Protecting my 1962 Missal

[VincentO]

This may seem an odd question, but now that I have my lovely Baronius Missal, can anyone suggest a way of protecting it?

It will be being carried around in my rucksack / bag etc as I go back and forth and I want to keep it looking good.

Do you protect your missal? How?

 

[Reepicheep]

Find a box just a little larger than the Missal, to keep it in.
Wrap it in a layer of thick cloth before inserting it into the box.
Carry the box in your rucksack.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I still have my St. Joseph’s 1962 Missal which I got when I was Confirmed in 1963. My ribbons are really faded and the leather cover is now soft. The gilding on the edges of the pages has worn off but that’s OK because DW’s missal from the same time had red edges and a hardcover binding rather than leather.

So, 43 years later, my missal is still in very good shape. I still have my “little” St. Joseph’s missal from when I made my First Communion in 1959. It’s in good shape too.

 

[martinporres]

I think perhaps I come from a different school of thought with regard to books than you (and DW is in your camp as well). I am looking forward to the day my missal looks well used… I mean, I’ll be protecting it from rips and other major damage, obviously, but there’s just something about looking at a well-used (i.e., not pristine) leather book that brightens my day. I do like the cloth idea though – simple enough…

–

Hey, if you have a chance, let us know your thoughts on the new Baronius Press missal at the reviews post here.

In Christ,
mp

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<but there’s just something about looking at a well-used (i.e., not pristine) leather book that brightens my day.>>

A friend of mine has a well-used (to put it mildly) Slavonic Molitvoslov (Book of Hours) publised by the Pochaev Monastery in 1793. You read that right; it’s over 200 years old.

Think about for how many generations, directly or indirectly, this book has been the key to heaven.

 

[368ofk]

You can easily buy a missal cover on the internet (or in some Catholic bookstores) like these: traditionalcatholicgoods.com/?page=shop/browse&category=missalcovers& Just be sure it’s the right size and isn’t made for a “missalette”.

Alternatively, you can be cheap (like I am) and make your own book cover…like kids do in elementary school. Since a paper shopping bag would look rather cheesy wrapped around a missal, I use black construction paper. I end up changing the cover every year or so as tends to fade a bit. If you do this and will be carrying your missal around in a bag, it would make sense to also use the previously mentioned box/cloth approach, too.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I think perhaps I come from a different school of thought with regard to books than you (and DW is in your camp as well). I am looking forward to the day my missal looks well used… I mean, I’ll be protecting it from rips and other major damage, obviously, but there’s just something about looking at a well-used (i.e., not pristine) leather book that brightens my day. I do like the cloth idea though – simple enough…

–

Hey, if you have a chance, let us know your thoughts on the new Baronius Press missal at the reviews post here.

In Christ,
mp

Aik! No! Wow! DW and I have missals and prayer books passed on down to us from our grandparents and beyond. Whoah! They are well used! I can only hope that my grandchildren will be able to appreciate my missals and, let my prayer rise before you O, Lord, they will actually be able to use them.

One got one’s “little” Missal when one made one’s First Communion. Confirmation was not held off in the past and so, back then, one got one’s “big” missal when one was confirmed at the end of sixth grade. Getting your “little” or “big” missal was a rite of passage back then. There is no equivalent now because the Mass was in transition after 1965 and there was the advent of the missalette. We didn’t have missalettes when I was a kid.

 

[markadm]

A friend of mine has a well-used (to put it mildly) Slavonic Molitvoslov (Book of Hours) publised by the Pochaev Monastery in 1793. You read that right; it’s over 200 years old.

Think about for how many generations, directly or indirectly, this book has been the key to heaven.

That is awesome! I thought we had it good, having inherited the Presbyterian hymnal and Bible my great-grandparents got when they were married in the late 1800s.

Now, fixing/preserving books is what I want to find out about. I have a largely ruined ancient small prayer-book I would like to restore, but have no idea how (someone once “lovingly” used sticky brown tape on it!).

 

[Daprato]

This may seem an odd question, but now that I have my lovely Baronius Missal, can anyone suggest a way of protecting it?

It will be being carried around in my rucksack / bag etc as I go back and forth and I want to keep it looking good.

Do you protect your missal? How?

Stick it in a baggie or Zip-Loc bag before placing it in your pack. That’ll keep it closed and dust out of it. The only real damage is when the pages become bent because the missal “opens” as it shifts around in your pack.

Beware though. Musicians are often warned from keeping their instruments in cases around the house because it can dissuade them from practicing. Don’t let the chore of packing and unpacking you missal dissuade you from reading it between Masses.

