F
FrDavid96
Guest
The new missals have been shipping for a few weeks now, and many of them are now “in-hand” instead of just being pictures in advertisements and sample pages.
I am wonderring what people think of the new Missals themselves? I’m not asking about the text, or about the new translation. I mean actual physical books. What are some thoughts?
I have the Magnificat chapel edition. I chose that one because, quite frankly, it was the least expensive, and I had no choice but to pre-order something to be sure I would have it in time for Nov. 27. I knew that if I later has buyer’s remorse and wanted a different version (a choice I would only be able to make after seeing the actual books), at least I could take some solace in knowing that I paid the lowest price the first time around.
Anyway, I’ve can now say that I’ve had several different versions in my hand, and I’ve got mixed feelings about all of them.
Here are my “reviews”
Magnificat: very nice printing, good artwork. Nicely done. Very dignified looking. The drawbacks are that it’s too narrow. The pages are a bit out of proportion, and it just doesn’t sit right on the missal stand. The biggest complaint I have is about the tabs. They are not factory installed. They send a sheet of “stickers” along with the missal and tell you to go to a webpage for instructions. If only I had known that before I ordered it! I was as careful as I could be, but they just don’t look right. They’re certainly not very sturdy. The worst part is that there is only one tab for each Eucharistic Prayer–so there’s no tab to turn from one page to another while praying the EP—that’s a big problem.
Catholic Book Publishing: More or less the same as the current CBP Sacramentaries, but with the new words. I think these have overall been the most popular since 1973. They do have all the tabs, and they’re put there by the factory. The problem with those is the artwork. The cover on the chapel edition is that same old 1960’s style “table-not-altar” with the candles resting on the floor. Not a very attractive cover, especially compared to what other versions have to offer (including the other CBP versions). Much of the interior artwork is very nice, but there’s still a lot of the old-style “cartoon” or childish drawings on many of the pages. The sample they sent me a few months back was a page from one of the votive Masses (I think?). I can’t recall, but the theme of the Mass had something to do with the priesthood. Anyway, the drawing on the page was a sort of children’s cartoon of people standing in a circle holding hands. I decided that if they were going to send me that as a sample, I would stay away from the book altogether.
Liturgical Press: Not too much to say here. The artwork really turned me off, so I haven’t examined it too closely. I didn’t care much for their old Sacramentaries, so I never looked into their new Missals in much detail.
The USCCB has done its own printing, but I haven’t actually held one in my hand yet.
usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1585
So, if you have the 3rd Edition Roman Missal, or if you’ve actually had the chance to see them up close and personal…
…What are your thoughts???
I am wonderring what people think of the new Missals themselves? I’m not asking about the text, or about the new translation. I mean actual physical books. What are some thoughts?
I have the Magnificat chapel edition. I chose that one because, quite frankly, it was the least expensive, and I had no choice but to pre-order something to be sure I would have it in time for Nov. 27. I knew that if I later has buyer’s remorse and wanted a different version (a choice I would only be able to make after seeing the actual books), at least I could take some solace in knowing that I paid the lowest price the first time around.
Anyway, I’ve can now say that I’ve had several different versions in my hand, and I’ve got mixed feelings about all of them.
Here are my “reviews”
Magnificat: very nice printing, good artwork. Nicely done. Very dignified looking. The drawbacks are that it’s too narrow. The pages are a bit out of proportion, and it just doesn’t sit right on the missal stand. The biggest complaint I have is about the tabs. They are not factory installed. They send a sheet of “stickers” along with the missal and tell you to go to a webpage for instructions. If only I had known that before I ordered it! I was as careful as I could be, but they just don’t look right. They’re certainly not very sturdy. The worst part is that there is only one tab for each Eucharistic Prayer–so there’s no tab to turn from one page to another while praying the EP—that’s a big problem.
Catholic Book Publishing: More or less the same as the current CBP Sacramentaries, but with the new words. I think these have overall been the most popular since 1973. They do have all the tabs, and they’re put there by the factory. The problem with those is the artwork. The cover on the chapel edition is that same old 1960’s style “table-not-altar” with the candles resting on the floor. Not a very attractive cover, especially compared to what other versions have to offer (including the other CBP versions). Much of the interior artwork is very nice, but there’s still a lot of the old-style “cartoon” or childish drawings on many of the pages. The sample they sent me a few months back was a page from one of the votive Masses (I think?). I can’t recall, but the theme of the Mass had something to do with the priesthood. Anyway, the drawing on the page was a sort of children’s cartoon of people standing in a circle holding hands. I decided that if they were going to send me that as a sample, I would stay away from the book altogether.
Liturgical Press: Not too much to say here. The artwork really turned me off, so I haven’t examined it too closely. I didn’t care much for their old Sacramentaries, so I never looked into their new Missals in much detail.
The USCCB has done its own printing, but I haven’t actually held one in my hand yet.
usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1585
So, if you have the 3rd Edition Roman Missal, or if you’ve actually had the chance to see them up close and personal…
…What are your thoughts???