I got the burgundy hard-covered MTF Daily Roman Missal. No full-color glossy pictures, but there are illustrations and woodcut prints. Thankfully, there are none of those 1960’s clip art types of pictures that I thought made some of the old missals look childish. The missal is laid out logically. The page edges are not gilded, but the paper is high quality. The red ink for the rubrics tends to be a little difficult to read if your church is dimly lit.
There is some page flipping involved, but they give an adequate supply of ribbons sewn in so that isn’t a problem. The print is adequately large if I wear my reading glasses, but I have to wear them for most print anyways. The book itself opens flat, and is comfortable enough to hold in one hand if you have normal grip strength.
I understand MTF is coming out with bonded leather and genuine leather editions later this winter. If you like stuffing a missal with holy cards, etc., I’d wait for one of those editions. Putting a lot of things in a hard bound book of any sort could loosen the binding.
I plan on making a cover for mine using suedecloth, with an envelope built into the outside of the front cover to carry a couple of holy cards and novena leaflets. I’ve looked online at book covers, and there doesn’t seem to be anything like that available for a book this size, the medium sized Bible covers look like they’d fit sloppily, and the small covers wouldn’t accommodate the thickness of the missal. I’m planning to make it a zipper-closed cover.
In addition to all of the readings for all of the liturgical cycles, and the Ordinary of Mass, there are many prayers, devotions, some catechesis, an examination of conscience, and the like in this missal. The total number of pages is 2514. The Ordinary of Mass, and some of the prayers, appear in Latin on the left side of the missal, and English on the right side. However, it probably would not work for the Tridentine Mass, but it would work for the OF in Latin.
I paid $56 for mine at a local Catholic bookstore. We have four within a thirty mile radius from me, and I’d like to see them stay in business. That’s pretty much my economic philosophy anyways, plus I like to be able to see, touch, and hold whatever I’m buying before I plunk down my greenbacks.
I’ve taken it with me to Mass a few times already, and I like it. It isn’t any more difficult to use than the paperback missalette in the pew.
My review: Four out of five stars (wish it had a protective cover that fits, and wish the red rubrics were easier to read.)
In short, it’s a good buy for the money.
Sorry, but I won’t try it again!
Ha Ha. I can relate so well to that.