Seeking the Origins of “Versus Populum” in the United States

"Vatican II" + a small red book from 1965 = all clergy facing the people at Mass

The search for a proximate cause

The movement for having Mass “facing the people,” which as a practice was implemented rather suddenly in 1965 (in some places earlier, some places perhaps later), was built on shaky foundations. Those who pursue an answer to the question “When was this radical change mandated?” discover a paucity of information. There nev…