US Bishop Restricts Ad Orientem Masses to Two Weekdays per Parish

The decree is based on several factual errors. “The practice of ‘versus populum’ was not ‘restored,’ because the original and authentic tradition was ‘ad orientem’.

From AdVaticanum

By Niwa Limbu

Bishop Jeffrey Walsh of Gaylord has banned ad orientem Masses on Sundays and holy days while imposing new restrictions on weekday celebrations

A US bishop has restricted the celebration of Mass ad orientem, requiring Sunday and holy day Masses to be celebrated facing the people and limiting the traditional orientation to two weekday Masses per parish.

Bishop Jeffrey J. Walsh of Gaylord, Michigan, promulgated the new diocesan legislation on 2 October, with the restrictions due to take effect on 15 October, the feast of St Teresa of Ávila.

The decree, entitled Particular Law Regulating the Celebration of the Mass “Versus Populum” and “Ad Orientem” in the Diocese of Gaylord, acknowledges that the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council permitted Mass to be celebrated facing the people without prohibiting the traditional orientation.

Its preamble states that the reforms “allowed for the restoration of Mass facing the people (versus populum) at free standing altars while not prohibiting the continued celebration of the Mass in which the priest and people all face the same direction (ad orientem)”.

The legislation establishes a binding limit on the latter practice under the modern Roman Missal. Bishop Walsh’s first provision states: “On Sundays and holy days of obligation and on the preceding evenings, all Masses with a congregation are to be celebrated at a free-standing altar versus populum.” The rule therefore covers Sunday Masses, holy days of obligation and the preceding evenings, requiring the priest to face the congregation rather than the altar.

The decree imposes a separate restriction on weekday celebrations, stating: “In parishes on other days throughout the week, no more than two (2) Masses with a congregation may be celebrated ad orientem, provided that the pastor has first consulted the parish council members on this matter, has prayerfully considered their input, and has properly catechized those who take part.”

The restriction also applies across multiple parishes or churches entrusted to the same priest. The decree adds that “multiple parishes or churches cannot be used to increase the number of ad orientem celebrations”.

The decree further states: “All other remaining Masses with a congregation, including all ritual and votive Masses, e.g., funerals, weddings, etc., are to be celebrated at a free-standing altar versus populum.” Masses celebrated according to the 1962 Missale Romanum, or traditional Roman Missal, are exempt. The decree specifies that they “are governed by their own norms, so that the particular law promulgated herein does not apply to them”.

Bishop Walsh bases the legislation in part on paragraph 299 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), which concerns the construction and position of the altar. The decree states that the provision “indicates that it is desirable whenever possible that Masses be celebrated versus populum”. However, the wording of GIRM 299 does not explicitly prohibit Mass celebrated ad orientem. The provision concerns a freestanding altar that can be walked around and at which Mass can be celebrated facing the people.

Catholic liturgical expert Peter Kwasniewski challenged the decree on X, arguing that it was based on several factual errors. “The practice of ‘versus populum’ was not ‘restored,’ because the original and authentic tradition was ‘ad orientem’; it’s not like that was a deviation that had to be corrected,” he wrote.

He also disputed Bishop Walsh’s interpretation of paragraph 299, arguing that its Latin does not require Mass to be celebrated facing the people whenever possible. “It means the altar should be freestanding so that it can be incensed all around, and so that Mass may be celebrated versus populum,” Kwasniewski wrote, directing readers to discussions of GIRM 299.