Sir.-May I please have the courtesy of your columns, in sopport of the present and traditional liturgical position of the priest, with his back to the people, when ottermg the Holy Sacrifice? In the Old Testament Dispensation, the High Priest, pre-eminently amongst his brethren, prefigured the great High Priest of the New Testament, It was a worship of exact type. Accordingly. he entered the Holy of Holies, leaving the people In hind him. When St. Paul wrote his letter to he Hebrews they Must have perfectly understood him. when he wrote: 'Christ being come, a High Priest of the good things to come. . . .entered • once into the Holies." Ritual and ceremonies are a form of lanauage. The analogy is that of a spokesman, presenting a petition to the Prince. The spokesman. or mediator, faces the Prince. with his hack to the petitioners. who stand behind in outward visible sign of association with the petition. in actuality. we stand bebind Christ ilie High Priest in the Mass, to follow Him into the Relies. and so to the Beatific Vision. Th; iiturev presupposes this at the Orate &tares.
Those who favour the innovation of the priest facing the neople. will not think mc lacking in Christian courtesy I hone. (such ie very far from my intention). if I remind them that Cranmer.
inner Ca rtwripht. and other Perm-ono s .0,1)1.14 heartily a nprove of heir nronosa Is, Over here. in Christchurch Call-lc-dr.' Dublin. Adam Lofies. Oueen Elieabeth's pretender to the See of Dublin. removed the communion table from the Sanctuary. and placed it under the pulpit.
ike Cirindal and Whiteift in England. be was a Genevan in Iheology. The arrangement signified R deniel of the Mass. as a sarrifire.
tiree therefore. that Enrlich Catholics should do all in their power, to maintain the present ro re ',Ionia' out of reverence for Cnrdinal Allen's missionary martyr pries's. who did so much to preserve the ikete% in Fnnland.
Michael O'Hollorm.