UPDATE 25 July:
I just received one of my new mugs! This is one with both English and Latin. They are spiffy!
As the GIRM WARS heat up over the catalytic movement in favor of ad orientem worship, I thought it might be constructive and positive to provide some Z-Swag so that YOU can do your part!
Be ready to explain what this means and why it is a good thing.
I created a new storefront for AD ORIENTEM items. There are shirts, mugs, car magnets, etc. There are versions in English and in Latin, with variations depending on what you want to emphasize.
Just a few samples…
Samples.
One can imagine a boy or young man today, drawn to the Priesthood because of the return to Ad orientem, and many years later, as a Priest of many years being asked by a young seminarian, “You fought with Father Z in the GIRM wars?”
[STRENGTH AND HONOR!]
Nicely done, Father.
From Reason, Authority, and the Roman Rite, by Dr. Leroy Huizenga, for the Catholic World Report:
The educated Catholic laity whom everyone from Augustine to Blessed John Henry Newman and the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council desired are here, and we can read. And so we ought to read again Cardinal Sarah’s ad orientem appeal in his now-famous address, and ask the question whether the Church’s liturgical tradition, the rubrics, and the GIRM favor him—does the Cardinal prefect responsible for the Church’s worship and sacraments not know the rubrics or the GIRM?—or rather those who wrongly wield the GIRM no. 299 against him. Who you gonna believe? Them, or your own eyes?
Charles E Flynn, thanks for getting me to read Dr. Huizenga’s lucid article, which I had ‘filled for future reference’ when Fr. Z kindly linked and quoted it, but not gotten back too, before now.
Chose car magnet in Latin….I am guessing most people will not know what it says, and when they ask it will be an opportunity to educate!
Fr. Z,
Status of Cardinal Sarah’s encouragement for Ad Orientem in Baltimore. I had linked an article about His Emminence’s comments in the message I sent to the Abp.
Dear Archbishop Lori,
This has been a topic on my mind for some time and I see that Cardinal Sarah is now encouraging its use, even proposing to do so as soon as Advent. I had suggested to our pastor a few months ago that Advent and Lent seemed an appropriate time to re-introduce the orientation as a powerful symbol….all the faithful (priest and congregation) facing “east” anticipating our Lord through the incarnation and/or the resurrection.
I was wondering if this was something your office might encourage in parishes where the logistics are favorable (i.e. sufficient space around the free standing altar to do so).
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Response:
Many thanks for your email of July 6th following upon the address of His Eminence Cardinal Sarah.
The Cardinal’s address was most interesting. Indeed, I first studied the stance of facing East years ago when 1 was in the seminary; it was presented to us by the revered theologian Fr. Louis Bouyer. This subject is also dealt with in the writings of Cardinal Ratzinger on the liturgy. It
appropriately re-defines the question of whether Mass is said “facing the people” or “facing the wall”.
Among the observations that the former Cardinal Ratzinger made is that the
Crucifix is the ultimate eschatological sign which, for the Christian, constitutes “East” –
oriens ex alto. While this view does not necessarily comport with the cosmic dimension
of the liturgy, it does offer a way of looking at the liturgy that captures something at the heart of our Tradition.
For now it would be pastorally difficult to implement here what Cardinal Sarah has suggested. I will, however, keep his address in mind just as I will also ensure that, as priests, we face an image of the Crucified Lord whenever we celebrate Holy Mass.
With renewed thanks for your note and with prayerful best wishes, I remain
Faithfully in Christ,
Most Reverend William E. Lori Archbishop of Baltimore
Is not the phrase in use in most Catholic and Orthodox dialogue at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer “Sursum corda” mean “Approach &/or Put yourself into the Presence of the Holy Trinity” ?The altar is where that traditionally is understood to take place — so that itself should be the place to focus on for the “Entry to the New Jerusalem” — a present eschatology — and not a ‘compass point’! Which side of that four sided altar is faced by the clergy/priest etc and the gathered believers — even ‘ versus populum’ is nowhere so important as the common focus on the altar as where we are to meet the living God. Meditate on that famous icon by St. Andrew Rublev called ‘the hospitality of Abraham’ or the ‘Old Testament Trinity’ and consider where the Guests at that Table — the praying Believers — are given access facing the icon.
OF Mass in Croatia “Ad Orientem” (and nobody died!)
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2016/07/of-mass-in-croatia-ad-orientem-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNewLiturgicalMovement+%28New+Liturgical+Movement%29#.V5ktHfl97RZ
Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ!
Pray for us St. Nikola Taveli?
I never heard that that is what sursum corda means.