One of the fruits of Benedict XVI’s pontificate has been the freeing of the older form of Holy Mass. His Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum was like an “emancipation proclamation”. Slowly but surely the use of the older Roman forms is spreading.
With that growth come new resources.
One such is the new St. Edmund Campion Missal & Hymnal for the Traditional Latin Mass.
I had received a review copy some time ago, but hadn’t the energy or time to dig into it. Then I received a note from one of the long time readers here about this hymnal. He wrote:
I believe the appearance of this new TLM missal & hymnal–reflecting as it does the beauty of the TLM itself–to be a significant post-Summorum Pontificum event, particularly for TLM newcomers not having a prior hand missal devotion.
Our TLM community is selling copies to individuals, and has not been able to keep up with demand. Ordered 25 copies, then 50 more, then 100 more. Virtually everyone who sees one, wants one.
Upon a first look, it immediately occurred to me that only the TLM could inspire such beauty in a missal or hymnal, just as the Novus Ordo as we know it would never have inspired such beautiful vestments as befit the TLM.
And I’ve seen its effect on others at first look. We’ve been showing it after Mass, and I’ve not personally seen anyone look at one without wanting to buy it, right then and there. Which is why our multiple re-orders, trying to keep up.
Which convinces me of its significance for the TLM, especially its appeal to TLM newcomers without a traditional hand missal devotion. Its appearance is a significant event for our own community that embraces growing TLM groups throughout our diocese.
I like the observation about “a traditional hand missal devotion”. In yesteryear, people would receive a hand missal perhaps for first Communion or Confirmation, they might upgrade to a full, adult version later and then keep it all their lives, stuffed with holy cards and memorial cards and ordination cards, holding it closed with a rubber band.
The new St. Campion hymnal/missal isn’t in that same small format, but it has advantages that the older, traditional hand missal, such as those now produced by Baronius Press and Angelus Press, don’t have.
With those things in mind, here are some pics, which will give you a sense of what he is talking about.
First, this is a hard cover book, the size of a hymnal, rather than a hand missal. That means the print and everything else is larger.
You can see the sections. I am a little concerned that the angular corners will get worn quickly.
It would be helpful to have a couple ribbons.
Sorry about the fuzzy, but you get the sense.
And there is the art work!
In the back there is a Kyriale… a section with the basic chants for the Ordinary of Mass… meaning that the congregation can sing. SHOULD sing in more cases!
It is not light-weight.
Side by side with the Baronius Press hand missal.
Okay, let’s have more interior shots… ’cause it is quite spiffy.
There are two sections for the Ordinary, for Solemn Mass and for Low Mass.
This was interesting. They included some images of ancient manuscripts which demonstrate the antiquity of what we do as Catholics during Holy Mass. This, below, is the beginning of the Roman Canon in the “Stowe Missal” which dates to about 750 AD.
The section for the Ordinary for Low Mass.
Not bad, huh? The book has great appeal. By its beauty, it could be a great help to people who are first getting interested in the older form.
For more information… click HERE.
APX on 10 November – St Andrew Avellino (Vetus Ordo). Wherein Fr. Z rants.: “Many priests live alone, with no one to notice if they fail to rise, suffer a fall, or become suddenly…”
