Talks on the Sacramentals, by Msgr Arthur Tonne - Missal

"Through him, therefore, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, fruit of lips praising his name." Hebrews, 13:15.

Have you ever wondered what is in this big book here on the altar? A certain Protestant writer traveling in Europe happened to drop in for services at a Catholic cathedral. He, too, wanted to know what was in that big book. Somewhat of a student, he searched the book stores for a copy. Finally he found a large Missal. It was expensive, but his curiosity was aroused. He took the big book to his room and poured over it for hours and days. He knew enough Latin to figure out the various parts and divisions. He found it entrancing and enlightening. He asked Catholic friends and priests one question after another about the Mass book, until the grace of God told him to go all the way. He entered the Catholic Church.

Just what did he find in that big book? Perhaps I can give you some idea of what is in it. Our Franciscan Missal has this official title: ROMAN-SERAPHIC MISSAL, which means ROMAN- FRANCISCAN MISSAL.

1. On the first few pages are five letters from the Popes on the importance of true church worship.

2. After the papal letters is a calendar of movable and immovable feasts entitled CONCERNING THE YEAR AND ITS PARTS.

3. Next come the rubrics or rules guiding the priest in offering the adorable Sacrifice. There are other rules sprinkled among the prayers of the Mass and written in red. "Ruber," in Latin, means "red"; hence the word rubric."

4. There follows a minute and painstaking chapter on the rite to be observed in the celebration of Mass.

5. After that comes a section on accidents and defects that might occur during Mass.

6. This is followed by a chapter on the priest's preparation for Mass, and his thanksgiving afterwards.

7. You will then find several pages of illustrated directions on how the priest is to incense the altar.

8. Following this are 208 pages of Sunday Masses, taking us from the first Sunday of Advent to Holy Saturday.

9. Next comes the Ordinary of the Mass, that part of the prayers which is ordinarily the same, down to the section of Prefaces.

10. There are sixteen different Prefaces, each with its own musical setting.

11. On page 295 begins the Canon or unchanging part of the Sacrifice, printed in larger type, with tabs on the edges for convenience in turning the pages.

12. On page 313 the Missal again takes up the Sunday Masses, extending from Easter to the twenty-fourth or last Sunday after Pentecost.

13. The next few pages contain prayers for special intentions, prayers, for example, in honor of the Holy Spirit, our Blessed Mother, and for the Pope.

14. Pages 413 to 808 are devoted to proper Masses for the saints, from November 27 to November 26 of the next year.

15. Then you find Masses for each class of saints. These are called the Commons of the saints.

16. There are 40 pages of Votive Masses. Votum, in Latin, means free choice. Votive Masses are left more or less to the free choice of the celebrant. In this section we find among others the Votive Mass for a groom and bride, the Mass for a wedding.

17. From page 93 to 103 of this Appendix you will find 35 prayers for particular intentions reaching from the Pope down through every grade of the Church to kings, emperors, and prelates. You will find a prayer against persecutors, against famine, against earthquakes, and for rain. There is a prayer to be said in trials and troubles, and against evil thoughts, a prayer for friends and a prayer for enemies, a prayer for prisoners and one for sailors, a prayer for the health of the living and a prayer for the living and deceased.

18. Masses for the dead start on page 104 of the Appendix and include several pages of prayers for the Poor Souls; for a dead Pope, for a dead bishop, for a dead priest, for deceased parents, for everyone who rests in a particular cemetery.

19. On page 127 you will find the prayers for the blessing of Holy Water, which takes place every Sunday before the High Mass, and on page 130 several blessings frequently used.

20. The consecration of the paten and chalice are found on page 134 of the Appendix.

At the end of the book there is a complete alphabetical index of Masses in honor of our Lord, our Blessed Mother, and of the saints. The large colored ribbons are used to mark the Proper Mass for the day, the Preface, the commemorations, and so forth.

This brief summary merely hints at the almost inexhaustible treasures of the Missal. A deeper study of it will repay you richly.

Many of you have a shortened form of this large Missal. You have the Sunday Missal, which gives you the Masses for the Sundays of the year and a few other parts of the large Missal. Some of you may even have a daily Missal in English. That gives you in English the proper parts peculiar to each day, each feast and each saint.

The Missal is one of the greatest works of literature in all history. It is a mine of pointed and prayerful thought. It is, above all, the official prayer of Mother Church offered up by millions throughout the world every moment of every day and night.

Learn to use the Missal. Have one of your own. Look up, before you start to Mass, or as soon as you arrive in Church before the Mass begins-look up the Mass for that day and then follow the priest at the altar.

That is the modern, up-to-date, intelligent way of attending Mass. May the Missal lead you closer to God as it led that Protestant writer to the very bosom of God's Church. Amen.