What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

You might recall that some time ago I posted a preview of a booklet projected by Angelus Press.

It is now out:

Handbook for Laundering Liturgical Linens.

This is a very useful booklet!

Anyone with a parish or chapel who would like to get people involved in the care of altar linens would be wise to purchase copies of this nicely printed pamphlet for distribution.

As I wrote in my preview: I am highly in favor of anything that will help other people learn how properly to iron purificators, corporals, amices… all that stuff.

That said, I was a little puzzled why on the cover of the pamphlet they seem to have chosen to place the corporal upside down on the altar beneath the chalice.

Here is shot that gives you a sense also of the paper used for the cover, which I think is the clay-treated paper often found in magazines.  It picks up your finger prints, but.. so what.



Notice the way the corporal is laid out, with the folds up.  The point of a corporal is, in part, to retain particles of the Host within it, when folded up like an envelop.  So.. I would have put it the other way.

But this can be easily corrected in a future printing, I imagine.

Here is the page with the instructions for the corporal.



I see in the back, in a "Guidelines and Tips" section, they may have taken a tip from me both from the blog entry and a phone conversation.  They included a line or two about priests first washing the linens and putting the water down the sacrarium before sending them off to be worked on.  Also, they picked up on the washing bags for amices.  There was some good discussing on laundering tips at that preview entry I posted.

Now if I could get someone to do the linens for the Sabine Farm!

So, the pamphlet is short, but packed: 12pp. Softcover, illustrated. $2.95

 

Every once in a while the nice folks at Angelus Press send me something to review.  For example, we have looked at their daily hand missal (which I see is on sale right now) and a spiffy little inexpensive intro booklet for people who want to know more about the pre-Conciliar form of Mass.

This time I get to preview something for you. 

They sent me a pdf of something they haven’t printed yet.  I hope they get to it soon, because it is very useful and well done.

"But Father! But Father!  Are you ever going to tell us what it is?  C’mon!  Spit it out!

Patience.

You know, life at the Sabine Farm has its positives and its negatives.

One of the positives is the chapel.  One of the negatives is the chapel.

That is, one of the negatives is that I am pretty much the only one who cleans it and keep everything in order. 

That means doing all the linens.

I really hate ironing.  No… really... I do.

As a matter of fact I detest ironing.

Therefore, I am highly in favor of anything that will help other people learn how properly to iron purificators, corporals, amices… all that stuff.

Here is where I rapidly become a fan of the Angelus Press and their forthcoming (sound the trumpet):

 

 

So what if they are the publishing arm of the SSPX. 

They just might have expanded my pool of potential ironers! 

Seriously, this is going to be a very useful booklet in parishes far and wide, old Mass, new Mass, in union with Rome or not.  Very useful.

All the various common linens are presented with descriptions of what they are for and what they might mean, for example in the case of the symbolic meaning of the amice, a vestment the priest uses during Mass.

There are clear directions and also step by step drawings for how to fold the linens, which is very important, especially in the case of a corporal, which has the function of capturing particles of the Host which might have been missed.

Here is what we find on the contents page:

i Quick Reference Chart
ii The Purificator
iii The Corporal
iv The Pall
v The Lavabo Towel
vi The Amice
vii A Few Guidelines and Tips
viii Altar Linens
ix Glossary
ix Notes page

This little book provides a bit of direction for those ladies who are so generous
helping Holy Mother Church (and her sacristans) with laundering,
ironing, and mending.

What sort of thing might you find in "A Few Guidelines and Tips"?  Let’s see what they say about the hated ironing.

Ironing
? There is a linen setting on most irons. If you have tough creases to remove, you
might try squirting a little water onto the crease or try the iron’s steam setting.
? The corporals call for heavy starch, but be careful with the spray-on starch.
If you saturate the cloth, the starch will flake when it dries (during Mass, the
celebrant scrapes the corporal with the paten; if the starch is flaky, it will mix in
with the Particles of the Sacred Host). To prevent this flaking, apply the starch
in thin layers and iron it in before the next layer is sprayed on.
? Keep all edges nice and square and crisp. Any strings such as those on the
amice should be pressed out flat. Lace also needs to be ironed out flat.
? If you find that your linens look “rumpled” or “wumpled” or kind of wrinkly no
matter how much you iron, you might try using a thinner ironing pad.

