Posted on 05/25/2022 10:44:21 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
What’s “Ad Orientum Worship”?
Couldn’t determine from the excerpt.
The priest, when saying mass, facing “toward the East”, or Versus Deum.
As opposed to versus populum, or facing the people.
Priest leading the faithful toward Our Lord, as it should be.
Basically the priest facing toward the crucifix, the same direction the lay parishioners are facing.
It is beautiful.
Particularly during the consecration when the priest leans forward with his elbows on the altar, a thoroughly male posture.
Facing in solidarity with the congregation.
The priest isn’t management, he’s a union steward. He is one of us and should face God like the rest of us.
Seems like a minor thing.
I like the symbolism of the priest facing the cross. But it would be easier for parishioners to understand him if they can see his face. Especially hard of hearing.
Maybe a compromise? Have the priest face the cross but have a video camera on the priests face blown up for the parishioners to see.
To face toward the east is to anticipate the direction from which Christ Jesus will come, when he “comes again” (the second coming).
when I was growing up there was a mike there
Get a copy of the 1962 version of the Missal of the Roman Rite and you’ll be abke to follow right along with an SSPX priest saying mass Ad Orientem.
So are all Roman Catholic churches physically oriented towards he east? Another freeper said it was facing the crucifix. But “Orientem” does sound like maybe it means east. But could mean Oriented.
Even without the use of electronic devices, I have never had trouble hearing and understanding the Priest when he is facing the Altar and Tabernacle. Most (first-world) parishes today, even with the Priest facing the congregation (and turning his back on the Tabernacle ...) use electronic amplification ... In practice, hearing the Priest isn’t a problem.
Most older churches actually are geographically facing East, newer are a mixed bag. Regardless, the liturgical symbolism of facing the Altar, the Crucifix, and most importantly the Tabernacle remains regardless of geography.
I always thought of Tabernacle as the church building. But a quick google tells me in Catholic churches it’s a container where the communion (bread, wine) is kept.
Yes, orientem=east.
Liturgical east is the broader term, used by necessity if the physical church is constructed such that the parishioners in the pews in the “nave” or central part of the church end up facing north, south or west, as obviously happens (but is not preferred).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nave
Indeed he should.
Ping.
Hear about this, ET?
The Priest turns toward the people when they need to hear him during the Mass.
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