What is the Tridentine Rite?

Sometimes referred to as the “Traditional Latin Mass” or the “Missal of Blessed John XXIII,” the Tridentine Rite is the Mass that’s celebrated solely in Latin, with the priest facing the altar.

It was used by the Catholic Church for 1,500 years until the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Vatican II brought reforms to the church including Mass in the vernacular, allowing Catholics to participate in the liturgy.

“Traditional” Catholics – those who rejected the changes of Vatican II and do not recognize Benedict XVI as the pope – have always celebrated the Tridentine Rite instead of the “Novus Ordo” or the “Mass of Pope Paul VI.”

In an effort to reach out to the traditionalists, Benedict XVI last month issued a decree allowing priests to celebrate the Tridentine Rite without having to ask their bishop for permission.

Sources: Wikipedia.com, www.latinmass.org, Latin Liturgy Association

On the Web: For a list of churches and sites where the Tridentine Rite is offered, see the official Traditional Catholic Directory at www.traditio.com.