The Mass in Slow Motion

by Ronald Knox

— A Classic — Includes Active Table of Contents — Includes Religious Illustrations

If I have a public, this book, I fear, will be a severe test of its patience. That a priest should put on record his private thoughts about the Mass-there is nothing extravagant in that. But mine were put on record in a highly specialized art-form, that of sermons to school-girls; and this form they still impenitently wear. There are films which a child can frequent only by pretending to be an adult. Here are pages which an adult can enjoy only by pretending to be a child. Nisi efficiamini sicut parvuli . . .

Aeterna Press

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Faith, Theology

81 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2014

About the author

Monsignor Ronald Arbuthnott Knox was a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, author of detective stories, as well as a writer and a regular broadcaster for BBC Radio.

Knox had attended Eton College and won several scholarships at Balliol College, Oxford. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1912 and was appointed chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford, but he left in 1917 upon his conversion to Catholicism. In 1918 he was ordained a Catholic priest. Knox wrote many books of essays and novels. Directed by his religious superiors, he re-translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English, using Hebrew and Greek sources, beginning in 1936.

He died on 24 August 1957 and his body was brought to Westminster Cathedral. Bishop Craven celebrated the requiem mass, at which Father Martin D'Arcy, a Jesuit, preached the panegyric. Knox was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, Mells.

Reviews

[Fiona Altschuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating book! It really gave me so much more to think about during Mass, as well as taught me what exactly the Introit, the Offertory, etc, is. I'm so glad I go to a Latin Mass so, unlike the people who read this that attend Novus Ordo churches, I don't need to spend half an hour trying to figure out what the English equivalent of Agnus Dei is. I can just digest this lovely book in all its wonder and glory!

I also love that this was written as a series of sermons given to a Catholic boarding school for girls. You can tell how sweet and silly these girls were because of how their priest talks to them, and as I am a Catholic girl myself, it gave the chapters a level of immediacy that I really liked. Monsignor Knox kept a really great balance between giving light, funny, interesting sermons while also teaching us real theological truths and providing us with ample things to think about.

And now I really want to read his detective novels!! Imagine, a priest writing mysteries!!

[Samantha B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ronald Knox.

He's so down to earth and has the perfect analogies to make analogical and real-life sense of the Mass. To boot, his descriptions stick in your head for ages! I really enjoyed this methodical going-through of the Mass (the Tridentine Rite, yes, but really, the similarities to Novus Ordo were more visible than the differences, to me at least) and it's given me things to think about during Mass, which was a big part of the goal. :)

(Also, I really appreciate that he mentioned the Dominican Rite! Brownie points right there. XD)

Four stars!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put this book aside for way too long! Fr Knox does an amazing job explaining the Mass. He writes as if he’s just talking to you. It’s very helpful!

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rare five-star, for while this priest insists that he is not an expert on liturgical matters, here are his reflections on Holy Mass, written simply for an audience of school-girls. This book wants reprinting for a new readership of young people.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. It is a series of Sunday homilies given in the mid-1940s. Each homily was about a different portion of the Mass. The priest/author is very personable. It is written in his speaking voice. You can just hear him delivering these homilies. There is wonderful information mixed with humor and such love for his subject.

The Mass was so different in the pre-Vatican II days. It was in Latin. The priest faced the tabernacle, not the congregation. But despite these differences, there was so much to be learned from reading this book.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knox wrote it during the war, using lectures he gave at a girls' school. It's short, beautifully written (I use his translation of the New Testament for devotional purposes because of his literary style), and provides a clear, incisive introduction to the Tridentine Mass. It also serves the broader purpose of simply explaining the fundamentals of the Mass qua Mass, since those haven't changed.

[Odalys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say, after reading his sermons on the Creed In Slow Motion, I was highly expectant of a great book. This book is still great, but on its own right as a descriptor of the mass. It's wonderful for those who are wanting his insights as a priest who is giving mass. 4 stars because I was hoping it would be better.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book - I learned so much reading this one with my kids.

[Judgemental Toast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, poetic, and told in lovely English wit. LOVE IT! Highly recommend! Very quick read too.

[Thomas Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible description of the Mass, a must-read for all Traditional Catholics to understand our beautiful Mass better. It does, however, seem toend quite abruptly. I think he ran out of time in the term or something, as the book is a collection of talks given to the girls at the school to which he was chaplain. I would love to have read his reflections on the Last Gospel, but alas...

[Marc Jude Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for those who are new to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (a.k.a. the Traditional Latin Mass). Corpus Christi Watershed has a free eBook version of this. As for fellow Thomasians, a copy of this book is available at the Religion Section of the Miguel de Benavides Library.

[Ralph Wechuli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights on Holy Mass put forth in the simplest language possible.. Mass is a continues play...

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful & brilliant explanation of the ineffable wonder of the Holy Mass!

[Sarah Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Msgr. Knox writes so simply, yet so beautifully, of the meaning of each part of the Mass.

[Renée · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea but full of interesting historical insight into the popular theology of the Tridentine Mass, which 400 years after its creation, seems to have gotten lost in non-translation.

[Dcn. Benj · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read, the more I wanted to read and the more I felt like reading this much was actually good for me, and that is quite a rare thing in books. Top marks, couldn't recommend more!

[Claudia Galvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunque por la fecha en que se escribió habla de la Misa con el rito antiguo, está muy bueno para entender más a fondo la Misa y además me encantó su humor inglés. Me reí en alto varias veces.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reflection on the Mass. Msgr. Knox is, of course, talking about the older form of the Mass, so it is easier to understand what he is talking about if you are familiar with the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, but these are excellent reflections either way.