beezwax4ever
The Topic of Mass Ad Orientum or Ad Populous seems a popular one for discussion. Within this topic there are many done-to-death arguments like ‘visibility’ and ‘participation’ or, adversely, ‘facing God’, ‘facing the rising sun’ and ‘priest and people all facing the same way together’. Of cause, one can’t see transubstantiation and the people don’t offer the Mass in the same way the priest and will probably participate better if they are behind him supporting him in their prayers and looking to one common … you have heard it all before. The following (a further extract from the same interview with Cardinal Arinze) is a more practical and pedagogical reason why Ad Populous just sucks.

"Vatican II brought many good things but everything has not been positive, and the synod recognized that there have been shadows," Cardinal Arinze acknowledged. "There has been a bit of neglect of the holy Eucharist outside Mass," he said. "A lot of ignorance. A lot of temptations to showmanship for the priest who celebrates facing the people. "If he is not very disciplined he will soon become a performer. He may not realize it, but he will be projecting himself rather than projecting Christ. Indeed it is very demanding, the altar facing the people. Then even those who read the First and Second Reading can engage in little tactics that make them draw attention to themselves and distract the people.

So, let’s get rid of the showmen and bring back worship. Let’s even turn the readings around to face various directions, draw that part of the liturgy into the sacred drama and do everything for the glory of God.