Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is A Shorter Roman Ritual / Rituale Parvum applicable outside the USA, for example, in Canada, England, or Nigeria?

Answer: Yes, the Latin text is universal, and the English texts are copyrighted by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (see the Acknowledgements on page v), which are used throughout the English-speaking world. Although the concordat was given be the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (see the Concordat cum originali on page iv), the texts are the same in every English-speaking region.

Question: Will MTF produce an updated publication which includes the updated Blessings and Rituals, e.g. Rite of Confirmation, Rite of Marriage, etc.?

Answer: We are not planning on publishing an updated edition. As the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) continues to approve more rites and blessings in the updated English translation, all of the English rites and blessings in this book will eventually become out of date in the next several years. However, all of the Latin rites and blessings, including the prayers from the Manual of Indulgences, have not changed and will continue to be up to date.

Question: Do you have a protective cover for this missal?

Answer: Yes; responding to requests from customers, we have worked with a manufacturer to produce a zippered, protective leatherette cover that fits all standard-print editions of this missal.

Question: Why is there no Imprimatur for this missal?

Answer: The Committee on Divine Worship, a committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, does not issue an Imprimatur (“permission to publish”) for liturgical publications such as missals, lectionaries, rituals, and books of blessings. Instead, the Committee has issued a Concordat cum Originali, which is an attestation that the texts included in the book faithfully reproduce what are found in the official publications. Since this missal has been granted a Concordat cum Originali, no further permission to publish is necessary (or even possible to obtain).

Question: What sections of this book are in both Latin and English?

Answer: The Order of Mass—including the Eucharistic Prayers, the Entrance and Communion Antiphons, the response to the Responsorial Psalm, the Sequence, the Alleluia Verse Before the Gospel—and many of the devotions and prayers are in both Latin and English. The Prefaces are in English only.

Question: Where are the Latin texts of the Prefaces?

Answer: The Prefaces in this edition are in English only; however, we do have an edition with the Latin and English texts of the Prefaces: Large Print Edition with Additional Eucharistic Prayers.

Question: Where are the Prefaces for Eucharistic Prayers I and III? They are not on pages 767 and 791, respectively.

Answer: There are no proper Prefaces for these Eucharistic Prayers. Whereas Eucharistic Prayers II and IV have proper Prefaces, I and III do not; this is not something the editors forgot to include or decided to omit. When praying Eucharistic Prayer I or III, use the Preface specified by the rubrics. For example, in Ordinary Time see page 839, no. 5: “[O]n Sundays one of the Prefaces of Sundays in Ordinary Time is said, pp. 745–749; but on weekdays, a Common Preface is said, pp. 758–762.”

Question: Can I use this missal outside the USA, for example, in Canada, England, or Nigeria?

Answer: To a limited extent, yes. The Latin texts are universal and the English texts from the missal are copyrighted by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, which are used throughout the English-speaking world. However, the readings are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament, which is approved for all Masses in the dioceses of the USA; furthermore, the calendar is adapted for use in the dioceses of the USA, so feasts proper to other English-speaking countries are not in this missal.

Question: How can I find the readings for a particular day?

Answer: Table I, on pages xxxiv–xxxvii, is a useful guide. For example, let us use Table I to find the prayers and readings on the Sunday of Pentecost 2019. This feast is listed on page xxxv, about 4/5 the way down the table. The header rows of the table inform us this feast in 2019 will use the readings for Year C, and tracing this down to the row labeled “Pentecost” informs us this feast will fall on June 9. Turning to page 689, as indicated to the left of “Pentecost,” we find the beginning of this Mass.

Question: Is the sequence on Pentecost obligatory or optional?

Answer: It is obligatory. In some print runs, there is a rubric on page 701 that reads, “The sequence may be said or sung.” This was unintentionally misleading—making the sequence sound optional rather than just the manner in which it should be prayed—and has been removed from later print runs of this missal.

Question: Where can I find the Mass for the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

Answer: It is on page 1823. This is a moveable feast, meaning its calendar date is not the same every year. The feasts at the end of Ordinary Time are Feasts of the Lord, which this is not. Therefore, the altar missal and lectionary place it between May and June because most years it is celebrated in June.

Question: Why do some of the Psalms have two numbers and others have only one?

