History of the Latin Mass:
The Catholic Church used what is basically the Tridentine Mass for almost 1500 years (dating back to the time of St. Gregory in the 6th century), until the introduction of the Mass of Pope Paul VI following the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The Tridentine Mass was codified by the Council of Trent in the 16th century (hence the name “Tridentine”).
In 1984 Pope John Paul II authorized the return of the Latin Mass (with the local bishop’s approval). Later, on July 2, 1988 Pope John Paul II issued Motu Proprio "Ecclesia Dei” which decreed “(that) a wide and generous application” be given to earlier directives to allow the Tridentine Mass to be celebrated.
On July 7, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI issued, Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum which further facilitated the return of the Tridentine Mass.
History of the Latin Mass at St. Francis de Sales:
After Cardinal James Hickey permitted the Latin Mass to be celebrated again in Southern Maryland, the Tridentine Mass returned to St. Francis de Sales Church on the first Sunday of Advent, 1989. Two priests from St. Anselm’s Abbey (Fr. Hugh Monmonier, OSB and Fr. Daniel Kirk, OSB) took turns driving from Washington, DC to Benedict, MD to celebrate the Latin Mass. Afterwards, the pastors (Fr. Michael King, Fr. Vincent Rigdon, and currently Fr. Saverio Vitturino) have celebrated the Latin Mass.
Click here to view pictures of Latin Mass at St. Francis de Sales.
The Latin Mass is the same worldwide:
One of the greatest strengths of the Latin Mass is its uniformity. Wherever Catholics attend Mass, the Latin Mass is exactly the same. The movements and gestures are clearly prescribed, so there is no “personalization” of the liturgy.
For facts about the Latin Mass see http://www.latinmass.org/faq.html.
For resources on the Latin Mass, see http://www.ecclesiadei.org/index.html, http://www.institute-Christ-King.org and
http://www.fssp.org/en/eccldei.htm.
For a tutorial on how to celebrate the 1962 Tridentine Mass, see http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/
For a comparison between the text of the Tridentine and Novus Ordo Mass, see http://www.latin-mass-society.org/missals.htm
In 2000 a parish was formed in New Jersey http://www.materecclesiae.org/ for the sole purpose of worshipping in the Latin tradition.
For ordering Catholic books, see https://www.booksforcatholics.com/.