The momentum behind rediscovering and restoring tradition has not abated; on the contrary, I would say it is intensifying. Those who care, care more; and those who know and love will not be deterred by those who are indifferent to or full of hatred for tradition. With that as a prefatory remark, here are three new publications for the pre-55 Holy Week, which continues its quiet conquest.
Os Justi Press has just released The Masses of Holy Week & Tenebrae, a book that contains the pre-55 Latin liturgy, with English translation, for Palm Sunday, the Triduum Masses, and the Office of Tenebrae, including complete Gregorian chants. Summary rubrics are indicated. No page turning is required. The book features many medieval illustrations as well. In the PDF they are in color; in the printed book, in grayscale.
Ideal for scholas, for personal study, or as a congregational worship aid, the book is handsomely printed with readable type and weighs in at nearly 500 pages. The cost is $20. Bulk discounts are available (and for multiple countries, not just the USA) by contacting the publisher. The book is also available through Amazon, including all of its international sites.
The cover is shown above. Below are some sample pages; more may be found here.
Ordo Hebdomadae Maioris
Saint Anthony Press, established with the mission of publishing rare or otherwise “lost” Catholic liturgical and devotional books, announces the release of a reprint of the Ordo Hebdomadae Maioris (Order of Holy Week) containing the Holy Week liturgies and Order of Mass with seasonal Prefaces according to the 1920 typical edition of the Roman Missal (in use until 1955), restoring the ancient and venerable liturgies replaced by the 1956 Ordo Hebdomadae Sanctae Instauratus (and later incorporated into the 1962 Roman Missal).
This is the second edition (it was previously published under the potentially confusing title Ordo Hebdomadae Sanctae Restauratus). Sized for easy liturgical reading whether handheld or on the altar, its texts and chants are set in color and in a font and style based on historical printings of the Roman Missal since 1604.
Table of Contents
The “Pre-55” Holy Week
–Palm Sunday
–Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week
–Thursday of the Lord’s Supper
–Order of Mass with Prefaces
–Friday of Passover
–Holy Saturday
Details
Cost: $50 USD (plus shipping).
Size: 8.5 x 11 in. Hardcover; 128 pages, color.
Glued, not sewn, binding.
Sample pages (note: not all pairs are meant to be contiguous):
Memoriale Rituum
Saint Anthony Press has likewise released a reprint of the Memoriale Rituum which contains the instructions for certain more significant sacred functions to be performed in smaller churches according to the 1920 typical edition, revised in 1950 by the Sacred Congregation of Rites. Sized for easy liturgical reading whether handheld or on the altar, its texts and chants are set in color and in a font and style based on historical printings of the Roman Missal since 1604.
Table of Contents
–The Blessing of Candles on the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
–The Blessing of Ashes at the Beginning of Lent
–Palm Sunday
–Holy Thursday
–Good Friday
–Holy Saturday
Details
Cost: $40 USD (plus shipping).
Size: 8.5 x 11 in. Hardcover; 64 pages, color.
Glued, not sewn, binding.
Sample pages:
Postscript
While we’re on the topic of Saint Anthony Press, it’s worth mentioning that they have also published a reprint of the Missae Defunctorum, a liturgical book that contains the Order of Mass for the Dead with its Prefaces, Propers, and Prayers, plus the Rite of Absolution (excerpted from the Roman Ritual) according to the 1920 typical edition of the Roman Missal.
The same publisher has also brought back into print a fascinating work called The Grounds of the Catholick Doctrine, written in 1732 by English Bishop Richard Challoner (1691–1781). This catechism uses a question-and-answer format to respond to Protestant misunderstandings of the Catholic Faith about the Church, Scripture and Tradition, the Sacraments, the Mass, Purgatory, the Saints, and more. Full of defenses of the Catholic Faith using the 1769 King James Bible, the publisher has added biblical references for further study. This facsimile edition is typeset from the text of the 1796 edition, published by J. P. Coghlin of London, now in the public domain. Historical orthography and typography are kept, and formatting standardized throughout.
