Where do TLM-attending Catholics get their missals?

  • Thread starter Thread starter EnglishTeacher
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

EnglishTeacher

Guest
For Catholics who regularly attend the old Latin Mass, what type of missals do you use? Recent editions or reprints? Vintage missals such as ones found online or at garage sales? Or maybe none at all?

I was just wondering how much of a market there is for vintage missals. I recently found three beautiful old missals from the 1940s and 50s at a used bookstore for just a few dollars each. One is a slim zip-up pocket-sized “Catholic Sunday Missal”; another is a combined prayer book and missal called “Moments with God” of a compact, easy to carry size; and the third is a 4-volume set of pocket-sized books called “St. Andrew Daily Missal.” All are in nice condition, have black imitation leather covers, and use the Confraternity Version.

I was originally thinking of keeping one and giving the others to friends who attend the Latin Mass, but now I can’t decide which ones to part with because I like them all :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:. Anyway, I was curious if there is a market for vintage missals among traditional-minded Catholics if I were to come across more like these to maybe sell on EBay or something.
 
Good to know; I figured there must be publishers that make new pre-Vatican II missals but wasn’t familiar with which ones. Do you think most traditional Catholics you know prefer to purchase new ones as opposed to vintage ones?
 
Last edited:
I love stumbling across old Catholic stuff like that. ❤️
 
EnglishTeacher said:
Do you think most traditional Catholics you know prefer to purchase new ones as opposed to vintage ones?
Click to expand...
I have found old Catholic TLM missals at Goodwill selling for $1.00. But it is hit and miss. You never know when or if they will have one. OTOH, you can buy them brand new at any time at Angelus Press (SSPX).
 
EnglishTeacher said:
Good to know; I figured there must be publishers that make new pre-Vatican II missals but wasn’t familiar with which ones. Do you think most traditional Catholics you know prefer to purchase new ones as opposed to vintage ones?
Click to expand...
From my own experience, most prefer new ones.
 
There are a ton on eBay at any given moment, so I wouldn’t recommend taking the time to try that.
 
I must be weird; I like the vintage ones better. 🙂 But it does look like there are a lot out there already on Ebay etc. for those who want them; they are not particularly rare. They seem to be selling for significantly more than I purchased them, so I suppose I could make a few bucks if I really wanted to, but I will probably just either keep them or see if some of my Latin Mass friends would like one.

Vintage/antique Catholic items really interest me; they can be a fascinating glimpse into pre-Vatican II Catholicism. Once I came across some old parish newsletters from the 1940s; that especially was interesting. Several Mass times per day and many confession times throughout the week . . . but there were also 3-4 priests assigned to that parish. Lay societies and “sodalities” for both sexes and all ages (or at least teens and adults) were also a big thing and appeared to be quite active.
 
Last edited:
EnglishTeacher said:
Anyway, I was curious if there is a market for vintage missals among traditional-minded Catholics if I were to come across more like these to maybe sell on EBay or something.
Click to expand...
I would definitely say there is a market for such. All of my missals are from around that time frame, including my prayer books. I have yet to buy a new missal to use at the TLM I attend.

In fact I even have a pretty rare missal that uses the Knox translation, watch I use often. The only downside is that the TLM doesn’t use the Knox translation for the readings, but I still enjoy it.
 
Last edited:
Yes, there is a market for vintage missals. Some people like to collect them, just like some people like to collect vintage Bibles.

Not sure how lucrative the market is, but if you buy one for under $10 at a yard sale, you should be able to make a little profit by selling on EBay or Amazon.

As far as my personal Missals for the EF - I have a few of them:
  • an old St. Joseph’s Missal (I forget the year, but it might be 1963 or 1964 ish)
  • an old 1961 Archbishop Sheen Missal
  • St. Edmund Campion Missal (this is a new Sunday & Feast days only Missal - 2013 publication)
  • reprint of the 1945 St. Andrew’s Missal
  • and the missal I use regularly is: Baronius Press Missal
 
Last edited:
EnglishTeacher said:
Good to know; I figured there must be publishers that make new pre-Vatican II missals but wasn’t familiar with which ones. Do you think most traditional Catholics you know prefer to purchase new ones as opposed to vintage ones?
Click to expand...
I think that people who start going to the TLM will look for old missals that might be found for cheaper prices on ebay. Usually they will upgrade to a new missal once they get settled in and possibly try and re-sell the used one. So yes I think there is a market for them especially with the flourishing of the TLM. I use the 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal and also have a Marian Missal from the 50s that I purchased on ebay. A nice bonus was a bunch of old Holy Cards scattered throughout.
 
EnglishTeacher said:
Once I came across some old parish newsletters from the 1940s; that especially was interesting. Several Mass times per day and many confession times throughout the week . . . but there were also 3-4 priests assigned to that parish. Lay societies and “sodalities” for both sexes and all ages (or at least teens and adults) were also a big thing and appeared to be quite active.
Click to expand...
You can also find these situations today. Our parish has 3 TLMs per day and Confessions every day along with sodality groups (Altar and Rosary and Homy Name Societies). The difference is that where you may have found 60 parishes in a city like that in 1940, you are lucky to find one today.
 
Last edited:
I have found them at thrift stores church fairs and online my favorite one was given to me by a seminarian.
 
Mark121359 said:
I have the Angelus Press 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal. Love it!!! Always hear how it’s so hard to follow the Latin Mass. Biggest load of bunk I’ve ever heard! :roll_eyes:
Click to expand...
See, I think it is hard to follow. I figured out that you have to flip back and forth in the missal between the ordinary and the proper. But you really have to keep on top of it to know exactly where you are in the Mass; it gives me a mild case of anxiety. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: And I always lose my spot at some point, though usually I can find it again eventually. I find it hard to relax and pray because I am focusing so much on trying to follow along. Granted, I don’t go to the old Latin Mass that often, but I have been quite a few times over the past 3-4 years, so I’m not a complete newbie.

Maybe that is why so many people in the old days (from what I have heard) just prayed their rosary during Mass rather than try to keep up.
 
Last edited:
I use the ribbons to keep track. It makes keeping your place much easier
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top