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

I think perhaps I come from a different school of thought with regard to books than you (and DW is in your camp as well). I am looking forward to the day my missal looks well used… I mean, I’ll be protecting it from rips and other major damage, obviously, but there’s just something about looking at a well-used (i.e., not pristine) leather book that brightens my day.

I completely agree! I also look forward to the day my missal is worn from all the times it helped me assist at Holy Mass. Same with my Rosary. I like having just 1 Rosary at a time, and using it until it breaks. Imagine how cool it would be to hand my Rosary on to my first-born son (I’m 23 and unmarried), worn with the years. I should use it more often!

 

[Tim_Cleveland]

I was wondering if brotherhrolf could answer a question. I am in the RCIA program at church now so I am somewhat of a newbie. But I was wondering how you made Confirmation in 1963 only four years after first communion in 1959? Was this just how it was done at one time or are you Eastern Rite or what? My oldest son made First Eucharist in Grade 2 and Confirmation in Grade 9. Were you a child prodigy and skipped a few grades between second and ninth grades?

Just curious.

Thanks,

Tim

 

[brotherhrolf]

Nope, I am a traditional Latin Catholic. I made my First Communion (old term) in 1959 and was Confirmed in Grade 6 - 1963- that was the norm back before Vatican II.

Both of my sons made their First Eucharist at the end of second grade (age of reason) but were not confirmed until they were in the sophomore/junior year of high school.

 

[Tim_Cleveland]

Thanks, brotherrolf. I guess you learn something new every day!

Thanks,

Tim

 

[Catholic_Heart]

I think perhaps I come from a different school of thought with regard to books than you (and DW is in your camp as well). I am looking forward to the day my missal looks well used… I mean, I’ll be protecting it from rips and other major damage, obviously, but there’s just something about looking at a well-used (i.e., not pristine) leather book that brightens my day. I do like the cloth idea though – simple enough…

–

Hey, if you have a chance, let us know your thoughts on the new Baronius Press missal at the reviews post here.

In Christ,
mp

**I’m with you! I love well used books… I mark mine up…even the fine leather ones…especially them, I guess…I want them to be comfortable in my hands…and I love seeing (in various colors of ink) what I once thought was important enough to underline or comment on…

Sandy
**

 

[cam100]

I’m not sure if the Baronius Missal is the same size as the one by Angelus Press, but Angelus Press sells a zippered cover for their missal.

 

[Catholic_Heart]

That is awesome! I thought we had it good, having inherited the Presbyterian hymnal and Bible my great-grandparents got when they were married in the late 1800s.

Now, fixing/preserving books is what I want to find out about. I have a largely ruined ancient small prayer-book I would like to restore, but have no idea how (someone once “lovingly” used sticky brown tape on it!).

**Hi…Just a hint…It’s great to restore old books…HOWEVER…Some folks do not want their books “restored”…My Dad’s wife thought she was doing a great thing by having my grandomother’s Bible recovered… It was well used looking, to say the least…I never forgave her for that… I loved knowing that Gramma had lovingly held that old book…She had read it through 11 times…So… Beware…Ask if the person who is to recieve the restored book wants it to look new again!

Sandy
**

 

[368ofk]

I’m not sure if the Baronius Missal is the same size as the one by Angelus Press, but Angelus Press sells a zippered cover for their missal.

It’s not. The Baronius missal, for lack of a better term, is “stouter”.

According to the Baronius Press website, their missal measures 3.75" x 6.3". They don’t note the depth. But, as I recall, it’s considerably thicker than my Angelus.

According to my ruler, the Angelus Press missal measures 4.5" x 7 1/8" x 1 7/16".

 

[SnorterLuster]

.Now, fixing/preserving books is what I want to find out about. I have a largely ruined ancient small prayer-book I would like to restore, but have no idea how (someone once “lovingly” used sticky brown tape on it!).

If you are looking for a professional restoration, look in the yellow pages for a bookbinder. If your town doesn’t have a bookbinder listed, contact a printer and they can tell you who they use for binding services. Another contact you can make is with the local library–they often have books rebound.

 

[havemercy]

I use one of them little zipper book protectors.

 

[markadm]

Hi…Just a hint…It’s great to restore old books…HOWEVER…Some folks do not want their books “restored”…My Dad’s wife thought she was doing a great thing by having my grandomother’s Bible recovered… It was well used looking, to say the least…I never forgave her for that… I loved knowing that Gramma had lovingly held that old book…She had read it through 11 times…So… Beware…Ask if the person who is to recieve the restored book wants it to look new again!

Don’t worry, Sandy; it’s my book. I inherited it, but it’s unreadable!