En prest skriver slik om en messe han nylig feiret:
For the Offertory, Canon and Our Father I faced the altar, not the congregation. I said the opening prayers form the presider’s chair, where I remained for the readings. I wore a microphone as usual. I then read the Creed and the prayers of the faithful, went down to receive the offerings of bread and wine, and then went to the altar directly, not going around behind it. The deacon and I turned to the congregation at the prayer “Pray brethren..” I next turned to the congregation at the sign of peace and then again at the “Lord, I am not worthy…” After the distribution of Holy Communion I returned to the presider’s chair and finished the Mass as usual. The music was very simple, very little organ, mostly plain chant in English, some Latin used in the ordinary parts of the Mass, all prayers and readings in English. I had warned the congregation that I would do this one time only as part of the conference that we were having at the parish. I faced away from the congregation for about 14 of 55 minutes, all told.
I did it as an experiment. I suspect that the Council Fathers of Vatican II never envisioned Mass facing the people. I wanted to know what the Mass of Vatican II would really be like, some English, some Latin, Gregorian chant, unaccompanied singing and a balance of facing toward people when addressing them and facing the altar with them when addressing the Father. I think this is what is called in the rubrics of the Missal when it indicates that the priest should face the people six times during the Mass:
1)When giving the opening greeting (GIRM 124). [Norsk GIRM 1969 – nr. 86]
2)When giving the invitation to pray at the end of the offertory, «Pray brethren» (GIRM 146). [norsk nr. 107]
3)When giving the greeting of peace (GIRM 154). [norsk nr. 112]
4) When displaying the Host and Chalice before Communion and saying: «Behold the Lamb of God» (GIRM 157). [norsk nr. 115]
5) When inviting the people to pray before the post communion prayer (GIRM 165). [norsk nr. 122]
6)When giving the final blessing (Ordo Missae 141). [norsk nr. 142]The fact that these rubrics exist, seems to assume that the priest is facing away from the people at some time during the liturgy.