Why did "versus populum" (instead of "ad orientem") become commonplace after Vatican II?

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                          Why did *versus populum*  (the priest facing the congregation) become commonplace after Vatican II, when *ad orientem*  ("facing east," with the priest's back to the congregation) was the norm before Vatican II? Did a Vatican II document prescribe *versus populum*?

Asked by OrangePeel52 (317 rep)

Dec 26, 2016, 04:14 PM
Last activity: Dec 24, 2019, 01:40 AM

Why did "versus populum" (instead of "ad orientem") become commonplace after Vatican II?

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