Missalettes at Mass?

[JimR-OCDS]

There were some who discouraged use of missals at Mass because they didn’t want it to become obvious that they were changing words and rubrics.

Any parish where I’ve visited, where they didn’t have missalettes, the priest did in fact change the words of the Mass.

I use the missalette because it helps me to stay focused and I also have a hearing problem.

Jim

 

[grotto]

Not really…private devotion has its place…and its place is not at the public celebration of mass.

---

What Church law are you declaring there? Oh, you mean its your PERSONAL opinion. How do you know if someone is performing a private devotion - is there a special list that you have, like kneeling, making the sign of the cross, saying an Ave? Or is it the ROSARY that bugs you so much?

 

[frommi]

---

What Church law are you declaring there? Oh, you mean its your PERSONAL opinion. How do you know if someone is performing a private devotion - is there a special list that you have, like kneeling, making the sign of the cross, saying an Ave? Or is it the ROSARY that bugs you so much?

There’s nothing wrong with the rosary, but the liturgy deserves our full, active, and conscious participation…

The rosary has its place, and its place is not during a Eucharistic celebration.

 

[lak611]

Is it possible to buy these missalettes somewhere?

Yes, it is. Here’s a link: catholiccompany.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=7839. They also have one for daily Mass on the same website. The link I gave you is for the Sunday Mass.

 

[mmboys07]

There’s nothing wrong with the rosary, but the liturgy deserves our full, active, and conscious participation…

The most wrongly understood phrase, perhaps in the history of human communication. Liturgical fascists have used this for 30+ years to impose their nonsense on the faithful. I, for one, have had enough. Pray God, when will it end???

 

[lak611]

frommi;1875930:

There’s nothing wrong with the rosary, but the liturgy deserves our full, active, and conscious participation…

The most wrongly understood phrase, perhaps in the history of human communication. Liturgical fascists have used this for 30+ years to impose their nonsense on the faithful. I, for one, have had enough. Pray God, when will it end???

In many parishes, it is possible to participate in the rosary and the Mass on the same day. Many parishes say the rosary before the Mass. Just get to the church about an hour before Mass begins, and you can join in the rosary with the congregation, then assist at Mass afterwards. Besides, you get an indulgence for saying the rosary with a group in church, something that you do not get by saying the rosary privately.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

I addressed this very issue on my blog in October 2006 when I came across the document by the USCCB called, “Hearing the Word of God”. I looked at it from of what we know about how people learn and applied that to the situation. For some people, reading along IS the most reverent thing they can do and it is not evena disability, just a difference in how people pick things up - either through reading, through visuals, or through listening. Some people “hear” better by following along in a missal than they do simply by listening.

In short, such a rigid guideline by the USCCB, in my humble opinion, is rather short-sighted.

In fact, I had considered mailing Cardinal Arinze’s office and asking if the Holy See agrees with such a guideline. I don’t think it will find support at the Vatican.

 

[frommi]

frommi;1875930:

There’s nothing wrong with the rosary, but the liturgy deserves our full, active, and conscious participation…

The most wrongly understood phrase, perhaps in the history of human communication. Liturgical fascists have used this for 30+ years to impose their nonsense on the faithful. I, for one, have had enough. Pray God, when will it end???

I understand that you think its a misused phrase, but not in this case…

I’m simply saying that from beginning to end of the mass it would not be appropriate to go into a rosary trance.

 

[frommi]

I addressed this very issue on my blog in October 2006 when I came across the document by the USCCB called, “Hearing the Word of God”. I looked at it from of what we know about how people learn and applied that to the situation. For some people, reading along IS the most reverent thing they can do and it is not evena disability, just a difference in how people pick things up - either through reading, through visuals, or through listening. Some people “hear” better by following along in a missal than they do simply by listening.

In short, such a rigid guideline by the USCCB, in my humble opinion, is rather short-sighted.

In fact, I had considered mailing Cardinal Arinze’s office and asking if the Holy See agrees with such a guideline. I don’t think it will find support at the Vatican.

I take more issue with some of the ‘rigid’ guidlines proposed by the CDW…

 

[Elzee]

I like using a missalette because I retain more when I read as opposed to just listening to someone - plus - sometimes it’s just hard to understand our lectors.

Our priest has said he hates them though - in a congregation in the thousands, we have only about 20 missalettes near the front entrance to the church.

 

[sir_galahad]

mmboys07;1877200:

I understand that you think its a misused phrase, but not in this case…

I’m simply saying that from beginning to end of the mass it would not be appropriate to go into a rosary trance.

I hardly think praying the Rosary devoutly during Mass is going into a “Rosary trance.” The two prayers really complement each other. I used to frown on saying the Rosary during Mass and still much prefer to follow along with the prayers of the Mass. But active participation in the Mass is also internal. If you’re reverently saying the Rosary (especially the Sorrowful Mysteries) and thinking about God and speaking to Him and His Holy Mother, how can that be a trance that stops you from fully assisting at Mass? I’m not saying that people should be saying the Rosary during Mass… I just don’t understand the visceral reaction some people get from seeing devout souls who find private devotions such as the Rosary an aid whilst at Mass.

 

[grotto]

Perhaps, if one were to be praying the Rosary and paying attention to the Prayers of the Mass, one would not be engaged in watching to see who is using a missalette to find a mistake and go running to complain to the priest as someone claimed was their favorite thing to do!

