Praying the Mass

EWTN is broadcasting a Divine Liturgy from the eparchy of Lebanon this morning at 9 AM (ET).  I look forward to watching it while I work!

I donated three copies of Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People to the Sisters of Life in New York City, and recently received a letter from them.  Sr. Mary Gabriel, S.V., wrote in part:

Here at the novitiate of the Sisters of Life, we are particularly grateful for your donation of three copies of your book Praying the Mass.  This is a most welcome addition to our library.

I met two of the sisters many months ago at Princeton, when they visited for the afternoon to talk about their vocation and apostolate.  One of them, Sr. Miriam, is very interested in the liturgy, and we talked briefly after the Q&A session.

This book is a quick and easy read explaining not only which translations are changing next year but more importantly, why they are changing. It also doubles as a walk through of the mass explaining the sacred liturgy in a rich way. I've been to many seminars and have read several explanations on the mass but the book has several nuggets that I've never heard. I'd recommend this book especially for RCIA classes and those being introduced to the mass for the first time, for those who want to get an idea of the new mass translations, and even for those who are familiar with the mass but might need a refresher on why we do what we do.

I've been adding a fair amount of content to the Introduction, Chapter 1 ("Preparing for Prayer"), Chapter 7 ("Profession of Faith"), and Chapter 9 ("Offertory Prayers"). Look for a second edition of Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People in early 2010 (at the same low price of $12). All new content will be made available digitally, free of charge, for people who've already bought the first edition.

I recently picked up a great little book on the Mass that I recommend highly. Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People by Jeffrey Pinyan of the blog The Cross Reference is the best book on the Mass that I have seen in a while, especially because it is the only one that has been written in conformity with the new English translation of the Mass that should be implemented next year. This alone sets it apart from all other books on the Mass currently floating around.

Jeff's book is meant for those who want to get deeper into the Mass – essentially, it's a practical guide to true active participation and a welcome counter to tired out old activist notions of participation that became dominant in the post-conciliar years. This would be an excellent book for friends or family who have some knowledge of the Mass but want to learn how to go deeper. I purchased twelve copies to give out to my RCIA class when we talk about the liturgy. If you are already a liturgical expert, then this book probably won't tell you anything new, but it would be great to have on hand to give to persons who might have questions about what goes on at Mass and why we do what we do. The book seems to be written to help promulgate a more reverent participation and conscious reflection on the Mass, in keeping with the wishes of our Holy Father to restore dignity and solmenity to the celebration of the Roman Rite.

The book takes you through each part of the Mass chapter by chapter, drawing out the pertinent theological observations and backing them up with citations from the [Catechism], the Popes and Scripture. The Mass prayers themselves are provided in Latin with the corresponding, correct English translations (the ones that will be coming out soon) next to them. At the end of every chapter are a series of thoughtful questions and reflections designed to help the reader put together the various themes brought up in the course of the chapter.

Jeff's writing is clear and insightful ... and his observations and theology all perfectly in line with a traditional understanding of the Mass as a Sacrifice. The book is written about the [Ordinary Form of the Mass], but he frequently [uses] the Extraordinary Form as a reference point and reminds us that the Extraordinary Form is a valid and praiseworthy expression of the Roman Rite, echoing Benedict's words in the motu proprio. I recommend this book highly.

Here are critical reviews of Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People.

• Jeffrey Mirus, President of Trinity Communications, CatholicCulture.org [offsite]
  
• Mike Aquilina, author, Executive Vice-President of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology [offsite]
• Russ Rentler, blogger at Crossed the Tiber [offsite]
  
• Fr. Tim Finigan, Our Lady of the Rosary, The Hermeneutic of Continuity [offsite]
• David Schütz, Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission (Australia), blogger at Sentire Cum Ecclesia [offsite]
• Edith Fiore, on Amazon.com [offsite]
• Phillip Campbell, blogger at Unam Sanctam Catholicam [offsite]
• Tim Troutman, blogger at Army of Martyrs [offsite]
  

Here are interviews I have had (on radio and podcasts) about Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People.

• With Brian Patrick of the Son Rise Morning Show (Sacred Heart Radio)
  
• With Dave Lozinger of Hearing God's Call (Podcast)
  

On Tuesday, November 17th, the USCCB voted to approve the remaining five sections of the new English translation of the third edition of the Missale Romanum.  The next step is for Rome to grant its recognitio to the translation (hopefully in early 2010).  The new translation would hopefully be used as early as Easter of 2011, but perhaps it will wait until Advent of 2011 instead.

But the catechesis on the new translation can begin now!  Indeed, it should begin now.  As parts of the translation become available, catechetical resources will appear as well.  The Ordinary of the Mass (the parts that do not change from day to day and week to week) has already been approved.  My book, Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People, introduces the people's half of the new translation.  By mid-2010, a second book, The Prayers of the Priest, will be published, introducing the priest's half of the new translation.  There will also be a second edition of The Prayers of the People with additional material for Chapter 1 and Chapter 9; this additional material will be made freely available on the Internet for the benefit of those who have already bought the first edition.

Welcome to all visitors from the ad for Praying the Mass: The Prayers of the People in the Zenit daily email from Tuesday, November 10th!

New book on the revised English translation of the Mass

http://www.prayingthemass.com/