Answer: The Psalms are numbered differently in the missal and the lectionary; we have reproduced faithfully what appears in each publication. In the lectionary published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 1998 and 2002, the Psalms are numbered according to the Hebrew tradition; however, in the altar missal published by the USCCB in 2010, the Psalms are numbered according to the Hebrew tradition with the Greco–Latin tradition acknowledged in brackets. As we have no authority to alter either source when printing our missal, we have reproduced faithfully what appears in each one. The number of a Psalm in the Greco–Latin tradition (Septuagint, Vulgate) is often one less than in the Hebrew tradition. Citing both traditions as the missal does conveys more information but is a more accurate citation.

Question: Why does the “Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified” list the citation as Psalm 21 when the quote is from Psalm 22?

Answer: There are two traditions for numbering the Psalms, and this references the Greco–Latin tradition. The number of a Psalm in the Greco–Latin tradition (Septuagint, Vulgate) is often one less than in the Hebrew tradition. Since this prayer is printed in both Latin and English, the editors thought it would seem more dignified to number it according to just the Greco-Latin tradition rather than the Hebrew as well.

Question: What do the abbreviations “V.” and “R.” mean?

Answer: They indicate the leader’s verses and a person’s or the people’s responses. The abbreviation “V.” indicates where the leader of the prayer speaks, and “R.” indicates the response. For example, in the Angelus on page 2299, the first two lines are thus:
            V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
            R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
In this example, the leader reads the first line, and everyone else responds with the second line.

Question: Where can I find the Presidential Prayers (Entrance Antiphon, the Prayer over the Offering, and the Communion Antiphon) for the weekdays in Ordinary Time?

Answer: The answer begins on page 839. This quoted section of the missal explains what elements from the missal are used during Ordinary Time. Number 3b reads, in part: “On weekdays, however, any of the thirty-four [Sunday] Masses may be used.” Unless there is a feast day, the Entrance and Communion Antiphons are taken from one of the Sunday Masses. There is no way for us to know which antiphons will be chosen, again quoting from number 3b, considering that “the pastoral needs of the faithful are taken into consideration.” The best way to learn this would probably be to ask the celebrant; perhaps he has a pattern, for example, using the previous Sunday’s antiphons. Page xx also includes a helpful guide for Mass on weekdays.

Question: Does this missal include the invocation of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV?

Answer: No; these were printed before that addition.

Question: Is there a protective cover for this missal?

Answer: Yes, this missal comes in its own protective slipcase. However, we do not have a zippered cover that fits this missal.

Question: Why is there no Imprimatur for this missal?

Answer: The Committee on Divine Worship, a committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, does not issue an Imprimatur (“permission to publish”) for liturgical publications such as missals, lectionaries, rituals, and books of blessings. Instead, the Committee has issued a Concordat cum Originali, which is an attestation that the texts included in the book faithfully reproduce what are found in the official publications. Since this missal has been granted a Concordat cum Originali, no further permission to publish is necessary (or even possible to obtain).

Question: What sections of this book are in both Latin and English?

Answer: The Order of Mass—including the Eucharistic Prayers, the Entrance and Communion Antiphons, the response to the Responsorial Psalm, the Sequence, the Alleluia Verse Before the Gospel—and many of the devotions and prayers are in both Latin and English. The Prefaces are in English only.

Question: What is the difference between the two large-print editions?

Answer: The leather edition “with Additional Eucharistic Prayers” includes an appendix with two Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation and four Eucharistic Prayers for use in Various Needs and Occasions, and it includes the Latin text of the Prefaces; to accommodate this it does not include the “Devotions and Prayers” section except the prayers before and after Mass found in the altar missal. The hardcover edition “with Devotions and Prayers” has the same contents as the standard-print editions; it includes the “Devotions and Prayers” section but not to Eucharistic Prayers and Latin texts in the leather edition.

Question: Where are the Latin texts of the Prefaces?

Answer: The Prefaces in this edition are in Latin and English on facing pages within the Order of Mass; other prefaces have their Latin text in an appendix.

Question: Where are the Prefaces for Eucharistic Prayers I and III? They are not on pages 767 and 791, respectively.

Answer: There are no proper Prefaces for these Eucharistic Prayers. Whereas Eucharistic Prayers II and IV have proper Prefaces, I and III do not; this is not something the editors forgot to include or decided to omit. When praying Eucharistic Prayer I or III, use the Preface specified by the rubrics. For example, in Ordinary Time see page 839, no. 5: “[O]n Sundays one of the Prefaces of Sundays in Ordinary Time is said, pp. 745–749; but on weekdays, a Common Preface is said, pp. 758–762.”

