The Insights eNewsletter

Insights provides critical perspective on the issues that affect your life as a Catholic today. Delivered twice weekly.

» Subscribe

This Insights eNewsletter was sent to subscribers on July 15, 2016.

eNewsletter Subject: Should we all face East at Mass?

While I was away, one topic dominated the news. I'm back now, so here we go:

The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship recommended in a major address to a liturgical conference that priests begin to celebrate Mass using the ad orientem posture this Advent. Ad orientem means facing East, and presumes that the priest is saying Mass with his back to the congregation.

Here is our news story: Top Vatican liturgical official urges 'ad orientem' liturgy. And here is the address in which Cardinal Robert Sarah made his suggestion: Towards an Authentic Implementation of Sacrosanctum Concilium.

Phil Lawler believes this is a good idea (see What Polynesian languages teach us about the ad orientem liturgy), and he has provided excellent coverage of the fairly hostile reaction to it:

[more content for subscribers]

There's more to this eNewsletter! Sign up to receive complete Insights!