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The Incredible Catholic Mass: An Explanation of the Catholic Mass
This is a very detailed book which provides information and explanation of the meaning of the Catholic Mass, It was written in the 1700's and therefore is based upon the Traditional (Tridentine) Mass. The Text does NOT describe the Ordinary Form of the Mass which follows the directives of Vatican II.
While specific details may not be applicable the explanation of many things like: paten, Amice, the Old Testament roots is very helpful.
While specific details may not be applicable the explanation of many things like: paten, Amice, the Old Testament roots is very helpful.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1896
142 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Martin von Cochem
20 books4 followersThe Rev. Father Martin of Cochem, O.S.F.C., was a German Capuchin born in 1630 at Mosel. He entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin as a novitiate while still young, subsequently received Holy Orders, and was ultimately assigned as a professor of theology. He also cared for the plague victims of 1666, and thereupon began composing popular religious writings and treatises. Father Cochem authored such works as The Last Four Things and The Incredible Catholic Mass. He died on the tenth of September, 1712, at Waghausel.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 28, 2021
Fr. von Cochem does an excellent job of explaining the tremendous graces and worth of Mass, as well as the complexities and order of the Traditional Form. Anyone wishing to understand the Latin Mass in all its beauty should read this book.
April 25, 2023
Beautiful and edifying work. Makes one love the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (more).
November 11, 2019
Fr. Marin von Cochem - Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
One who reads this book must be aware the the book was written in the seventh century. So when he speaks of 'The Mass' he speaks of the Tridentine Latin mass! If the author would know what Vatican 2 has done to Catholicism he would probably be devastated.
It is interesting that a sacrifice was brought for Christ when He Himself was the ultimate sacrifice:
“And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Luke 2:22-24
“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Hebrews 10:9-10
So the sacrifice that was a picture of the sacrifice of Christ was sacrificed for Christ. That is mind blowing stuff! Specially when considering that all first born sons belonged to God, yet He did not ask for child (child sacrifice) but for a temple offering in stead. So at birth Christ was replaced with animals, but eventually He gave Himself all the way on the Cross!!
Because of this Mary suffers along with Christ. She is the only Israelite that had to give up her first born son!!
To prove his point the author often gives examples of great miracles that happened in church history. I prefer theological proof over testimonies of miracles.
The importance of visiting mass daily. Impossible in modern day times (at least where I live).
One who reads this book must be aware the the book was written in the seventh century. So when he speaks of 'The Mass' he speaks of the Tridentine Latin mass! If the author would know what Vatican 2 has done to Catholicism he would probably be devastated.
It is interesting that a sacrifice was brought for Christ when He Himself was the ultimate sacrifice:
“And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Luke 2:22-24
“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Hebrews 10:9-10
So the sacrifice that was a picture of the sacrifice of Christ was sacrificed for Christ. That is mind blowing stuff! Specially when considering that all first born sons belonged to God, yet He did not ask for child (child sacrifice) but for a temple offering in stead. So at birth Christ was replaced with animals, but eventually He gave Himself all the way on the Cross!!
Because of this Mary suffers along with Christ. She is the only Israelite that had to give up her first born son!!
To prove his point the author often gives examples of great miracles that happened in church history. I prefer theological proof over testimonies of miracles.
The importance of visiting mass daily. Impossible in modern day times (at least where I live).
Currently reading
October 27, 2008How to appreciate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
January 20, 2014
Beautiful! Wonderful to have gained this knowledge, now I can pass it on!
April 3, 2024
“The Holy Mass is as full of mysteries as the ocean is full of drops, or as the sky is full of stars, and as the courts of Heaven are full of Angels. For in it so many mysteries are daily performed that I should be at a loss to say whether greater or more lofty wonders have ever been accomplished by divine omnipotence.” St. Bonaventure (p. 49 of book)
This book examines the Traditional Latin Mass and expounds upon each part in relation to the soul who assists at the Mass. It is excellent.
“In Holy Mass we receive treasures so wonderful and so real gifts so divine and so costly: benefits so many appertaining to this temporal life, hope so certain for the life which is to come, that without faith it would be impossible for us to believe this to be true.” St. Bonaventure (p. 49-50)
This book shares inspiring stories of individuals who reaped personal benefits from attending Mass, such as a man who, through his daily devotion, was blessed with the ability to provide for his children.
Oh, there are so many examples of how important the Mass is for our souls. For instance, there was a man who appeared to his friend after his death and expressed gratitude for the unnecessary prayers. He said that every day of his life, he recited five Paters and five Aves for the five wounds. ( p. 278) Another example is the story of a farmer who, in his old age, was about to stop going to his daily Mass. However, upon seeing his guardian angel with a bundle of roses for each Mass he attended, he decided to keep going until the end of his life.
