It was never a requirement to say Mass in the vernacular; however, after the Second Vatican Council, an official English translation was released. With some minor revisions and omissions, it was very similar to the Tridentine Mass. It was only used from 1965-1969/70, when the Mass of Paul VI was promulgated. The 1965 Missal allowed fuller participation by the congregation, much like the Novus Ordo. The official language of the rite was still Latin, but 1965 was the first time the vernacular was officially permitted, and Mass could also be said either
ad orientem or
versus ad populum, at the discretion of the celebrant.
You can read the 1965 Order of Mass here, if you’re interested:
1965 English Missal
I didn’t realize St. Joseph’s Missal won out. Never cared much for the fact they never had the propers in Latin. And their translations were very poor. Interesting comparison of one Offertory Prayer between the old missals:
Interlinear:
Deus, qui humanæ substantiæ dignitatem
God, Who of human substance dignity
mirabiliter condidisti,
wonderfully has created,
et mirabilius reformasti:
and more wonderfully reformed:
da nobis per hujus aquæ et vini mysterium,
give to us through this of water and wine mystery,
ejus divinitatis esse consortes
His divinity to be partakers
qui humanitatis nostræ fieri dignatus est particeps,
Who in humanity our to become has granted partaker,
Jesus Christus Filius tuus Dominus noster:
Jesus Christ Son Your Lord our:
Qui tecum vivit et regnat
Who with You lives and reigns
in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus:
in union with Spirit Holy God:
per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
for all ages of ages. Amen.
St. Joseph - “O God, Who hast established the nature of man in wondrous dignity, and still more admirably restored it, grant that through the mystery of this water and wine, we may be made partakers of His Divinity, Who has condescended to become partaker of our humanity, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.”
My Sunday Missal - “O God, Who hast established the nature of man in wondrous dignity, and even more wonderously hast renewed it, grant that through the mystery of this water and wine, we may be made partakers of His Divinity, Who has deigned to become partaker of our humanity, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.”
St. Andrew - “O God, Who in a wonderful manner didst create and ennoble human nature, and still more wonderfully hast renewed it; grant that, by the mystery of this water and wine, we may be partakers of His divinity who vouchsafed to become partaker of our humanity, Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord: who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.”
Fr Lasance - “O God, Who in creating man didst exalt his nature very wonderfully and yet more wonderfully didst establish it anew: by the mystery signified in the mingling of this water and wine, grant us to have part in the Godhead of Him Who hath vouchsafed to share our manhood, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God; world without end. Amen.”
Angelus - “O God, Who in creating human nature didst marvelously ennoble it, and hast still more marvelously renewed it: grant that by the mystery of this water and wine, we may be partakers of His Divinity Who vouchsafed to become partaker of our humanity, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigned with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.”
1857 Missal - “O God, who, in creating human nature, hast wonderfully dignified it, and still more wonderfully reformed it: grant that by the mystery of this Water and Wine, we may be partakers of his divine nature, who vouchsafed to become partaker of our human nature, namely, Jesus Christ one Lord, thy Son, in the unity of …”
