People have told me that when the Novus Ordo was first introduced they thought it was essentially just a new, and official, translation of the Mass. I'm guessing these were individuals who didn't use a hand missal.
Truth be told, I prefer a conservative and rubricly correct Novus Ordo in English to the traditional Mass in Latin. Why? Because I don't have to pay attention all through Mass. My mind can wander and I can return instantly to the Mass without any thought whatsoever. But I am sane enough and intelligent enough to know that this preference comes from my propensity to sin and from deceits of Satan. If I believed God truly wanted me to go to Mass to be passively entertained (which is the essence of the vernacular Novus Ordo) I would go there. But I cannot believe that God desires passive worship. He wants us to actively unite our prayers with the prayers of the Mass and to work to be attentive and to worship Him.
While the Latin Language is not, as Matthew pointed out, intrinsic to the Catholic Faith, the Church showed great wisdom in making Latin the outward uniting force that would assist frail humans to truly worship God in both mind and spirit.
TKGS, you hit on some interesting points. I think there is a general understanding that the use of Latin is not intrinsic to the Mass. There seems to be general agreement with Traditional Catholics here and Conservative catholics on Catholic Answers who choose the Extraordinary form of the Mass (Latin).
BUt then you go on to say that participation in the Novus Ordo mass is a mindless occupation and that is where I have a different take. English, as an example, helps me focus more as I understand. We in the Novus Ordo are encouraged to come to Mass prior to reflect on what the mass will be about and understand it within the overall three year liturgical calendar. We are encouraged to prayerfully read the scriptures, Benedict was particularly strong on bringing that back. There has been an increase practice of Eucharistic Adoration in the last 20 or so years, so mindless attendance of mass is a bit of an unfair characteristic of the N.O.
I think there is a danger in assuming that "the other" do this or that in their relationship to God and Our Lord, Our Lady and the Saints/Angels. Making those assumptions about the discipline and focus of one another is not within our rights to do. However, those who are political (on all sides of the issue) about whether the pre-councilar church or the novus ordo are right are wrong or whether the the people in either side of the issue are sincerely focused ; it is not for us to judge the authenticity of their relationship on the part of ALL sincere people on all sides within our church. That is a point of being a Christian, that of having the charity within us to never dismiss anyone's interior relationship with God.i
For some, the use of venacular is more spiritually nourishing (and yes I do like folk masses and the use of contemporary instruments and music styles) as they sound good, feel good are facilitative to the purposes of the mass are spiritually nourishing for me and I know my relationship to my Lord...but I do not doubt the sincerity of those who, for whatever reason including conscience) choose to not join with us in the Novus Ordo.
So having said all that, Latin to a degree and in itself is not intrinsic, the problem is not so much surficial (ie. what language is used) but the systemic dismanteling and differences of the authentic Traditional Mass prior to the changes .... and that is where I find the focus of TC;s. So I am moving deeper into what those changes are... I really believe the differences between us are not what language is used, or how it encourages focus and authenticity that we are invited to participate in at the mass, but the deeper changes that formed the opposition and resistance of the SSPX and like minded movements/groups/organizations.
Towards that end, I would appreciate your thinking and examples.
Bruce