Romanitas Press

04/10/2026

NEW VIDEO: FRIDAY ABSTINENCE AND OCTAVES
What is the traditional rule regarding abstinence from meat on the Friday during an Octave?

What is an Octave? How did the Octaves originate in the Catholic Church?

Discover this and more in this new video with Louis Tofari and Jeff Cassman:

Should you abstain from meat on Friday within the Octave of Easter?Is it a sin to fast or abstain on a Friday within a Octave?What's the important difference...

04/10/2026

CAN I EAT MEAT ON FRIDAY DURING THE EASTER OCTAVE?
This burning question comes up every year!

Find the answer here in this article by Louis Tofari: https://www.romanitaspress.com/when-is-friday-abstinence-dispensed

Follow the traditional Liturgical Year of the Roman Rite: https://www.romanitaspress.com/calendar

Learn about traditional catholic fasting, including when Friday abstinence rules are dispensed on I or II Class Feasts, in this guide.

04/02/2026

HEBDOMADA SANCTA STUDY NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.romanitaspress.com//schmidt-hebdomada-sancta
We've just published Fr. Herman Schmidt's impressive 3-volume study of the Holy Week Reform of Pius XII.

As Fr. Marcello introduces: "Schmidt provides a complete scholarly and critical apparatus to the 1955 Holy Week liturgies, as well as an ample bibliography with nearly a thousand entries!"

This 3-volume collection of Fr. Herman Schmidt is a study of the meticulous research undertaken for the 1955 Holy Week Reform of Pope Pius XII.

03/26/2026

GET READY FOR HOLY WEEK! (Part 1)
The most sacred part of the liturgical year begins this coming Palm Sunday. The rites of Holy Week are immensely rich in meaning and intended for our sanctification.

As explained by Fr. Clifford Howard, author of PREPARING FOR EASTER:
"The rites [of Holy Week], however beautiful, can never produce such a deep effect on people who do not appreciate their full significance. That is why it is important that people be instructed beforehand. They must be helped to discover, within the rites and texts, the salvific effects—the divine action—which is at work in the celebration of the paschal Mysteries. To these they must open their mind and hearts; to these they must respond with their wills from the very depths of their being."

To this end we offer some helpful resources at Romanitas Press.

PREPARING FOR EASTER
It's not too late to read up with Fr. Howell's fantastic work, Preparing for Easter, which is available for immediate download as a PDF book: https://www.romanitaspress.com/product-page/preparing-for-easter-howell-pdf-bk
Just $11.45

PODCAST with Louis Tofari about this book and the importance of following Holy Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IYVf-0Yol8

03/21/2026

WHY ARE THE STATUES VEILED IN VIOLET?
This coming Sunday is called "Passion Sunday" and arriving at church, you will find the altar cross and statues veiled in violet.

Learn the history behind this Roman Rite custom, the significance of Passion Sunday, and when the veils are removed in this talk with Louis Tofari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leh-C-L7cdI

See our Lenten/Easter offerings: https://www.romanitaspress.com/lent-easter

Subscribe to Romanitas Press: https://www.romanitaspress.com/subscribe

03/13/2026

MARCH TO SAINT JOSEPH!
The month of March is traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, due to his great feast on the 19th.

Romanitas Press has several offerings that can help increase devotion to St. Joseph and prompt us turn to him for assistance.

VIDEO: St. Joseph: Protector of Church Universal
https://youtu.be/zL0jX3ZfGOw
​Louis Tofari talks about the role of St. Joseph, the special protection he provides to the Catholic Church, how the Vatican historically increased the honors due to him, and why we should rely on his patronage in this time of crisis.

DEVOTIONAL BOOK: Ite ad Joseph! Novenas, Prayers and Hymns in Honor of St. Joseph
https://www.romanitaspress.com/product-page/ite-ad-joseph-novenas-prayers-and-hymns-in-honor-of-st-joseph

STUDIES BOOK: For the Insertion of the Name of St. Joseph in the Prayers of the Mass [explores his theological aspects]
https://www.romanitaspress.com/product-page/for-the-insertion-of-the-name-of-st-joseph-in-the-prayers-of-the-mass

FOR MASS: The Saints Who Pray with Us in the Mass
https://www.romanitaspress.com/product-page/the-saints-who-pray-with-us-in-the-mass

Subscribe to our updates: https://www.romanitaspress.com/subscribe

02/23/2026

WHY DO WE FAST AND ABSTAIN DURING LENT?
A ton of information about the customs and practices of the Lenten Season is presented in this 1-hour video with Louis Tofari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knUDQ-5qqqY

See our LENT offerings: https://www.romanitaspress.com/lent-easter

02/23/2026

MORE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC BOOKS ADDED TO CLEARANCE!
In addition to the wide variety of books we added to our CLEARANCE section a week ago, we've just added some more: https://www.romanitaspress.com/clearance

These books on CLEARANCE have some slight damage (scuffing or slight bends on the cover) which do not allow us to sell them at full price---our loss is YOUR GAIN!

And... have you checked out the selection of SECONDHAND BOOKS we're offering: https://www.romanitaspress.com/secondhand-books ? Includes topics such as the Roman Legions, Catholic history, devotional, liturgy and more!

SUBSCRIBE to our updates: https://www.romanitaspress.com/subscribe

02/18/2026

VIDEOS FOR LENT!
Lent is now here! Watch these videos with Louis Tofari to learn about:

>>Rite and Mass of Ash Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImkDuvmQ04o

>>Fasting and Lenten customs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knUDQ-5qqqY

LENTEN READING OFFERINGS: https://www.romanitaspress.com/lent-easter

SUBSCRIBE to our updates: https://www.romanitaspress.com/subscribe

02/16/2026

ANOTHER TESTIMONY ABOUT LOUIS TOFARI'S LATIN MASTERCLASS FOR ACOLYTES
"Rigor and vigor are the two words that come to mind in relation to Mr. Tofari's excellent online Latin class for altar servers: rigor because for Mr. Tofari, whatever is worth teaching at all is worth teaching well; and vigor, because Mr. Tofari teaches with a bristling, no-nonsense energy that communicates itself to the students. "Talk like crazy Italians" he told them (a timely reminder to articulate exaggeratedly rather than revert to the usual school-boy mumble). "Chase your sisters down the hallway saying 'Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meum'" was another well-received gem.

Levity aside, there was no compromising on standards here: Mr. Tofari's students knew that they had to reach a goal, and he wouldn't give up on them until they reached it. "It was hard" said my son, "but that was good, because then you get it right". He found nothing more satisfying than passing the five tests at the end.

This was a real education―linguistic and rhetorical, but also, of course, liturgical, ecclesiological and cultural. I signed up my son in a vague spirit of 'some formation will be better than nothing even if only over Zoom': little did I imagine that it would be a foundational course run by such a charismatic expert." Hilary Stroh; Kansas City, Missouri

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FEB 24-MAR 11 LATIN RESPONSES WEBINAR: https://www.romanitaspress.com/latin-responses-webinar

02/14/2026

A TESTIMONY ABOUT LOUIS TOFARI'S LATIN MASTERCLASS FOR ACOLYTES
"Louis’s webinar provides an in-depth examination of all aspects needed to master the acolyte’s responses and actions for the traditional Roman Mass. As a former university language instructor, I was impressed by his rigorous and effective pedagogical approach to learning the Latin responses with the correct pronunciation. In addition, he has extensive knowledge of the Roman Rite and explains in detail the general principles, rules of precedence, liturgical gestures and reverences. Best of all, Louis makes learning these sacred duties fun." Thomas Cregan; Barrington, Rhode Island

LEARN MORE about the Latin Responses Webinar: https://www.romanitaspress.com/latin-responses-webinar