Versus Populum: Why and How?

[Jordan_Francis]

I was wondering if anybody could give me some background information here:

How, after VII, did the priest facing the people during the Mass “catch on”? Was there a specific bishop’s conference which proposed this and then a dispensation was issued by the Pope for whatever conference decided?

Is “ad orientem” still technically the norm? Can a priest celebrating the Ordinary Form say Mass ad orientem if he desired?

Basically, who was behind this change and what justification did they offer?

Thanks

 

[Frosty]

I was wondering if anybody could give me some background information here:

How, after VII, did the priest facing the people during the Mass “catch on”? Was there a specific bishop’s conference which proposed this and then a dispensation was issued by the Pope for whatever conference decided?

Is “ad orientem” still technically the norm? Can a priest celebrating the Ordinary Form say Mass ad orientem if he desired?

Basically, who was behind this change and what justification did they offer?

Thanks

Here are a couple of links you may wish to look at. The first one has some pictures of Masses celebrated versus populum several years prior to Vatican II. Click on the pictures to enlarge them for a better view. The second link is more pertinent to your last question.

ordorecitandi.blogspot.com/2008/11/versus-populum-conciliar-practice.html

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=1324&CFID=28008668&CFTOKEN=27334117