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.
A sample text:
Some of us block our hearts to our Lord when we show up at Mass filled with desires that we think and believe have nothing to do with God. If that's the case, we're only nominally showing up, because our thoughts are someplace else. Sometimes we are preoccupied with our treasures, a person, or ourselves.
We have not yet realized that at the root of whatever our heart desires is communion with God. Saint Augustine, who spent his youth seeking his heart's desires, finally realized this when he said that our hearts are restless until they rest in thee" — the "thee" retailing to God.
There is a point in every Mass at which we can bring our desires to God. But because many of us do not see the connection, we miss it. There is also a time to hear what the Word of God has to say about our desires. It is not necessary to ignore these desires that weigh upon our hearts, but to bring them to God In the context of what God is saying to us during Mass.
Think of those in the Gospels who came face-to-face with our Lord, but let pass an opportunity to bring their needs and desires before the very creator of the universe. They stood in the presence of the God who could answer all of their prayers, and yet because they were focused on something or someone else, they missed that opportunity! Whatever it is that we are worried about during Mass, we should avail ourselves of the Lord's Presence.
Refusing to recognize Him as the source of all being, we are no different from those who, after meeting our Lord, told Him, "Let me first go and bury my father" (Luke 9:59). In other words, "1 like what you're saying, but I have something more Important to do right now!" We should not deny our hearts' desires, but we should bring them to God and allow Him to reveal what it is we truly desire.
