Cardinal Sarah asks priests to start celebrating Mass facing east this Advent

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Is mass about worshiping God, or a set of rubrics? We can worship God anywhere anytime. So it can’t be just about worshiping God. Mass is about so much more than worship. Mass is the primary place we are fed. We commune with each other and all the angels and saints. We remember His sacrifice, make peace with our brothers and sisters, teach our kids respect for God, and pray.

The liturgy can and will change from time to time and place to place in order to best facilitate all that the mass comprises.

That being said, IMO, this is not a good idea. It seems to be an appeasement to conservatives, who seem more interested in tradition and self-righteousness than charity.
 
In MIlan, Italy, the priest faced the congregation even before Vatican II. It was part of the Ambrosian Rite, as was (is) baptism by immersion.
 
tryphon said:
In MIlan, Italy, the priest faced the congregation even before Vatican II. It was part of the Ambrosian Rite, as was (is) baptism by immersion.
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I didn’t know that, thanks for pointing this out. Interestingly, this was Paul VI’s archdiocese before he was elected pope.

Could it be that the “fault” is not that of the “liberals”, but rather of a different view of the liturgy and an appreciation for a different experience of it within a very ancient rite?
 
I actually posted this in the liturgy section prior to seeing this post. Glad to see a move in the right direction.
 
I believe Cardinal Sarah is prophetic. I pray he is our next Pope.
 
OraLabora said:
This is wrong. First of all VP has been around for a lot longer than the changes of Vatican II.

Secondly, the rubrics do mention it.

From the General Instructions of the Roman Missal:

Moreover SC did not set forth all the changes that were to occur. These were duly entrusted to a commission that debated and recommended the changes, which were duly incorporated into the missal. Note that the translation to English is off somewhat, what is desirable is that the altar be built away from the wall, not necessarily that the Mass should be celebrated always facing the people. However it is clear from this instruction that facing the people is entirely licit according to the Missal.
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My mistake.

It’s still an awful idea.
 
This should be the norm, whenever possible.

"Five years before he became Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger wrote that, notwithstanding various liturgical innovations, “one thing has remained clear for the whole of Christendom: praying towards the east is a tradition that goes back to the beginning.” As he wrote in The Spirit of the Liturgy:
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"The common turning toward the east was not a “celebration toward the wall;” it did not mean that the priest “had his back to the people.” . . . For just as the congregation in the synagogue looked together toward Jerusalem, so in the Christian liturgy the congregation looked together “toward the Lord.” . . . They did not close themselves into a circle; they did not gaze at one another; but as the pilgrim People of God they set off for the Oriens, for the Christ who comes to meet us."
Ed
 
Generic_Name said:
My mistake.

It’s still an awful idea.
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No it’s not. There are some places and traditions where it is wholly appropriate, such as in monastic tradition. It is not “one size fits all”, and has nothing to do with the depth of one’s faith, one’s degree of reverence or one’s orthodoxy.

Where it is appropriate, it is allowed and can be encouraged, but it should not be forced on traditions or in places where it is not appropriate or would introduce incongruities into the liturgy.
 
I am besides myself with great joys… May our good Lord continue to bless Cardinal Sarah… Let’s pray for its widespread acceptance. There will be great resistance. May the doubters and naysayers in time see the goodness and greatness in Ad Orientem. It is the priest leading his flock toward Christ. How powerful is that!!!
 
OraLabora said:
I didn’t know that, thanks for pointing this out. Interestingly, this was Paul VI’s archdiocese before he was elected pope.

Could it be that the “fault” is not that of the “liberals”, but rather of a different view of the liturgy and an appreciation for a different experience of it within a very ancient rite?
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Yes; in fact, I received my confirmation from Card. Montini, who was a couple of years later to become Pope Paul VI.
 
I agree with a lot of what Cardinal Sarah said, but I disagree that changing the way the priest faces or having people kneel for Communion are going to make improvements with how the Church meets its mission on Earth.

I’m a traditionalist. I like things they way they are and don’t want to see them change.
 
on_the_hill said:
I agree with a lot of what Cardinal Sarah said, but I disagree that changing the way the priest faces or having people kneel for Communion are going to make improvements with how the Church meets its mission on Earth.

I’m a traditionalist. I like things they way they are and don’t want to see them change.
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Never thought I’d see a Catholic say this and be referring to the current Versus Populum position :eek:
 
on_the_hill said:
I agree with a lot of what Cardinal Sarah said, but I disagree that changing the way the priest faces or having people kneel for Communion are going to make improvements with how the Church meets its mission on Earth.

I’m a traditionalist. I like things they way they are and don’t want to see them change.
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Many people seem lack of understanding the importance of piety and reverence. If we know who we are worshiping in Mass, we would not only want to kneel to receive Holy Communion, we would want to prostrate afterwards if possible.
 
on_the_hill said:
I agree with a lot of what Cardinal Sarah said, but I disagree that changing the way the priest faces or having people kneel for Communion are going to make improvements with how the Church meets its mission on Earth.

I’m a traditionalist. I like things they way they are and don’t want to see them change.
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It actually will.

The only way the Church will succeed in anything it tries to do, be it evangelize peoples or feed the hungry, is if it does its worship properly.

The Mass is the start and end of everything the Church does on earth. All other endeavours will fail miserably if one does not take care first of how Mass is celebrated.
 
Very pleased to see this. I’ve already forwarded the article to my priest, who would love to do this but would be afraid of the reaction. I also hope Cardinal Sarah is our next Pope, he is a real breath of fresh air amongst so much unorthodox sentiment today.
 
porthos11 said:
It actually will.

The only way the Church will succeed in anything it tries to do, be it evangelize peoples or feed the hungry, is if it does its worship properly.

The Mass is the start and end of everything the Church does on earth. All other endeavours will fail miserably if one does not take care first of how Mass is celebrated.
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I’m a Traditionalist and when in the House of the Lord, all reverence is directed toward worshipping God, including the priest doing his part. If I met the Lord, in person, I would kneel and bow my head. It nourishes our awareness that God is God and the Mass is for us to be in communion with Him. To give Him thanks and praise.

Ed
 
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