Before the reform of the liturgy by the Second Vatican Council, it was deemed that mass was complicated to understand for the faithful. Thus, the council decided to revise the order of mass in such a way as to emphasize without any doubt the deep-seated nature and intentions of the several parts that form it. This would bring about the knowledge of the connection of parts of the mass and thus readily achieve the devout and active participation of the faithful.
To this end, the rites were made simpler, and due care was taken in order to safeguard their essence. Some other rites that were added and thus duplicated others as time went by were abandoned, while those that were previously deemed unnecessary and ineffective were to be restored. In these simple ways and these little steps, the second Vatican council altered the order and the rites of mass.