Good books to read to help you grow in knowledge about the Catholic Mass.
Good Catholic Books to Read About the Mass
Have you ever heard someone say that you need to fully participate in the Mass to “get something out of it”? The Mass is actually a prayer and a sacrifice we are allowed to be a part of: Jesus’ sacrifice for the sake of our salvation. The more fully we understand the historic and Biblical components of the Mass, the easier it is to enter into this prayer more fully. If you are looking to expand your knowledge about the Mass, here are some good Catholic books to read about the Mass that can be of great help. There are books for both adults and for children.
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A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do In The Liturgy
Dr. Edward Sri wrote A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do In The Liturgy. He explains the Biblical origins of the parts of the Mass and how they are connected to the rich history of the Catholic faith. Even many words and phrases we use in Mass have a long and significant history. This book helps us appreciate even more what the Mass is and how it is so important to our faith. This book will help us to see how God designed the Mass thousands of years ago to help us to draw closer to Him.
The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth
Catholic Convert and apologist Dr. Scott Hahn wrote The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. He dives in to how the Mass is like the Heavenly banquet we anticipate in Heaven. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb. Dr. Hahn uses scripture to unveil the parallels between the Passover, Jesus’ sacrifice, and the eternal banquet. That may sound like a lot of heavy theology, but his writing is simple and clear. It is a beautiful book to read and learn from.
The Beauty Of the Mass: Exploring the Central Act Of Catholic Worship
The Beauty Of The Mass: Exploring The Central Act Of Catholic Worship by Charles Johnston discusses the Mass as a sacrifice. His book focuses on what the Mass is-the beauty of it and the reality that we are not at Mass to watch what is going on but to fully participate in the events that are occurring. We can better participate when we understand what is going on and why, as Mr. Johnson explains. (As of the publication of this post, The Beauty of the Mass is also available on Kindle Unlimited for free.)
The Latin Mass Explained: Everything needed to understand and appreciate the Traditional Latin Mass
Fr. George Moorman wrote The Latin Mass Explained: Everything needed to understand and appreciate the Traditional Latin Mass. It was originally published in 1920 and was updated and republished in 2007. Divided into three parts, it covers the teachings of the Church about the Mass, what is necessary for the celebration of the Mass, and the prayers and ceremonies of the Mass. If you want to understand the Latin Mass even better, this may be just what you are looking for! It carries the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur designations.
If you are looking for a little booklet to use to follow along with the order of the Mass, The Order of Mass in Latin and English has the Latin and English text side by side.
New St. Joseph Sunday Missal
New St. Joseph Sunday Missal: The Complete Masses for Sundays, Holydays, and the Easter Triduum; Mass Themes and Biblical Commentaries by John Kersten has all of the Sunday and Holyday readings for all three cycles (A, B, and C) of the Church year. Mass prayers are also included in the text. It is great if you want to read the Mass readings before you go to Mass or take the Missal to Mass with you and follow along with the readings. It also contains Bible commentaries.
Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass
Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass was written by Katie Warner to help kids understand better the role of the priest at Mass. It is not a book to use to follow along with during Mass, but it does help kids to understand how to get ready for Mass and the importance of Mass.
My First Interactive Mass Book for Catholic Kids
Jennifer Sharpe created the My First Interactive Mass Book for Catholic Kids geared to kids who are 3-7 years old. It gives kids an outline of the Mass as well as activities they can do during Mass related to the parts of the Mass to help them be focused on what is going on. It also includes Mass prayers.
The Mass Book for Catholic Children
The Mass Book for Catholic Children, geared to kids 8-12 years of age, was also created by Jennifer Sharpe. It helps kids to prepare for Mass and articulate what they have learned. It provides a checklist of things to do to get ready for Mass and pages where kids can note the color of the priest’s vestments, the Mass readings, and write or draw a picture of the Gospel story. It is like a Mass preparation guide and a Mass journal all on one.
More Good Catholic Books to Read About the Mass
There are many books about the Mass. These are ones that stand out. Do you have a favorite? If so, please leave a comment below with the title.
If you are looking for more about the Mass, you may like these posts:
What Did You Like About Mass Today?
Tips for Going To Mass with Young Children and More Tips for Going To Mass with Young Children
More Good Catholic Books to Read
Good Catholic Books to Read: Improve Your Prayer Life
Good Catholic Books to Read: Grow in Knowledge of Your Faith
Good Catholic Books to Read: on the Vocation of Motherhood
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