I will also give you a tip.  When washing Father’s amices, do not – I repeat – DO NOT just thrown them into the machine and start the cycle.  You must first tie up the long ties attached to the corners or YOU - WILL – BE - SORRY.  Another solution might be small mesh bags to wash them in.  Whatever your solution might be… be careful with the treacherous amice.

I have sent them a couple suggestions before they go to press.  For example, it might be helpful to talk about the wonderful custom of the priest first washing linens that come into contact with the Sacred Species and then pouring the water down the sacrarium before they go to be laundered.

There is a very good glossary toward the back.  Here are a few examples:

 

antemensium a “Greek corporal” which is used as a “portable altar stone”

gremial the cloth a bishop uses over his lap during confirmations

predella the top platform of the altar steps

At the end there is a good fervorino:

Be sure that any work you do for the chapel will redound to your
merit. We are meant to love the altar and everything that pertains to
it, and remember that even the smallest work or smallest detail does
not go unnoticed nor unrewarded by our beloved Master.

I think the word "chapel" in this reflects the SSPX origin.  A better way would be "chapel or church".

This should be available in July! 

I can hardly wait! 

I plan on giving out copies.

You may have seen the review I posted of a very helpful little booklet designed precisely For the Visitor at Mass.  It is on sale from the Angelus Press, publishing arm for the SSPX. 

The director of the Angelus Press Fr. Kenneth Novak, SSPX, sent me a nice note as a follow up.   I cordially post it here:




Thanks, Fr. Novak, for the possibility that this review took "courage", though I really don’t so.  I was just trying to be fair.

I may disagree with some foundational arguments used by some members of the SSPX.  I have bones to pick only with those who use overly harsh rhetoric to criticize the Roman Pontiff and other prelates.  Happily they are rare.  Most of the SSPX priests I have met are good fellows, whom I believe would choose clearer unity with Rome like a shot, were they able to perceive that they would be treated fairly…. a real concern, I know.

And when I see a good book, I’ll call it a good book!

What I think we must do is continually extend good will in the hope of more perfect unity in near future.

Oremus, Fr. Novak, libenter pro invicem.

Many times on WDTPRS people have recounted their first experiences of attending a TLM, either first ever or first in a long time.  Very often they relate how hard it was for them to follow what was going on.  They were disoriented by the differences.  They felt self-conscious because they didn’t know what to do, and it was obvious.

The Angelus Press, publishing arm for the SSPX, has put out a very nice, very helpful little booklet designed precisely For the Visitor at Mass. 

The booklet is 40 some pages, on paper, printed in color, and very economical.  The colors are bright and engaging, despite the less than high quality, no doubt to keep the price very low.  The Angelus Press website has packs of 25 for $75.

The text was from The Queen’s Work by Fr. Richard Ginder, in 1940, but it has been adapted.  The intended reader, back in 1940, was obviously  a non-Catholic, for many things of common knowledge for Catholics are explained. 

There is an introductory section on what Holy Mass is and what people saw in the church.  I especially enjoyed seeing explanations such as:"You may have noticed when you were coming into the church that the people, on entering, dipped their fingers into a font of water and traced the sign of the cross on themselves."  Non-Catholics might be puzzled about this, but given the lousy state of catechism over the last few decades I think there may be many Catholics who neither do this nor understand what it is.  Other examples: "Visible in the center of the altar is either a large veiled vessel or a curtained door…", "You wil also notice a rail which separates the sanctuary (where the altar is located) from the rest of the church)....", "Since the primary purpose of the liturgy is to give honor to God it is not necessary that the faithful understand totally the Latin…."  There are other interesting examples intended for non-Catholics, but useful today for many Catholics who have never experienced what was entirely normal for so long before the reforms.

Then each section of Mass is explored and explained, with photos.  The priests actions are printed in red, which is a nice tough!   Easy to understand background is provided.  For example, in the section for the Introit, "He goes to the right and reads the Introit, a verse from the Psalms or Old Testament, then the doxology (a shortprayer in honor of the Holy Trinity), and then the verse again.  The Intriot varies with the feast of the liturgical season and is meant to exemplfy the character of the Mass for the day."

There are many photos to exemplify the actions of the Mass, taken at a church in Kansas City, MO.  I hope in a new edition some of the photos might be improved.  There are a few focus problems.  But all in all the photos are well chosen to show what is going on at Mass.

