing in front of the altar to feel much more a part of being with the people, than when he has a big marble table separating him from the congregants. When the priest looks at the people to address them and is celebrating the Mass in front of the altar he is much closer to congregants as they are all around him. People sitting in the right and left wings of our church are able to see much better as opposed to when the priest is behind the altar. Even children sitting in the cry room have a much better view and can help them understand the Mass better. It seems to me everyone benefits.
As pastor though, I understand that a change as significant as celebrating Mass Ad orientem for Sunday Masses should not happen quickly and needs to be implemented very cautiously and not without much education and preparation. For this reason, I will not implement Ad orientem during the weekend Masses unless I
have the full support of Deacon John, our two Trustees, John Turano and Dr. Sam Maltalto, the Parish Council and the Parish Finance Committee. Something as important and sensitive as this has to be implemented slowly and with a good amount of time devoted to educate parishioners with their full support.
If you don’t usually come to Holy Mass during the week, and are curious about what Mass is like when celebrated Ad orientem, come to a daily Mass and experience it some day during the week. I am interested in learning what you think. However, I will ask that you please go to Mass three times when it is celebrated Ad
orientem before expressing your thoughts to me. It is important to experience it a few times before forming an opinion.
I wish to end by clarifying that the Ad orientem Mass is exactly like Mass where the priest is facing the people. It is in English and the prayers and words the priest says are exactly the same. As your priest, I enjoy celebrating Mass MUCH more with us all facing the same direction, but the Mass is an experience we all share, and we should ALL be part of making a decision as important as which direction the priest is facing when the Mass is celebrated.