The photograph above was taken (as ever click to enlarge) when I was Anglican vicar of St. Barnabas parish in Tunbridge Wells. A truly beautiful shrine church, built during the height of Anglo-Catholic revival, in which I spent some happy years before joining the Ordinariate with 72 of my parishioners. What the photograph shows is that Ad Orientem worship was very much the norm in this parish, a custom which is now strongly encouraged within the Ordinariate.

When we left St. Barnabas, to join the first wave of the newly erected Ordinariate, we were sent to a dual use hall in Pembury with a small chapel attached. As is the case in a great many modern Catholic parishes the layout of the sanctuary was functional rather than elaborate. There was an altar and two candles and not much more. Certainly no altar frontals or altar rails. The congregation were sat on plastic hall chairs and used a strip of rubber linoleum to kneel on.

Once settled into the new parish, and once we were functioning well as one family, we immediately set about beautifying the space we worship in to the glory of God. In keeping with the Ordinariate vision we wanted it to reflect that ancient English patrimony, much of which was lost at the reformation. It has taken five years but here are the things we have acquired, besides building a hall, despite having almost no budget: 2 altars, altar candles, pews, lectern, pulpit, stations of the cross, altar rails, vestments, chalices, burse and veils, servers robes, icons, reredos, organ, confessional and stalls.

The beautification project also saw the sacrament moved from a side chapel to pride of place at the heart of our new sanctuary. A move encouraging us to offer all Masses at the main altar ad orientem– as we do now- that is with the priest facing the Lord during the prayer of consecration. A change of orientation which was met with barely a ripple of discontent by those who worship here at present. Indeed most everyone has been very encouraging of the changes we have made. And we do well to ponder how the average age of worshipper went down and the level of giving has gone up. These things suggest the changes have been very good news indeed.

Why am I telling this story again? Because what we have done these last five years is precisely what Cardinal Sarah suggested priests do during the recent conference on the liturgy in London. We turned to face East -during those parts of the Mass when God is being addressed -and tried to value beauty, culture and tradition. In short we listened to what Pope Benedict XVI was saying during his pontificate; that the church need look afresh at what the second Vatican Council actually asked for and resist what, in the worst instance, transpired.

“I am convinced that the damage that we have incurred in these twenty years is due, not to the ‘true’ Council, but to the unleashing within the Church of latent polemical and centrifugal forces” – Benedict XVI

Understand that Cardinal Sarah did not demand this be done. There is no formal change in the rubrics planned. He simply urged those priests interested in good liturgy to consider use of ad orientem worship when celebrating Novus Ordo. A custom neither shocking nor innovative given that it is legal and reflects the practice of all Catholics throughout the ages.

Why then were his words met with such an explosion of rage from modernist quarters? Why were certain bishops, the sort who lose their tongue when doctrine needs clarifying or dissent quelled, so quick to pour cold water on what Cardinal Sarah was teaching? Flimsy arguments were quickly rolled out to tell priests -in no uncertain terms- that such practice was neither desired nor encouraged. The arguments of those hungering for a reform of the reform must be stronger than we think; why else would they be so visibly rattled?

That modernist prelates of a certain vintage resent where Cardinal Sarah points should not surprise us. These are the people who spent lifetimes as revolutionaries inspiring the very changes Pope Benedict attacks. But the strength of emotion in the backlash was surprising. It left me asking but one question…

Why does Ad orientem orientation scare them so?

What is so awful about worship in which the priest faces the Lord at times? For me it is normal and efficacious to church growth. What possible objections can these men have that they would slap down not only the Vatican’s liturgy expert but also the former Holy Father?

“The turning of the priest toward the people has turned the community into a self-enclosed circle. In its outward form, it no longer opens out on what lies ahead and above, but is locked into itself. The common turning toward the East was not a “celebration toward the wall”; it did not mean that the priest “had his back to the people”: the priest himself was not regarded as so important. For just as the congregation in the synagogue looked together toward Jerusalem, so in the Christian Liturgy the congregation looked together “toward the Lord”. (Pope Benedict XVI, Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

So again. Why does ad orientem scare them so? Here are some possible answers

They have an agenda to change church teaching and know that more reverent celebration of the Mass will lead to greater hunger and demand for orthodoxy. They have become inspired by politics and protestant theology and no longer understand or delight in ancient Catholic practice. They are terrified ideologues who know that such practice will bring about revival. And that revival will not reflect at all well on those who encouraged the ripping out of altar rails, naff choruses, guitars in the sanctuary et al…

Can you think of any others?

NB: Please note that I have no issue at all with Westward celebration of the Mass. We do it here at times. It can be done with reverence and beauty where care is shown. But what has become clear is that many who prefer the modern way have a serious issue with people like me…. Why?