Question: Can I use this missal outside the USA, for example, in Canada, England, or Nigeria?

Answer: To a limited extent, yes. The Latin texts are universal and the English texts from the missal are copyrighted by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, which are used throughout the English-speaking world. However, the readings are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament, which is approved for all Masses in the dioceses of the USA; furthermore, the calendar is adapted for use in the dioceses of the USA, so feasts proper to other English-speaking countries are not in this missal.

Question: How can I find the readings for a particular day?

Answer: Table I, on pages xxxiv–xxxvii, is a useful guide. For example, let us use Table I to find the prayers and readings on the Sunday of Pentecost 2019. This feast is listed on page xxxv, about 4/5 the way down the table. The header rows of the table inform us this feast in 2019 will use the readings for Year C, and tracing this down to the row labeled “Pentecost” informs us this feast will fall on June 9. Turning to page 689, as indicated to the left of “Pentecost,” we find the beginning of this Mass.

Question: Is the sequence on Pentecost obligatory or optional?

Answer: It is obligatory. In some print runs, there is a rubric on page 701 that reads, “The sequence may be said or sung.” This was unintentionally misleading—making the sequence sound optional rather than just the manner in which it should be prayed—and has been removed from later print runs of this missal.

Question: Where can I find the Mass for the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

Answer: It is on page 1823. This is a moveable feast, meaning its calendar date is not the same every year. The feasts at the end of Ordinary Time are Feasts of the Lord, which this is not. Therefore, the altar missal and lectionary place it between May and June because most years it is celebrated in June.

Question: Why do some of the Psalms have two numbers and others have only one?

Answer: The Psalms are numbered differently in the missal and the lectionary; we have reproduced faithfully what appears in each publication. In the lectionary published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 1998 and 2002, the Psalms are numbered according to the Hebrew tradition; however, in the altar missal published by the USCCB in 2010, the Psalms are numbered according to the Hebrew tradition with the Greco–Latin tradition acknowledged in brackets. As we have no authority to alter either source when printing our missal, we have reproduced faithfully what appears in each one. The number of a Psalm in the Greco–Latin tradition (Septuagint, Vulgate) is often one less than in the Hebrew tradition. Citing both traditions as the missal does conveys more information but is a more accurate citation.

Question: Where can I find the Presidential Prayers (Entrance Antiphon, the Prayer over the Offering, and the Communion Antiphon) for the weekdays in Ordinary Time?

Answer: The answer begins on page 839. This quoted section of the missal explains what elements from the missal are used during Ordinary Time. Number 3b reads, in part: “On weekdays, however, any of the thirty-four [Sunday] Masses may be used.” Unless there is a feast day, the Entrance and Communion Antiphons are taken from one of the Sunday Masses. There is no way for us to know which antiphons will be chosen, again quoting from number 3b, considering that “the pastoral needs of the faithful are taken into consideration.” The best way to learn this would probably be to ask the celebrant; perhaps he has a pattern, for example, using the previous Sunday’s antiphons. Page xx also includes a helpful guide for Mass on weekdays.

Question: Does this missal include the invocation of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV?

Answer: No. However, we do provide a free set of stickers which includes his name in specific stanza for each Eucharistic Prayer. All of the characteristics of the sticker are meant for it to blend with the printed page. The stickers are sent out upon request.

Question: Is there a protective cover for this missal?

Answer: No, we do not have a zippered cover that fits this missal.

Question: Why is there no Imprimatur for this missal?

Answer: The Committee on Divine Worship, a committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, does not issue an Imprimatur (“permission to publish”) for liturgical publications such as missals, lectionaries, rituals, and books of blessings. Instead, the Committee has issued a Concordat cum Originali, which is an attestation that the texts included in the book faithfully reproduce what are found in the official publications. Since this missal has been granted a Concordat cum Originali, no further permission to publish is necessary (or even possible to obtain).

Question: What sections of this book are in both Latin and English?

Answer: The Order of Mass—including the Eucharistic Prayers, the Entrance and Communion Antiphons, the response to the Responsorial Psalm, the Sequence, the Alleluia Verse Before the Gospel—and many of the devotions and prayers are in both Latin and English. The Prefaces are in English only.

