“Legalism and self-righteousness will always be a temptation....)”
It’s not legalism to prefer Latin.
The enemies of the Church damaged her tremendously by “translating” things to say what they wanted them to say, rather than what they actually say.
Latin is a safeguard against that. A common language for the Church is of immeasurable value.
Latin in the Mass is what it is.
Vernacular in the Mass is whatever the “translators” or the ad libbers want it to be.
I don’t believe I said anything about a preference for Latin being legalism. I happen to love Latin (hence my screen name) and the I love the Tridentine Mass. I also agree with you regarding poor translations, though that is being repaired by Pope Benedict.
The legalism I refer to is that which some espouse...attempting to claim that the Novus Ordo is invalid, etc.
Not to mention that now every language says something different from every other language.