Ad Orientem

A priest offers his thoughts on celebrating Mass facing east. Here's an excerpt:

For two reasons, I doubt that the Mass was ever said completely facing the congregation. Facing east, which usually means facing away from the people is the usual posture in liturgical prayer of the Byzantine, Syriac, Armenian, Coptic and Ethiopian traditions. It is still the custom in most of the Eastern rites, at least during the Eucharistic prayer. They have done this from time immemorial and still do. They wouldn’t have changed it just to accommodate the Frankish barbarians of the west, 700 years after Christ. This custom of congregation and clergy facing the same direction in prayer was universal until about 1967. The first Christians were Jews for a century after Pentecost, at least according to sociologist Rodney Stark. Facing a sacred direction and not a congregation was normal in the synagogue services from which the Mass developed. Orthodox Jews still face east, or more precisely toward Jerusalem, away from the congregation for much of the service. It is a natural gesture.

Not too long ago, I overheard a tour guide at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis say to his band of visitors, "Before Vatican II, the priest had has back to the people. But Vatican II changed that, and now, the priest faces the people." Deep breath. Why not say, "Before Vatican II, the priest and the people prayed together, facing the same direction. After Vatican II, priests decided on their own authority, and completely contrary to the teaching of Vatican II, to change their orientation and face the people for the entire Mass, with their backs to God in the Eucharist."