Have you seen others in church praying with a big, beautiful missal and wondered why they chose that one? Or even where they got it? Chances are that you see a lot of people assisting at Holy Mass using the Father Lasance Missal. Almost everyone who grew up in, or found their way to, the Traditional Latin Mass learns about Father Lasance and his missal at some point. That’s why we’ve created this post to showcase this liturgical gem.
If you’re not familiar with Father Lasance, be sure to read our Author Insights below this post. And check out this site where you can see his death certificate and tombstone as well as this site to see extra details about his life! His holiness of life and the sheer significance of his contribution to Catholic devotional literature make him someone you’ll want to know. And you’ll appreciate his work even more.
We have spent decades with the Father Lasance Missal. With our experience behind you, you don’t have to be intimated or worried about where to start. But you’re probably wondering what sets the Father Lasance Missal apart from every other Roman missal? Read on to find out!
How We Chose the Father Lasance Missal for You!
We’ve been praying the Traditional Latin Mass for decades, and we recognize that there is a learning curve if you did not grow up with this Mass. You must access great resources to support you as you learn the rubrics and prayers and just absorb the power of this Mass of the Ages. We constantly learn from and turn to the Father Lasance Missal when we have questions about the liturgy, Holy Days, or are looking for prayers throughout the year. The question we asked ourselves is how could we not tell the world about this essential missal? It has got to be a perfect Faithful Find.
We know this Catholic Missal from cover to cover. We've done all the hard work so that you can easily find and purchase the Father Lasance Missal. You won’t want to be without it once you hold it in your hands.
Father Lasance’s missal is actually entitled The New Roman Missal.
The first thing that strikes you when you pick up the Father Lasance missal is the thickness of the book. It is 1852 pages and is a daily missal. That means that it contains the all readings for every Mass said for each day of the week and Sundays. There are also special sections with a lot of Votive Masses, Proper Masses, the Nuptial Mass, and a great section with Masses and burial services for the dead.
The most important part of any missal is the Mass itself. The Father Lasance missal takes you through both a High and a Low Mass using black text for prayers and readings and red text for the rubrics (what the priest does). And there are pictures to illustrate many of the points in the Mass making it easy to learn exactly where the priest is until you get used to following by sight as well as sound. You will find the Latin text on one said and the English translation on the other side of the same page. There’s no better way to learn and follow the Mass.
And if you use the early part of Father Lasance’s missal, it offers a study plan to learn how to use the missal and an education in the requisites of Mass. Requisites include the things used on the altar for Mass (like the Sacred Vessels) and the vestments the priest wears.
No Mass would be complete without prayers before and after Mass said by you! The last section of this Catholic missal has every prayer you’d want to say to prepare you join Our Lord on Calvary and then thank Him at the end of Mass. This section also has a host of beautiful devotional prayers from morning offerings to various devotions and litanies.
One of our favorite extras this Catholic missal contains extraordinary detail of the Ecclesiastical Year and Sacred Liturgy. There you’ll find an explanation of the yearly liturgical cycle and a breakdown of that cycle by season and specific days. For example, if you look at the calendar for August, you’ll find August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, explained in beautiful simplicity but important detail. You get that same detail for all days on the calendar. You will finally be able to prepare and have the information to live an authentic Catholic life by following the liturgical calendar.
There is a glossary at the back of this Catholic missal to allow you to look things up quickly.
Finally, this particular missal is what is known in the Church as a pre-1955 missal. It was actually printed originally in 1937, and then reprinted in 1945. There will be small differences in it from a missal printed after 1955 and again after 1962. Most of the changes involve Holy Week. The missal is still totally viable for your use at a 1962 Mass outside of Holy Week (unless your pastor follows the pre-1955 Holy Week!) and for private devotion and education.
The binding is sewn with black leatherette covers and gold lettering. The pages have rounded corners and golden edges, making it a truly stunning addition to any Catholic library.