I think a new comer to such a Holy Mass, of various ages (maybe not the very young) could use this book for the first few visits.  Also, it could help an old veteran learn phrases and bits of information for their own explanations to others about the differences between the older and newer forms of Mass. 

On the back of this booklet is a blank space for "contact Information, and also with the following text:

Unless the pastor indicates otherwise, this booklet is ideal as a keepsake of your assitance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  It is advisable that anyone consistently using this visitor’s booklet purchase a 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal.  

They are talking about their own beautifully bound hand missal which I reviewed here. 

I very much like that note on the back.  It lets people be at ease about taking it, without feeling wrong or furtive.  Also, the contact information space is helpful.  The first time I ever was in a Catholic Church, not knowing who to contact to ask questions, I left my name and number with someone and, thank God, got a return call.  This space and text on the back is inviting. 

Never underestimate the power of an invitation.

"But Father! but Father!", a few of you are probably gasping.  "Are you suggesting that this is a good book when it is published by those schismatics?  I thought we couldn’t have anything to do with Lefebvrites!"

First, of all, leaving aside the term "schism", if a book is good, it’s good.  This is a great little tool.  There is nothing polemical in it at all.  Even in the introductory section, where there might have been some shots fired there are only helpful explanations. 

Second, it is certainly permissible to buy books from a non-Catholic publisher, so long as they are decent.  Why shouldn’t one be able to purchase them from a publisher which is Catholic, even though the unity of the group with Rome is not perfect?  Also, if it is permissible when attending a Mass of the SSPX (provided that the motives are proper – and I do not recommend Communion unless your circumstances are such that it is appropriate) to make a small contribution at offertory time, why could not one buy a book?  Catholics can engaged a non-Catholic construction firm to build a church, so why can’t we purchase books from a publisher of Catholic books to build the faith, even if the publisher’s associations are not in perfect unity?  Also, I cannot think of any similar book printed by any group in more perfect and manifest union with Rome.  Were there something similar or better, I would have to give that greater consideration.  In the meantime, this is a wonderful tool.

Third, it seems to me that the attitude of "embargo" against any Angelus Press products, simply because of the association of the SSPX, is really contrary to the spirit in which our Holy Father Pope Benedict has given us Summorum Pontificum.  Someday, I hope, there will be more perfect, manifest unity. In that case, we should desire that the Angelus Press be sound and strong, for it will then be truly helpful in a much wider context.  I act in that hope.

I think that parishes where the TLM is celebrated could use this useful and inviting little booklet.  Perhaps pastors of parishes might contact Angelus Press to see if they can get samples.  I think they will be favorably impressed.

I think it is of upmost importance to participate at Holy Mass also using a sound "hand missal".  A good hand missal, whether of the TLM of the Novus Ordo, can enrich your interior receptivity. 

A while back I reviewed the hand missal published by Baronius Press. 

Now let’s look at the hnd missal published by Angelus Press, the publishing arm of the SSPX.  For the purposes of this review, the fact that it comes from the SSPX’s printing concern matters not a whit to me.  I am grateful that they sent me a copy for my review.

First, let’s have a look general look at the cover and binding.



There are five ribbons and the pages are gilded.  the gilding isn’t like it was in the old days, but that’s no surprise.  It is still pretty good.  The binding of the new volume was still pretty tight, but it seems durable from what I can tell.  That is very important in such a book.

I still have to hold it open with my fingers for the shot, but it will loosen up.

You can see that the pages well laid out.  There is both English and Latin side by side.  The black ink is dark and well contrasted with the paper which is slightly yellowish.

 

Here is the basic information for the translation and the commentaries.  You can see that the paper is very thin, to keep the book a reasonable size, but the paper seems sturdy.

NB: They are in their 3rd printing for November 2007.

There are good sections for devotions and private prayers.



There are propers for the USA and Canada.

In the back there is a Kyriale.  I hope that means that the SSPX wants people in the pews to sing along… (which I doubt).  Seriously, this could help in the formation of a small schola: you would not have to buy too many more books to get it started.

 

I liked this feature in the back: pages for you to write in special events like baptisms, marriages, ordinations, deaths, and your own special intentions.  If someone were to use this at St. Agnes Church in St. Paul, however, that ordinations page would have to have an extension added.

 

Here is the first pages of the Ordinary.  you can see that they use red ink for the rubrics and comments. 

