Ad Orientem - Benedict XVI

Pope celebrates Mass ad orientem, speaks on Baptism

Vatican, Jan. 14, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) baptized 13 infants, the children of Vatican employees, in keeping with a Vatican tradition on the feast of the Baptism of Christ.

The Holy Father used the ad orientem posture, facing in the same direction as the congregation, using the magnificent altar of the Sistine Chapel rather than portable altar that had been set up in previous years. This provoked widespread comment, with many journalists reporting that the Pope had revived an old liturgical tradition. (In fact, the ad orientem posture was never abolished.)

Msgr. Guido Marini, the new master of ceremonies for papal liturgies, said that the traditional posture was used to emphasize the "beauty and harmony of this architectural masterpiece," as it was originally designed for liturgical ceremonies. He noted in a public statement that in celebrating ad orientem, the Pope was not breaking with existing practice but "making use of a possibility contemplated by liturgical norms." Still the Pontiff's return to a traditional practice revived rumors that Pope Benedict will soon celebrate a public Mass using the "extraordinary form"-- the traditional Latin Mass.

The Pope baptized 8 girls and 5 boys at the January 13 ceremony. (One of the boys was named John Paul.) In his homily he reminded the parents and godparents that in Baptism the child enters "into a personal relationship with the Creator, and this lasts forever."

"It is for this reason that Christian parents bring their children to the baptismal font as soon as possible," the Holy Father continued; "knowing that the life they have communicated to them invokes a fullness, a salvation, that only God can give." By having their children baptized promptly, he said, "the parents become God's collaborators, transmitting to their children not only physical but also spiritual life."

"Unfortunately," the Pontiff continued, "man is capable of extinguishing this new life through sin." For other animals, death means only the end of life, the Pope observed. But for humans "sin creates an abyss which risks swallowing us up forever." Christ went into that abyss himself, he said, to give mankind the opportunity to escape it.

Later on Sunday, at his midday Angelus audience, Pope Benedict reflected on the Baptism of Christ, noting that the event marked the beginning of Christ's public life. "By having Himself baptized by John together with sinners, Jesus began to take upon Himself the burden of sin of all humanity," he said.

The Pope continued: "The whole of Christ's mission may be summed up in this way: Baptism in the Holy Spirit to free us from the slavery of death and open us to heaven-- in other words ... to true and full life."

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• Benedic
• XVI
• Ad
• Orientem
• Pope

[slikdudelb]

So incredibly beautiful - beyond words. Perfect. And the Holy Father - around 80 - genuflects. He is a hero of the Catholic faith. And I attend an Episcopal Church. Someone like Papa Ratzinger makes me think to reconsider.

[wissamlahham]

Pope Benedict is truly a blessing for the whole Church.

[paulohenrique2222]

Acho que ficaria satisfeito se as missas voltassem a ser celebradas "ad orientem", a exemplo do Sumo POntifice, que abriu caminho a reorganização da missa e a consequente volta da tradição de respeito aos simbolos da Igreja Milenar!!

[leopictor]

wish people wouldn't take the pall of the chalice at that point. it's too early!

[assasincomedy]

@wjweigand According to who? Your favourite website? Let me guess, 'Most Holy Family Monastery'? Your argument is invalid, Jesus promised a visible Church. Saying that all Popes since John XXIII were heretics is absolutely ridiculous. It contradicts doctrines of the Church.

[MsCampobasso]

Next time may we witness him speaking the universal language of the Church, Latin.

And all those disobedient to the Holy Father, who continue to refuse the Extraordinary (Traditional Latin Mass) in the churches..OUR churches...you will pay for your disobedience! Receive Our Lord on the Tongue while kneeling for Communion. NO priest, No one can refuse you. They may try But thye know they MUST NOT Refuse! Stand up for your rights..Better to attend the Latin Holy Mass nearest you!

[kandalfsabayon]

@slikdudelb Come back, brother.

[henrikhankhagnell]

this man is really great. we need ad orientem and the bible speaks about it as the way.

[AgentSAMa]

@wjweigand I will admit that I've attended some pretty bad masses by some not-so-good priests. However, hold hope in the Church. I've seen that today's young priests are not interested in the improvisation and liturgical "innovations" of many immediate-post-Vatican II priests. Instead, they are driven by the call to Tradition, enthusiastic about the Pope's call of the reform of the "reform."

Why do you add ellipses at the beginning of each of your comments? You're wasting space with those.

[wjweigand]

@AgentSAMa ... Of course we should pray for their conversion to the Catholic faith. It's their only hope for salvation. The Vatican II Church doesn't believe that. The Catholic Church on the other hand has always taught that outside the Catholic Church there is NO Salvation.

[AgentSAMa]

@wjweigand And at the very least, pray for them. In your case, you may be able to pray for their conversion to the Catholic faith. And in the case of the Orthodox, can you at least pray for reunion? There still remains hope of ecumenical unity with them, even if it is not obvious.

[AgentSAMa]

@wjweigand And yet you reject Pope Benedict XVI with your comments. Don't give me that sedevacantist crap. IThat's all nonsense. You still have not refuted my points. All that you have said is true, but it is not in contradiction to what I have said. I have not implied that those outside the Church will receive salvation, only bringing up the points that you so ignored.

Why do I even waste my time arguing on the internet? On YouTube? Why do YOU waste your time arguing on the internet?