Books on the Mass/Liturgy

There are many good and popular English books on the Mass. Some of them treat the subject after the manner of a Rationale, explaining the significance of the prayers and ceremonies of the Eucharistic rite; others are historical and antiquarian, and elucidate the origin and evolution of the ceremonial—while of devotional books there is no end. This book, however, is a treatise on the folklore and minor antiquities of the Mass; by which are meant the various aspects and the numerous details of ...

If you want to understand and appreciate the Traditional Latin Mass, then The Latin Mass Explained is essential reading! This book, written by Fr. George Moorman, provides a comprehensive and yet easy-to-read introduction to the cultural and spiritual significance of the Latin Mass. It covers, in detail, every prayer uttered at the Latin Mass – as well as its specific colors, rituals, bells and why Latin is used – illuminating what can initially be a bewildering experience into a meaningful o...

The Mass Explained to Children presents the beauty, depth, and simplicity of the traditional Latin Mass, helping to make it easily understandable for any and every child. With acute sensitivity to the purity and clarity of a child's mind and soul, Maria Montessori wisely instructs in how to prepare for Mass, explains how the altar is set up, and clarifies the meaning and use of the sacred vessels and other elements used during Mass. She describes also the role of the priest, the use and symbo...

In view of ever deepening interest in the traditional form of the Roman rite of Mass—which, according to Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum, demands “due honor for its venerable and ancient usage”—a comprehensive but concise introduction to its history, form, and theology is more than ever desirable. In contrast to conventional explanations of the Mass that offer practical or allegorical explanations of particular moments in the rite, the present work attends to the organic process by which t...

The Mass is the most remarkable event in human history, and we are its privileged participants. Every Mass is a heaven-sent opportunity to meaningful union with God Himself. It is a foretaste of the incredible banquet that awaits us in eternity.And yet, many Catholics sadly remain ignorant of the Mass's profound qualities and purpose. They coastal through the sacred liturgy, not realizing that the Mass is the source and summit of our Christian life.It doesn't have to be this way! The Wonders ...

The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass At the crest of volatile years of experimentation, a new rite of Mass was introduced in 1969—no mere cosmetic treatment but a radical reconstruction of the Church’s central act of worship. A minority of the faithful continued to hold fast to the traditional rite, which John Paul II and Benedict XVI gradually freed from restrictions. The steady growth of this “traditionalist” movement inevitably prompts questions in the minds of more and ...

First published in 2003,The Heresy of Formlessness is already a modern classic, unique for its melding of poetic shimmer and keen observation. Martin Mosebach offers up a compelling defense of the traditional Roman Rite and a searing critique of the postconciliar liturgical reform through which ancient rites were profaned by tone-deaf modernizers—and thus a once-flourishing religion gutted by banal innovations. For Mosebach, the only coherent solution to this crisis is a wholehearted return t...

The Traditional Latin Mass is more elaborate and prayed in an ancient language, so those coming to it for the first time can find it hard to navigate. Derya Little has provided a simple presentation with just enough information about the sequence, content, and meaning of its parts that anyone, adult or child, can follow and pray more easily.

Over fifty years ago, Msgr. Romano Guardini resolved to help his parishioners overcome the distractions and restlessness they suffered at Mass. Just before Mass each Sunday, he gave a brief talk on some aspect of the Mass, teaching them week by week, topic by topic, how to pre-pare themselves to participate more prayerfully. Afterward, he provided a few minutes of silence for reflection, and then began to offer Mass. So helpful were these 32 talks that they were soon published and have since ...

Welcome to "The Incredible Catholic Mass,” a book that will revolutionize the way you look at the Mass. Drawing on the Traditional Latin Mass, this thought-provoking guide helps you to understand, appreciate and internalize the power of this divinely inspired ritual. Reading “The Incredible Catholic Mass” gives you an understanding that goes far beyond just saying prayers; uncovering a new level of meaning and personal significance underlying every Mass.Designed as a practical aid for Catholi...

