Q&A with Fr Flader: How the Mass changed after Vatican II

Fr. John Flader explained the differences between the Traditional Latin Mass and the modern Mass used in most parishes in a Q&A with The Catholic Weekly.

The Traditional Latin Mass, or Tridentine Mass, was established globally by Pope Pius V in 1570 following the Council of Trent. This version used a standard Latin format that allowed people to attend Mass in any country and find the same prayers. For 400 years, the Roman Missal of Pope Pius V served as the standard until Pope Paul VI approved a new missal in 1969.

This new missal introduced changes proposed by the Second Vatican Council through its document on the sacred liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium. While the Council kept Latin as the official liturgical language, it permitted the use of local languages, which became the standard for most countries. Flader noted that a primary goal of the Council was to encourage more active participation from the faithful, whereas in the Traditional Latin Mass, the priest says almost all the prayers alone.