Explaining and Defending Worship "Ad Orientem"

In this Episode 156 of Reconquest, host Br. Andre Marie interviews Dr. Kwasniewski on the topic of "ad orientem" or worship facing eastwards. Where and when did this custom originate? What is its meaning and value? What are the theological and spiritual dangers of the "versus populum" stance, i.e., the priest facing the people at Mass? This is a subject that has become more and more prominent in recent years and shows no signs of abatement.

(A full-length lecture on this same topic, given in Sydney in April 2019, may be found here: https://soundcloud.com/drkwasniewski/from-the-east-to-the-west-a-defense-of-ad-orientem-worship.)