The spiritual vision of Dom Prosper Gueranger culminated in the primacy and centrality of the sacred liturgy, the opus Dei or work of God. He writes, “The liturgy is the highest and the holiest expression of the thought and intelligence of the Church, simply because it is carried out by the Church in direct communication with God, in confession, in prayer, and praise.” The Traditional Latin Mass Explained, a succinct and sublime presentation of the prayers and ceremonies of the Latin Mass, is...

The traditional liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church is a highly formal ritual unfolding in layers of elaborate gesture, rich symbolism, whispered Latin, and ancient plainchants. "Experts" after the Second Vatican Council were convinced that such a ritual was irrelevant to "modern man." To the shock of some, the delight of many, and the surprise of everyone, the old Latin Mass (and much that went along with it) has tenaciously survived during the past half-century and become an increasingly f...

The Divine Liturgy: Insights Into Its Mystery will fascinate readers interested in learning more about the ancient and powerful mystery at the heart of Christian tradition. This book by renowned author Robert Hughes uncovers the deeper meaning of the Mass, tracing its symbolism through the history of religion.The core message of this engaging text reaches out beyond religious discussion, offering readers a unique perspective into a timeless sacred ritual that has delighted and amazed humanity...

The Case for Liturgical Restoration, which gathers the complete and definitive texts of the widely-admired “position papers” of the International Federation Una Voce, tackles the questions: What is the point of the Extraordinary Form? What is its rationale? What can it contribute to the life of the Church here and now? Taking up one by one the most controversial topics in liturgy today—among them, active participation, the role of the laity, eastward orientation, extensive silence, the use of...

SINCE THE TIME of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has experienced an unprecedented crisis of identity, symbolized and propelled by the corruption of the greatest treasure of her tradition: the sacred liturgy. The result has been confusion, dismay, devastation. To the surprise of some, however, the same half-century has witnessed a growing counter-movement of Catholics who find in the Church's traditional liturgy a perennial witness to the orthodox faith, a solid foundation for...

In Liturgy and Personality, Dr. Hildebrand explores the relationship between liturgy and healthy personalities through a comprehensive study of the subject. Written in an engaging style and backed with rigorous research and evidence, this book effectively highlights how the Church forms individuals into spiritually sound people with strong characters. Drawing upon the insights that he has accumulated over his many years of working inside the Church, Hildebrand advances an important argument: ...

What did the first Christians believe about the Eucharist?How did they follow Jesus' command, "Do this in remembrance of me"?How did they celebrate the Lord's Day?What would they recognize in today's Mass? The answers may surprise you. In The Mass of the Early Christians, respected author, scholar, and television host Mike Aquilina reveals the Church's most ancient Eucharistic beliefs and practices. Using the words of the early Christians themselves -- from many documents and inscriptions -- ...

Ceremonies Explained for Servers may well be called the "mother of all servers' manuals". This is the most detailed guide available for servers and those who train and supervise them at the altar. In accessible language, Ceremonies covers the roles of servers in a wide range of Catholic liturgical celebrations. These are described in full, such as: the Mass in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms, the seven sacraments, the ceremonies of Holy Week, the Liturgy of the Hours, funeral rites,...

The Case for the Church's Timeless Liturgical Language For centuries, the use of Latin in the liturgy has been under attack. In these pages, Pope Benedict XIV (1675-1758) offers a convincing defense for the use of Latin as the normative liturgical language in the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. Although the attacks over the use of Latin in Pope Benedict XIV's time stemmed primarily from the Protestant schism, the objections today are very similar. With charity and reason, the Holy Father s...

What has liturgy to do with life? The sacred with the secular? This study proposes that the liturgy calls us, in the words of Aidan Kavanagh, "to do the world as the world was meant to be done." The sacramental liturgy of the Church and the personal liturgy of our lives should be as a seamless garment. Consecrating the World continues David Fagerberg's exploration of the Church's lex orandi (law of prayer) by expanding two major themes. The first considers liturgy as the matrix wherein our en...

