The Mass in Other Words

“It is true that there can be no more important half-hour in the forty-eight half hours which make up a complete calendar date. But you can go further than this and say that the time of Mass is the most important in the century, in history, in life. It is Calvary all over again, and nothing more important could happen in this world than the redemption of man by the crucifixion.”

At the heart of every Catholic’s life is the Mass. As such, it is a form of prayer that demands awareness, reverence, and understanding. The Mass in Other Words does not attempt a historical survey of the Mass, nor does it defend a particular liturgical form or provide meditations for use during the liturgy. Instead, Dom Hubert van Zeller asks the essential question: What is the Mass?

Going straight to the heart of the matter, van Zeller reminds readers that every Mass is the sacrifice of Calvary renewed sacramentally. He unfolds what this truth means for the worshipper and how grasping the nature of the Mass itself naturally leads to deeper devotion, worthier attendance, and a richer interior participation. Clear, direct, and spiritually compelling, this book is an ideal companion for all who desire to worship “in Spirit and in Truth.”

Born in British-controlled Egypt, Dom Hubert van Zeller (1905–1984) was a Benedictine monk of Downside Abbey in Bath, England. He authored numerous books—ranging from scriptural commentary to fiction and biography—and was also known for his sculpture and cartoons. A friend of Ronald Knox and Evelyn Waugh, his writing was praised for its vitality, insight, and elegance.