The Old Roman Rite

“In the liturgy of the Church, it is his own paschal mystery that Christ signifies and makes present.” (Compendium of the CCC 222)

Historically, the Christian Liturgy has different rites from different places. But the true essence of Christ in the liturgy (Compendium 222) is always present although it has complex and different rites. Being the Latin (Roman), Byzantine, and also the liturgy of the Protestant Reformation the most commonly used liturgical rites today.

This article will focus on the Roman Rite. The Roman Rite is the rite used by the Catholic Church (excluding the Eastern Catholic Churches). Through the centuries, the Roman Rite had evolved and undergone many revisions. The Novus Ordo (Mass of Paul VI) being the biggest reformation and revision of the Roman Rite. The Roman Rite is celebrated as early as the first century and is only codified for the first time in 1570 by Pope Saint Pius V’s papal bull “Quo Primum Tempore.”

The forms of the Roman Rite before the revisions of Paul VI are known as the ‘Traditional Latin Mass,’ the ‘Old Roman Rite,' or the ‘Extraordinary Form of the Mass,’ and others. The 1962 Roman Missal by Pope John XXIII, a revision of the Old Roman Rite, is the only permitted by the Church to be used in Traditional Latin Masses.

After the promulgation of the Novus Ordo (1969 Roman Missal), the use of the Old Roman Rite is suppressed. Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre founded the traditionalist society “Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX),” Archbishop Lefebvre was excommunicated from the Church after consecrating four SSPX priests as bishops without the approval of the Holy See.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum” letting priests freely offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on the Old Roman Rite (specifically the 1962 Roman Missal) without the approval of a diocesan bishop. Pope Benedict XVI called the Old Roman Rite as the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and Novus Ordo the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

However in 2021, Pope Francis issued the Apostolic Letter “Traditionis Custodes” restricting the use of the Old Roman Rite. Priests need to seek the approval of his/their diocesan bishop to celebrate the mass using the Old Rite. Many Catholics (especially the traditionalists, both lay and priests) had expressed sadness because of this Apostolic Letter. 

The Old Roman Rite, the rite that was used by the Church for 2 millenia is now not celebrated in many parishes in the world. Most Catholics don't even know that the Old Rite existed. May God, preserve this ancient rite of worship to him and don't let it completely disappear to the world. May we, faithful Catholics, respect those traditionalists who continue to preserve this ancient rite.

Written by: Matthew Paguinto

Written on 02 August 2023, Revised on 17 April 2024