Can We Please Make “Ad Orientem” The Norm In ALL Masses? 

Agree/disagree?. Love to hear from you

So true. I see a correlation. If the church is truly interested in bringing back Catholics into increasing the numbers, this is one important step.

please make it the norm!

I agree

I completely agree ad orientum and altar rails. The spiritual fruits in my life since changing parish’s are incredible

If the Bishops are serious about a Eucharistic Revival, this should be implemented immediately. Unfortunately - there exists today too many bishops and cardinals who would look at this as a rejection of Vatican II. The Council did not address ad Orientem, but it did address “active participation “. The same reason for the squashing of the Traditional Latin Mass. Not sure what empty pews do to help participation, but they are determined to stick to their guns even with the resultant closure of thousands of parishes.

Agree!!!Amen

Agree. But it's not perfect and I'm not sure what would be. The downside is it can feel like we are offering the sacrifice to Our Lord in the tabernacle.

Ad orientem certainly puts more focus on the Eucharist, for this and its many other advantages, I agree it should be the norm. However, there was a time when it was indeed the norm, and those people who lived that norm switched to facing the people, and facing the people claimed swift and total victory. There must have been a reason for that. Clericalism and the term "priestcraft" used to be big problems for Catholicism. When every mass has the priest facing away and muttering unintelligly (or silent) then you can understand why comprehension of the mass was so poor, and why claims of superstition or magical thinking were such common criticisms. There was a document from the 60s, unfortunately I can't remember the name, but it suggested facing the people for catechetical reasons i.e. for masses when someone is learning the faith like RCIA. If we ever do return to ad orientem as a norm, I think it would be wise to continue facing the people for certain masses, perhaps Holy Thursday, 1st Comminions and Confirmations.

Please! You’re so true. I think the priest feels pressured to show more of a personality. Which they shouldn’t. Even a priest that is a great priest should not feel this temptation.

I feel so awkward and uncomfortable to go to Novus ordo because I’m so used to the proper orientation. It’s alienating

I would say to anyone who says no to this question, but has never been to a mass that does it, don’t post a comment. Actually go to a mass that does this before you give your take.

I have been dumbass is my whole life that have this master of ceremonies priest. You’re exactly right. The one who tells jokes and so forth. It’s just so bad and cringy

I wish. It would take some backbone. That ain’t going to happen anytime soon. It’s almost like the bishops are scared to change anything

Let me get this straight. The Mass is the re-presentation of the Last Supper. It makes present to us what Jesus did then. Did Jesus turn his back to the Apostles when he said the words of institution? That's a big NO!!!!! I find this video really bizarre. I served as a young person, literally hundreds of Latin Masses "Ad Murus," that is "to the wall." Ad orientem is a huge a misnomer. Very few churches face the east. I never went to more irreverent Masses then the old Latin Masses. The prayers were rushed and mumbled, and the people couldn't see what was going on. Most people just prayed the rosary. There was very little beauty. God seemed so absent. When the Church brought back the ancient practices of the Mass, such as the priest facing the people, like Jesus did at the Last Supper, Mass in the language of the people, Communion under both species and in the hand, it was if the Heavens opened. Jesus seemed so much more present to us. Why do want to steal from us the wonderful gifts that the Holy Spirit brought to us in restoring the Mass to its ancient heritage? Why do you want to make the mass less accessible to us by praying to the wall and having the Mass in a language no one understands? Please stop this. There are people who actually believe you that somehow praying to wall in an incomprehensible language is more holy than the wonderful Mass that the Church now gives us. Why are you being a stumbling block????

Ad orientum is amazing

Why doesn’t the Vatican just try it for two year period. Make it mandatory that everything is posture towards the tabernacle and just see what the foods are. And then after that each particular dioceses can make that determination.