THURSDAY MORNINGS STARTING MARCH 1, SATURDAY MORNINGS STARTING MARCH 3 •
Did You Ever Wish You Could “Get More” Out of Mass?
For many Catholics, the Mass might, at least in a certain sense, be almost too familiar. We show up to church each weekend and perform prayers and rituals that many of us have known since childhood. We stand, we sit, and kneel. We make the sign of the cross. We recite “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Lamb of God,” and “Thanks be to God.”
But what do all these prayers and rituals mean? We might know these rites like the backs of our hands, but do we really understand the significance of all that we are saying and doing in the liturgy?
One key for unlocking the mystery of the Mass is Scripture. In this study, we will walk through the main parts of the Mass — from the opening Sign of the Cross to the concluding “Thanks be to God” — and consider them in the light of their Scriptural background. Because the prayers and rituals of the Mass, when understood biblically, offer much inspiration, encouragement,and practical help for our lives as Christians. As we will see, the prayers of the Mass challenge us to examine our consciences, repent of our sins, and experience God’s loving mercy. They also remind us of God’s presence with us amid our fear, trials, and sufferings. They can inspire us to live our marriages, family lives, and friendships with greater love, and summon us to entrust more of our lives to Jesus.
Most of all, this “biblical walk through the Mass” will help us encounter Our Lord more deeply in the liturgy itself. By understanding the meaning of what we say and do in the Mass, we will be better prepared to give ourselves to Jesus in every prayer and gesture in the liturgy. If you desire to understand the Mass and participate in it more deeply, this study is for you!
“A [person] who fails to love the Mass fails to love Christ. We must make an effort to “live” the Mass with calm and serenity, with devotion and affection. And this is why I have always suspected that those who want the Mass to be over with quickly show, with this insensitive attitude, that they have not yet realized what the sacrifice of the altar means.” ~ St. Josemaría Escriva de Balaguer
Presenter: Dr. Edward Sri
Thursdays – March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; 10:00 - 11:30 AM: Deacon James Hartmann Meeting Room
Saturdays – March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; 10:30 – 12 Noon: Deacon James Hartmann Meeting Room
Materials Cost for the 5-week program: $25.00, payable at first session
A Biblical Walk through the Mass Book
As Catholics, the Mass is the center of our Faith. We celebrate it every day. We know all the responses. We know all the gestures. But do we know what it all means?
In A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, Dr. Edward Sri takes us on a unique tour of the Liturgy. Based on the revised translation of the Mass, this book explores the biblical roots of the words and gestures we experience in the Liturgy and explains their profound significance. This intriguing look at the Mass is sure to renew your faith and deepen your devotion to the Eucharist.
Dr. Sri’s Book only (paperback): $14.00 payable on receiving