How was it having the service in Latin before the Vatican II?

Answer 1

The Latin rite in its pre-liturgical reform splendor was described as "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven."

Mass was celebrated in different degrees depending on the occasion. There was Low Mass, High Mass and Pontifical Masses. Low Mass was solemn but without the extra splendor of High Mass: there was no singing, no chanting, no grand procession, no sermon, etc. It was basically the Mass abridged and lasted anywhere from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. Low mass was especially designed for the faithful, that they might be able to attend daily before going to work or school. It was quite common before the 1960s for Catholics to for Catholics to go to Mass daily. This practice is all but extinct as the new mass is designed for communal celebration, which is not feasible for the working person or student. A High Mass was celebrated on Sundays and special celebrations or feasts during the week. The High Mass had incense, chant, Gregorian chant, organ music, often a sermon, a grand procession, more prayers, etc. Pontifical Masses were Masses celebrated with a bishop as the celebrant. Often these were specific to certain sacraments or special occasions. The ceremonies could be incredibly complex. Sermons, when they were given, were often very precise about Catholic theology and morals, and were noted for their strength, for they did not strive to be politically correct or sympathetic to other religions vis a vis the Catholic concept of the truth. The new ecumenical push has dissolved this style of preaching.

Before the liturgical reform, all Latin Rite Masses were celebrated in Latin with the sermon given in the common language and often the Epistle and Gospel reread in the common language as well. This allowed Catholics to participate in the Mass anywhere in the world, for it would always be the same, minus the sermon: it was the same ceremony with the same words all over the world. In the old rite there were no Eucharistic ministers, readers or offertory procession, and the laity participated via singing, Gregorian chant, responses and receiving Communion. The receiving of Holy Communion in the hand was seen as a sacrilege, and was not practiced in the old rite, since the priest's hands alone were anointed to consecrate the Host and thus it was only seen as proper that he handle the sacred species and the containers, such as the chalice. This gave a tremendous gravity to the ceremony and emphasized the role of the priest as mediator and the Mass as a sacrifice.

The old set up had the priest facing the altar, which was often build into the wall of the sanctuary. The tabernacle was enthroned in the altar's center, hence why the priest faced it and not the people as is now the practice. The priest said many more prayers, made many more reverences (kissing the altar, sacred objects, etc.,) and overall the effect was one of great solemnity and sacredness. When there was music it could only be either Catholic hymns or Gregorian chant - often there were pieces in the Mass that were to be sung by a trained choir and others that could be sung by the congregation as they were familiar and often repeated each Sunday. The organ, save for rare exceptions, was the only instrument allowed to be played in church, as its sound was considered the most noble and inspiring.

After Vatican II the Mass was reformed in ways that lost the luster of its sacred character. In order to involve the laity to a further degree, the altar was shifted to the center of the sanctuary, that the priest might now address the people. Tabernacles were sent to a side alcove, to be referenced only when needed. The crucifix on the altar was also removed and often hung behind the priest on the wall - a move the old rite would not allow in principle. Eucharistic ministers and readers were introduced and the restrictions on handling the sacred species - despite never being revoked - were ignored until it became a fait accompli. The Mass is now regarded more as a community meal than a holy sacrifice with the emphasis on the people not the sacrifice of the altar and the priest's role has developed into a sort of master of ceremonies. The music quality has dropped significantly - Gregorian chant is almost gone and whole bands have been introduced to play music that emphasizes God's love and very rarely anything else. The liturgical calendar has also been redone, and many of the liturgical seasons and customs proper to certain places have fallen into obscurity. Things such as novelty masses, dancing, etc., would never be permitted in the old rite which saw the church space as sacred, and hence quiet and propriety in voice and dress were honoured.

The new Mass was purposely modeled to be more ecumenical, hence Archbishop Bugnini modified it with the aid of 6 Protestant ministers and a Jewish representative. Hence the visible character of the Mass differs little now from many organized Protestant ceremonies. Because of these reasons, there are some religious congregations, such as the Society of Saint Pius X, The Society of Saint Peter, etc., who came into existence solely to uphold the old ways. Due to the moral pressure of Catholics who reject the new way of Mass as unfulfilling and spiritually desiccated, Rome finally publicly acknowledged that the old rite was never formally abrogated and that any priest may celebrate it. Many bishops, whose indult used to be required before the old Mass could be said in the their dioceses, are not pleased with Rome making this acknowledgment and continue to make it difficult for priests to celebrate the old rite, at least publicly. As well, the classic Catholic community that used to center around the church is largely gone accept for hardcore cliques. Catholic communities used to be built around the church and the school, but since Catholic schools now rarely have mass, and daily mass is rarely done at church, Catholics only congregate on Sundays and have lost the sense of spiritual family that was so well noted of them throughout the centuries.