Why is the Extraordinary Form of the Mass sometimes called the ‘Tridentine’ Mass or the ‘Traditional Latin Mass’?
The Extraordinary Form of the Mass is the patrimony of the Western Church. This liturgy is sometimes called the ‘Tridentine’ Rite, after the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century. This title is misleading, because the Council of Trent did not invent the liturgy, which was even then already ancient. It is sometimes called the ‘Traditional Latin Mass’ as this Mass is always celebrated in the official language of the Church (i.e. Latin).