Question: What is the difference between the two large-print editions?

Answer: The leather edition “with Additional Eucharistic Prayers” includes an appendix with two Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation and four Eucharistic Prayers for use in Various Needs and Occasions, and it includes the Latin text of the Prefaces; to accommodate this it does not include the “Devotions and Prayers” section except the prayers before and after Mass found in the altar missal. The hardcover edition “with Devotions and Prayers” has the same contents as the standard-print editions; it includes the “Devotions and Prayers” section but not to Eucharistic Prayers and Latin texts in the leather edition.

Question: Where are the Latin texts of the Prefaces?

Answer: The Prefaces in this edition are in English only; however, the edition “Large Print Edition with Additional Eucharistic Prayers” includes the Latin and English texts of the Prefaces.

Question: Where are the Prefaces for Eucharistic Prayers I and III? They are not on pages 767 and 791, respectively.

Answer: There are no proper Prefaces for these Eucharistic Prayers. Whereas Eucharistic Prayers II and IV have proper Prefaces, I and III do not; this is not something the editors forgot to include or decided to omit. When praying Eucharistic Prayer I or III, use the Preface specified by the rubrics. For example, in Ordinary Time see page 839, no. 5: “[O]n Sundays one of the Prefaces of Sundays in Ordinary Time is said, pp. 745–749; but on weekdays, a Common Preface is said, pp. 758–762.”

Question: Can I use this missal outside the USA, for example, in Canada, England, or Nigeria?

Answer: To a limited extent, yes. The Latin texts are universal and the English texts from the missal are copyrighted by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, which are used throughout the English-speaking world. However, the readings are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament, which is approved for all Masses in the dioceses of the USA; furthermore, the calendar is adapted for use in the dioceses of the USA, so feasts proper to other English-speaking countries are not in this missal.

Question: How can I find the readings for a particular day?

Answer: Table I, on pages xxxiv–xxxvii, is a useful guide. For example, let us use Table I to find the prayers and readings on the Sunday of Pentecost 2019. This feast is listed on page xxxv, about 4/5 the way down the table. The header rows of the table inform us this feast in 2019 will use the readings for Year C, and tracing this down to the row labeled “Pentecost” informs us this feast will fall on June 9. Turning to page 689, as indicated to the left of “Pentecost,” we find the beginning of this Mass.

Question: Is the sequence on Pentecost obligatory or optional?

Answer: It is obligatory. In some print runs, there is a rubric on page 701 that reads, “The sequence may be said or sung.” This was unintentionally misleading—making the sequence sound optional rather than just the manner in which it should be prayed—and has been removed from later print runs of this missal.

Question: Where can I find the Mass for the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

Answer: It is on page 1823. This is a moveable feast, meaning its calendar date is not the same every year. The feasts at the end of Ordinary Time are Feasts of the Lord, which this is not. Therefore, the altar missal and lectionary place it between May and June because most years it is celebrated in June.

Question: Why do some of the Psalms have two numbers and others have only one?

Answer: The Psalms are numbered differently in the missal and the lectionary; we have reproduced faithfully what appears in each publication. In the lectionary published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 1998 and 2002, the Psalms are numbered according to the Hebrew tradition; however, in the altar missal published by the USCCB in 2010, the Psalms are numbered according to the Hebrew tradition with the Greco–Latin tradition acknowledged in brackets. As we have no authority to alter either source when printing our missal, we have reproduced faithfully what appears in each one. The number of a Psalm in the Greco–Latin tradition (Septuagint, Vulgate) is often one less than in the Hebrew tradition. Citing both traditions as the missal does conveys more information but is a more accurate citation.

Question: Why does the “Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified” list the citation as Psalm 21 when the quote is from Psalm 22?

Answer: There are two traditions for numbering the Psalms, and this references the Greco–Latin tradition. The number of a Psalm in the Greco–Latin tradition (Septuagint, Vulgate) is often one less than in the Hebrew tradition. Since this prayer is printed in both Latin and English, the editors thought it would seem more dignified to number it according to just the Greco-Latin tradition rather than the Hebrew as well.

Question: What do the abbreviations “V.” and “R.” mean?

