By Dr. Dencio S. Acop (Ret. Col.
The “heart and summit of the Christian life”! This is the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion). It is the source from which Christian life flows and the ultimate goal (summit) to which all other sacraments and spiritual efforts point, representing the real presence of Christ’s body and blood. It signifies thanksgiving and provides the ultimate spiritual nourishment, connecting believers directly to Jesus and fulfilling the mission of the Church. Christian life and spirituality draw their power and sustenance from the Eucharist, making it the origin of grace, like light from the sun. The Eucharist completes the faith initiation journey (Baptism, Confirmation) and grounds all other aspects of faith and ministry. All other sacraments, prayers, and good works are oriented toward participating fully in the Eucharist. The Mass, especially the Liturgy of the Eucharist, is the highest form of worship, where believers encounter Christ. The consecrated host is not just a symbol but the actual Body and Blood of Jesus, providing spiritual life. While the Eucharist is the central focus, the “summit” can also point to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan: heaven, the heavenly Mount Zion where divinity and humanity meet in perfect praise and communion. It is about reaching the fullness of union with God, a journey intimately tied to receiving Christ in the Eucharist.
I am a devout Catholic and until last Sunday (14 December 2025) thought I’d seen it all in my faith. But, having just arrived in Australia to visit my daughter and her husband and their three young children, I was brought along to the parish they now belong to which celebrates the Tridentine Mass. I must say the Traditional Latin Mass (Vetus Ordo) touched me in a way the Novus Ordo or Ordinary Form of Mass hasn’t. I felt Christ more in that Extraordinary Form of the Mass even if I have been serving intently as a lay liturgical minister in the modern mass these past 15 years. Through the entire Latin mass, I felt that Christ was there and the one truly in charge and not the presider. Holiness was felt throughout the duration of the sacrament interiorly and exteriorly. The congregation is more silent and contemplative, using the 1962 missal with English translations. Communion is received kneeling at the communion rail. The consecrated host is received on the tongue. No one came in as if they were just walking into a party. I witnessed that the women worshippers covered their heads with veils while the men wore long sleeved shirts even in summer because they were in the presence of God and His heavenly angels. Beautiful Gregorian chants sang by a Latin choir joined in the prayers. I noticed one other thing too. There are many young couples with little children. Confessions are an essential part of developing the interior disposition for one to become worthy of receiving the Eucharist. One thing is for sure. When I go back to New England, my wife and I will look for a Tridentine parish.
The Tridentine Mass, also called the Traditional Latin Mass or Extraordinary Form, is the older form of the Roman Catholic Mass standardized in 1570 after the Council of Trent, primarily celebrated in Latin with the priest facing the altar (ad orientem) and featuring distinct ceremonial elements, though it was largely replaced by the vernacular Mass (Novus Ordo) after Vatican II. However, its use was permitted and even encouraged for private celebrations by Pope Benedict XVI (2007 Summorum Pontificum) and continues today for those who prefer this traditional liturgy. Pope Benedict had argued that a liturgy practiced by the old Church for five centuries cannot be bad suddenly. He viewed the Tridentine Mass as a sacred, vital part of Church history that shouldn’t have been forbidden after Vatican II. Arguing that “what was previously held as sacred remains sacred”, he hoped the traditional liturgy’s “sacrality” could inspire a richer, more reverent celebration of the modern Mass. In essence, Pope Benedict sought to bridge the gap created by the liturgical changes, viewing the Tridentine Mass not as an alternative to the modern Mass, but as a valuable, unbroken thread of Church tradition. In contrast, Pope Francis during his term issued directives placing greater restrictions on its public celebration. Early in his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV appeared to continue his predecessor’s restrictions. Notwithstanding, the Pope granted Cardinal Raymond Burke permission to celebrate traditional Latin Mass at St. Peter’s in October 2025, signaling a potential shift from Pope Francis.
On the other hand, the Novus Ordo (“New Order”) refers to the Mass of Pope Paul VI, the most common form of liturgy in the Catholic Church since its promulgation in 1969, following the Second Vatican Council. This modern form emphasizes vernacular language, congregational participation, and simplified rites, contrasting with the Traditional Latin Mass. Key features include readings in the local language, emphasis on the community, flexibility in prayers, and clearer didactic elements, though it retains the core structure of the Mass. It is often celebrated versus populum (facing the people), though ad orientem (facing East/altar) is still permitted. Communion is often received standing, in the hand or on the tongue, by the priest/s and lay ministers. The modern mass retains the basic structure but simplifies rites, expands scripture readings (three-year Sunday cycle), and offers multiple Eucharistic Prayers. It allows a wider range of musical styles, from chant to contemporary hymns. Parishioners can attend without any dress code and confession is advised only once or twice a year. In contrast, the Tridentine Mass uses primarily Latin. It is more solemn, with less audible congregational participation. The priest’s orientation is traditionally ad orientem (facing the altar). The rite emphasizes the sacrificial aspect and mystery, with the priest acting in persona Christi as an offering to God. The sacred host is received only in the tongue. The Novus Ordo aimed for greater intelligibility and accessibility, bringing the Mass closer to the people, while maintaining continuity with tradition, though debates continue regarding its emphasis compared to the older form. To this devout Catholic, the essential question really is: Which form brings souls to heaven? Is it about man or about God? Did it make man conform to God? Or did it make God conform to man? Having been there and done that, I believe I’ll take the road less travelled by hereon.