These stories highlight the transformative power of the Traditional Catholic Mass.
Our religion teaches us to hope firmly in Christ’s Death and Passion, these are not just invoked but actually experienced during each valid Mass. We are present at the foot of the cross on Calvary.
And we offer this to the Father, for there is no means more efficacious to appease the Father’s anger than His OnlyBegotten, as He immolates Himself on the altar, we offer an oblation.
Great Kings and Queens are cited for hearing Mass, daily many times. St. Louis of France heard Mass two, three and sometimes four times. The graces were so needed, no doubt.
Saints are quoted in this book to back up the incredible promise of the Mass.
In addition, excellent prayers are provided for the devout.
At the Consecration Elevation p. 329.
“My God, I offer thee thy beloved Son, here present upon the altar.”
At the Elevation of the Chalice:
“I offer thee the Sacred Blood of Christ for the living and the dead.” (and during the day!) p. 330
p. 362 St. Mechtilde is quoted explaining how Our Lord comes to those assisting at Mass.
p. 368 St. Bonaventure’s prayer at Mass.
“Behold, O Eternal Father, this Thine only-begotten Son, whom all the world cannot contain, is now a prisoner in our hands. We will not surrender Him to Thee until, for His sake, Thou grant us what we earnestly request from Thee. We desire more forgiveness of our sins, forgiveness of our debts, an increase of grace, abundance of virtue, and the bliss of the world to come.”
p. 374
“I offer Thee, O heavenly Father, this Holy Sacrifice, I offer Thee Thy Beloved Son, His Incarnation, His birth, His Passion. I offer Thee His sweat of blood, His scourging, His crowning with thorns, the carrying of the Cross. I offer Thee the Crucifixion, the cruel death He Endured, the crimson stream that flowed from His Wounds; I offer all that He did and suffered for me, which is now reenacted in this Mass. I offer it to Thee for Thy greater glory and for my own salvation. Amen”
We are instructed to offer to God His well-beloved Son often during the Mass.
Can I say it anymore? Get this book and read it. Study this and mark it up! Reread!
Blessings!
This book examines the Traditional Latin Mass and expounds upon each part in relation to the soul who assists at the Mass. It is excellent.
“In Holy Mass we receive treasures so wonderful and so real gifts so divine and so costly: benefits so many appertaining to this temporal life, hope so certain for the life which is to come, that without faith it would be impossible for us to believe this to be true.” St. Bonaventure (p. 49-50)
This book shares inspiring stories of individuals who reaped personal benefits from attending Mass, such as a man who, through his daily devotion, was blessed with the ability to provide for his children.
Oh, there are so many examples of how important the Mass is for our souls. For instance, there was a man who appeared to his friend after his death and expressed gratitude for the unnecessary prayers. He said that every day of his life, he recited five Paters and five Aves for the five wounds. ( p. 278) Another example is the story of a farmer who, in his old age, was about to stop going to his daily Mass. However, upon seeing his guardian angel with a bundle of roses for each Mass he attended, he decided to keep going until the end of his life.
These stories highlight the transformative power of the Traditional Catholic Mass.
Our religion teaches us to hope firmly in Christ’s Death and Passion, these are not just invoked but actually experienced during each valid Mass. We are present at the foot of the cross on Calvary.
And we offer this to the Father, for there is no means more efficacious to appease the Father’s anger than His OnlyBegotten, as He immolates Himself on the altar, we offer an oblation.
Great Kings and Queens are cited for hearing Mass, daily many times. St. Louis of France heard Mass two, three and sometimes four times. The graces were so needed, no doubt.
Saints are quoted in this book to back up the incredible promise of the Mass.
In addition, excellent prayers are provided for the devout.
At the Consecration Elevation p. 329.
“My God, I offer thee thy beloved Son, here present upon the altar.”
At the Elevation of the Chalice:
“I offer thee the Sacred Blood of Christ for the living and the dead.” (and during the day!) p. 330
p. 362 St. Mechtilde is quoted explaining how Our Lord comes to those assisting at Mass.
p. 368 St. Bonaventure’s prayer at Mass.
“Behold, O Eternal Father, this Thine only-begotten Son, whom all the world cannot contain, is now a prisoner in our hands. We will not surrender Him to Thee until, for His sake, Thou grant us what we earnestly request from Thee. We desire more forgiveness of our sins, forgiveness of our debts, an increase of grace, abundance of virtue, and the bliss of the world to come.”
p. 374
“I offer Thee, O heavenly Father, this Holy Sacrifice, I offer Thee Thy Beloved Son, His Incarnation, His birth, His Passion. I offer Thee His sweat of blood, His scourging, His crowning with thorns, the carrying of the Cross. I offer Thee the Crucifixion, the cruel death He Endured, the crimson stream that flowed from His Wounds; I offer all that He did and suffered for me, which is now reenacted in this Mass. I offer it to Thee for Thy greater glory and for my own salvation. Amen”
We are instructed to offer to God His well-beloved Son often during the Mass.