Answer: They indicate the leader’s verses and a person’s or the people’s responses. The abbreviation “V.” indicates where the leader of the prayer speaks, and “R.” indicates the response. For example, in the Angelus on page 2299, the first two lines are thus:
            V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
            R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
In this example, the leader reads the first line, and everyone else responds with the second line.

Question: Where can I find the Presidential Prayers (Entrance Antiphon, the Prayer over the Offering, and the Communion Antiphon) for the weekdays in Ordinary Time?

Answer: The answer begins on page 839. This quoted section of the missal explains what elements from the missal are used during Ordinary Time. Number 3b reads, in part: “On weekdays, however, any of the thirty-four [Sunday] Masses may be used.” Unless there is a feast day, the Entrance and Communion Antiphons are taken from one of the Sunday Masses. There is no way for us to know which antiphons will be chosen, again quoting from number 3b, considering that “the pastoral needs of the faithful are taken into consideration.” The best way to learn this would probably be to ask the celebrant; perhaps he has a pattern, for example, using the previous Sunday’s antiphons. Page xx also includes a helpful guide for Mass on weekdays.

Question: Does this missal include the invocation of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV?

Answer: No. However, we do provide a free set of stickers which includes his name in specific stanza for each Eucharistic Prayer. All of the characteristics of the sticker are meant for it to blend with the printed page. The stickers are sent out upon request.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that Faith and Revelation (Parish Edition), copyright 2012, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that Faith and Revelation (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s Faith and Revelation (Semester Edition), copyright 2009, which has already been reviewed by the Subcommittee and found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, Faith and Revelation (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. Faith and Revelation (Parish Edition) has been reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago and was found to be free of doctrinal and moral error. Permission to publish was granted by the Vicar General, Rev. Msgr. John F. Canary, on May 22, 2012.

Question: Where are days 4–10 in the Ten-day Devotion to the Holy Spirit?

Answer: They are present and in order, beginning on page 364. In the 2011 printing of the Seventh Edition, the subtitles for days 4–10 were accidentally merged with the preceding paragraphs, so they do not stand out.

Question: What are the differences between this edition and the first edition?

Answer: The second-edition textbook (2011) was redone “from the ground up” and is essentially a different book than the first edition (2002). It was restructured, rewritten completely, and expanded to include not only a more thorough presentation of the material but also more topics.

Question: Can I use this second edition teacher’s manual with the first edition textbook?

Answer: No. The first edition textbook (2002) was rewritten, expanded, and published in a second edition (2011). This second edition of the teacher’s manual (2011) was written for the second edition of the textbook is not compatible with the first edition.

Question: Where are the answer keys for the tests, quizzes, and vocabulary reviews? They are not in the online teachers’ resources or on the Resources CD.

Answer: They are printed in the Teacher’s Manual, each one after the corresponding test, quiz, or vocabulary review. We did not include the answer keys in the online teachers’ resources (or, in older printings, on the Resources CD) for two reasons: (1) we do not foresee a need to reproduce or print them; and (2) we do not want the answer keys to fall into the students’ hands, which can happen more easily with an electronic medium than a paper book.

Question: Does this book have the readings printed or just references to them?

Answer: Yes, the readings, prayers, and antiphons are printed—not just references to where they can be found in a Bible—in this missal.

Question: Does this missal have the latest Spanish-language liturgical texts approved by the USCCB for official use in the US dioceses?

Answer: No; this devotional missal is in accordance to the liturgical texts from the Mexican Episcopal Conference.

Question: Is the artwork in full color or black and white?

Answer: The illustrations are in full color.

Question: The text of the Apostles’ Creed begins “Credo in Deum” in this edition, but in the Vatican’s 2002 edition, it begins “Credo in Unum Deum.” Why is this different?

Answer: This error was corrected in MTF’s edition. The Vatican’s 2002 edition erroneously included the word Unum in the first line of the Apostles’ Creed. When the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments granted us permission to publish this missal, they asked us to correct this line by removing the word Unum. (N.B. The word Unum appears rightly in the first line of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed.)

Question: What edition of the missal is this?

Answer: This is the Third Edition, textually the same as the Vatican’s 2002 edition. The Vatican published third-edition missals in 2002 and 2008. MTF’s missal reproduces the Vatican’s 2002 edition, incorporating typographical changes and saints added to the calendar 2002–2005, but MTF’s edition does not preserve the typography and pagination of the Vatican’s 2002 edition.

