Having recently undertaken a review of four altar missals, to complete this cycle of reviews I wanted to now review two UK editions of people's missals which have also come out in relation to the new English translation. Those are:
The CTS New Sunday Missal (Standard Edition) priced at £18.00
The CTS New Sunday Missal (Presentation Edition) priced at £25.00
Essentially what we are speaking about here are two editions that have the same internal contents, but one -- the Standard Edition -- is less ornate than the other. As such, let's begin by first looking at this difference, comparing the two, before beginning to look at the internal contents.
External Aspects
The core difference between the two editions is that the Standard Edition is a typical hardbound volume in bright red while the "Presentation Edition" is a leather covered hardback edition (available in white or in this burgundy edition pictured here):
Standard Edition
Top: Standard Edition, Bottom: Presentation Edition
(As a point of note, while the Presentation Edition includes a box, it is unfortunate that it is not more substantive; speaking personally, it is not the sort of box I would keep)
Presentation Edition
Presentation Edition
Both covers include gold tooled decoration, including the very beautiful cross design seen also on the front of the CTS Altar Edition of the Missal. The same design is also reproduced on the spine of both editions as you can see above. This is very attractive in general and equally well done on both editions. I like how they have included some other gilt decoration on the spines which gives each volume a classic feel.
The cover on the Standard Edition is very nicely done, having a very good feel to it; it comes across as very high end. The leather cover of the Presentation Edition is also very well done, but that much more luxurious.
Both bindings are sewn and feel very tight.
One other difference is that the Presentation Edition includes gold gilt page edges while the Standard Edition does not (both editions include red markings on the page edges which identify the Order of Mass:
These red edges do not show as well on the Presentation Edition when held like this, but once the volume is opened, they show up very clearly.
Speaking personally, both volumes are very well done externally, but for myself, if the extra cost is not an issue, I would personally recommend going with the Presentation Edition to gain on these additional ornamental qualities which are traditional for such people's missals and add to the beauty of the book.
Internal Aspects
Let us now move our considerations to the internal aspects.
The first point which I wish to note is that each edition includes two sewn in ribbons. These are good as far as they go and will be useful for marking the Ordinary and the Proper, but my one wish is that at least three ribbons might have been included -- that way the third ribbon could be used to mark some of the prayers of thanksgiving and devotion for example. Even four ribbons might have been desirable.
What each of these editions includes is:
• The Order of Mass with all Eucharistic prayers, prefaces, concluding rites and blessings
• Parallel Latin-English for the Ordinary and for the priest’s Proper prayers
• Lectionary Readings in the vernacular
• Masses for special occasions and needs
• Preparatory prayers
• Chants of the Ordinary
• Prayers of thanksgiving and devotion
The publishers have also added reflections for the major feasts and seasons.
And of course, while it is called a "Sunday Missal", these people's missals also include the Masses for solemnities of the liturgical year.
Here are a few views.
You can see here how the readings are in the vernacular only, while the priest's propers are in Latin and English
As noted, the ordinary includes fully parallel Latin and English, with the left hand pages being in Latin entirely, and the right hand being in the vernacular entirely. Here is a view of the Roman Canon.
In terms of the art and design of the interior, I was very glad to see that both editions included very classic red drop capitals for the Introit of each Mass. This is a very nice touch:
I was also extremely pleased to see a number of the same plates within these editions as are found in the altar edition:
All around, I would say these two editions are extremely well done and I was very pleased with both.
