Michael Dubruiel: How-to Book of the Mass (2)

    

 The How-to Book of the Mass by Michael Dubruiel not only provides the who, what, where, when, and why of the most time-honored traditions of the Catholic Church, but also the how. All in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format.

From the introduction:

When the apostles spied Jesus walking on the water, they were overcome with fear. 

Peter asked our Lord if it were really Him or a ghost. Our Lord told the apostles not to fear. Peter, now having regained his composure, asked if he might join Jesus for His evening walk on the water. Jesus told him to come out of the boat. And Peter did. And Peter walked on the water, too. For a few moments. Then he took account of how strong the winds were, and he sank like a rock. 

This morning when I went to Mass It was thundering outside. I wondered whether I had remembered to shut the windows at home and in my car. I thought about all the electrical appliances, the trees in our yard, and I wondered whether lightening had struck anywhere near our home. All the while, the priest was preaching his homily. Do you think I encountered the living Jesus at that moment?

 Other times It is my one-year-old son, Michael Jacob. or five-year-old son, Joseph. who are vying for my attention. They can make listening and praying difficult. But on the other hand, they often help me to notice everything in a new light. Their pointing out everything they see and asking "What is it?" has been a great aid in the formation of this book. Whatever the distractions of the day, I know that too often I am caught up with the winds and not with Jesus. If you are like me, then this book will help you. The Mass is our opportunity to meet Jesus, to listen to Him and to receive Him. There is a story in the Gospel of Luke that provides a summary of the Mass. It is the account of how the Risen Lord Jesus made Himself known to several of His disciples as they were making their way to a town called Emmaus.

A sample page:

Michael Dubruiel: How-to Book of the Mass (1)

   The How-to Book of the Mass by Michael Dubruiel not only provides the who, what, where, when, and why of the most time-honored traditions of the Catholic Church, but also the how. All in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format.

From the introduction:

There is more contained within these pages than just the mechanics of the celebration of the Mass; also described is how to attend Mass in a way that makes it truly an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ every time. 

Lifelong Catholics may have grown so used to the ritual that they aimlessly go through the motions and find that their minds often wander. Novices, on the other hand. may feel so overwhelmed by all that is unknown to them that they fail to recognize Christ in the process.

 Every encounter with Jesus is unique.

A sample page:

Understanding the Catholic Mass

   Maybe you are a recent convert, or perhaps you've attended Mass your whole life, but there are still things that puzzle you, like: when you should genuflect and when you should bow; what the different books used at Mass are and what they contain; the meaning of words like "Amen," "Alleluia," or "Hosanna"; what to do during the sign of peace.

You aren't alone.

The How-to Book of the Mass by Michael Dubruiel  not only provides the who, what, where, when, and why of the most time-honored traditions of the Catholic Church, but also the how. All in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format.

In this complete guide to the celebration of the Eucharist you get: Step-by-step guidelines to walk you through the Mass

Biblical background of the prayers of the Mass. 

Insights from the Tradition and teaching of the Church

Practical aid to overcoming distractions

Concrete ways to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ at every Mass

A handy study guide for individual or group use

A sample:

WHERE DOES THE TERM "MASS" COME FROM?

It is very possible that you may not know what "Mass" means. After all, you probably have always heard the Mass said in your own language. But "Mass" is derived from the way the Mass was ended in Latin.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

"Mass" is an English rendering of the Latin term "missa.” In Latin the Mass ends with "Ite missa est,” which translated into English means "Go, it is sent" the "it" being the Church.

From the Latin word "missa" comes the English word "dismiss." So "Mass" means "dismissal." The celebration takes its name from the sending forth that occurs at the end of every Mass.

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Michael Dubruiel Meditation

    

From Michael Dubruiel. Find his books here. 

A recent visit to a large Midwestern city was filled with moments where I paused to think about the tragedies of September 11, 2001 and what could happen again or as the United States government often relates-something worst. One of the buildings in this city, that towers over all the rest is especially impressive and the thought of it tumbling like the World Trade Centers was almost incomprehensible. Milling around the streets with thousands of others it was hard to envision some nuclear attack suddenly wiping out a million people in an instance.



Although the sun shone and it was a beautiful day there was a hint of an impending storm that post-9/11 seemed to hang heavy in the air. It made me think of the words of Our Lord when his disciples marveled at the size of the Temple in Jerusalem and its beauty (it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down," (Luke 21:7).

Free Catholic Book

  

    

Free Today:  Be Vigilant: Daily Meditations for Advent

A Sample: 

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

Today we have the tale of two sons. Both are commanded by the Father to go and work in the vineyard. The first says he won't, the other says he will. But guess what, the one who refuses relents and does what the Father asked him to do. Yet the one who originally said he would go, in fact doesn't. Jesus asks the chief priests and the elders of the people to tell him which of the two sons did the will of the Father...of course the answer is the one who vocally refused but relented and did it.

Jesus uses the story to illustrate why harlots and tax collectors who repented at the preaching of John the Baptist are headed to the pearly gates, while the "religious" likely are headed in the other direction.