As seen on EWTN with over 600,000 copies sold! Bestselling author Scott Hahn unveils the mysteries of the Mass, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the most familiar of Catholic rituals.Of all things Catholic, there is nothing that is so familiar as the Mass. With its unchanging prayers, the Mass fits Catholics like their favorite clothes. Yet most Catholics sitting in the pews on Sundays fail to see the powerful supernatural drama that enfolds them. Pope John Paul II described the Mass...

Why Revive the Liturgy, and How? Monsignor John O'Connor (1870-1952), an Irish parish priest in Yorkshire blessed with a solid continental education, was the inspiration for G.K. Chesterton's famous clerical sleuth, Father Brown. Though a friend of Chesterton and Eric Gill and a published writer himself, O'Connor's motives for printing his prewar tract on liturgical renewal both privately and anonymously will not be hard to fathom. His liturgical views offer an insight into the thinking of no...

In this thought-provoking book, Roberto Spataro provides readers with a compelling argument for the relevance of the Tridentine Mass and Latin language to joyful evangelization. Drawing from Pope Francis’s call for renewed evangelical excitement, Spataro shows how the forms of the ancient Latin liturgy provide clarity in a chaotic world. He set out to prove that despite often being viewed as stodgy and passé, Latin still has the power to unite Catholicism into a cohesive whole that highlights...

The Eucharistic Sacrifice and the Roman Liturgy The Holy Mass, by Fr. Lucas, is a historical treatise on the Roman Rite which is meant for the average reader that does not have a lot of study on the subject. It was first published in 1914 in two volumes and is now republished containing both volumes in one book.Father Lucas says in his preface: "The attempt to write yet another book about the Mass while for English speaking Catholics Dr Fortescue's work on the Roman Liturgy holds the field ma...

St. Robert Bellarmine was one of the best known of the Counter-Reformation theologians by both friend and foe. His apologetic writings were the most widely read treatises on theological subjects during the 17th century, and they also brought numerous conversions to the Catholic faith. Now for the first time, St. Robert's amazing treatises are available to you in English! In this treatise on the Sacrifice of the Mass, St. Robert divides his work into two topics: That the Mass is a Sacrifice, a...

These pages, now collected in one small volume, have been written for the purpose of helping the faithful, ordinary souls, to attain one most important object: active participation in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass; so that, consciously and deliberately, they may offer the sacred Victim, offer themselves and be nourished by receiving the holy Eucharist. In a word: that they may live the blessed Eucharist, the sacrifice and the sacrament, in its entirety, and that by living it they may sanctif...

If you're unhappy because the Mass has become for you routine or even boring and tedious these pages are for you. They teach you eight simple ways to make your every Mass a joyful time of piety and intense devotion. Explaining the spiritual meanings behind the signs and symbols, words and actions of the Mass, author Christopher Carstens teaches you spiritually-enriching ways to enter the church building, make the Sign of the Cross, pray the Opening Prayer, listen to the Readings, prepare your...

The Tragic Decline of Catholic Sacred In a world filled with disharmony, the topic of sacred music may seem less than relevant. But the need to restore authentic worship is more crucial than ever. We’ve all experienced it. As we prepare to enter into the silence of the sacred liturgy, banal music peals over the sound system, and we are barraged with irritating strains just as we are trying to quietly, peacefully worship the Lord. When the Harps Went Still, by Aurelio Porfiri, Athanasius Schne...

On a Mission to Preserve Our Worship of the DivineSacred Music and Liturgy After Vatican II recounts the important role that Monsignor Schuler played in the post-Vatican II Church. It was his heroic commitment, through countless writings in Sacred Music magazine, and through the authentic implementation of the Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy at the Church of Saint Agnes in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that has helped keep the patrimony of Catholic sacred music and liturgy alive against...