 

Let’s now compare the Angelus Press version with the Baronius Press version. 

 

The Baronius Press version is a little smaller, but they are roughly the same thickness and feel in the hand. 

 

The Baronius binding is somewhat subtler.

Let us see them open and next to each other.  The Angelus Press edition is on the top, Baronius below.

Click the image below for a bigger view.

Note that the Baronius edition has somwhat whiter paper. 

I don’t know if that would help in a darker church or, in a brigher space it might annoy.



The gilt on the pages of the Baronius is marginally better accomplished.  The Baronius edition has 6 ribbons and the Angelus version 5.

In sum, the Angelus Press book is very good.  I like the commentaries and the extra sections for devotions. 

I did not do a side by side comparison of the translation, so at this point I have nothing to say about that.

This book is very useful and should prove to resist years of being hauled around in bags or in the hand. 

I am sure that some of you readers will have your own experienecs and preferences, which you can post below.

The kind folks at Baronius Press sent me a few of their publications: the small blue volume of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Bible with the Douay-Reims version, and their highly touted daily hand missal for Holy Mass with the 1962 Missale Romanum.



Let’s look at the hand missal.

First, it was a real pleasure to see this book again.  I had seen one once before during a trip to the UK.  This time I had a chance to give it a good examination.

The leather binding should prove to be very durable and there is a good number of ribbons.  The book lies open fairly well enven though it is not broken in.  The pages are gilded and the paper is extremely thin but strong.  This keeps the book thin and comfortable in the hand, which is very important to me.

 

There are good features, including an appendix with propers for regions, as in the UK and the USA.

There is a section with the little office which would be good for lay people in their devotional prayer.

 

Also, in the appendix, there is a section with the normal chants for Mass in good Gregorian notation:

 

The section you would use the most is well laid out:

I am impressed by this hand missal which, so far, is probably the best I have seen.  If you are looking for something for yourself or as a gift, this would be a great choice.

Also, I think it would be good to support Baronius at the moment.  They are going to be preparing an altar missal and no doubt need the cash flow to keep it going.  If their altar missal is as nice as the hand missal, it will be a wonderful tool.  They are also working on other titles, such as an English-Latin Breviary.

If you have more questions, contact them here and tell them Fr. Z sent you. 

 

I received today some books from Baronius Press.

The titles were from different sections, and included titles like

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Way of Perfection

There was also some fiction, Lord of the World, by Robert Hugh Benson, which everyone should read.

They sent Newman’s The Idea of a University.

Etc.

Unfortunately there were no liturgical titles in the shipment.

The hardcovers have a very nice, large type face, which would make them easy to read even when the light wasn’t strong. They have a ribbon. The softcovers are like a trade-paperback size (that is, a little larger, and open easily. They have the same good typeface, making them easy to read.

I am very pleased to have received these books.

I applaud the publishers who provide not only classics of Christian literature, but also the liturgical tools clergy and lay people will be needing as the Holy Father’s Summorum Pontificum is lived more and more.

Some years ago a very kind person gave me an edition of a reprinted Missale Romanum supposed to be the 1962 edition.  It even has 1962 printed on the cover, as the photo shows here.

This is NOT an edition of the 1962 Missal.

If you have this or just bought it, DON’T PANIC.

"But Father! But Father!" you may be saying, as sweat breaks out on your forehead. "The cover says 1962!  Surely you’re wrong about this.  It must be the 1962 edition!  That’s what I paid for!"

Au contraire, my sweaty friend.  But, again, do not panic.  You have not bought a useless book.

"But Father! But Father! &%$^#!!", you continue.  "How do I know that the edition I have is really a 1962 edition?"

Many of you will have old editions of the Missale Romanum.  Very few of you will actually have a 1962 edition.  In that case, to use it at all, first, you will have to make sure you are following the rubrics established by John XXIII in 1960 and tweaked in 1962.

The fastest way to see if your edition is really a 1962 edition is to check the Roman Canon to see if the name of St. Joseph is included.  This was a change made by Bl. Pope John XXIII for the 1962 edition.  St. Joseph’s name was not in the Canon before the 1962 edition.  Not even in the 1960 edition, which is picture above despite the bold "1962" on the cover.

Here is a photo of the page of the Roman Canon in this supposedly "1962" reprint editon pictured above.  Notice that St. Joseph’s name is not there.  I marked the spot where it should be.