Pope celebrates ad orientem

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sicutincensum

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As usual, Pope Benedict celebrated mass ad orientem at the Sistine Chapel, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Video here: youtu.be/Xli4AM9EbSA

An interesting note, however: Pope Benedict failed to consacrate the wine (11:20) as he said “HIC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM” (“This is My Body”) while attempting to consacrate the wine. We can hope the concelebrant Bishops didn’t commit the same mistake.
 
sicutincensum said:
As usual, Pope Benedict celebrated mass ad orientem at the Sistine Chapel, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Video here: youtu.be/Xli4AM9EbSA
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The pope celebrates masses both verses populum and ad orientem as any given situation calls for. I hope this isn’t a statement that ad orientem is the preferred method of celebrating the mass just because there is a video of one of the times that the pope has chosen to do so.
 
promethius said:
The pope celebrates masses both verses populum and ad orientem as any given situation calls for. I hope this isn’t a statement that ad orientem is the preferred method of celebrating the mass just because there is a video of one of the times that the pope has chosen to do so.
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Did I make any claim? However, the Pope, while Cardinal Ratzinger, cleary expressed his support for a re-orientation of the Liturgy, by turning versus Deum when possible or, if this isn’t feasible, by placing a large cross on the altar.
 
sicutincensum said:
…by placing a large cross on the altar.
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Did he say a large crucifix? I don’t claim to be an expert on his writings along these lines, but in reading other posts on this matter I don’t recall the size of the crucifix being specified.
 
In all fairness, is it even possible to say the Mass versus populum in the Sistine Chapel? A lot of stairs there.

Unless they would install some floor-level semi-permanent altar remote from the high altar.
 
ProVobis said:
In all fairness, is it even possible to say the Mass versus populum in the Sistine Chapel? A lot of stairs there.

Unless they would install some floor-level semi-permanent altar remote from the high altar.
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It happened at one time.
 
ProVobis said:
In all fairness, is it even possible to say the Mass versus populum in the Sistine Chapel? A lot of stairs there.

Unless they would install some floor-level semi-permanent altar remote from the high altar.
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Pope JPII always used a portable versus populum altar when he celebrated in the Sistine Chapel, but Pope Benedict banished it. I have no idea if Paul VI used it after VII.
 
At the main (papal) altar in St. Peter’s Basilica, the whole situation is changed, since people are seated on all four sides of the altar. There is no “versus populum” or “ad orientam” (well, except perhaps literally in the case of the latter!).
 
Leon_Bloy said:
At the main (papal) altar in St. Peter’s Basilica, the whole situation is changed, since people are seated on all four sides of the altar. There is no “versus populum” or “ad orientam” (well, except perhaps literally in the case of the latter!).
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Mass has always been celebrated with the pope facing the nave at the papal altar, even before VII,
 
If Pope Benedict wants to turn his back on the congregation, that’s his business. You’ve got to have some privileges when you’re the boss. Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II didn’t.
 
jimrob said:
If Pope Benedict wants to turn his back on the congregation, that’s his business. You’ve got to have some privileges when you’re the boss. Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II didn’t.
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The above does not sound respectful towards the Holy Father.

He’s facing toward God on behalf of the people behind him - in the same position they are in. Not with “his back to the people.” Pope Benedict has made it a priority of his papacy (see his writings before pope) to try to harmonize current practices with the long, consistent culture of our Catholic faith. Facing the people as it they were an “audience,” which can easily lead to all kinds of problems (including the very clericalism that many opponents of the priest facing the altar often claim to fear) never had any place in Catholic custom - certainly not for the 1,000 years plus prior to just a few decades ago.

Before anybody brings this up, let me re-emphasize that nowhere, nowhere did Vatican II in a single one of its documents - or even those who helped compose the “new” mass of 1970 - suggest that the priest should face towards the people during the Eucharistic prayers (except in a few moments during it, where required, as was always the case in the more traditional form of the mass).
 
By the way, Pope John Paul II did sometimes celebrate mass facing the altar (away from the people).
 
Leon_Bloy said:
Before anybody brings this up, let me re-emphasize that nowhere, nowhere did Vatican II in a single one of its documents - or even those who helped compose the “new” mass of 1970 - suggest that the priest should face towards the people during the Eucharistic prayers (except in a few moments during it, where required, as was always the case in the more traditional form of the mass).
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Perhaps with the vernacular the priest was expected to face the people and with a microphone? Don’t forget even before the Vatican II, the readings were reread in the vernacular but usually if not always facing the people, albeit from the pulpit.
 
Right, but in the Eucharistic liturgy, there had never been any precedence for facing the people whatsoever (again, except for when the priest prayed a couple of lines like “Dominis vobiscum,” etc. when he would turn around briefly… which, by the way, is so cool, because it keeps absolutely clear to the people when the priest is talking to them, and when he is talking to God. How can one maintain the distinction when entirely facing one direction?)
 
Leon_Bloy said:
Right, but in the Eucharistic liturgy, there had never been any precedence for facing the people whatsoever (again, except for when the priest prayed a couple of lines like “Dominis vobiscum,” etc. when he would turn around briefly… which, by the way, is so cool, because it keeps absolutely clear to the people when the priest is talking to them, and when he is talking to God. How can one maintain the distinction when entirely facing one direction?)
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I agree. Much of the Mass is supposed to be between the priest and God. All I can think of is that is was done for pastoral reasons, as was the vernacular. People want to see and hear what’s going on, including TV cameras. 🙂
 
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