Over the past months, I have had the opportunity to share with the clergy of southern Missouri the response I received to a recent letter that I sent to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. In a letter to diocesan clergy dated Aug. 7, 2023, I requested all priests to celebrate Holy Mass facing the people. As some of them questioned my authority to make such a request, I wrote a letter to the Dicastery for clarification. I would like to share some of the points from the letter.
The Dicastery expresses concern that the desire for “ad orientem” is not “a type of proxy for opposing the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and its liturgical reform.” Noting the document “Christus Dominus” (“Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops”), (n.8), the letter states “While it is true that both ad populum and ad orientem celebration of the Eucharist is permitted, as the principal dispenser of the mysteries of God … and guardian of the entire liturgical life in the church committed to you (the Bishop), you have a right and a duty to make an evaluation as to how this is applied in your diocese and to request that your presbyterate take on board your guidance since, as Bishop, the life in Christ of the faithful is in some way derived and dependent upon you as the high priest of your flock (cf “Sacrosanctum Concilium” [“Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy”], n. 41).
In the absence of a free-standing altar, as there may be exceptions for architectural reasons, or a private Chapel, or a historic church, the directive states the priest faces the people for certain prayers during the Mass. There are no such churches that exist within our diocese that do not have a free-standing altar, if they do also possess a high altar. “It is generally the case that most churches, be they old or of more recent construction, have been adjusted so that Mass can be celebrated ad populum.” The celebration of Holy Mass with the Bishop at his “Cathedral Church should be a model for the other churches of the diocese in its conformity to the directives laid down in the liturgical documents and books with regard to the arrangement in adornment of churches. The celebration of Mass at the Cathedral(s) thus establishes the model for the rest of the diocese. (Ceremonial of Bishops, nn. 43-46, 48).
In addition, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states, “the concelebrants approach the altar and stand around it, but in such a way that they do not obstruct the execution of the rites and that the sacred action may be seen clearly by the faithful” (215). Even such things as candlesticks “should be appropriately placed either on the altar or around it … so that the whole may be harmonious and the faithful may not be impeded from a clear view of what takes place on the altar or what is placed upon it.” In other words, the people of God should be able to gaze upon the action of Thanksgiving taking place upon the altar which is “the center of Thanksgiving that is accomplished through the Eucharist” (GIRM, n. 296). Why is it important that they can see the sacred species? “Sacrosanctum Concilium” teaches that the faithful offer “the Immaculate victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him (48),” making it all the more essential that they can fully participate in the action taking place on the altar.
I have been blessed to dedicate three altars so far during my tenure in the diocese. The guidelines within the Order for the Dedication of an Altar (2018) states, “The altar should be built separate from the wall in such a way that the priest can easily walk around it and celebrate Mass facing the people.” The altar should occupy a place where it is truly the center to which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns.” The beautiful prayer for the Dedication of an Altar references the altars of sacrifice built by Noah, Abraham, and Moses, “which … mystically prefigure the altar of the Cross. … Let this altar be for us a sign of Christ, from whose pierced side flowed blood and water, by which were established the Sacraments of the Church.”
“O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”
Published in the June 21, 2024 issue of The Mirror.
Photo Credit: Diocese of Jefferson City