Catholic Mass For Dummies

Throughout the centuries, the liturgy of the Church has taken a variety of regional and historical forms, but one thing has remained constant: the Mass has always been the central form of Catholic worship.

Catholic Mass For Dummies gives you a step-by-step overview of the Catholic Mass, as well as a close look at the history and meaning of the Mass as a central form of Catholic worship. You'll find information on the order of a Mass and coverage of major Masses.

• Covers standard Sunday Mass, weddings, funerals, holiday services, and holy days of obligation
• Provides insight on the events, symbols, themes, history, and language of the Mass
• Translations of a Mass in Castilian and Latin American Spanish

If you're a Catholic looking to enhance your knowledge of your faith, an adult studying to convert to Catholicism, a CCD instructor, or a non-Catholic who wants to understand the many nuances of the Catholic Mass, this hands-on, friendly guide has you covered.

Introduction 1

Part I: The Lord Be with You: Welcome to Mass 7

Chapter 1: Understanding the Mass 9

Chapter 2: The Foundations of Mass 21

Chapter 3: The Liturgical Year 31

Chapter 4: Meet the Players: Liturgical Ministers 51

Part II: Forms of Catholic Worship 61

Chapter 5: Ordinary Form of the Mass 63

Chapter 6: Extraordinary Form: Traditional Latin Mass 81

Chapter 7: Variations in the Ordinary Form 117

Chapter 8: Extending the Mass: Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic Devotions 133

Chapter 9: Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy 143

Chapter 10: Other Catholic Rites 181

Part III: Tools of the Trade 193

Chapter 11: Liturgical Books 195

Chapter 12: Liturgical Vestments 201

Chapter 13: Liturgical Vessels, Altar Linens, and Artifacts 213

Chapter 14: Architecture, Art, and Music 225

Part IV: The Part of Tens 245

Chapter 15: Ten Special Places of Eucharistic Miracles 247

Chapter 16: Ten Saintly Commentaries on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 255

Index 263

Rev. John Trigilio, Jr. is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.
Rev. Kenneth Brighenti is an assistant professor at Mount St. Mary's Seminary.
Rev. Monsignor James Cafone is an assistant professor in the Religion Department of Seton Hall University.

Learn to:

• Understand the history, symbolism, meaning, and language of the Mass
• Get a handle on the order of standard Sunday Mass, weddings, funerals, holiday services, and more
• Grasp the Catholic faith through its expression in the Mass

The fast, painless way to grasp the intricacies of the often- misunderstood Catholic Mass

This practical, friendly guide gives you a step-by-step overview of the Catholic Mass. You'll find information on standard Sunday Mass, weddings, funerals, holiday services, and holy days of obligation. Plus, you'll get plain-English explanations of the events, symbols, themes, history, and language of this central form of Catholic worship.

• Catholic Mass 101 — discover the origin and foundations of the Mass, from its Jewish roots found in the Passover Seder Meal to the rituals in the Temple of Jerusalem and the Last Supper
• Different Masses for the masses — get to know the differences between Masses in the East and West and ordinary and extraordinary forms of Catholic worship
• Meet the Masses — get to know the role bishops, priests, deacons, acolytes, lectors, ushers, and others contribute to the Catholic Mass
• Know what to expect — get an overview of the major components of the Mass, like prayers and blessings, books and garments, and more
• Take special consideration — understand the differences between the Sunday Mass and ritual Masses (weddings, funerals, etc.), weekday Masses, and Holy Day Masses

Open the book and find:

• What to expect at a Catholic Mass
• What it means to participate fully in the Mass
• An overview of the Liturgical Year
• Roman rites in the ordinary form and Traditional Latin Mass
• Liturgical books
• The meaning behind the vestments and colors worn by the clergy
• The architecture, art, and music of the Catholic church
• Special masses, and what to expect