The Essential Guide to Catholic Prayer and the Mass [Paperback]

Mary DeTurris Poust (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 1, 2011

The Vatican-approved guide to opening up new connections to God.

Today, more and more Catholics are looking to explore their spirituality in new ways: by trying meditation or contemplation, seeking to adapt monastic traditions to modern life, or seeking a deeper connection to Jesus through the Eucharist, giving rise to the growing popularity of Adoration.

The Essential Guide to Catholic Prayer and the Mass offers Catholics a way to explore prayer styles they may have never before considered, and non-Catholics or fringe Catholics a look into a world that can sometimes seem mysterious or intimidating. Through Mass, scripture, ancient rituals, the examples of the saints, the lives of holy men and women in the world today, and more, Catholics of every mindset can find a style of prayer to suit them.

• One of the first books with a detailed explanation and instructions on how to follow the new translation of Mass as prepared by the Catholic Church

• Includes an imprimatur-a seal of approval from Paul G. Bootkoski, Bishop of Metuchen

• Perfect for cradle, convert, and revert Catholics, as well as people from other faiths, students, and teachers

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary DeTurris Poust is an author, columnist, and blogger who has focused on Catholic issues for more than 25 years. She is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to the Catholic Catechism, as well as Parenting a Grieving Child, and the upcoming Walking Together: Discovering the Catholic Tradition of Spiritual Friendship. She blogs regularly at OSV Daily Take and at her own blog, Not Strictly Spiritual. Her monthly column, "Life Lines," has been published in Catholic New York since 2001, and her articles have appeared in dozens of national and regional publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: ALPHA (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1615640754
• ISBN-13: 978-1615640751
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Worship & Devotion > Rites & Ceremonies

More About the Author

Mary DeTurris Poust is an award-winning columnist, journalist and author who has specialized in Catholic issues for almost 30 years. She has written hundreds of articles for Catholic and secular publications and has just completed her sixth book. She writes a monthly column,"Life Lines," which appears in Catholic New York newspaper and The Catholic Spirit (NJ). She is the creator of "Not Strictly Spiritual: Discovering the Divine in the Everyday," her personal blog that focuses on spirituality, travel, food, and more. Visit her at www.notstrictlyspiritual.com to learn more about her books, column, blog, and scheduled appearances.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a Great Resource! April 14, 2011

By Dad of Divas TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Are you Catholic? Have you ever wondered about the intricacies of prayer in the Catholic Church or about the Mass in general? If so, then this book is for you. This book is the ultimate resource for the Catholic or soon-to-be Catholic. I went through RCIA when my wife and I were getting ready for our wedding and this book would have been a great addition to the training as it was so easy to understand and spelled out the answers to many questions that I have had for many years concisely and in a way that anyone could understand.

Overall, this was a great book and one that I would highly recommend!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book May 15, 2011

By Bill Davis

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a very interesting book. I enjoyed the information on the new changes that will be implemented in December, 2011. The book is easy to read and the author puts some light items for your enjoyment throughout the chapters. I plan on giving the book as a gift.

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible survey of prayer in Catholic life May 18, 2013

By Damaris Reads

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Although the book looks like a basic academic primer, Mary DeTurris Poust's survey marvelously rises above the limitations of the Essential Guide's format. Poust maintains a conversational tone throughout the book, which covers both the basics of prayer* and of prayer life possible to a Catholic as well as introducing possible spiritual pathways for those interested in deepening their relation to God, The Blessed Virgin, the angels and archangels, and the saints.

Each chapter starts with an outline and ends with a review. Along the way are sidebar comments (sort of side bar, anyway): "prayer practice" or "wisdom for the journey," et al. When I first flipped through the book, I cringed. It looked like a 7th grade social studies book (I'm assuming, as I haven't seen a 7th grade social studies book in a long, long time). I fretted that the treatment of prayer might be simplistic or somehow cheapened. My biggest fear was that reading it would not be a pleasure but a chore as the ideas would be put together too choppily.

My fears and my fretting were for nought. I took deep pleasure in reading the book. I ignored the chapter outlines/reviews, glancing, when I so desired, at the side bar information. DeTurris Poust's exhaustive knowledge and her writerly charm drew me forward through the book.

I can even see a good to the Essential Guides format. CATHOLIC PRAYER AND THE MASS would be a fine resource for RCIA, for youth groups, maybe even for middle school religion classes.

*The Mass is our greatest prayer.