REGINA: How did the idea of making a traditional missal for children develop?
DR. KWASNIEWSKI: When our son had reached the point where he could read easily, we wanted to give him a missal at Mass that contained the main prayers to follow. He had outgrown the large print paraphrase missals ("see Father go up to the altar: he is offering sacrifice to God"). But he was not yet ready for a 2,000-page Baronius missal, which is heavy enough to make a loud noise when dropped, as we have learned on many occasions, and complicated enough to cause many distractions ("Mommy, what page are we on? Where are we?").
REGINA: Yep, that missal makes a loud noise when dropped.
DR. KWASNIEWSKI: So I decided to create an in-between missal that would have the full Ordinary of the Mass, with beautiful works of art -- classic paintings and icons and woodcuts -- but none of the Propers. And yet it clearly indicates where the Propers are, so that the child can turn to his parent or sibling and ask to see (e.g.) the Lesson or the Gospel. It worked very well for both children.
REGINA: And then?
DR. KWASNIEWSKI: Our friends noticed we had it and asked if they could have a copy. After it was "tested out" this way in a few families, I decided to go public with it. But I have never advertised it, so it's only become known slowly, by word of mouth. The Fraternity of St. Peter started carrying it in
their bookstore.
REGINA: Do you have final words for what Catholics can do, in this moment?
DR. KWASNIEWSKI: All this being said, I wouldn't want to give the impression that the traditional liturgy is only for the highly educated. Anyone who attends Mass for a span of years will come to appreciate its subtleties and beauties. It speaks to the soul quite directly.
The most important thing to do now is to capitalize on this providential moment by urging all the good clergy we know to learn or offer or increase their offering of the old Latin Mass and the other traditional sacraments. The Church's renewal will come through her tradition or I'm afraid it will not come at all.
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