AD ORIENTEM -- AD MERIDIANAM -

Note well, the essential direction is versus Christum

per altarem 

I was on an interesting telephone call this past week that drove me to think and rethink my theological, spiritual and intellectual positions about the Sacred Eucharistic Sacrifice.  The essence of the conversation was a diatribe against the "Novus Ordo" Mass that was built around all the usual differences between the Tridentine form of the Eucharistic liturgy and the restructured liturgy subsequent to the second Vatican Ecumenical Council.  None of the statements brought forth rested on the theological and scriptural principals that the fathers of the council had suggested be applied to any and all reforms that would result from their deliberations.

Every time I get preached at by a new convert to the Tridentine form of the Eucharistic Sacrifice I get strophe and strophe about the enchanting atmosphere brought about by the use of the Latin language. Huh?  What about the axiom, "We believe what we pray and we pray what we believe?"  How does anyone profess faith in a language that means nothing but sweet nostalgic feelings?

Be careful who you talk to about Latin. There are some of us who understand it very, very well.  We can indeed profess our faith in Latin.  Can you?

The other "essential" statement is the celebration of the Eucharistic Mystery with everyone, priest and faithful included, facing east.  Well, in my case I am doomed to holding Satan's hand for all eternity because our parish church is oriented north and south.  (Founded in 1942, constructed 1943)   Even worse, the parish church where I was brought up was also oriented north and south since 1867.  That must make for an awful lot of eternal misery.

I say these things because the orientation of the praying community toward the rising sun is far, far from being of any consequence to the quality of the act.  Here's one other way of looking at "orientation:"

    According to Psalm 15, and many other places in the Bible, the best place to meet God is on the top of the mountain.  You want to see God, His tent is on the mountain top.  That, by the way, is why Jerusalem is on the high spot in Judea.  I happen to know that some churches are oriented toward Jerusalem, whether north, south, east or west.  That is also why the Eucharistic Table (Altar) is three steps up from the nave.

Furthermore, the theology of the Second Council of the Vatican places the sacramental emphasis on the Last Supper as preparation for the ultimate sacrifice on the top of the Mount of the Skull.  As at every meal, the particiants were in view of each other.  That is why there is one, universal direction for the celebration of the Eucharist... UP.   UP to the altar, UP to Calvary (Crucifix)

through the sacramental presence of the priest.  The ALTAR is the focal point.  The symbol of the rising sun is a far secondary symbol.  The Church wants us to focus on Christ, the Sacrifice being offered on the altar, not the sun.

Those who still insist on the eastward orientation owe me a solid intellectually honest answer to the question:  Since there is no prohibition against an "ad orientem" celebration and since there is no prohibition against using the vernacular, why do you insist on a language that means nothing to you?

How can you witness to your faith in a language that is beyond your ken?

Think about it.

Paul