Hi Blogger Insiders,
The Tridentine Mass is the traditional Latin Mass of the Catholic Church. The traditional Latin Mass was the Mass said in the West by the Catholic Church for at least 1600 years. The Latin Mass has stayed essentially the same with only minor changes occurring over time. In 1570 AD, Pope St. Pius V codified the Latin Mass (called the Tridentine Mass after the Council of Trent). Now the Catholic Mass was uniform throughout the world wherever it was said and heard. The Latin Tridentine Rite of Mass (the Latin Mass) was the main Rite of Mass in the Catholic Church up until 1969 when it was replaced with the New Order of Mass.
The Tridentine Mass is the traditional Latin Mass of the Catholic Church. The traditional Latin Mass was the Mass said in the West by the Catholic Church for at least 1600 years. The Latin Mass has stayed essentially the same with only minor changes occurring over time. In 1570 AD, Pope St. Pius V codified the Latin Mass (called the Tridentine Mass after the Council of Trent). Now the Catholic Mass was uniform throughout the world wherever it was said and heard. The Latin Tridentine Rite of Mass (the Latin Mass) was the main Rite of Mass in the Catholic Church up until 1969 when it was replaced with the New Order of Mass.
Latin is the official language of the Catholic Church. Latin was to remain as the language of the Liturgy of the Mass. This all changed when the New Order Mass was said entirely in the vulgar language (that is to say, the vernacular). Latin and Gregorian Chant were tossed out of the New Order Mass. They remained, of course, in the Tridentine Mass.
Catholics who wanted to attend the Tridentine Latin Mass underwent many persecutions. After the New Mass came out in 1969, the vast majority of Catholics went along with the changes. Those that didn't were told by the "powers that be" to stop attending the Latin Mass and to attend the New Order Mass. The Latin Mass was persecuted to the point of extinction. If it were not for a certain French Archbishop, Marcel Lefebvre, the sun could very well have set over the Latin Mass for the last time. Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was the founder of the Society of St. Pius X, an organization of Catholic Priests who say only the Latin Mass.
Opposition, within the Church, against the Latin Mass was considerable during the years of 1972 to 1984. When in 1984, then Pope John Paul II, allowed the use of the Latin Tridentine Rite of Mass with the permission of the local Bishop. Opposition to the Latin Mass continued until the summer of 2007 when Pope Benedict XVI freed the Latin Mass of all limitations. Catholics are now free to attend the Latin Mass without fear of penalty or scruple of conscience (in theory).
The Latin Mass dates back to antiquity. It is the Mass of the ages. Most of the greatest Saints in the Catholic Church attended the Tridentine Rite of Mass. The (Latin) Tridentine Mass is said to be the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven. It is true. It has a wondrous beauty to it that is unmatched in the annals of the Catholic Church.
A top Vatican Cardinal has said that the New Order Mass will be gone in 50 years. I will hazard to guess that the New Order Mass will be gone in ten years! One thing is certain, the future of the Holy Catholic Church is sure to include the Tridentine Mass.
Deo Gratias!
Deo Gratias!
God Bless you,
In Christ the King,
Michael the Lionheart
