What is the Latin Mass?

“When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the Divine Victim immolated on the altar.” – St. John Chrysostom

The “Traditional Latin Mass”, or sometimes referred to today as the “Extraordinary Form”, was call “The Mass” prior to the Second Vatican Council. In the years following Vatican II and the introduction of the Novus Ordo (or the New Order, “The New Liturgy”), the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass began to be described as the “old” Mass, or the “Latin” Mass. It was also described as the “Tridentine” Mass to distinguish it from the Novus Order. The term Traditional Latin Mass is also used to distinguish from a Latin Novus Ordo. The Traditional Latin Mass is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Traditional Latin Mass is a sublime and sacred liturgy that has always been know for it’s beauty, reverence, mystery and silence. Perhaps this explains why so many people are attracted to this from of worship and in increasing number have and continue to request this holy and venerable Mass.

In October 1984 Pope John Paul II granted permission for the Traditional Latin Mass to be offered with approval by local bishops. On July 2, 1988, Pope John Paul II expanded his earlier directives for this Mass by release of an Apostolic Letter called “Ecclesia Dei”. The successor of Pop John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, made it easier for the Mass to be permitted since he issued his apostolic letter “Summorum Pontificum” in July of 2007.

Even though in recent history the Traditional Latin Mass has been suppressed and continues to be even more suppressed, it will always remain and be the beautiful, reverent, and mysterious Holy Sacrament that Our Lord instituted that all the Saint knew and most of us will know for all entirety.