Question: Do the colors of the ribbons correspond to the sections of the missal?

Answer: No, the colors of the ribbons, though based on liturgical colors, can be used in any order you find most helpful. We do not intend a strict association, for example, to use the violet ribbon for texts of Advent or Lent.

Question: Does this missal include the invocation of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV?

Answer: Since this missal was printed back in 2005, it does not include the invocation of St. Joseph. However, we do provide a free set of stickers which includes his name in specific stanza for each Eucharistic Prayer. All of the characteristics of the sticker are meant for it to blend with the printed page. The stickers are sent out upon request.

Question: Is the artwork in full color or black and white?

Answer: The illustrations are in full color.

Question: What edition of the missal is this?

Answer: This is the Third Emended Edition, textually the same as the Vatican’s 2008 edition, It incorporates typographical changes and saints added to the calendar 2008–2014, but MTF’s edition does not preserve the typography and pagination of the Vatican’s 2008 edition.

Question: Do the colors of the ribbons correspond to the sections of the missal?

Answer: No, the colors of the ribbons, though based on liturgical colors, can be used in any order you find most helpful. We do not intend a strict association, for example, to use the violet ribbon for texts of Advent or Lent.

Question: Does this edition include the invocation of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV?

Answer: Yes; it was published in 2015, after the addition of his name. It appears both in the text and in the musical notation.

Question: What are the differences between this third edition and the second edition?

Answer: The second edition textbook (2003) was restructured, rewritten completely, and expanded to include a more thorough presentation of the material, which makes the third-edition textbook (2009) about 100 pages longer than earlier editions. It also has a different cover image and a different author.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that Our Moral Life in Christ (Parish Edition), copyright 2013, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that Our Moral Life in Christ (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s Our Moral Life in Christ (Semester Edition), copyright 2009, which has already been reviewed by the Subcommittee and found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, Our Moral Life in Christ (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. Our Moral Life in Christ (Parish Edition) is being reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago to determine if it is free of doctrinal and moral error.

Question: Can I use this third edition teacher’s manual with the first and second edition textbooks?

Answer: No. The second edition textbook was rewritten, expanded, and published in a third edition (2009). This third edition of the teacher’s manual (2009) was written for the third edition of the textbook is not compatible with the first and second editions (2002–2008).

Question: Where are the answer keys for the tests, quizzes, and vocabulary reviews? They are not in the online teachers’ resources or on the Resources CD.

Answer: They are printed in the Teacher’s Manual, each one after the corresponding test, quiz, or vocabulary review. We did not include the answer keys in the online teachers’ resources (or, in older printings, on the Resources CD) for two reasons: (1) we do not foresee a need to reproduce or print them; and (2) we do not want the answer keys to fall into the students’ hands, which can happen more easily with an electronic medium than a paper book.

Question: Can I use this missal outside the USA, for example, in Canada, England, or Nigeria?

Answer: No. This missal is approved for use in the dioceses of the USA only; there are adaptations of the General Instruction, entries in the Proper of Saints, etc., that differ from usage in other countries. The few readings it does include (e.g., Gospel at the procession of Palm Sunday) are from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament, which has been approved for use in all Masses within the dioceses of the USA; other countries use the NRSV, New Jerusalem, etc.

Question: Do the colors of the ribbons correspond to the sections of the missal?

Answer: No, the colors of the ribbons, though based on liturgical colors, can be used in any order you find most helpful. We do not intend a strict association, for example, to use the violet ribbon for texts of Advent or Lent.

Question: Why do the Psalms have two numbers rather than only one?

Answer: The citations acknowledge the two received numbering traditions. The number of a Psalm in the Greco–Latin tradition (Septuagint, Vulgate) is often one less than in the Hebrew tradition. Citing both traditions as the missal does yields a more complete and more accurate citation.

Question: Does this missal include the invocation of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV?

