Beginning this Advent, we would like to begin a practice in the Mass that was the norm for many centuries and is still an option. I am referring to what is called celebrating Mass “Ad Orientem” or “to the East“. This describes, first of all, the ancient practice of building churches that face toward the east and how Christians would turn toward the east to pray. The sun is clearly a symbol of Jesus, the Light of the World, and the rising of the sun speaks of His Incarnation, Resurrection and coming again in glory. Psalm 19 was understood by the Jews and the early Church as prophecy of the Messiah, which was fulfilled by Our Lord. (Lk 1: 78-79)

Secondly, ad orientem refers to the practice of the priest and the people facing in the same direction during the prayers of the Mass to emphasize that we are all focusing our attention on God. Acting in the person of Jesus, the ordained minister symbolizes Christ the Head of the Mystical Body as we pray with Him and in Him to the Father, especially during the Eucharistic Prayer. The priest still faces the people when they are in dialogue with each other.

Many have noted the extremely exaggerated emphasis in our time on ourselves and on the rights of individuals. Yet we would have no rights if they did not come from God, as President John F. Kennedy noted in his inaugural address. The primary purpose of the Liturgy is the worship of God. Some reforms of the Second Vatican Council have been distorted to become at times a celebration of us. To offer the Mass ad orientem will be a powerful visual reminder of where our main focus should be. The clear intention of the Council’s document on the Liturgy was to facilitate an authentic participation of the faithful in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is also our goal in adopting this option, as many are doing throughout the world.

Advent will be an appropriate and beautiful time to begin this renewed emphasis in our worship. As the Hymn says, “People look east, and sing today; Love, the Lord is on the way.”

God bless you.

–Fr. Peter

“…wherever possible, we should definitely take up again the apostolic tradition of facing the east, both in the building of churches and in the celebration of the liturgy.”

– Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), The Spirit of the Liturgy