Priests facing the altar at mass

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Leon_Bloy

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Does anybody here have any experience of requesting one’s pastor either as part of a group or as an individual (at primarily or exclusively OF parishes) to face the altar/use the older high altar if there is one/get rid of ad populum secondary altar during mass?

How did you ask it? What was the response? Any success stories? Does anybody know of any parishes in the news anywhere that did it?
 
Do you happen to know your pastor’s position on this? He may already have a desire to do it, but is nervous about the response he will get. Perhaps you requesting it is all the motivation he needs!

My pastor began doing this when the missal changes were official for our most attended Mass. I don’t know if someone requested it, but attendance at that Mass has spiked. And I’m not just being hopeful: according to my friend, who is the head usher, that Mass is so well attended now, they have to set chairs up in the vestibule, and even then people have to stand!
 
I have asked two pastors to offer the Mass [kindly] in an liturgical eastward orientaion, ad orientem, as our Holy Father has called for.
One pastor flat told me, “We are liberal here, and will not do this”.
The other just “no”.

I go exclusively now to the TLM.
 
He really likes me. LOL.
I was truly responding to this "Does anybody know of any parishes in the news anywhere that did it? "
 
This thread brings to mind a priest whom I know personally who actually bucked the versus populum trend. Back some 7 or 8 years ago, he decided to do a test and gauge the parish’s reaction so, one Sunday he quietly gave ad orientem a try. The test results were interesting and even he was surprised at the reaction: not one complaint! OTOH, there were a number of compliments and requests for catechesis! The next couple of Sundays he honored those requests and spoke about ad orientem from the pulpit, giving some explanation of of the posture and the ancient tradition behind it. When he was transferred 2 or 3 years later, the new pastor refused to celebrate ad orientem, despite the fact that there was great interest in it from the parishioners. Needless to say, the parish was disappointed.
 
We did something similar. We asked for a TLM and got a Dominican low Mass, once a month. This lasted for 3 years until the Dominican priest was transferred. So we went back and asked for a TLM on Sundays, once a month and we are now working on 8 months. This spring we will be asking for more Masses.

Pray for us.
 
In a parish near where I live a Latin High Mass in OF is offered every Sunday, often with Choir, Schola and/or orchestra. There are other masses offered on Sunday as well (I have not been to one of the non-Latin High Masses though) but they only have the high altar and always celebrate ad orientum. As far as I know, they have always done this.

stagnes.net/
 
When I go to Latin Mass,the Priest face the alter,and we receive commmiuon kneelng by the rail,which I love more than the mordern way, but when Latin Mass is finish, they bring out a moveable alter, so the regular priest can face the people. This happens only in the Chaple, but in the main church the Priest face the people.
 
Whether the priest is facing the people or his back to the people makes little difference except for disagreements on the type of Mass and the accompanying like/dislike of the forms.

In both instances the priest and the congregation are both facing Jesus when the consecration occurs.

Eddie Mac
 
In my experience, I have never seen a priest NOT face the alter during the sacrafice. Just sayin’.
:rolleyes:
 
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