Answer: Since this missal was printed back in 2012, it does not include the invocation of St. Joseph. However, we do provide a free set of stickers which includes his name in specific stanza for each Eucharistic Prayer. All of the characteristics of the sticker are meant for it to blend with the printed page. The stickers are sent out upon request.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that The Blessed Trinity (Parish Edition), copyright 2012, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that The Blessed Trinity (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s The Blessed Trinity (Semester Edition), copyright 2009, which has already been reviewed by the Subcommittee and found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, The Blessed Trinity (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. The Blessed Trinity (Parish Edition) has been reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago and was found to be free of doctrinal and moral error. Permission to publish was granted by the Vicar General, Rev. Msgr. John F. Canary, on May 22, 2012.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that The Church (Parish Edition), copyright 2013, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that The Church (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s The Church (Semester Edition), copyright 2010, which has already been reviewed by the Subcommittee and found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, The Church (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. The Church (Parish Edition) is being reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago to determine if it is free of doctrinal and moral error.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that The History of the Church (Parish Edition), copyright 2013, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that The History of the Church (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s The History of the Church (Complete Course Edition), copyright 2005, which has already been reviewed by the Subcommittee and found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, The History of the Church (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. The History of the Church (Parish Edition) is being reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago to determine if it is free of doctrinal and moral error.

Question: Can I use this revised 1st edition teacher’s manual with the first edition textbook?

Answer: Yes. The textbook has been reprinted several times but has not changed since it was first published in 2005. This revised first edition of the teacher’s manual (2011) was written to replace the first edition of the teacher’s manual for use with the same textbook.

Question: Where are the answer keys for the tests, quizzes, and vocabulary reviews? They are not in the online teachers’ resources or on the Resources CD.

Answer: They are printed in the Teacher’s Manual, each one after the corresponding test, quiz, or vocabulary review. We did not include the answer keys in the online teachers’ resources (or, in older printings, on the Resources CD) for two reasons: (1) we do not foresee a need to reproduce or print them; and (2) we do not want the answer keys to fall into the students’ hands, which can happen more easily with an electronic medium than a paper book.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that The Mystery of Redemption (Parish Edition), copyright 2013, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that The Mystery of Redemption (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s The Mystery of Redemption (Semester Edition), copyright 2013, which is being reviewed by the Subcommittee, and we expect it will be found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, The Mystery of Redemption (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. The Mystery of Redemption (Parish Edition) is being reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago to determine if it is free of doctrinal and moral error.

Question: Is there a teacher’s edition for the textbook?

Answer: We are working on a Presenter’s Guide for this textbook. We expect to have it available by the spring of 2018.

Question: Is there a student workbook for the textbook?

Answer: No. Currently we do not have plans to produce a student workbook.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that The Sacraments (Parish Edition), copyright 2013, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that The Sacraments (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s The Sacraments (Semester Edition), copyright 2009, which has already been reviewed by the Subcommittee and found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, The Sacraments (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. The Sacraments (Parish Edition) is being reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago to determine if it is free of doctrinal and moral error.

Question: Is this book in conformity with the Catechism according to the USCCB?

Long answer: After consultation, the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism has determined that Understanding the Scriptures (Parish Edition), copyright 2013, is not eligible for conformity review. This is not a judgment that the text is deficient in any way but simply that it is not of a category of texts that are available for review by the Subcommittee. The determining factor in this decision was that Understanding the Scriptures (Parish Edition) is an abridged text, drawn from Midwest Theological Forum’s Understanding the Scriptures (Complete Course Edition), copyright 2005, which has already been reviewed by the Subcommittee and found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In preparing this text, Understanding the Scriptures (Semester Edition) was adapted in accordance with the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in parish and youth programs. Understanding the Scriptures (Parish Edition) is being reviewed by the Archdiocese of Chicago to determine if it is free of doctrinal and moral error.

Question: Which ISBN is correct; there is a different on the back cover and the copyright page.

Answer:   The copyright page is correct. In the first printing of the Revised First Edition (2011), erroneously we printed the cover for the first edition. This has been corrected in the second printing (2012).

Question: Can I use this revised first edition teacher’s manual with the first edition textbook?

Answer: Yes. The textbook has not changed since it was first published in 2005. This revised first edition of the teacher’s manual (2011) replaces the first edition of the teacher’s manual for use with the same textbook.

Question: Where are the answer keys for the tests, quizzes, and vocabulary reviews? They are not in the online teachers’ resources or on the Resources CD.

Answer: They are printed in the Teacher’s Manual, each one after the corresponding test, quiz, or vocabulary review. We did not include the answer keys in the online teachers’ resources (or, in older printings, on the Resources CD) for two reasons: (1) we do not foresee a need to reproduce or print them; and (2) we do not want the answer keys to fall into the students’ hands, which can happen more easily with an electronic medium than a paper book.