On Facing East

Mound City Musings ^ | 1/02/2005 | Andrew Archie

[redgolum]

Yep. We moved here just recently.

My bride and I visited a few RCC churches in Davenport, and ended up at one across the river in Moline. Not to bad.

I lived in Davenport for a year after college, so I went back to my old LCMS church.

[Romulus]

St. John of Damascus is not a 4th century fater

The incorrect date is a mere lapsus linguae; what's important is the quote itself, which the author correctly attributes to the iconodule St. John Damascene (who had more than one trick in his bag).

[Romulus]

Does the author think that if the celebrant faces the congregation during the service, the congregation does not participate?

Well, here's the thing. The Church is sacramental; always has been from the time of Christ's ministry, when he never spoke to the people except in parable. The Church uses signs to communicate truth, and onde of these is liturgical posture.

One of these truths is our unity in the Eucharist, an experience of the whole Church doing the same thing. Worship ad orientem reinforces the understanding of this truth among the faithful.

Also, recall that every priest is alter Christus, another Christ in whom the priest submerges his individual identity. We have "one high priest", remember: all priestly acts partake of the priesthood of Christ, and the (relative) anonymity of the priest ad orientem reinforces the truth that it's not just Fr. Bob up there; ultimately it is Christ, the God-Man who acts on the altar, as Sole Mediator between God and man. Keep in mind that in the "Tridentine" rite, the priest does not always face the altar; he frequently turns to face the people when addressing them directly.

Finally, there's the critical fact that the Mass is a sacrifice. Because the faithful unite themselves to this sacrifice, associating themselves with what takes place on the altar, it's fitting that their posture be conformed to the priest who speaks and sacrifices for them. The versus populum posture (with the altar between priest and people sends a contradictory signal that tends to lower the eucharistic significance to that of a memorial banquet; the dialogue is seen to be "all about us" -- a narrative and response between priest and people -- and blurs the truth that sacrifice is being offered to the invisible Father.

[sionnsar]

Well put. Thank you.

[Graves]

Good discussion. BTTT

[sionnsar]

Thanks. I thought it worth a re-read.