Catholic Mass for Dummies

Catholic Mass For Dummies is the latest book from Rev. John Trigilio Jr along with ev. Kenneth Brighenti, Rev. Monsignor James Cafone. They have done other books in the Dummies series such as the excellent Catholicism for Dummies and Saints For Dummies

It is surprising how nice a format the Dummies books are for teaching the Catholic faith. The formatting of the books seem to make them more accessible and the way fonts, titling, notes, and other things are implemented makes reading them some more comfier while still giving solid knowledge. I found the formatting of the YOUCAT to be engaging as our these specific Dummies books.

This book on the Mass is much more thorough than a lot of introductory books to the Mass have been. Just packed for of information and I discovered many things I had not been aware of before. One thing I really liked it that it was not inclusive to the Latin Rite of the Church and the various rites of the Eastern Catholic Churches were covered throughout the book. Plus not only was the Ordinary Form of the Mass was covered in the Latin Rite, but attention was also given to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.

Lots of details and tidbits of information were given on the Mass from the liturgy, to architecture, vestments, etc. Really quite a thorough overview. The book is also written in a straight-ahead style that is devoid of any commentary by the authors. For example the chapter on architecture covered modern churches such as the L.A. Cathedral without making remarks that I am confident the authors held about this architectural style.

This book would be at the top of my list to give to converts and people going through R.C.I.A. A lot of information is covered giving you the scope of the Church that is truly universal without having a book the size of a Russian novel.

The only real caveat I had was that I wish there were drawings or graphics accompanying the section on liturgical vestments. Though,in the section on liturgical vestments for the Eastern Catholic Churches I discovered that they really do have the coolest names not only for vestments but other aspects of Divine Worship. The only error I noticed was on the Creed which they said was said Every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, that is true except for Easter.