 

[whitehat]

I`ve been attending Mass for 1 1/2 years…In the first six months or so I really needed the Misslette to not be totally lost as to the progress of the Mass…Now it has become much easier (more familiar) for me…I only refer to the Misslette to read along with the Scripture Readings as the lector reads them…I find it helpful to keep my attention focused especially when one of the lectors may be an immigrant and the accent makes it difficult to follow…I had no idea that there were some who thought that might be disrespectful…no one has ever said anything about it…

 

[aimee]

I`ve been attending Mass for 1 1/2 years…In the first six months or so I really needed the Misslette to not be totally lost as to the progress of the Mass…Now it has become much easier (more familiar) for me…I only refer to the Misslette to read along with the Scripture Readings as the lector reads them…I find it helpful to keep my attention focused especially when one of the lectors may be an immigrant and the accent makes it difficult to follow…I had no idea that there were some who thought that might be disrespectful…no one has ever said anything about it…

I just started using one again for some of the same reasons you stated…I’m not being disrespectful…

 

[LilyM]

frommi;1877543:

If you’re reverently saying the Rosary (especially the Sorrowful Mysteries) and thinking about God and speaking to Him and His Holy Mother, how can that be a trance that stops you from fully assisting at Mass? I’m not saying that people should be saying the Rosary during Mass… I just don’t understand the visceral reaction some people get from seeing devout souls who find private devotions such as the Rosary an aid whilst at Mass.

The visceral reaction comes from the fact that you’re injecting your own worthy but still far inferior devotion of the Rosary into the supremely perfect and worthy WORSHIP of the Mass. One person simply cannot pray two distinct prayers well at the same time, even if they’re related. Any more than you can well concentrate on two distinct speakers at one time, even if they’re speaking on the same topic.

It strikes me as disrespectful in the extreme at such a time to be thinking that any such lengthy private prayer should take place alongside the prayers of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Is the Mass really so incomprehensible to you that you can’t understand and participate in what is happening on its own terms, but must instead inject your own private prayers into Our Lord’s public sacrifice??

If that is the case then the appropriate thing to do is learn more about the Mass, until you DO understand it, because I can assure you one Mass assisted at devoutly and with FULL and singular attention to IT rather than your Rosary is worth any number of inferior prayers.

 

[maryalene]

I haven’t read all the responses, but we don’t have missalettes at our church either. The only thing in the pews is a hymn book. Our priest has mentioned several times in homilies over the years that it is proper for us to listen to the readings proclaimed at Sunday Mass. Then during the week, we are to return to those readings to re-read them and meditate on them. I’m not sure if that comes from the GIRM though.

 

[frommi]

frommi;1877543:

I hardly think praying the Rosary devoutly during Mass is going into a “Rosary trance.” The two prayers really complement each other. I used to frown on saying the Rosary during Mass and still much prefer to follow along with the prayers of the Mass. But active participation in the Mass is also internal. If you’re reverently saying the Rosary (especially the Sorrowful Mysteries) and thinking about God and speaking to Him and His Holy Mother, how can that be a trance that stops you from fully assisting at Mass? I’m not saying that people should be saying the Rosary during Mass… I just don’t understand the visceral reaction some people get from seeing devout souls who find private devotions such as the Rosary an aid whilst at Mass.

There is nothing wrong with the rosary…but it has its time and place…and the place is outside the celebration of mass.

I like the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday…but we can’t do that every week either.

Missalettes are fine, and no one needs to judge one way or the other who wants to use them and who doesn’t.

I think it is valuable to educate congregations about why we might want to use a missalette…a lot of people are sort of pre programmed to just pick them up at the doors.

 

[sir_galahad]

sir galahad;1878566:

The visceral reaction comes from the fact that you’re injecting your own worthy but still far inferior devotion of the Rosary into the supremely perfect and worthy WORSHIP of the Mass. One person simply cannot pray two distinct prayers well

at the same time, even if they’re related. Any more than you can well concentrate on two distinct speakers at one time, even if they’re speaking on the same topic.

It strikes me as disrespectful in the extreme at such a time to be thinking that any such lengthy private prayer should take place alongside the prayers of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Is the Mass really so incomprehensible to you that you can’t understand and participate in what is happening on its own terms, but must instead inject your own private prayers into Our Lord’s public sacrifice??

If that is the case then the appropriate thing to do is learn more about the Mass, until you DO understand it, because I can assure you one Mass assisted at devoutly and with FULL and singular attention to IT rather than your Rosary is worth any number of inferior prayers.

I still can’t agree with you, nor understand why you’re attacking me. As long as you pray devoutly, you’re assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Honestly, that’s one of the reasons why I prefer to attend a Latin Mass… my every thought and word aren’t mandated for every second that the Mass lasts.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

I like using a missalette because I retain more when I read as opposed to just listening to someone - plus - sometimes it’s just hard to understand our lectors.

Bingo. The most charitable approach to the issue by any pastor is to support people in their efforts to follow the Mass. If some need a missal, then don’t hinder it.

 

[davidc2]

Personally I have no problem with folks using Missals. I don’t use one during Mass, but I often do read the readings in advance.

Missalettes, however, are a different issue. The content is mostly from the Bible. I wouldn’t throw a Bible out in the trash. And yet that is exactly what happens to all those missalettes and “worship aids” and the like. For that reason alone I would discourage folks from using a missalette.

Missals which can be used for many years (or until they change the translation yet again) are easily available at most Catholic or Christian bookstores. Even regular bookstores can almost always order them.