Why is the priest turned around?
You may have noticed, the priest often faces the altar during the Mass in our Chapel. This is called ad orientem (towards the east). There is a centuries old tradition of the priest facing the east in both the Eastern and Western Church. On a symbolic level, the priest and people face the east together longing and looking for Christ who is the rising Son and whose second coming is foretold from the east (Matthew 24:27). Having a common orientation for both the priest and the people at Holy Mass gives a new direction and a new focus to the celebration. Instead of being a circle, where people face each other, the Mass has a more upward and vertical focus where the priest stands in union with the people and as their mediator. However, it is not vital that we are physically/geographically east, though many churches are built in this orientation. What matters is that we are directed together--facing God the Father as our prayers are lifted up through Jesus the mediator. This helps us to have an upward focus towards heaven. It is a powerful moment at Mass when everyone is turned together toward Jesus’ rising in the priest’s hands during the elevation of His body and blood–the true rising of the Son!
Some people ask, wait a minute, I thought the Second Vatican Council got rid of this?! No. The African Cardinal, Robert Sarah, explained that none of the sixteen Vatican II documents make any mention of the priest having to turn to face the people (versus populum). In 2016 Cardinal Sarah, who oversaw worship and the sacraments in the Vatican, began to urge parishes throughout the world to celebrate Mass Ad Orientem. Vatican II documents never said to turn the priest around for the entire Mass, but amidst the other legitimate changes, this change crept its way into the church. It is not a bad or evil thing to celebrate Mass facing the people - I want to make that VERY clear; we have been doing it for 40 years! However, I also believe it is important to see and experience the beauty and value of Mass celebrated facing the East/the Lord. In one talk, Fr. Mike Schmitz described the priest saying Mass Ad Orientem as a guide during a hiking expedition. The guide merely turns around to offer instructions, but does not walk backwards the entire journey. He focuses on where he is going. Similarly, another preacher described it as a pilot during a flight. The pilot doesn't continually face the passengers but rather focuses on the direction of the plane. The Roman Missal (the instruction book for celebrating Mass) actually dictates when the priest is to face the people.
When we talk to someone, we want to face them. So too with the priest at Mass; when the priest gives the homily he faces the people, but when the priest prays to the Father, especially during the Eucharistic prayer, he faces the altar with the people. Pope Benedict XVI beautifully puts it this way, “a common turning to the East during the Eucharistic Prayer remains essential. This is not a case of something accidental, but of what is essential. Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord…setting off towards the One who is to come.”
Many priests, bishops, and even cardinals are reimplementing ad orientem celebration into their parishes and dioceses. May we set off with great faith and Joy as we approach the altar of the Lord together as His people.