Missal

Missal, the volume containing the prayers used in the celebration of the Mass. Anciently, considerable variety in minor details prevailed among the books in use in different countries, and even in different churches of the same country. With the view of restoring uniformity, the pope, in virtue of a decree of the Council of Trent, in 1570 ordered that all churches which had not, for a clearly ascertained period of 200 years, enjoyed an uninterrupted use of a peculiar service-book of their own, should thenceforth adopt the Roman Missal. Of this exemption several churches in Germany, France, and even in Italy availed themselves; but in later times the great majority have conformed to the Roman use. The Roman Missal has twice since that date been subjected to revision and correction—in 1604 by Clement VIII., and in 1634 by Urban VIII. The latter recension still continues in use. The missals of the oriental rites differ from that of the Roman Church, each having for the most part its own proper form. See LITURGY.