J
Joannm
Guest
Ad Orientem has nothing to do with “facing God” but with facing East which traditionally the direction from where the Lord will return. God is everywhere, so no matter where you are facing you are facing God. Also we are not facing Jesus in the tabernacle because the focus of the Mass is not the tabernacle but the sacrifice on the altar.The priest does not have his back to us!!!
He is facing God Almighty!!!1
that is what ad orientem, or, more accurately, versus deum is all about.
think about a congressman, or a lobbyist, or a petitioner, going forth to the government, he always faces thoes whom he is addressing for the benefit of his constituents.
Raymond Arroyo from EWTN, intervied cardinal Ratzinger once, and The good Cardinal said he would like to see a mass return to versus deum. theres your reference.
God Bless
For me, I would not mind ad orientem, in fact the way our church is situated I usually sit on the side of the church where the priest is facing the other direction. But I also prefer the venacular because I love to pray the words of the Mass in a language I understand.