noun
missal
MISS-ul/ˈmɪsl/
A book containing the texts used in the Catholic Mass.
The closed missal rests on the church lectern with ribbon markers extending below.
Etymology
Missa and the relational ending give “pertaining to the Mass.” This description became the name of the book collecting the prayers and other liturgical texts needed to celebrate the Mass through the year.
More examples
- The priest reads the opening prayer from the missal.
- A ribbon in my missal marks the texts for Sunday.
- The bookstore sells missals with large print.
Forms
missal · missals
Similar words
- service book
- A broader term for books guiding worship in various churches.
- prayer book
- Contains prayers but may lack the full texts for Mass.