Few books do so much in so little as this one. In sixteen short chapters the authors manage not only to present a key to the Traditional Missal, but also a key to the entire Church Year, as well as a key to the Sacred Liturgy. In addition to the chapters on the seasons of the Church Year, the book gives in two initial chapters authentic information on the history of the Missal and its use, concluding with three chapters on the Feasts of Our Lord, of the Mother of God, and of the Saints. May t...

The Christian liturgy-and the Roman liturgy in particular-developed and thrived within a tradition of commentary and meditation that was fundamental for its understanding, running parallel with the same way of approaching Scripture. The rationalist influences that led to the decline and eventual rejection of the mystical or spiritual senses of Scripture in favor of a narrowly-conceived literal sense led to a narrowing of liturgy as well, which was reduced to its material parts and their vario...

The Mystery of Christ's Love Few Catholics have anywhere near an adequate appreciation for the glory and splendors of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass--the central aspect of our Holy Faith. Fr. Michael Mueller's famous masterpiece on this glorious subject will come as a magnificent and direly needed revelation to many Catholic souls. Father Mueller joins a wealth of Catholic traditions, biblical facts, and enthralling true stories from Catholic history and the lives of the saints to show that i...

This book is a short introduction to the development of the Roman Rite of Mass, the most widely used of the Church's liturgical rites, from its origins in early Christianity until the present day. Over the centuries, the form of Mass most Catholics are familiar with has been shaped by the Apostolic See of Rome in contact and exchange with other local churches. Understanding this rich and complex history will help not only the clergy in their sacramental ministry, but all the faithful in parti...

"Heart of the Christian Life: Thoughts on the Holy Mass" by Pope Benedict XVI gathers his profound reflections on the Eucharist's central role in Catholic faith. This collection, derived from addresses and homilies, emphasizes the Eucharist as the source of the Church’s life, unity, and fruitfulness. Pope Benedict XVI shares insights on the Eucharist’s power to draw believers into God's life and the communal body of Christ, urging the faithful to recognize the transformative potential of rece...

Turned Around: Replying to Common Objections Against the Traditional Latin Mass is a practical and clear book that examines the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) through a fresh lens. In each chapter, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski addresses common objections to the TLM, transforming these challenges into gateways for a deeper understanding and appreciation of its timeless beauty. From the reasons we worship facing East, to the profound significance of praying in Latin, and the ritual separation of priest ...

In this game-changing book, Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., reveals how you can actively listen and open yourself to receive God's personal love for you in the Mass, where our Lord waits to quench your deepest longing and heal your wounds. Drawing from the wisdom of the saints, modern-day spiritual giants, and his own penetrating reflections, you will learn how to quiet your mind, stretch your heart, and become childlike in the sense of experiencing the sacred mysteries with wonder and awe. The M...

"And I find that the Son of God, descending from heaven and assuming human flesh in the virginal womb of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, up to the day on which He ascended to heaven, did thirty principal deeds, which are comprehended and reprised in the Mass." --Saint Vincent Ferrer Saint Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) was a devout preacher of penance, a precursor of the Last Judgment, filled with zeal. In his twenty-year commission, he brought countless souls into the one true Catholic Faith. In this...

With contributions from Leo Darroch, Fr. Gabriel Díaz-Patri, Philippe Maxence, Sebastian Morello, Matthew Schellhorn, and Erik Tonning What do Evelyn Waugh, Lanzo Del Vasto, Nancy Mitford, F.R. Leavis, Agatha Christi, Yehudi Menuhin, René Girard, and Franco Zefferelli have in common? Along with scores of others-artists, musicians, scholars, writers, actors, politicians, and business people-they signed petitions to save the Catholic Church's ancient Latin liturgy, between 1966 and 2007. This i...