Can I say it anymore? Get this book and read it. Study this and mark it up! Reread!
Blessings!
July 29, 2024
If you're Catholic, highly recommend this book on the Mass. I am fascinated by the way the author presented some of his information -- it was just in a way that's considered antiquated these days. Our ways of thinking changed drastically from 400 years ago. Not a fast read, but a lot of things to think about and gave me a better understanding of the Mass.
November 9, 2024
A bit of an uneven work. An example: after 350 pages of explaining the Mass in its various ways, the book ends with an overview of the parts of the Mass. Not an explanation, but an overview; it begins with prayers at the foot of the altar, the Introit and Kyrie, etc. I wouldn't necessarily turn someone away from this book. Some parts really brought back an appreciation of what is going on before me. It could probably use an editor, though.
October 23, 2022
This book's sole purpose is to enkindle a love for the mass so that Catholics may increase their zeal and attend mass more often than their Sunday obligation. Also, the explanation of the graces received from attending mass as well as how to attend it and participate in it with reverence and devotion will help any of us who may take it for granted and treat it as a routine. My only criticism is that there is much repetition in this book which made it much longer than it needed to be and taxed my attention at times.
May 8, 2020
Excellent book on th Mass
Sometimes you need to be reminded how special the Mass truly is. The prayers and thoughts about how incredible the Catholic Mass is, is a book I'll keep and read again and again.
Sometimes you need to be reminded how special the Mass truly is. The prayers and thoughts about how incredible the Catholic Mass is, is a book I'll keep and read again and again.
July 27, 2021
This is an incredible book about Holy Mass. It will educate the reader while challenging him to get to Mass daily. Filled with so many miraculous stories and information about Holy Mass, this one is worth reading again.
September 8, 2020
Read this with a men's study group and it was fantastic. Took us 3 months to get through it and it has transformed us all.
April 11, 2020
This book is 400 pages in length, which took me over three months to read. However, this book is beautifully written, "incredibly" thorough, and should empower and inspire all readers to never take our holy Mass for granted again. It really does inspire me to assist at Mass now as frequently as possible. As it happens now, during the COVID stay-at-home rule, we can combine the many livestreamed daily and Sunday Masses being offered with our newfound understanding of and desire to "hear Mass."
August 9, 2025
✒️ Excellent explanation of the Latin Mass. Easy to read and understand, too. I learned quite a bit and enjoyed reading this work. This is a must-read for everyone, because the Mass and the Church are for everyone.
📕Written in the 1700s by Father Martin von Cochem, O.S.F.C.
જ⁀📕From my private library.
📖 Book version.
༺༻༺༻✬༺༻༺༻༺༻༺༻✬༺༻༺༻
📕Written in the 1700s by Father Martin von Cochem, O.S.F.C.
જ⁀📕From my private library.
📖 Book version.
༺༻༺༻✬༺༻༺༻༺༻༺༻✬༺༻༺༻
October 13, 2024
This is, hands down, one of the best books I have ever read. It was so interesting and informative. I especially loved the little stories that tied in to the content of the chapter. Every Catholic should read this book.
August 11, 2023
A must read for every Catholic. This so enriched my understanding and appreciation of the Mass.
July 8, 2025
I started reading this during a silent retreat and I had an increased desire to attend Holy Mass, and I did start attending more frequently. Attendance at daily Mass does not hinder my work but helps me with my work.
January 6, 2024
Mass from a historic perspective is an enlightening read for anyone looking further into the backstory than the last supper, as sometimes the reason we do is not really reason enough.
Thank you for your collection of words Martin von Cochem and your eloquence Kevin O’Brien, much appreciated gentlemen. :-)
Thank you for your collection of words Martin von Cochem and your eloquence Kevin O’Brien, much appreciated gentlemen. :-)
October 28, 2019
This book gives all the reasons Catholics should attend and pay attention at Mass. Christ offers himself to God for us on the altar for our sins.
October 25, 2015
This book was written pre-Vatican II and it shows it. If you can take this into fact that it is based upon the traditional Latin Mass then the work is worth going through it. I did find the author repeating himself quite often. I have found other resources to be better at explaining the Mass.
August 15, 2014
I do enjoy very much his short stories and anecdotes. A good read and reasonably quick, for a lot of it is repetition, designed for rhetorically persuasion.
April 22, 2018
Was interesting, but it has a lot of errors and thus shouldn't be read. I do not recommend it to anyone.
December 19, 2025
A book as relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago. This will increase your appreciation of the Mass and your faith.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews