I find it curious in reading about the Latin Mass and other "back-ward" looking theological analysis justifying a return to the priest and people all facing the same direction for the celebration of the Eucharist (the priest with his back to the people,) that the most frequent justification for this orientation is that of facing east (ad orientem) ... all facing in the direction of Christ's Resurrection. Writers are quick to say that they are not advocating a return to the practice of the priests' back to the people, but rather the importance of us all facing east.
In order to face east in my church, which is oriented on a NNW-SSE direction, I would have to stand at a corner facing diagonally across the Altar. The people would them have to turn with their backs to me, which I suspect will not lead to greater solemnity or participation. As I think back over almost 60 years as a practicing Catholic, I cannot remember any church with a neat east-west orientation. In fact, as I think on it our Cathedral in downtown Big D is oriented with the congregation facing northwest.
The concept of ad orientem is all well and good, but unless we are going to rebuild a whole lot of churches, it is not practical in reality and cannot of itself justify the Mass celebrated with the priests' backs to the people.
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