'Furthermore albeit God is everywhere, yet ought the priest at the altar and in the offices to pray towards the east: according to the constitutions of Vigilius, Pope. Whence in churches which have the doors at the west, he that celebrateth turneth in the salutations to the people: but in churches which have the entrance at the east, [Footnote 604] as at Rome, there is no need in the salutations for turning round, because the priest always turneth to the people. The temple also of Solomon, and the tabernacle of Moses had their entrance from the east. Pray we therefore towards the east, being mindful, firstly, that He, Who is the splendour of eternal light, hath illuminated 'them [Footnote 605] that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, rising with healing in his wings': [Footnote 606] of whom it is said, 'Behold the man, whose name is the East.' [Footnote 607] For the which cause he saith in the book of Wisdom, [Footnote 608] [Footnote 604: S. John Lateran is an instance. We may observe that the reasons for the orientation of churches must have been very strong to have caused an universal disregard of an example thus set at the centre of Western Christendom.] Secondly, that our souls be thereby taught to turn themselves to the things that are more desirable. Thirdly, because they who praise God ought not to turn their backs on Him. Fourthly, according to Joannes Damascenus (who giveth also the three following reasons), [Footnote 613] to show that we seek our country. [Footnote 613: Quatuor orationes. We should probably read, rationes.] Fifthly, that we may look upon Christ crucified, who is the True East. Sixthly, that we may prove that we expect Him to come to be our Judge. For Damascenus saith in that place, 'God planted a garden eastward'; [Footnote 614] whence man's sin made him an exile, and instead of Paradise made him to dwell in the west: therefore, looking to our ancient home, we pray towards the east. [Footnote 614: Genesis ii, 8.] Seventhly, because our Lord, at His Crucifixion, looked towards the east: and also when he ascended into heaven. He ascended towards the east: and thus the apostles adored Him: and thus 'He shall come again in like manner as they saw Him go into heaven.' [Footnote 615] [Footnote 615: Acts i, 11.] Eighthly, Daniel likewise in the Jewish captivity prayed towards the temple. Yet Augustine saith that 'no Scripture hath taught us to pray towards the east' [He, however, says also, 'Though I find not a thing on record in Scripture, yet I receive it as proceeding from the apostles if the Universal Church embrace it'] [Footnote 616] (Durandus V, ii, 57). [Footnote 616: This section is in several places corrupt: for example—from Damascenus the quotation in the sixth head belongs properly to the seventh. S. Isidore has a curious passage about orientation. A place, he says, designed so as to face the east was called templum, from contemplating. Of which there were four parts; the front facing the east, the back the west, the right hand the south, and the left hand the north: whence also when they builded temples, they took their east at the equinox, so that lines drawn from east to west would make the sections of the sky on the right and left hands equal, in order that he who prayed might look at the direct east (Orig. XV, iv). |