What is meant by traditional mass?

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I am a bit confused. Could some one explain what is meant by all the different kinds of mass I keep reading about? i.e. traditional, novus, high mass, extra-ordinary mass…? I am in RCIA and coming from a baptist background it all seems pretty traditional to me. I like that I can follow along in the missal and know what is coming next. My church is usually in English but we did have a good portion of Latin today for Advent.
 
The traditional Mass is the one which uses the 1962 Missal. The Novus as you call it, is what was refered to as the Novus Ordo (New Order of the Mass) which was finally implemented in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. The Extraordinary Form (as re-titled by BXVI) is the Traditional Mass . The Ordinary Form is the Novus Ordo (1970 Mass of Paul VI).

After the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum” (issued by BXVI in July 2007) The Traditional Form is now called the ExtraOrdinary and the Novus Ordo is now the Ordinary. Both Rites of the Latin Mass are of equal value. The Pope has called for both Forms of the Mass to be offered in all parishes.

Now, the BIG HOWEVER; there are currently not enough trained priests to fulfill the Holy Fathers request. True things are slowly getting better but it is VERY slow.

As an “About to become Catholic” my advise to you is “be still” and trust God. Things are about to change again and for the better. The Mass will still be in the vernacular but many of the prayers and responses will be more close to the old Rite (in translation). Go to the USCCB website to see the new translations that will be authorized in the next year or so. Its an exciting time to be a Catholic.
 
pandacordova said:
I am a bit confused. Could some one explain what is meant by all the different kinds of mass I keep reading about? i.e. traditional, novus, high mass, extra-ordinary mass…? I am in RCIA and coming from a baptist background it all seems pretty traditional to me. I like that I can follow along in the missal and know what is coming next. My church is usually in English but we did have a good portion of Latin today for Advent.
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The concept of a high mass is probably most associated with an ExtraordinaryForm Mass. There will probably be incense, and many parts of the Mass are sung. A low Mass is said.
 
\The traditional Mass is the one which uses the 1962 Missal. The Novus as you call it, is what was refered to as the Novus Ordo (New Order of the Mass) which was finally implemented in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. The Extraordinary Form (as re-titled by BXVI) is the Traditional Mass . The Ordinary Form is the Novus Ordo (1970 Mass of Paul VI).\

**The Mass of 1962 is NOT the only “traditional mass” in the Church.

Nor is preference for it the sole touchstone of traditionalism.

Every single Eucharistic Sacrifice celebrated in an authorized rite of the Church and according to the liturgical norms IS the traditional Mass.

**
 
In Roman Catholicism, the phrase “Traditional Mass” or “Traditional Latin Mass” commonly refers to the 1962 Missal, the last variant up until that time. This was the Mass employed in the Roman Catholic Church up until 1970. Pope Benedict calls it the ‘Extraordinary Form’ which I think is confusing for people who don’t know anything about the old rite.

“Novus Ordo”, which is short for “Novus Ordo Missae”, means in English, the ‘New Order’ and ‘New Order Of The Mass’, respectively. It became the universal Mass of the *Roman * Catholic Church in 1970. It is commonly said in the local language. Pope Benedict calls it the ‘Ordinary Form’.

There are about 20(?) rites in the universal Catholic Church. The old Latin rite is the one called Traditional in the Roman Catholic Church.

In practice, if you ask a knowledgable Roman Catholic “Where can I hear a traditional mass?” you will be directed to a church where the 1962 Missal is used.
 
\ In Roman Catholicism, the phrase “Traditional Mass” or “Traditional Latin Mass” commonly refers to the 1962 Missal, the last variant up until that time. This was the Mass employed in the Roman Catholic Church up until 1970. Pope Benedict calls it the ‘Extraordinary Form’ which I think is confusing for people who don’t know anything about the old rite.\

Would it not be better to use the terminology preferred by the Pope himself?

\There are about 20(?) rites in the universal Catholic Church. The old Latin rite is the one called Traditional in the Roman Catholic Church.

In practice, if you ask a knowledgable Roman Catholic “Where can I hear a traditional mass?” you will be directed to a church where the 1962 Missal is used.\

**Actually, there were SEVERAL “old Latin Rites” in the Church. Only ONE of them is the Roman rite, and even before the 1960’s it was not always celebrated in Latin.

Other old Latin rites are the Mozarabic, the Bragan, and the Ambrosian or Milanese. Only this third strongly resembles the Roman.

Knowledgeable Roman Catholics know this.**
 
By knowledgeable I meant a Roman Catholic who knew what the Traditional Latin Mass is.

If one Roman Catholic asks another: “Where can I find a traditional Mass?” the normal reply would be to direct the questioner to a church where the 1962 Missal is used. That is the common usage of that term amongst Roman Catholics in 2009.

Pope Benedict’s new appellation is confusing at a time when many Roman Catholics know nothing about the old rite and can’t even recall the Ten Commandments!

Still, it might help spark interest.

Catholic 1: “What Mass did you go to?”
Catholic 2: *“The extraordinary one. And it was!”. *
 
There is the more traditional Ordinary Form that has incense and more latin, like the Pater Noster, Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Die and even Gregorian Chant. There are the Ordinary Forms with folk music and such, and a rather laid back lax atmosphere. Then there is the Extraordinary Form which is the Latin Mass…or the Traditional Latin Mass or the Tridentine Mass; which is harder to find than the OF.
 
This is a good question, Elizabeth PH.

Whilch mass is more traditional?
  1. An Ordinary form mass, sung with incense, with Gregorian Chant in Latin or vernacular adaptations.
  2. A Low Mass in the Extraorinary form.
I vote for #1, myself.
 
bpbasilphx said:
This is a good question, Elizabeth PH.

Whilch mass is more traditional?
  1. An Ordinary form mass, sung with incense, with Gregorian Chant in Latin or vernacular adaptations.
  2. A Low Mass in the Extraorinary form.
I vote for #1, myself.
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Well traditionally I go to #1 so I vote for that too. Our chant is in Latin. There is no Extraordinary form Low or otherwise where I am at.
 
ElizabethPH said:
There is the more traditional Ordinary Form that has incense and more latin, like the Pater Noster, Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Die and even Gregorian Chant. There are the Ordinary Forms with folk music and such, and a rather laid back lax atmosphere. Then there is the Extraordinary Form which is the Latin Mass…or the Traditional Latin Mass or the Tridentine Mass; which is harder to find than the OF.
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I have heard of a polka Mass. Somehow that seems undignified at the least.
 
The other day when I was at the church, I saw a little red book that explained Masses as being low, high or solemn high. I didn’t have alot of time to look at it, but it explained everything in great detail. I wonder if this is an altar servers manual? It had information about vestments, number of candles lit in each form, when to kneel, etc. On the left side of the page, the liturgy was in Latin, on the right in English. Can someone tell me the name of this booklet, and where I can buy one to study at home.
 
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