Is the Latin Mass more authentic than the English Mass?
3rd May 2009 - 4th Sunday of Easter (Vocation Sunday)

My cousin refers to me as a “Catholic Protestant” because I don’t attend a Latin Mass. What’s the difference between the traditional Latin Mass and the English Mass? - Wondering

Dear Wondering,

There is only one Roman Catholic Mass. It has two forms: the ordinary form, which was authorized by the Second Vatican Council and published by Pope Paul VI, and the extraordinary form, the Latin Mass authorized by the Council of Trent and revised by Pope John XXIII.

The main differences between the forms of the Mass are the use of Latin, the direction in which the priest faces the altar and the people, the arrangement of the readings, and the manner in which the central parts of the Mass are spoken (in the Latin Mass, they are spoken quietly between the priest and a server).

In both forms, the parish and priest must be in union with Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI has made the Latin Mass more available because some Catholics prefer it, not because its the “real” Mass. The Church simply continues to offer the faithful the opportunity to celebrate in Latin as it does in Spanish, French, Japanese, English, and other languages.

Therefore, you are not “less Catholic” if you prefer the ordinary form; it reflects the Church’s link to the apostolic faith and is as valid as the extraordinary form. All Catholics are called to follow both forms.

John Schmidi, C.Ss.R.