there was a continuity going right back to the threshold of the apostolic era. Now it must be admitted that, at least since the nineteenth century, not only had the awareness of the liturgy’s cosmic orientation been lost, but there was also little understanding of the significance of the image of the cross as a point of reference for the Christian liturgy. Hence the ancient eastward orientation of the celebration became meaningless, and people could begin to speak of the priest celebrating “facing
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