Dear Jessie:

Latin is still the official language of the Mass and was suppose to be the primary language used. The Vernacular was allowed for pastoral reasons, but it was never intended to be the norm. Rather, the intention would be that, if pastorally prudent, a vernacular Mass would be added to the weekend schedule.

The replacement of Latin with the Vernacular that has happened was never intended by Vatican II Fathers.

The Tridentine Mass, I believe, will never be reinstated as the norm because it really did need to be reformed. Those reforms suggested by the Vatican II  Fathers were appropriate and needed.

For example, the Tridentine liturgy had many repetitions that were unnecessary, the acolytes reciting the responses FOR the people needed to be returned to the more ancient tradition of the people participating in the Mass, the Vatican II liturgy added to the liturgy prayers more ancient and traditional than those in the Tridentine liturgy, etc.

One of the major contributions of Vatican II was to remind us that ALL of us are to pursue holiness and not just the priests and religious. We ALL are to participate in the work of the Church, we are all to participate in the liturgy and not be mere spectators.

These points relate to issues and concepts more traditional and ancient than the Tridentine liturgy.

In essence, the Tridentine Liturgy over the centuries had gotten stale and encumbered after dozens of revisions with unnecessary things.

There WAS a need for reform. If you read the papal bull that promulgates the Vatican II council and also the conciliar documents on the liturgy you will find the various reasons that reform was needed.

On the position of the Priest, Vatican II never mandated that he face the people all the time, only some of the time.

As far as reverence, there is no greater reverence with the priest facing the altar with his back to the people as with the priest facing the people all the time. It hardly matters. The symbolism of the prayers of the people flowing from the people to the priest and then up to heaven works either way.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary