Two traddy missals: a review of the Baronius Press and Angelus Press Missals

Note: I will be posting pictures tomorrow to go along with this blog post.

I thought I would do a quick review of the two most popular available 1962 Catholic Missals: The Baronius Press Roman Catholic Daily Missal and the Angelus Press Roman Catholic Daily Missal. Being more convinced now than ever before that the full glory of the Mass is present in a very special way in the Traditional mass and knowing the power that Roman Catholic Tradition which is so rapidly being lost holds over the Enemy of our Souls, I can not recommend more strongly that you unite your prayers to the prayers of the Holy Tridentine Mass, beginning by reading the days readings and traditional prayers from a solid, dependable, accurate Catholic Missal.
In shopping for a missal, know that you can find many fabulous and perfectly acceptable versions in many different places-- ebay, craigslist, used bookstores, etc. However, if you have a book fetish, like me, you will want a brand spanking new copy of a great, solid edition that you can make old all by yourself. The only such missals available on the market today that I think rival each other in their modern take on the 1962 Missal are the Baronius and Angelus Press versions.

First, the outsides. (Because I love a pretty book! :P)

The Baronius Press version is thicker and the Angelus Press version is wider. I think if I was planning on carrying them around in my purse all the time I would want the Angelus Press because it is much less "bulky." However as a person who loves thick leather books, the Baronius version appeals to me very much.
The leather (I have the genuine leather version of both) is top quality in both-- the Baronius Version has a slightly thicker/harder cover which makes it bend less easily in the hand. Both have nice gold foil edging and are perfectly beautiful, end papers and all. Both use good quality, relatively small bleed-through bible paper. Physically, the only reason I prefer the Angelus Press version is because of its' innate ability to conform to my hand when I flip through it. I like books that wear well and quickly, and while both versions do the trick, the Baronius Press version is a bit more like a hardback with a slightly flexible cover, whereas the best way I can describe the Angelus version is like a paperback with a tough leather cover. I am quite sure that the quality of each of these books will impress you-- they are very, very well made. One last point: the ribbons. While they both have ribbons, the Baronius uses a kind of woven ribbon vs the Angelus' satin ribbons. I personally like the satin ribbons better but both are very good quality and sewn in a sturdy manner that has thusfar withheld even the strongest pulls by my toddlers.

And now, the good stuff:

I was certain I was going to miss the traditional artwork in the Baronius Press version when I saw the Angelus Press version for the first time-- but much to my amazement they contain the same, identical pictures. They are crisp, clear, and very interesting-- rich in catechesis. There are not many of them.

The core contents itself is virtually identical in both missals...All the masses of the year, the Order of Mass, and a significant amount of Traditional prayers and devotions.
These are very basic but thorough enough to keep the average housewife (hehe) praying throughout the day: Morning prayers, daytime prayers, evening prayers, the Rosary, various litanies, etc. I find incredible that these missals both have a section that catechizes and gives us the "why" behind the "what we do" both during the liturgy and in our daily lives. There is much food here for mental prayer.
It's also depressing/ appalling how different things are in this post vatican II world... how much we have lost in our daily Catholic lives, even if we are devout.

Both Missals are in a two column format with English and Latin.

Anyways, I highly recommend both missals, and I cannot say enough about them. My favorite of the two is the Angelus Press version and it is for one very simple reason.... My interest in demonology and my musings on the state of the Church etc has led my husband and myself to be devoted in a particular way to Pope Leo XIII and to be big fans of some of his prayers. The Angelus Press version contains the full text of the Simple Exorcism which he wrote and various other prayers that are extremely useful in the Spiritual Battle and which can be used in a deliverance.
It is fabulous having these prayers and blessings available in the back of the Missal, as I no longer have to carry a separate book around with me that includes them. Wonderful.

In short..... whichever you choose, I am certain you will enjoy it, and I wish you the best in your intention to pray the Traditional Latin Mass.