Ad Orientem

Since my Mom is probably wondering what I think of Pope Benedict's Mass "Toward the (liturgical) East," or, as the headlines say, "With His Back to the People," let me post a few quick thoughts.

• First of all, I feel very grateful for what I consider to be an act of solidarity of the Holy Father with us "little" liturgical workers. He makes changes despite the likelihood of criticism. We all do that every week, and it's heartening when our leaders do the same. Not to minimize the Pope's liturgical authority (which is very high) but on an emotional level it's more like the encouragement you get when the coach runs laps with the team, or your Mom helps with your fundraising, staying late to wrap Christmas presents at the mall.


• I've often thought that the priest-facing-the-people posture makes the priest too important in the Mass. It especially overemphasizes his personality. In a worst-case scenario, the priest might put on a personality just for the Mass, almost the way an actor puts on a personality for an audience. I can't help but think this would be exhausting, for one thing, but also really bad for everyone's spiritual health.


• St. Augustine said, ""For you I am a bishop but with you I am a Christian." Sometimes it's probably a relief for the coach to tuck his whistle in his shirt pocket and run laps. The coach is still the leader, but he's leading by example rather than by direct engagement with his players. Similarly, it's probably a relief for the priest to pray parts of the Mass with his face turned only to God. He is a Christian and needs to pray the Mass, not just to be there for the people. St. Augustine says, "The fact that I am a Christian is for my benefit; that I am appointed an overseer is for yours. My own good is to be considered in my being a Christian; in my being an overseer, only yours."


• And finally, the people don't always need the engagement of the priest. In polite society, when people make eye contact with you, you try to make eye contact back. You try to behave in a proper way under their gaze. It's just the right thing to do. But the gaze we ought to be concerned about at Mass is God's: how do I appear to God right now? How can I learn to see Him clearly? How may I thank Him?