Customer Reviews

If Your Mind Wanders at Mass

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2 star:		(1)
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What a simply wonderful book! This book really helped me to get more out of my participation at Mass, and to understand why things the way they are at Mass. This is a book you can go back to, time after time.

Thomas Howard's book, If Your Mind Wanders at Mass, has given me visual images and insights that I have carried with me at every Mass I've attended since reading it. The significance of each part of the Mass is beautifully explained. For instance, Mr. Howard discusses the very first prayers at the Mass, where we first approach the Almighty God. What will the response of the Almighty be to His creatures? A greeting of peace and fellowship - how could God be so good to us? I had never really noticed the number of times the greetings such as "The Lord be with you/And also with you" are exchanged during the Mass, and Mr. Howard suggests that such greetings resound throughout heaven, that place of peace and love. Simple yet profound thoughts on all parts of the Mass are found throughout this small book. Reading it has given me a far greater appreciation for the gift of the Mass and greatly increased my gratitude for being able to participate in it.

Thomas Howard has compiled an easy-to-read, step-by-step guide through the Catholic Mass. I feel this would be especially helpful for non-Catholics planning on attending a service or converts to Catholicism who want to develop a deeper appreciation for the traditions embodied in the Mass. As a life-long Catholic and the product of twelve years of Catholic schooling, I didn't find anything particularly new or revealing, but it was a good review of the things I already knew. I didn't think the title did justice to the material, but I believe his theory was that if you fully understand what is taking place you will be deeply committed to participating and not distracted by extraneous thoughts. I applaud his style and feel this is as good a guide to the Mass as any I've seen. He carefully dissects each part of the Mass giving a full explanation as to its history and liturgical significance and concisely explains why the Mass is the central act of Catholic worship.

This is a good book for a prayer group to have a fuller understanding and appriciation for the Mass. The details explain every action and work of the Mass. The only thing lacking is a more complete cross reference to biblical sources.

great little book. I liked that this book covered all the parts of the mass, adding to my knowledge in all areas, without going on for too long, or too deep in any area. Just enough to learn more but not so much that it was overwhelming.

If you, like me find yourself not able to focus on the mass this is a tremendous help. Thankfully, this book put the mass in perspective and allowed me to enjoy and participate on another level.

Thomas Howard has given ordinary Catholics a wonderful gift in this beautiful little book. Even those whose minds never wander at Mass should read it. Howard aptly leads the reader through a step-by-step tour of the Mass, pausing along the way to explain the heavenly significance of each minute detail of the liturgy.

This book would not be particularly appropriate primer for someone who had never been to a Catholic church, but Catholics who have always wondered why we do things the way we do will find their appreciation of the Mass greatly increased by reading this slim volume.

Shortly before Christmas I participated in a Secret Santa exchange on my favorite book cataloging site, LibraryThing. I can only assume that the administrators of the exchange picked people due to common interests, because I was paired with a lovely young Catholic woman who picked out a copy of Thomas Howard's "If Your Mind Wanders at Mass" for me.

The book is deceptively short at 124 pages, but filled with wonderful reflections on liturgical participation, the parts of the Mass, and the importance of corporate worship. Dr. Howard writes with depth, but doesn't rely on lofty or inaccessible theological language. For instance, take this passage on "assisting at" Mass:

"'Assist at': that is an old and very accurate way of referring to our attendance at Mass. We are not spectators. We are not an audience. We are the congregation, brought together (congregated) to do something -- all of us, not solely the priest up there at the altar. Every one of us who wants to be numbered among 'the faithful' is, by virtue of his baptism, made to be a sharer in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The priest himself, by virtue of his ordination, participates in that priesthood in a particular way. He is "ordained" to preside at the Lord's Table, that is, to be in the place of Jesus Christ, who instituted this sacrament when he broke the bread and blessed the cup at the Last Supper. But we the faithful share in the action by uniting ourselves to the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ which is made present in the Mass, and by offering our adoration, and our very selves, and all our work and our joys and our sufferings, and our aspirations, to God as the particular things which we alone can offer. No one else can offer me to the Lord. This is an act which I alone can carry out.

The rest of the book is written in the same beautiful, reflective style. This isn't a "how-to" book on the Mass so much as an extended mystagogy on the Eucharist.

The only thing keeping me from fully recommending the book is it's copyright date -- 1995 -- which means that it references the older translation of the Roman Missal. I hope that Dr. Howard or his editor will take the time to update the book with the new English translation recently implemented across the globe.

Even with that caveat, the quality of the reflections are enough to merit their inclusion in any Catholic's library.

Thomas Howard has written a very accessible and highly engaging book about the significance of the mass. Though very instructive, it is far from pedantic. As a new Catholic it was a great help to read in detail how very important every single aspect of the Mass is. I plan on reading this with my kids. If you are not crystal clear about the Mass, I highly recommend this very short explanation that is sure to bring a better understanding to your heart.

As a new catholic this book has been very helpful. My mind does not wander at mass but this books helps me to explain and undertand some parts of the mass.