In my post below on liturgical resources, I mentioned that I was a big fan of Hand Missals. I guess I'm going to tell you why, whether you want me to or not. That's just how I roll.
Here are my reasons:
1--Expense. If we purchase out own hand missals, it's a one time purchase, good for years. If we rely on missalettes, the parish bears an ongoing expense, as these have to be replaced regularly, 3 to six times a year, depending on brand. In a time of tight church budgets, it makes sense to have your own and save some money that can be used for other things than paperback books that will be unusable in a few weeks or months.
2--Completeness. A hand missal generally contains much more of the texts of the Mass than a Missalette, to include votive Masses and Masses for special needs--the Parish office doesn't have to spent time (often by paid empoyees) and money printing up and duplicating texts for these special events or needs--they are ready to hand in the hand missal.
3--Additional Resources. A decent--not top of the line, either--hand missal will have not just the texts of the Mass, but notes n scripture reading, personal devotion, the Holy Rosary, prayers, guidelines for a good confession, tips for the study and practice of the faith and so on. Mine has proven a treasure house of things that i would otherwise not have access to, or not think about.
4--Environmentalism. Missalettes are printed on cheap wood pulp paper, which means that even were one to try and save them there would be very little success. The paper would yellow, turn brittle and crumple. Being disposable, they take up space in landfills or must be recycled. Adding up the energy budget for making them, transporting them and disposing of them is sobering. A hand missal will last for years and years. Over the long haul, it takes much less biomass (wood pulp etc.) and energy to make a hand missal than to keep printing and shipping all those missalettes, and releases much less pollution in the manufacturing process. Missalettes are wasteful.
5--Those Unfortunate Sundays when one cannot attend Mass. If you have a hand missal, you can still observe the Sabbath by prayer and reading of the proper scripture texts for the day. If there are more than one of you in the same predicament, the Liturgy of the Word can be celebrated, without a homily (unless there is a deacon present), the creed recited and intercessions offered, with the closing prayer, using the closing for the "other hours" from the Liturgy of Hours. (I've seen this done in the Army when there was no Chaplain.)
It would be better if the faithful returned to the use of a missal, and missalettes went the way of the dodo. in fact, it could help overcome one of the objections that i hear voiced by visitors to Catholic Churches--that they didn't feel welcome. Sharing your missal with a visitor could help them feel as welcome as they actually are.
Here are my reasons:
1--Expense. If we purchase out own hand missals, it's a one time purchase, good for years. If we rely on missalettes, the parish bears an ongoing expense, as these have to be replaced regularly, 3 to six times a year, depending on brand. In a time of tight church budgets, it makes sense to have your own and save some money that can be used for other things than paperback books that will be unusable in a few weeks or months.
2--Completeness. A hand missal generally contains much more of the texts of the Mass than a Missalette, to include votive Masses and Masses for special needs--the Parish office doesn't have to spent time (often by paid empoyees) and money printing up and duplicating texts for these special events or needs--they are ready to hand in the hand missal.
3--Additional Resources. A decent--not top of the line, either--hand missal will have not just the texts of the Mass, but notes n scripture reading, personal devotion, the Holy Rosary, prayers, guidelines for a good confession, tips for the study and practice of the faith and so on. Mine has proven a treasure house of things that i would otherwise not have access to, or not think about.
4--Environmentalism. Missalettes are printed on cheap wood pulp paper, which means that even were one to try and save them there would be very little success. The paper would yellow, turn brittle and crumple. Being disposable, they take up space in landfills or must be recycled. Adding up the energy budget for making them, transporting them and disposing of them is sobering. A hand missal will last for years and years. Over the long haul, it takes much less biomass (wood pulp etc.) and energy to make a hand missal than to keep printing and shipping all those missalettes, and releases much less pollution in the manufacturing process. Missalettes are wasteful.
5--Those Unfortunate Sundays when one cannot attend Mass. If you have a hand missal, you can still observe the Sabbath by prayer and reading of the proper scripture texts for the day. If there are more than one of you in the same predicament, the Liturgy of the Word can be celebrated, without a homily (unless there is a deacon present), the creed recited and intercessions offered, with the closing prayer, using the closing for the "other hours" from the Liturgy of Hours. (I've seen this done in the Army when there was no Chaplain.)
It would be better if the faithful returned to the use of a missal, and missalettes went the way of the dodo. in fact, it could help overcome one of the objections that i hear voiced by visitors to Catholic Churches--that they didn't feel welcome. Sharing your missal with a visitor could help them feel as welcome as they actually are.
2 comments:
I've had my own missal for years. Whent the new translation came out I called our local bookstore to see if they had one. They were backordered and I was told to reserve one because of the high demand, that last tells me SOMEBODY is using the things!
LOL! I ordered mine before they came out. The guy at the bookstore knows me, and asked what it was for and I explained it to him. He's a secular person, but thought it was a neat idea.
When He saw it, he asked why it needed all the ribbons...
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