Posted on 07/11/2016 4:49:11 PM PDT by marshmallow
Although the pope's top official for liturgy recently suggested that priests should adopt the ad orientem posture for celebrating Mass beginning in Advent, meaning facing the east, a Vatican spokesman on Monday said that instructions recommending facing the people are not going to change.
ROME- In the wake of recent comments by its chief liturgist recommending that priests celebrate Mass ad orientem, meaning facing east with their backs to the people, beginning in Advent, the Vatican released a statement on Monday saying no new rules along those lines are in the works.
A Vatican spokesman also rejected the vocabulary of a “reform of the reform” in liturgical practice, saying that phrase is “at times the source of misunderstandings.”
Father Federico Lombardi said the decision to release a statement clarifying comments made by Cardinal Robert Sarah, of Guinea, came after the prelate met with Pope Francis on Saturday.
“Cardinal Sarah has always been rightly concerned about the dignity of the celebration of the Mass, in order to adequately express an attitude of respect and adoration of the Eucharistic mystery,” Lombardi said.
The papal spokesman added that some of Sarah’s expressions had been misinterpreted by the press, as a signal that changes in liturgical norms were imminent.
“It is very important that we return as soon as possible to a common orientation, of priests and the faithful turned together in the same direction - eastwards, or at least towards the apse - to the Lord who comes,” Sarah had said July 5, opening a conference in London called Sacra Liturgia.
Although his comments were phrased as suggestions and not an edict, Sarah’s desire for a return to the ad orientem posture nevertheless generated wide reaction and debate, in large part because the posture is widely associated with the older Latin Mass in.....
(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...
Father Federico Lombardi said the decision to release a statement clarifying comments made by Cardinal Robert Sarah, of Guinea, came after the prelate met with Pope Francis on Saturday.
That didn't take long. The Church is not known for moving quickly....except in extreme emergencies. Looks like Francis dragged him in and read the riot act.
Facing east like the Muslims? Might as well since Pope Francis says Catholics and Muslims worship the same God...Allah. Glad us Christians worship the God of the Bible.
Yep. Let’s stab Cardinal Sarah in the back.
No, facing the altar.
Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals Rule 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”
Truth hurts! But it sets men free.
Problem is, it's not the truth. But you don't care about that, do you?
Will be interesting to see how these Francis fits are framed and presented when poor Fr. Lombardi is replaced by an Opus Dei layman.
i told you the truth. Look it up yourself.
Catholics ought to face "liturgical east," which means that the priest and people face the same direction, toward the altar (whatever compass direction that happens to be) ... making it crystal clear that they're both praying to God, and not worshipping each other.
When your very Catholic namesake, Jan Sobieski, assisted at Holy Mass, both he and the priest faced "liturgical east". 100% guaranteed.
This is a thread about Catholic liturgical practice. The phrase "facing east" is a vernacular rendition of the Latin "ad orientam", which has substantial theological underpinnings to do with the nature of the Mass in its essential sacrificial aspect and the role of the Catholic priest in it.
To quote St. Augustine: "When we rise to pray, we turn East, where heaven begins. And we do this not because God is there, as if He had moved away from the other directions on earth..., but rather to help us remember to turn our mind towards a higher order, that is, to God.". As another poster has previously pointed out, this is based on a passage in Matthew's Gospel.
Islam is a hybrid of teachings and practices taken from both Judaism and Christianity which predate it (as well as pagan novelties), so the fact that some Muslims on earth face east (towards Mecca) is entirely irrelevant to the subject. Muslims say God is merciful, too. Does that mean that invoking the mercy of God means we're closet Muslims?
Why even barge into a thread devoted to Catholic worship? Don't you have a rapture to catch, or something?
Rapture to catch? I hope!
Might as well since Pope Francis says Catholics and Muslims worship the same God...Allah.
the idiocy of your comment is, well, boundless...
Telling the truth in a time of universal deceit is a revolutionary act!
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against other bishops.” , Our Lady of Akita, October 13, 1973.”
The Second Vatican Council closed in 1965.
Why don't you try doing it, for once?
Telling the truth in a time of universal deceit is a revolutionary act!
when you get around to doing so, do let us know...
No Biblical record of any Apostle or church service facing east. As such, it is just personal preference.
It's made up, but if they want to face any direction or no direction or up or down, it is their call.
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