Ad Orientem

Speaking at the Sacra Liturgia Conference in London, Cardinal Sarah Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship, is reported as saying the following:

“It is very important that we return as soon as possible to a common orientation, of priests and the faithful turned together in the same direction – eastwards or at least towards the apse – to the Lord who comes.” ... “I ask you to implement this practice wherever possible.”

He said that “prudence” and catechesis would be necessary, but told pastors to have “confidence that this is something good for the Church, something good for our people”.

“Your own pastoral judgement will determine how and when this is possible, but perhaps beginning this on the first Sunday of Advent this year, when we attend ‘the Lord who will come’ and ‘who will not delay’.”

He is, of course, talking about  celebration of the Mass in the Novus Ordo, but it is nevertheless a very significant development.  The quotation is taken from the Catholic Herald.