Did the Second Vatican Council order that Mass was to be celebrated with the priest facing the people?
No, the Council did not do that. In the Latin rite of the Catholic Church it is legitimate for Mass to be celebrated with the priest either facing the people or with his back to the people. In the earlier days of the Church, both usages were in vogue. What was important was that the priest faced east, since Christian churches, altars and tombs were always “oriented.” Christians saw in the rising sun a symbol of Christ. Sometimes both priest and people would face in the same direction during all or part of the Mass. Theyc alled this facing “versus Deum” (toward God). It should be remembered that in the Eucharistic prayer the priest is not addressing the people, but talking to God on behalf of the people. Reprinted from October 9, 1998 back Did the Vatican II decree on ecumenism change the way the Catholic Church looks at herself? I certainly do not think so. The decree states, “It is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness
