The Complete One Roman Missal -1957 Das Vollstandige Romische MeBbuch-Liturgical Catholic Mass Book

“The Complete One Roman Missal – Das Vollständige Römische Meßbuch” refers to a comprehensive edition of the Roman Missal, the liturgical book used in the Catholic Church for the celebration of Mass. The term “Roman Missal” refers specifically to the book containing the prayers, chants, and other elements used during the Catholic Mass. In the context of this book, the Latin term “Meßbuch” refers to the “Missal” in German.

The “Vollständige” (Complete) Roman Missal might indicate that this edition is thorough, containing all the prayers and rubrics (instructions) for the entire liturgical year, along with all variations for different feasts, solemnities, and special Masses. This edition may have been published in multiple languages, including Latin and German, to serve a diverse audience.

The 1957 edition of the Roman Missal represents a significant period in the history of the Catholic Church’s liturgical practices, just before the major liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). In this context, the 1957 Roman Missal is the standard Tridentine Mass or Latin Mass Missal, used primarily in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. This version of the missal reflects the traditional liturgy as it was codified after the Council of Trent (1545–1563) and used up until the reforms brought by Vatican II.

Key Features of the 1957 Roman Missal:

1. Latin Texts: The 1957 edition of the Roman Missal is entirely in Latin, as it was the standard language for the Mass up until the post-Vatican II liturgical reforms. The prayers, responses, and readings during Mass were all conducted in Latin, with the faithful often following along with missals or hymnals in their own languages.
2. Tridentine Rite: This missal follows the Tridentine Mass, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass. It includes all the prayers, responses, and rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass, including the prayers at the foot of the altar, the Canon of the Mass, and other elements unique to the Tridentine form.
3. Liturgical Calendar: The missal contains the liturgical calendar with its feasts and solemnities. This includes the Proper of the Time (for liturgical seasons like Advent, Lent, Easter, etc.), the Proper of the Saints (feasts dedicated to various saints), and the Common of the Saints (used for groups of saints).
4. Inclusion of Prayers for Specific Feasts: The 1957 missal includes prayers specific to important feasts, such as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, Easter, and other significant events in the Church’s liturgical year.
5. Rubrics: The rubrics (or instructions) in the 1957 Missal were detailed and precise, guiding the celebrant and assisting ministers in performing the rituals of the Mass correctly.
6. The Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I): The 1957 edition of the Missal would still use the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) as the central prayer of the Mass. This prayer has remained the same in form, though since Vatican II, other Eucharistic Prayers have been added to the Novus Ordo Mass (1969).
7. Music and Chants: The missal likely includes various Gregorian chants and hymns used throughout the Mass, such as the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei, all sung in Latin by the choir or congregation.