Shout With Praise

One of the most significant changes in the way we celebrate Mass since the Second Vatican Council — besides celebrating Mass in the vernacular rather than Latin — is the direction the presiding priest is facing: towards the congregation, or with his back to the congregation (sometimes referred to as ‘ad orientem’ or facing east).

The symbolism of all facing in one direction gives the message of the otherness of God. God out there whom we are facing and to whom we are going on pilgrimage.

Gerard O’Mahoney, in his book The Mass from Start to Finish, says:

‘The priest then becomes like Jesus the shepherd, leading from the front. In theological terms we are
dealing with God as transcendental, out there.’

But when the presiding priest faces the people, we are reminded that God our Father is in the midst of us. Facing the people, we are, in theological terms, ‘dealing with God as immanent, God within.’

There is something to be said for both views, and even today some priests have decided to celebrate the Eucharistic prayer with their back to the people.

But Jesus is the one presiding facing us. This is the usual way of celebrating Mass. Many claim that this lasted for the first three centuries and, as one writer says, it only changed to the other way for reasons of architecture, rather than because the new way was more suitable than Jesus’ own way. Mass facing the people makes for better communication between priest and people.

As we begin our the Eucharistic prayer there is an important dialogue between priest and people:

The Lord be with you
And with your spirit

Life up your hearts
We have lifted them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is truly right and just.

This provides the tone for the Eucharistic prayer, which is a prayer of thanksgiving. We are giving thanks for the presence of Christ amongst us, as we lift up our whole selves to God. The whole Eucharistic prayer is addressed to God our Father. We are offering ourselves in all our weakness, with Jesus, to the Father.

The preface which follows varies, from season to season, and there is a choice of five for this time of the year. It ends with a song, sung by the two seraphim in Isaiah (6:3). And the church has added the words, ‘all heaven as well as all earth’.

It is important to note that the Church says that the ‘Holy Holy’ (Sanctus) should always be sung, along with the Gospel acclamation (Alleluia), the Memorial Acclamation and the great Amen. The acclamations share the ‘number-one spot’ because they are all fundamentally acts of praise and worship. Our gut-level response, once we realise who God is and how God acts — is to shout with praise.