Tridentine

The word Tridentine is used to describe conservative Roman Catholic members who reject many of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, most notably the Novus Ordo (New Mass of Pope Paul VI) and who instead remain attached to the theology, liturgy and ceremonial of pre-Vatican II Roman Catholicism. While some Tridentine Catholics remain part of Roman Catholicism (often celebrating the Novus Ordo in latin) many are attached to breakaway movements such as the Society of St. Pius X or the true Catholic Church. Such groups place particular stress on the celebration of the Tridentine Mass instituted at the Council of Trent and whose celebration is now prohibited by the Vatican.

Some Tridentine Catholics who belong to sedevacantist movements, have gone so far as to elect their own 'popes'. The Montana-based true Catholic Church in 1998 elected Reverend Father Earl Lucian Pulvermacher, OFM Cap to the papacy, which it argued had been vacant since the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958. Pulvermacher was proclaimed Pope Pius XIII.

See:

• Tridentine Mass
• Novus Ordo
• Altar rails
• Mass (Liturgy)
• true Catholic Church
• Second Vatican Council