Trent and its Liturgical Reform: Compared with Vatican II (Part VI)

The first article in this series raised the question whether the liturgical reform initiated by the Second Vatican Council could be likened to the liturgical reform that followed the Council of Trent. In the previous five entries, I have presented the historical events that led to Trent, the deliberations on liturgical and sacramental matters at the council itself, and the reform of the Roman Rite that was implemented by subsequent popes. We are now in a better position to compare the impact these two important ecclesial assemblies had on the liturgical life of the Catholic Church.