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Michelo wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • Is it still legal to celebrate the Tridentine Mass?
  • Can you tell me a little bit about that Mass and the main differences between it and the Novus Ordo Mass?

Michelo

  { Is it legal to celebrate the Tridentine Mass and what are the differences with the Novus Ordo Mass? }

Mike and Rich gave the following team reply:

Hi, Michelo —

It has always been legal to celebrate the Tridentine Mass.

I think it is important to first give some historical background. I found these questions and answers from the Latin Liturgy Association. I believe they will assist you in a better understanding of the development of both liturgies.

Q. Is the Tridentine Mass another name for the Latin Mass?

Answer:

Not exactly. The Tridentine Mass is so called because it resulted from the Council of Trent, a town in northern Italy, whose name in Latin is Tridentum. The Council lasted, on and off, from 1545 to 1563. In its 22nd session (September 1562) the doctrine of the Mass was defined, as were things to be observed or avoided in its celebration. By a decree of the Council, the actual codification of the Mass was left to the Pope, then Pius IV. His successor, Pius V, supervised the work.

The 'Tridentine Missal' of 1570 was the result. This Roman Missal was just that, the Mass as celebrated at Rome and many other places, and had been so celebrated for centuries. Indeed, the Canon of the Mass had remained unchanged since Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604). The Missal was a response to the Protestant Reformation — it answered the question - "What is a legitimate Catholic Mass?" — a question not relevant before the Reformation. There were other rites in the Latin church besides the rite as celebrated at Rome. Milan, Italy, and Toledo, Spain, for instance had their own way of celebrating the Mass. The Dominicans had their rite of Mass, too. When Pius V issued the Missal, he respected any rite of Mass that had been extant for at least 200 years, permitting them to be celebrated instead of the Roman Missal. In 1970, Pope Paul VI replaced the Roman Missal and forbade the celebration of the Old Mass except in very limited circumstances such as elderly priests who did not want to learn the New Mass (Novus Ordo Missae) at a late stage in life. Nowadays, when we talk about the Latin Mass, we mean Mass in any approved form celebrated in Latin.

The Latin Liturgy Association promotes the celebration of the Mass in both the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form of the Latin rite, and with the traditional music associated with the Roman Liturgy.

Q. Since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) the use of the vernacular has become very widespread in the liturgy of the Catholic Church. Given this, why should it be important to retain a place for Latin in the liturgy of today?

Answer:

Latin had been the language in use throughout the Western Church almost since its foundation (in the very early days it was Greek). Latin has been used in the rites of the Western Church since at least the fourth century, if not earlier. There are many reasons why Latin should still play an important part in the liturgy of today's Church. Vatican II itself envisaged the continued use of Latin:

"The use of Latin is to be preserved in the Latin rites."
(Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 36)

It is not surprising therefore that the Novus Ordo introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1970 was composed in Latin. Vernacular translations followed, rather than preceded, the Latin original. The use of the Church's traditional language of worship has the following important benefits:

  1. It is a sacral language, associated with the single, exalted purpose of the worship of God. The use of Latin in this way should not surprise us for a sacral language is a feature of all the major world religions: classical Arabic in Islam, Sanskrit in Hinduism and, of course, Hebrew in Judaism - the language in which Our Lord would have prayed.

  2. It is a static language that does not change over time. Meaning is stable, fixed, as are the truths of the faith. It is well-suited to their definition.

  3. Latin helps us overcome limitations of time and place, and helps us participate in the universal reality of the Catholic Church, linking us with the generations who have worshipped before us.

  4. The use of Latin in all countries and across the centuries is a powerful symbol of the Church's unity - the sessions of Vatican II were all conducted in Latin.

  5. The use of Latin enables also the use of the great liturgical music of the Church, particularly Gregorian chant and polyphony. Vatican II said: "The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care." (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 114) and "The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.(Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 116)

After Vatican II, in the United States, the celebration of Holy Mass in the vernacular was the norm. Nevertheless, there were many Catholics that desired a greater use of the Tridentine Mass.

in 1984, Pope St. John Paul II gave local bishops permission to allow Mass to be celebrated according to the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal; and in 1988, he urged them to

make a wide and generous application

of that permission, in order to meet the aspirations of people attached to the traditional forms of the liturgy. Below are on-line versions of the 1962 and 1970 version:

1962 Missal:
[from sacred-texts.com]
 
[from fordham.edu]
[from latinliturgy.com]

1970 Missal:
[from latinliturgy.com]

Prior to July 2007, a priest had to get an indult or formal authorization from his bishop to say the Tridentine Mass in his diocese.

Since Pope Benedict's formal proclamation on July 7, 2007 for a wider use of the Tridentine Mass, any Catholic priest in good standing with the Church can celebrate the Extraordinary Form who:

  • knows Latin and the liturgical language, and
  • the rubrics that accompany this liturgy.

Although approval from the bishop is no longer required, a priest in good standing with the Church will usually coordinate his desires with his local bishop.

The principal changes instituted in the 1970 edition of the Mass were:

  • the addition of options, such as the various choices for the Eucharistic Prayer
  • the addition of a third Scripture reading on Sundays
  • a new three-year schedule of Scripture readings
  • simplifying certain repetitive prayers
  • dropping or rearranging some parts in the entrance, the offertory, and the dismissal
  • permission for the use of vernacular languages
  • permission for the celebration of Mass facing the people

You can find more information about the traditional Roman liturgy at the following web sites:

  • Latin Liturgy Association
    They support both the old and new rites in Latin and the web site includes a directory of churches.
  • Una Voce
    Promotes the Tridentine Mass, in particular.

If you are reading this post, and interested in the development of the Holy Mass throughout the centuries check out our Mass and Adoration page. Rich assisted in providing the "Links of Interest" at the end, for the Tridentine, also known as the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Hope this helps,

Mike and RC

Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
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