How would the Church implement the change to ad orientem Masses practically? Would it necessitate the rearranging of the altars in many churches?
That will depend upon the particular arrangement of individual churches. In some cases I can imagine people sighing: “So now we must change it all around again …” That is understandable, certainly, but if we follow the Council’s teaching on the importance and centrality of the Sacred Liturgy for the life and mission of the Church, then making the necessary adjustments will be a worthwhile investment. But in many places no substantial reordering will be necessary.
Do you think diocesan bishops would have to instruct priests to celebrate Mass in this way?
It is true that some priests have little or no experience of how to celebrate ad orientem or indeed much understanding of its rationale. Its rationale can be gleaned from the writings of Joseph Ratzinger, Michael Lang and Klaus Gamber among others.
In respect of how to do this practically, the missal itself gives the rubrics for when a priest should turn and face the people in the Liturgy of the Eucharist – it is a fact, widely unknown, that those rubrics assume that the priest is already facing east. But, yes, perhaps some practical help or training would be a good idea in dioceses. There may be online resources too. And I am sure that priests who already celebrate in this way would be happy to help their brethren.
Liturgical law already permits priests to choose to celebrate in this way. In his appeal Cardinal Sarah reminded priests that this should be done with pastoral prudence and with catechesis, but nevertheless as something that is a true good for the Church. Bishops would be right to be concerned if priests were rash and confused their people, but liturgical law gives the priest the faculty to do this already. If individual priests work to prepare their people for the first Sunday of Advent with study and approach this as a truly spiritual step, as one that will enhance our life of worship, their bishops will have no reason to be concerned – indeed, please God, they will be able to rejoice that their priests have known when and how to bring forth treasures both new and old for the good of their people (Matthew 13:52).
Does this require an instruction from the Vatican?
I don’t think so – as I said, facing east is permitted by liturgical law. What I think Cardinal Sarah is doing is reminding priests of this and encouraging them – with due prudence – to make use of this permission which has always been allowed in the modern rite.
Do you expect opposition to such liturgical reforms?
Perhaps. Though if people take the time to study the issues this should not be the case. There is no reason to oppose what will be a beautiful return to an ancient and beautiful practice – to a more profound worship of the Lord. I can imagine a certain amount of confusion or misunderstanding, but that is where pastors and liturgists need to catechise and inform people of the liturgical and spiritual value of this renewal.
Dom Alcuin Reid is a monk of the Monastère Saint-Benoît in the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, France. He is a renowned and widely published liturgical scholar and is the international coordinator of Sacra Liturgia
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