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To: wideawake
A better way to look at it is to ask: will the priest face the Lord present on the altar along with people?

Most people I know use the terms "facing away from the people" or "with the priest's back to the people" - this includes clergy and religious.

This is tough... it will be interesting to see what happens in most parishes. I can see in my own parish the priest (if he is forced to address this at all) would probably spin this as a return to the dark ages or a refutation of Vatican II. And most of us in the pews are woefully ignorant and would probably think he is right.

I'm probably wrong, but I would like to see something happen that would force us (ordained, religious, laity) to either declare obedience to Rome or not and quit sitting on the fence blowing in the wind. So to speak.

15 posted on 05/02/2003 9:30:44 AM PDT by american colleen
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To: american colleen
The objection in most parishes would be from the priest, since so many priests now relish their role as showy, ad-libbing MCs.

Most serious Catholics, whether they prefer Latin or the vernacular, don't have an obsessive need to see the celebrant's facial expressions.

They come to hear God's Word, to repent of their sins and ask His forgiveness through the traditional Confiteor and Kyrie, to offer him a sacrifice of praise through the traditional Gloria, to profess their faith in Him through the traditional Credo, to hear edifying, Gospel-centered teaching and to receive Him in Holy Communion.

I don't know too many Catholics who say: "If I can't see Fr. Bob's handsome face or hear his lame homily jokes or his trite asides, I ain't goin' to Mass!"

19 posted on 05/02/2003 9:55:11 AM PDT by wideawake (Support our troops and their Commander-in-Chief)
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To: american colleen
"A common turning to the east during the Eucharistic Prayer remains essential. This is not a case of something accidental, but of what is essential. Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord. It is not now a question of dialogue but of common worship." (Cardinal Ratzinger at Fontgombault, 2001.)

By "the Lord" he is referring to God the Father, to Whom the sacrifice is offered. We should all remember that it was Martin Luther who first turned the priest around to face the people. He also threw out the Offertory and focused on a communal meal for the assembly.
47 posted on 05/02/2003 10:44:57 AM PDT by ultima ratio
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