A Devotional Journey into the Mass: How Mass Can Become a Time of Grace, Nourishment, and Devotion
Download the printable summary guide to participation in the Mass HERE.

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 soul at the Offertory, participate in the Eucharistic Prayer, receive Communion, and even respond to the Dismissal.

Soon – with the help of author Carstens wise suggestions – you will be surprised to find each Eucharistic Celebration a fountain of peace for you, a profound refreshment for your soul.

Among other things you'll learn from these pages:

  • The meaning of the “sacramental principle”: if you don't understand it, then Mass is almost surely flat for you.
  • How each element of the Liturgy has a sacramental quality about it, and can be for you a grace-filled encounter with Jesus.
  • How to transform your prayers at Mass into a conversation with God.
  • Why silence – both within the liturgy and outside of it – is a necessary element of that conversation with God.
  • There's a proper spiritual way to make the Sign of the Cross (do you know what it is?).
  • How the Creed can be for you the highpoint of the Liturgy of the Word.
  • Why, during the collection, you should also explicitly offer Christ your heart.
  • The best way in the Mass to participate in Jesus' saving work: do you know what it is?.
  • What you should desire in order to receive the Eucharist most efficaciously (and what that desire presupposes in you).
  • Coming and going through the church doors: what, each time, it should mean for you spiritually.

Plus, at the end of each chapter, a list of action items for the next time you go to Mass, and much, much more to awaken in you the bright spirit of joyful devotion that we are all called to have at Mass.

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A Devotional Journey into the Mass: How Mass Can Become a Time of Grace, Nourishment, and Devotion
Download the printable summary guide to participation in the Mass HERE.

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 soul at the Offertory, participate in the Eucharistic Prayer, receive Communion, and even respond to the Dismissal.

Soon – with the help of author Carstens wise suggestions – you will be surprised to find each Eucharistic Celebration a fountain of peace for you, a profound refreshment for your soul.

Among other things you'll learn from these pages:

  • The meaning of the “sacramental principle”: if you don't understand it, then Mass is almost surely flat for you.
  • How each element of the Liturgy has a sacramental quality about it, and can be for you a grace-filled encounter with Jesus.
  • How to transform your prayers at Mass into a conversation with God.
  • Why silence – both within the liturgy and outside of it – is a necessary element of that conversation with God.
  • There's a proper spiritual way to make the Sign of the Cross (do you know what it is?).
  • How the Creed can be for you the highpoint of the Liturgy of the Word.
  • Why, during the collection, you should also explicitly offer Christ your heart.
  • The best way in the Mass to participate in Jesus' saving work: do you know what it is?.
  • What you should desire in order to receive the Eucharist most efficaciously (and what that desire presupposes in you).
  • Coming and going through the church doors: what, each time, it should mean for you spiritually.

Plus, at the end of each chapter, a list of action items for the next time you go to Mass, and much, much more to awaken in you the bright spirit of joyful devotion that we are all called to have at Mass.

14.95 In Stock
A Devotional Journey into the Mass: How Mass Can Become a Time of Grace, Nourishment, and Devotion

A Devotional Journey into the Mass: How Mass Can Become a Time of Grace, Nourishment, and Devotion

by Christopher Carstens
A Devotional Journey into the Mass: How Mass Can Become a Time of Grace, Nourishment, and Devotion

A Devotional Journey into the Mass: How Mass Can Become a Time of Grace, Nourishment, and Devotion

by Christopher Carstens

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$14.95 
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Overview

Download the printable summary guide to participation in the Mass HERE.

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 soul at the Offertory, participate in the Eucharistic Prayer, receive Communion, and even respond to the Dismissal.

Soon – with the help of author Carstens wise suggestions – you will be surprised to find each Eucharistic Celebration a fountain of peace for you, a profound refreshment for your soul.

Among other things you'll learn from these pages:

  • The meaning of the “sacramental principle”: if you don't understand it, then Mass is almost surely flat for you.
  • How each element of the Liturgy has a sacramental quality about it, and can be for you a grace-filled encounter with Jesus.
  • How to transform your prayers at Mass into a conversation with God.
  • Why silence – both within the liturgy and outside of it – is a necessary element of that conversation with God.
  • There's a proper spiritual way to make the Sign of the Cross (do you know what it is?).
  • How the Creed can be for you the highpoint of the Liturgy of the Word.
  • Why, during the collection, you should also explicitly offer Christ your heart.
  • The best way in the Mass to participate in Jesus' saving work: do you know what it is?.
  • What you should desire in order to receive the Eucharist most efficaciously (and what that desire presupposes in you).
  • Coming and going through the church doors: what, each time, it should mean for you spiritually.

Plus, at the end of each chapter, a list of action items for the next time you go to Mass, and much, much more to awaken in you the bright spirit of joyful devotion that we are all called to have at Mass.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781622824809
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press
Publication date: 12/20/2017
Pages: 144
Sales rank: 524,369
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Christopher Carstens is director of the Office for Sacred Worship in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; a visiting faculty member at the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois; editor of the Adoremus Bulletin; and one of the voices on The Liturgy Guys podcast. He is author of A Devotional Journey into the Mass (Sophia) and, coauthor with Father Douglas Martis, of Mystical Body, Mystical Voice: Encountering Christ in the Words of the Mass (Liturgy Training Publications). He is also author of the forthcoming Principles of Sacred Liturgy: Forming a Sacramental Vision (Hillenbrand Books). He lives in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, with his wife and eight children.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Signposts in a Strange Land vii

Introduction 1

1 How to Enter the Church Building 7

2 How to Make the Sign of the Cross 17

3 How to Pray the Opening Prayer 29

4 How to Listen to the Readings 41

5 How to Prepare the Heart at the Offertory 57

6 How to Participate in the Eucharistic Prayer 71

7 How to Receive Communion to the Fullest 83

8 How to Respond to the Dismissal 97

9 "Take the I-90!"-Planning the Sunday Drive of Your Life 109

Appendices

A Summary Guide to Participation 119

B Glossary of Terms 125

C Recommended Reading 129

Biographical Note 131

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