tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post4634881892613192308..comments2024-03-29T08:14:32.748-04:00Comments on Bonfire of the Vanities: Eucharistic Prayer Facing Heaven, not the PeopleFr Martin Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-30634344215908598022017-08-02T09:39:56.028-04:002017-08-02T09:39:56.028-04:00Eileen,
What Father Fox is pointing out is true. ...Eileen,<br /><br />What Father Fox is pointing out is true. I often attend a Novus Ordo Mass in Latin where the priest faces the liturgical east for the Eucharistic Prayer, for everything else pretty much, he faces the congregation. If you saw it, you would see the logic. When the priest is engaging the congregation in prayers directed to them, he faces them, when he is praying to the Lord, the priest and the Congregation face in the same direction. It is magnificent. Now I rarely go to Mass where the direction is with the priest facing the congregation for the entire Mass. TJMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-23489635876452841062017-08-02T09:28:41.908-04:002017-08-02T09:28:41.908-04:00Eileen:
A lot of folks would respond just as you ...Eileen:<br /><br />A lot of folks would respond just as you do; and most likely, nothing I can say will change your preference in this.<br /><br />But let me offer this. <br /><br />I'd point out that there are major differences between how you experienced Mass before Vatican II, and how it is when the new Mass is offered <i>ad orientem</i>. The prayers are mostly said aloud, for one; and the priest and others face the people at various points, for another. My point being, if you think celebrating the new Mass <i>ad orientem</i> means it'll be what you experienced back then, I think you're in for some surprises.<br /><br />It is true that you will see somewhat less of what the priest does with the bread and the wine (although you'll see some of it). To be honest, I'm puzzled about why that is so important, because (a) it's the same action, every single time -- it never changes -- and (b) you know that the priest is doing it, and what he's doing. And, as I said, you're <i>hearing</i> the priest pray the prayers while all this is going on -- although, as I said, this was not true in the older form of the Mass.Fr Martin Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-3075156596946295962017-08-02T00:00:05.630-04:002017-08-02T00:00:05.630-04:00Crystal clear! Thank you, Father.
Crystal clear! Thank you, Father.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-28480904326750996092017-08-01T20:50:03.249-04:002017-08-01T20:50:03.249-04:00You nailed it, Father. You should celebrate all y...You nailed it, Father. You should celebrate all your Masses facing the East! St. John the Beloved in McLean, VA adopted this practice a year or so ago. There were a few objections at first but you have done a wonderful job explaining why it should be done that way. phil duntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517206706881671277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-84632870705775878202017-08-01T20:25:13.992-04:002017-08-01T20:25:13.992-04:00I get FAR less out of a Mass when the priest faces...I get FAR less out of a Mass when the priest faces the people. Priest and people should be facing the liturgical east during the Eucharistic prayer. Versus populum was probably the most deleterious change foisted on the Roman Mass. Congratulations on doing what the rubrics and tradition prescribe. You obviously recognize that the Mass is about worshipping the Lord not ourselves. Best, TomTJMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-32963237222477770552017-08-01T20:07:51.581-04:002017-08-01T20:07:51.581-04:00Dear Father, I'm a visual person & get dis...Dear Father, I'm a visual person & get distracted easily. If I don't have the host to look upon, I am not able to concentrate on what is really happening at that time. I lived through pre Vatican council 2 & was always distracted & could not focus on what was happening. I don't focus on the priest, but rather what is happening to the bread & wine as Christ did at the last supper, Good Friday & Easter Sunday. So I feel I get more out of the mass with the priest facing the people. Take care & Good Bless, Eileen Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085445596478001021noreply@blogger.com