Why Mass in Latin Before Reformation?

No, the Church’s goal was not to impede the faithful from understanding the Mass. Latin was the universal language of the Church, and that’s why it was used throughout the Latin Rite of the Church.

In addition, people heard the readings proclaimed in their native language, not simply in Latin, and the homily was in their native language as well. And what the Mass was about otherwise, including the central Sacrifice of the Eucharist, was known by the faithful.

Further, and a very important point, most people couldn’t read in those days. That began to change to with the advent of moveable type in printing presses, an invention that predated the Protestant Reformation by only about seven decades.

In addition, for those who were literate, Bible reading without proper guidance was discouraged, out of concern they might misinterpret Scripture and go astray from Christ and his Church. But there was a never categorical ban on reading by the lay faithful, contrary to some myths.