None of those things you describe took place during the Eucharistic Prayer and consecration. Even if done ad orientem, nothing will stop the priest who wants to be a showman during the homily or at the sign of the peace except perhaps the wave from the altar (you didn’t specify at what point in the liturgy).
This thread might not be about liturgical abuses but they are certainly appropriate as part of discussion being that liturgical abuse is one of the main reasons for Cardinal Sarah’s decision…
It can certainly contribute to that yes. Not directly of course, but yes, the focus at Mass will trickle down to effects in one’s works of charity.I’m pretty sure we all know who we’re worshiping regardless of which way the priest faces. Surely you’re not implying that we’ve been celebrating irreverent Masses for the past few decades.
Facing ad orientem will feed more people than the way it’s done now? (I know that’s not what you really meant…)
I sense that an ad orientem arrangement might actually turn us more inward to become focused on a rigid observance of the Mass to the point that we lose sight the brothers and sisters around us who need our Christian help. I don’t think God wants our pure focus on him. “Feed my sheep.”
The RCC would consider a priest sharing the sign of peace with members of the congregation an abuse? If so I can confirm I’ve seen that one many times.
It might work spatially but liturgically it would be a monstrosity. Trust me, I worship there every Sunday and most solemnities. Those in the back of the church would be totally detached from what is going on. In the picture of Monte Cassino that I showed, the altar is still close enough to the faithful in the nave that they can follow what is happening on the altar. With the backs of 15 priests facing them, the altar would be totally obscured in our church, and with the distance separating us from the altar (remember the choir stalls are between the nave and the sanctuary), it would almost be if the consecration was happning in the next town across the lake. It would be a complete detraction from the solemnity of what is being celebrated.
It is if he leaves the sanctuary.
The wave from the priest happened right before the first reading–not during consecration.
The concelebrating priests don’t have to move. They can stay where they are in the picture.
Let the abbey do what it thinks is best, after all, versus populum remains a legitimate option.
It’s likely all a moot point however as most churches aren’t going to change anything unless it became a mandate.
As I said.
There are, however, cathedrals and churches with a similar layout.
Not magically, no. I don’t think any of us pro-ad-orientem people are that naive.It’s interesting that people feel that a return to the old way will somehow magically make the Mass better and therefore the Church more holy.
To which I ask: Have we been doing it wrong all these years? Yes or no?
Liturgical “abuses” will still occur. It’s not as though the words ad orientem are a magical incantation that will make everyone a faithfully observant Catholic.
Like I said, I’m a conservative guy, I like tradition, and the tradition I’m accustomed to is the way the OF is now.
I mentioned it to my wife. Her immediate reaction was, “HA! Yeah, right.”
To be honest the more I think about it, the more I’ll-advised I think it is. If it needs to be accompanied by extensive catchesis to make it pass, not doing it will require a whole lot of explaining to those disappointed that it is not happening, most likely for valid reasons. And thus the trench dividing so called “liberals” from the “conservatives” will just be dug deeper, leaving those of us who just try our best to be orthodox and obedient caught in the middle and bewildered.It’s interesting that people feel that a return to the old way will somehow magically make the Mass better and therefore the Church more holy.
To which I ask: Have we been doing it wrong all these years? Yes or no?
Liturgical “abuses” will still occur. It’s not as though the words ad orientem are a magical incantation that will make everyone a faithfully observant Catholic.
Like I said, I’m a conservative guy, I like tradition, and the tradition I’m accustomed to is the way the OF is now.
I mentioned it to my wife. Her immediate reaction was, “HA! Yeah, right.”
It has been a number of years now since I was last there, OraLabora…so you would have to help my memory. As I remember, the altar is upon a platform, which we do see in your photos…but the platform, as it is on the side of the altar near the choir stalls, is actually quite narrow. Certainly narrow enough that, as I remember, I would not want to even try to balance myself on it in order to offer Mass on that other side of the altar. I certainly could not have extended my right leg behind me to be able to genuflect. And I can say from experience that one does not like having the sense that one is about to tumble off a platform that is not wide enough so that one is anything but balancing on the edge.
Then how is what you propose faithful to what the Cardinal Prefect actually said:
