Explore Alto
Use code TCMS10 to get 10% off Alto.
The Catholic Man Show
The Verdict Up Front
Alto is the easiest way we’ve found to pray the Church’s official Morning and Night Prayer without learning a breviary. Everything for the day sits on consecutive pages in the order you’ll pray it. It’s print only, U.S. only, and costs more than the older monthly missals. If you want a daily routine you’ll actually keep, it earns its place on the nightstand.
[ADAM: two or three sentences in your own words. How long you’ve been using it, when you pray with it, and one thing that surprised you.]
What Alto Is
Alto is a monthly prayer periodical from Ascension, the publisher behind The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year. Each issue covers one month and arrives by mail around the 25th of the month before. For the full background, see our complete guide to Alto.
What’s on a Daily Page
Open to today’s date and the day runs in order:
Morning Prayer. The official text from the Liturgy of the Hours, printed in full. No flipping between the psalter and the proper of seasons.
The Mass readings. First reading, psalm, second reading on Sundays, and the Gospel. The Order of the Mass is printed elsewhere in the issue for reference.
The saint of the day. A short feature on who the Church remembers today.
A daily reflection. From saints and trusted authors, including Fr. Mike Schmitz, tied to the month’s theme.
Night Prayer. The official text of Compline to close the day.
[ADAM: describe one specific page from your October or November copy. A reflection that stuck with you, or how a page is laid out. Add a photo of it.]
The Monthly Extras
Beyond the daily pages, each issue includes:
A monthly theme. October was the Parables. November is the Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, hell, and purgatory. December is Joy to the World.
A monthly novena. Nine days of prayer tied to the month.
A mini Bible study. A short study drawn from Scripture or Catholic tradition.
Liturgical living essays. Kendra Tierney Norton on feasts, seasons, and traditions you can bring home.
Articles, book excerpts, and extra prayers.
November’s theme fits the month well. If you’re praying for family members who have died, our post A Prayerful Way to Enter November and Remember the Faithful Departed pairs with it.
Size and Print Quality
Alto is a 5 by 7 inch paperback, roughly three quarters of an inch to an inch thick depending on the month. It fits in a jacket pocket, a glove box, or a work bag. The prayers and readings are set in 10 point type.
[ADAM: one line on how it holds up. Binding, paper, whether it stays open on the table, where you keep it.]
What We Liked
No setup. You don’t need to know which week of the psalter it is. Open to the date and pray.
The official prayer of the Church. Morning and Night Prayer are the same Hours that priests and religious pray.
One book for the day. Readings, prayer, saint, and reflection in one place.
No screen. Nothing pings while you pray.
A theme that holds the month together. The reflections, novena, and study build on each other.
What to Know Before You Subscribe
Print only. There’s no digital edition. If you travel a lot and pray from your phone, factor that in.
No Evening Prayer. Alto includes Morning and Night Prayer. Evening Prayer and the Office of Readings are not in it.
10 point type. Comfortable for most readers. If you need large print, check that first.
Lead time. New subscriptions take 4 to 8 weeks to start because issues print ahead.
U.S. only for now.
Price. $109.99 a year, or $75 with a paid annual Ascension app subscription. We break it down in Is Alto Worth It?
Comparing options? See Alto vs. Magnificat.
Who It’s For
Alto fits a man who wants to pray every day and needs the plan already made. It’s a good on-ramp to the Liturgy of the Hours, a solid companion for daily Mass, and a strong choice for anyone trying to pray with less time on the phone. Couples can pray Night Prayer together from one copy. Parishes and men’s groups can order in bulk with a discount starting with the November 2026 edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alto worth the price?
If you’ll use it most days, it works out to about 30 cents a day at the standard price. If you already pray from a full breviary and daily missal, you may not need it.
How long does it take to pray with Alto each day?
Morning Prayer takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and Night Prayer about 5 to 10. Add the readings and reflection as time allows.
Does Alto include Fr. Mike Schmitz content every month?
Fr. Mike is among the regular contributors, and Ascension says Alto includes his Sunday homilies. December’s edition adds printed adaptations of his Advent reflections.
When will my first issue arrive?
Plan on 4 to 8 weeks from the day you subscribe.
Can I cancel?
Yes. You manage your subscription, including auto-renewal, through your Ascension account.
Try It for Yourself
Explore Alto through our link and use code TCMS10 for 10% off your first year. Ascension’s current cutoff for the January 2027 edition is December 6 (subject to change).
Just open Alto and pray.
