The Latin Mass Explained

by George J. Moorman, R. Michael Schmitz (Foreword by)

Everything needed to understand and appreciate the Traditional Latin Mass. Fr. George Moorman. Extremely informative, yet very easy to read! Explains, prayer by prayer, what happens at the Latin Mass and why. Answers all your questions about the Mass: why Latin is used, silence, bells, specific colors, etc., and how we participate. Ties in beautifully with Pope Benedict XVI's motu proprio opening the door to the universal celebration of the Latin Mass.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book whether you've been to, or plan to attend, a Traditional Latin Mass or not. Every part of the Mass is explained. No longer will it be daunting. The theology in this book will give you a profound respect for the Latin Mass, and will help you better understand and appreciate the Novus Ordo as well, even though this book was written long before Vatican II (it was republished and given a different name - and footnotes were added).
A better understanding of the Liturgy is never a bad thing!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5 star rating includes the actual book, but also is reflective of the importance of the subject and the gratitude I feel to have come across this book. Being 54, I missed out on most of this stuff (I believe I saw the Communion rail still present when young, but I don't believe we used it...). Everything makes so much more sense with this as the backdrop. I honestly do not understand how anyone would have thought that changing any of this would have been beneficial...in spite of Mary's prophecies and seeing human nature continuing to 'progress' in the wrong direction, somehow people high up in the Church felt 'dumbing things down' and de-emphasizing the supernatural aspect, honor owed, humility and gratitude we should feel, was the prudential way to go.....? I don't understand but am grateful for the book.

[Angela Boord · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. Having only had the opportunity to attend Novus Ordo Masses, I don't know much about the Extraordinary (Latin) Form. Over the past few years, however, I have been inspired by Pope Benedict's support and encouragement of the Latin Mass to find out more. This is a good basic book. While I'm not sure I could follow the Latin Mass after only reading the book, I now have a good foundation in the why's of the Latin Mass and understand some of the difference in emphases between the Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo, as it is practiced today. My one quibble with the book is that all the prayers of the Mass are printed only in English. I think it would have been better to have printed the English side by side with the Latin, so the reader would have some idea of the actual text of the Mass.

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was born well after Vatican II and has been attending the Novus Ordo (Mass of Paul VI/Ordinary Form) my entire life, I have very little experience with the Extraordinary Form (AKA Traditional Latin Mass/Tridentine Mass). I have attended a few Low Masses (quiet mass) and a Sung Mass and found it extremely difficult to follow along.

I find this book to be extremely helpful to explain everything that is occurring. I am so grateful for Father Moorman's book. May God receive him in heavenly glory. +

[Sebastian Rangel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is definitely solid. It gives a history of how the Mass came to be, starting from the Old Testament and how they worshiped God then, all the way to what we have now. Then it goes through every prayer of the Mass.
However, having attended the Latin Mass for about six years now, I usually ended up feeling unsatisfied with the explanations of the prayers. It would always say what the prayer represents but never why. For example, the book mentions that the Communicantes changes for major feast days, but it doesn't explain why. This happens all throughout the book, so I was a bit disappointed.
This book is still great for newcomers to the Latin Mass. I maybe wouldn't recommend it to someone who is intrigued by the Latin Mass, but more for someone who just made the change to the Latin Mass and knows roughly how it goes.


"After Mass: It is all over now, and you may go back into the busy street and into your own homes. Nothing has changed since you left it all an hour or so ago. Only this has happened: You have stood in the presence of the living God; you have shared in the most sacred and solemn action that it is possible to conceive as taking place on this earth. 'He was in the world, and the world knew Him not.' Perhaps until today you were among the number of those who knew Him not. You know him now. Pray that God may give you grace and courage to follow Him Whom you know to have the words of everlasting life, so that one day you may be numbered among the 'sons of God.'"

[Jose Luis]

This book is an organic and reverent explanation of the Mass, untainted by post-conciliar politics. It has enhanced my appreciation of the the Latin Rite in general - Extraordinary Form and Novus Ordo. The first part of The Latin Mass Explained dives into the "why" of the Mass. It's invaluable. You will never attend Mass the same way after reading this book.

The Extraordinary Form, by virtue of its place in history and in our identity as Roman Catholics should be preserved. It seems non-sensical and un-Catholic to discard it. Its reverence, universality, and caliber should be the gold standard. The Novus Ordo should continue to be developed. Ultimately, the Spirit will act through the members of the Body. The laity will choose. Parishes that are providing a liturgical form that produces vocations - to marriage, the priesthood, and religious life - will thrive and define Catholic life.

It's hard to tell what the long-term holds in store for the Church, but as long as we are staying true to the teachings the traditions, we have little to worry about.

May the Holy Spirit guide his Church to unity, peace, true Christian piety, and authentic development.

[Elizabeth Elvig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative! A great way to really understand the Traditional Rite.

[Kate prefers books to people]

Review pending

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good in so far as it wasn’t so dry you wanted to kill yourself, but I wouldn’t recommend this to someone thinking of converting.

[Samantha R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. I have wanted to look into the latin mass for a while now and current events just pushed me to do it. I have been told that the latin mass is so different than the current mass celebrated by most Catholics but I just don't see it. It seems obviously more reverent in ways but the consecration of the host seems almost identical. I guess maybe hearing about it is different than seeing it or experiencing it but this book did not give the impression of the Latin mass I have heard about. It was nice to read and to be honest I love reading anything Catholic, but it was not what I thought it would be and less interesting than books I have read about the current mass. Still want to give the latin mass and even some Eastern rite masses a try and this book helped to make it seem less of a transition.

