Come on... you know you want to comment on this!

I have been wondering about this topic myself. I have recently read a book by Monsignor Klaus Gamber called "The Reform of the Roman Liturgy: Its Problem and its background." The French Edition of this book had a preface written for it by, then, Cardinal Ratzinger who said, if I remember correctly, that "every priest and liturgist should read and study this book." One of the basic arguments in the course of the book is that the Priests of the Roman Rite should return to facing to the East during the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. I have to admit, after reading the text, I think I am sold on the idea. I had my doubts and questions, but it seems clear to me, anyway, that it is a practice which does make a lot of sense in the the light of our beliefs as Catholics.

Along the same lines, today there was an article from Zenit.org in which a certain Fr. Lang was interviewed about this very subject. You can find it here. I think this is an interesting topic for Catholics to reconsider today, not for the sake of getting into camps so that we can attack each other, but so that we can build a constructive discussion about what exactly the Second Vatican Council envisioned and what has transpired. Especially, since many people will immediately find this idea of the priest facing to the east, ad orientum, particularly bothersome at first hearing.

But given the recent Motu Proprio (if you want the official text it is here) by our Holy Father, it would appear, that this is not such a thing of the past. In fact, it would appear, if the extraordinary form of the Liturgy is to take its proper place in the worship of the Universal Church of Christ, then perhaps reimagining the Mass promulgated after Vatican II with more elements that were jettisoned is not such a bad idea.