While its size and weight may be difficult for some to hold during Mass, the Father Lasance Missal is invaluable for devotional reading at home. It is an ideal gift suggestion for Latin Mass lovers, seminarians, Latin students, nuns and, of course, serious conservative Catholics who desire to deepen their spiritual journey and grow in their understanding of the liturgy. We declare that the Father Lasance Missal is a definite Faithful Find!
Francis Xavier Lasance was born in Cincinatti, Ohio, on Jan. 24, 1860, to August and Wilhelmina Lasance. Death took Father Lasance’s mother when he was 4 years old. The family, which came to include a step-mother, were faithful Catholics, and Father received a Catholic education throughout his schooling. Ultimately he completed formal schooling at St. Xavier College before enrolling in St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana in June 1880. Father Lasance was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1883, and said his first Mass 3 days later at his home parish in Cincinnati.
We draw inspiration not just from Father Lasance’s books but also from the heroic example of his life, especially his life as a priest. Lasance wrote. “The way of the cross is the road to Heaven.” He understood the Cross and was given a large share of it in his life. He suffered from devastating headaches that often confined him to bed and sent him looking for relief. His efforts to seek relieve were not attempts to escape the Cross; instead, they were efforts to enable him to be a better priest.
When God chose not to relieve the suffering that he himself described as torture, Father was given the grace to persevere and keep his suffering hidden from most people. He never felt sorry for himself and was an inspiration for more than 63 years of priesthood. He even practiced mortifications, such as sleeping sitting up in a chair, despite the seemingly abundant physical penance he was already doing.
Father even turned his incredible suffering into rich nourishment for the Church. Today we benefit from more than 40 devotional books and missals that he created specifically to teach all of us how to pray.
Because God is good, Lasance wrote, “He loves us as a Father and our sorrows are blessings in disguise.”
During his lifetime, his zeal for souls caught the attention of Pope Pius XI in May 1927. Father’s bishop revealed both his suffering and great work of writing to the Pope. “The most reverend Archbishop of Cincinnati has informed the Holy Father of your modesty, which prompts you to conceal your intellectual activities, and of your great zeal for souls manifested for many years notwithstanding your poor health,” wrote Pietro Cardinal Gasparri, papal secretary of state, at the Holy Father’s direction.
Father retired from parish ministry in September 1890. He assumed chaplaincy of St. Francis Hospital in Cincinnati, and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, a Belgian missionary order. In this role he became active in raising funds for local parishes who lack sufficient resources to purchase the requisites for proper celebration of the Mass. St. Francis Hospital was Fr. Lasance’s home from 1924 until his death in December 1946.
After receiving Extreme Unction and Viaticum, Father Lasance’s last words in this life were: “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.”
Father Lasance Missal FAQs
What is the Fr. Lasance missal?
The Father Lasance New Roman Missal is one of the best traditional missals available. It is a pre-1955 missal that includes the Tridentine Mass with complete Latin and English text for the Ordinary and Propers of the Mass. Completed in 1937, it is generally considered to be the magnum opus of Father Lasance. More than 80 years later, the “Lasance Missal” remains the standard by which missals are judged.
Are all Catholic missals the same?
No. A missal is a liturgical book containing instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the liturgical year. Versions differ across liturgical tradition, period, and purpose, with some missals intended to enable a priest to celebrate Mass publicly and others for private and lay use.
What are the dimensions of Father Lasance missal?
With a total of 1852 pages, the missal measures 7” tall x 4.375” wide x 2.25” thick.
Final Thoughts
Where would we be without the treasure of the Father Lasance Missal? There is no way to overstate the beauty of this book or how it can bless your life. Whether you’re new to the Traditional Latin Mass or ready to have this essential missal in your home library, you won’t go wrong.
Please let us know that you picked up a copy and how you’re using this unique Catholic missal. We have a feeling your story will make us glad we wrote this article!
God bless.
Lynne
