How about VO (Vetus Ordo) instead of EF? (I'm becoming increasingly partial to the use of "Vetus Ordo". Cardinal Ranjith used it first if I recall.)

Actually, I like the term Usus Antiquior even more.

HI, JulieColl; "EF" has official backing since Pope Benedict used the term in Summorum Pontificum.

@matthewj: not plumping for RTP (tm)?

I really hope that term doesn't catch on. Even "Novus Ordo" is not a official term, in my opinion; it's not used in the published liturgical books or church documents. (It was used in a publicity announcement in the late '60s.) And now we have a controversial decree in a particular case, a decree which is already criticized for its canonical unclarity, and not coming from the knowledgeable CDW, taking "Novus Ordo" as a model to invent a new term for the liturgy.

Tsk, tsk. It's been floating around on the net since 2006, if not earlier, but only appears on 48,000 pages (says Google). "Novus Ordo" is more common, at 825,000. So in 2011 it crept into a personal letter by a cardinal, and in 2013 into a decree. Obviously I am being a bit of a "traditionalist" in language in wanting to avoid this neologism. I have to think that the decree wasn't reviewed thoroughly; there's no reason for the decree to say "Vetus Ordo" and not use the more standard terms "Missale Romanum 1962" or "Extraordinary Form".

Why not just EF and OF? That is so much simpler and clearer.

Well, maybe you're correct, Chonak. This is a purely esoteric discussion anyway, since this is just a matter of personal opinion, but I like the term "Vetus Ordo" because I've never liked the term "Extraordinary Form" (even though I appreciate the fact the Pope Benedict was doing his best to clarify a very complex situation) because it seems to relegate the traditional Latin Mass to an extraneous status, or a "specialty Mass," as I've heard it described.

"Vetus Ordo," on the other hand, puts the traditional Latin Mass, on equal footing with the Novus Ordo--at least IMHO.

That's just my two cents---whatever acronym you decide upon is perfectly okay with me.

Ok, FE and FO then.

vetus, veteris: original, old, former (Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Leo Stelten)

I think the Holy Father is doing us a little-noticed favor by using a term which gives the older form of the Roman rite more parity with the new. So, if you think about it, Pope Francis has taken the good work of Pope Benedict and developed it because he has used a term which actually enhances the status of the Usus Antiquior.

I know this is purely subjective, but I ask you, which term do you think gives the traditional Latin Mass a higher status:

Extraordinary Form
or
Vetus Ordo Missae (i.e., the Original/Former Order of Mass)?

I don't mean to make a "thing" about this, I really don't, but, as someone who loves the old rite, I propose that the updated acronyms for both forms of the Roman Rite ought to be VOM and NOM. It's something to think about it, anyway. : )

Of course, I'm not disputing the fact that Pope Benedict set the two Missals on an equal basis, and the terminology he used was extremely helpful at the time---however, from a personal perspective and one which I know is shared by other traditional-minded Catholics---despite its legal definition, in English, the word "extraordinary" has unfortunate connotations.

Just look at these synonyms for extraordinary from the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, and you'll see what I mean:

aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, freak, odd, peculiar, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted

So, in light of that, I'm only too willing to use the new term Pope Francis approved. If he approved it, it's good enough for me.

I think, in this instance, extraordinary simply means it isn't the ordinary form of mass. And it isn't. It isn't inferior or superior, only from an earlier edition of the Roman Missal. That is all there is to it. Why strain at gnats and look for things to bicker about?

I agree Charles, I just had some really weird retorts and arguments from some...uhm...well-meaning parishioners, so I chose to avoid "extraordinary" and so far it's fine.

I've always liked the term often used in German-speaking sources for the 1962 Missal: they refer to it as the "classical Roman rite".

And then there is this one: The Tridentine Mass or even the Mass of Pius V.

I saw this yesterday, jpal, and found it, along with some of the other papal remarks, quite disconcerting. It's not easy to interpret how one might "ideologize" or "exploit" the Usus Antiquior, and I'm not going to attempt it, at least not publicly. However, the cryptic nature of the remark and other similar remarks does not disguise, at least to my mind, a degree of invective that is quite discomfiting to a traditional Catholic like myself.

One may have been tempted to ignore the earlier comments about "pelagianism" and "triumphalism" as random thoughts, but after reading yesterday's interview, it would seem that a pattern is emerging, and it almost seems as if a campaign against "the right wing" of the Catholic church is being waged.

I can only assume that our pope has had some negative experiences with some high-handed, stiff-necked "conservatives" and "right-wingers" (I can easily imagine such a scenario) and is attempting to trim their sails a bit and whip them into line, and I readily admit, having been around "conservatives" and "right-wingers" all my life, that there are some unfortunate common characteristics, but I'm not sure if a stream of disparaging, almost snide, public comments is the most constructive way to accomplish the goal and am afraid it could lead to alienation and disenfranchisement of faithful Catholics.

(Speaking for myself, I prefer the approach of the FSSP priests who regularly offer helpful, honest, kind sermons which address the lack of charity, pride, etc. which they observe in their congregations.)

It's just that, having received suspicious, unfriendly and vindictive treatment from local church authorities, I'm disheartened to realize that my Holy Father apparently shares their attitude. I realized a long time ago that, in the local clerical view at least, a traditional Catholic homeschooling mom is the lowest of the low in church circles, and I sometimes suspect that a drug-dealer and a streetwalker would receive far more kindness and welcome than I---and maybe that's how it should be, and it's no doubt necessary for my own sanctifation. It's just going to take a little adjustment since now it's coming from the Pope which is unprecedented, from what I know of the Popes of the last century.

If you think about it, "Traditional Latin Mass" isn't an official term either, but everyone knows what it means.

The term "Novus Ordo" is often used in the pejorative sense by those who attend the Extraordinary Form Liturgy. "Novus" literally means "new," but even in very old church writings in Latin has been used in a negative sense to mean "new-fangled."

As one who participates in both forms I can tell you the Mass of Paul VI can be very tough to plan liturgically. I am not sure of all the reasons for this but to me the big reason is that there are so many options available everybody is now an expert on what should or should not be a part of any given Mass. You have to have a strong music minister with the support of the pastor to avoid running yourself ragged trying please multiple critics. I know at the seminary the priest in charge of the liturgy has told the resident priests and others that they have to come through him instead of complaining directly to the Organist/choir director. You just can't please everybody, it's impossible.

The Mass of Pius V has it's own set of problems but at least it is set. Having prepared liturgies for both forms I just find the Vetus Ordo easier to negotiate.

I avoid the expression "Novus Ordo" precisely because it is often attached to "Seclorum" (or saeculorum) and [this expression] is alleged to have Masonic connections.