[Maddie Nowak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understanding the Sacrifice for the First Time

This book is well-written and explains all elements of the Latin Mass in great detail. Through reading it I’ve gained an understanding of the beauty of the Sacrifice of the Mass and I’m so grateful.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read. Should be required for every RCIA and Confirmation student. Excellent!

[Arina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for non-Catholics or Catholics who don’t understand the Traditional Latin Mass (The Tridentine Mass) but want to educate themselves on it.

It goes into detail and explains step by step everything involved in the Traditional Latin Mass and the significance of it. Such as the steps and the meaning of the Sanctus, Communicantes, Hanc Igitur, etc. It also explains the appropriate times to kneel and why, the reasoning behind the beautiful ringing of the bells, the importance of everything on the alter and why everything is done a specific way, the Priest’s Vestments, etc.

I loved how the book gives you some of the Latin responses that are made during mass, as well as gives you the translation of it!
- Priest- “Dominus Vobiscum” ( The Lord be with you)
- Server/ attendees- “Et cum spiritu tuo” ( and with thy spirit)

I wish the book had more Latin and the translations, hence why I gave it 4 stars. I would have given it 4.5 if I was able to. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants to educate themselves on the Tridentine Mass.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, but again I think a reader would need a bit of background to be able to really follow it. For me, at least, that was why it took me so long to finish it - only after participating in the Latin Mass for a couple of years does it now actually make sense to me reading it, and I got so much out of it.

At some point I’ll probably re-read it again to make more sense of it and get more out of it, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a first point of call for people wanting to understand more unless they’d actually been to a couple of Latin Masses already and had a bit of background on Catholicism in general.

It really helped me understand more though about exactly how the Mass had changed post Vatican II and what the intentions were with some of those changes. Unfortunately, knowing more about the Mass thanks to this book, it really seems like the stripping away of certain aspects for the Novus Ordo made what was already a problem amongst Catholics even worse, because even more context of why we do what we do was lost in the course of trying to “simplify” things.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book to help anyone understand and appreciate the liturgy of the Catholic mass. This book is specifically about the Traditional Latin Mass (now called the “extraordinary” form), but even those who only attend the Novus Ordo (the post-Vatican II, “ordinary” form) mass can learn a lot. I find that I can appreciate and enjoy both forms, but I am finding myself drawn more and more to the beauty and reverence found in the extraordinary form.

Any Catholic should read this to truly understand the mass that we attend… and I hope others, non-Catholics or fallen away Catholics, can find meaning and help in this book as well.

[Michele Pfrogner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps this book was successful decades ago, but it is extremely dry, lacks visuals (which would have been helpful to identify the parts of the priest's ceremonial garb), and is mistitled. If readers expect a complete Latin text for the Mass, they will be disappointed. I, as a cradle Catholic, did learn a few important reasons for certain prayers, but I cringed at some of the emotive pontifications: "With trembling hand" (167); "to express in a lively manner" (169). This is not a book I would recommend, even to the most devoted Catholic.

[Eric W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, combined with the Latin-English Booklet Missal (available on Amazon), will be enough to understand and follow the traditional Latin Mass. The book also makes the experience of attending the Latin Mass more rewarding by explaining the history and reasons for including various prayers, actions and traditions. But it would certainly be a dry read for anyone not interested in the topic.

[Chris Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely fantastic short book that helps explain everything in the Latin Mass. Growing up in the Novus Ordo world and then leaving it when I discovered the beauty of the Traditional Latin Mass…this book not only explains everything succinctly but makes you realize how much was taken from us with the reforms of Vatican II. I highly recommend it!!! Very well written and easy to understand.

[Atlantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book lays out step by step with explanations, translations, and prayers how the Holy Traditional Latin Mass is said. It gives the history of the Church and how few things have changed as well as an explanation of the layout of the church to include the Altar and Tabernacle. Written with the non-Catholic reader in mind.

#40days #40books Lent#2025

[Thomas Wroblewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever wondered why Catholics are so devoted to the Mass, this is the book for you!

If you ever wondered whether the Mass is right for you, this is the book for you.

The Mass is a Sacrifice to God reenacting the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book helpful to guide me through both mass and using my Missal.
I understand mass and its meaning much more than before reading this wonderful book.

I feel more confident when attending mass.

[Alyssa Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great way to learn and understand the Latin Mass. It helps to have an explanation for what is going on to understand the beauty of the Mass.

[Dom Nuno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had expected a more ‘practical’ manual, filled with the prayers in Latin - they are mostly in English, only.
Very interestingly contextualised.

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary, really helps paint the picture of the beauty of the mass, I might have to start attending the TLM now...

[Walt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and concise explanation of the Latin Mass.

[Brian Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive look into the Latin Mass, short, gentle, and informative it gives a good introductory experience for thoswhng to know of the vat complexities of the Latin Mass.

Deo Gratias.

[Nicholas Ferrucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the title itself, this book is a good introductory book for anybody interested in learning and appreciating the Latin Mass more.

[Diane Kennicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still a novice at the Latin Mass. I have been attending the Latin Mass for about 9 months. I have been managing to follow along in the Latin Missal reasonably well. This book helped to explain the different actions of the priest at the altar, the reasons and history behind those actions. The book explained why saying the Mass is important and saying the Mass in any other language can skew the message. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in learning about the Latin Mass.

[Conor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that introduces you to the Traditional Latin Mass. It also unlocks the depths and richness of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I came away with a deep awe and reverence for what the Church has given us. There is a deep meaning to everything that is done in Mass. While I see how much we've lost with the Ordinary Form, I also realize how much of the Extraordinary Form is still present there. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could any Christian so desiring to Worship Christ aright ask for a better book? This book is highly recommended for those who attend the Celebration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form, for it teaches you all the "why" and "how" of the Catholic Traditional Latin Mass. Can anyone ask for a better book I think not.