The first of Ronald Knox's three "Slow Motion" collections, The Mass in Slow Motion comprises fourteen sermons preached during World War II to the students of the Assumption Sisters at Aldenham Park. Modest yet arresting in style, Knox explains the Mass from the opening psalm to the solemn words of conclusion: Ite missa est. While the liturgy Knox contemplates is that of the Tridentine Rite, the abundant fruits of his contemplation can be easily translated to the Ordinary Form of the present ...

"Eucharistic Gems: Daily Wisdom on the Blessed Sacrament" by Donald H. Calloway, MIC, serves as a spiritual tool to deepen devotion to the Eucharist. Offering 366 quotes from popes, saints, and venerable figures, this book aims to sustain the Eucharistic Revival in the hearts of believers. Through daily reflections, readers are invited to explore the timeless truth of Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist, fostering a deeper relationship with Him. As an ongoing resource for spiritual growth, ...

An Historical, Liturgical and Devotional Explanation of the Mass according to the Roman Missal "In a word, the service of God is meant to be beautiful, because a true instinct of man makes him realize, even when he is in a state of retrogression and barbarism, that all that is best and noblest must be made subservient to the worship of the Lord and Creator of all." Dom Ernest Graf begins his work The Priest at the Altar with this declaration that beauty is the fundamental form of the Liturgy....

How to Remember and Treasure its Rites In Memorize the Latin Mass! Dr. Kevin Vost harnesses the powerful memory methods of Sts. Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas to help readers learn and remember all the parts and rites of the Traditional Latin Mass as they delve deep into the meaning and history of each one of them, gleaned from the wisdom of the Church and her saints. Crafted to supplement a Missal and to stimulate further reading, this book is a primer for readers, their children, grand...

The Memoirs of Antonio Cardinal Bacci Antonio Bacci was rector of the archdiocesan seminary of Florence when his exceptional knowledge of Latin caused him to be summoned to Rome in 1922 to join the office of the Secretary of State as an assistant, first to Aurelio Galli and then to Nicola Sebastiani, the chief Latinists of the Holy See. Bacci succeeded Sebastiani as Secretary of Briefs to Princes upon the latter's death in 1931. In the first half of the memoirs here translated, Bacci discusse...

Historical & Liturgical Notes on the Roman Missal When Ildefonso Schuster (1880-1954) transformed his copious and insightful lecture notes on the Roman liturgy into the five volumes of Liber Sacramentorum— known to us in English as The Sacramentary, and presented here for the first time in a modern reprint— he stated his purpose: "sharing with devout and studious souls, especially among my brother priests, whatever sentiments of faith and reverence Our Lord may have deigned to grant me, H...

Historical & Liturgical Notes on the Roman Missal When Ildefonso Schuster (1880-1954) transformed his copious and insightful lecture notes on the Roman liturgy into the five volumes of Liber Sacramentorum— known to us in English as The Sacramentary, and presented here for the first time in a modern reprint— he stated his purpose: "sharing with devout and studious souls, especially among my brother priests, whatever sentiments of faith and reverence Our Lord may have deigned to grant me, H...

Historical & Liturgical Notes on the Roman Missal When Ildefonso Schuster (1880-1954) transformed his copious and insightful lecture notes on the Roman liturgy into the five volumes of Liber Sacramentorum— known to us in English as The Sacramentary, and presented here for the first time in a modern reprint— he stated his purpose: "sharing with devout and studious souls, especially among my brother priests, whatever sentiments of faith and reverence Our Lord may have deigned to grant me, H...

Historical & Liturgical Notes on the Roman Missal When Ildefonso Schuster (1880-1954) transformed his copious and insightful lecture notes on the Roman liturgy into the five volumes of Liber Sacramentorum— known to us in English as The Sacramentary, and presented here for the first time in a modern reprint— he stated his purpose: "sharing with devout and studious souls, especially among my brother priests, whatever sentiments of faith and reverence Our Lord may have deigned to grant me, H...