The most significant liturgical act in 40 years

...says Fr. Blake about the Mass celebrated ad orientem today in the Sistine Chapel for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the same Mass at which the Holy Father baptised several babies.

Fr. Blake offers several key points for discussion as to the direction the priest faces at Mass. Commenting on the common practice of celebrating Mass ad populum, he says:

Most priests are aware that celebrating Mass either side of the altar is a legitimate choice, but most priests realise that choosing the ancient direction is considered eccentric at the least.

He is very right about this. I celebrated the Easter Vigil last year ad orientem. It was the most beautiful Mass I have celebrated and never have I prayed better (I blogged about this somewhere, I'm sure, but I can't seem to find it). The people very much enjoyed the Mass and found nothing strange to it at all (and I made no comments about it before, during or after Mass), but many priests who heard about it thought I was some sort of a "throw back."

Continuing with Fr. Blake:

Apart from the liturgical problems of having two altars, the altar is supposed to signify Christ, two Christs seems a little odd; the direction in which priest faces says a great deal about the relationship of priest and people. What has always concerned me is that priest in the new theology of the Mass is separated from the people by a huge immovable block of stone. He stands against them, he inevitably becomes the focus of the liturgy, his personality matters for good or ill. A common orientation of priest and people says that although we have different roles in the liturgy ultimately priest and people are God’s servants. Ad Orientem the priest identifies with the people who themselves stand behind one another in the Divine Presence.When the priest faces the people, he becomes important. In the liturgy he stands in the place of Christ, not just in leading the community but in his person, this being another Christ becomes of even more significance in the Mass and most especially Eucharistic Prayer. The priest in Mass celebrated facing the people bears a burden that is often beyond him, his gestures, his words, his very face becomes the gesture, words, the very face of Christ.

To expect this becomes a burden beyond him!

Of course, which ever side of the altar the priest stands on, Mass is never celebrated "facing the people" or with "his back to the people," but ad Deum, to God. Too often do many seem to forget this reality.