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The Wonders of the Mass
Says "The Mass is the greatest wonder in the world," seconded only by "the next greatest wonder. . .the indifference and ignorance of Catholics regarding the Mass." Quotes Saints, plus Our Lord Himself in revelations to various Saints. Filled with incomparable insights on the glories of the Mass.
50 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1963
32 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Paul O'Sullivan
30 books41 followersFather Paul O'Sullivan, O.P., was born on February 7, 1871. After studying in Dublin, he went on to Rome, where he was ordained a Dominican. He then pursued a Lectorate degree for theology, which in turn prepared him for his future career in writing simple, profound books and preaching to the faithful. Father O'Sullivan also founded the "Catholic Printing Press" and established the Rosary Association, one of several associations he created with the Church's permission. He wrote on and had a great devotion to St. Philomena as well. He died in 1958, on the Feast of the Presentation.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 11, 2021
This was the second volume from Father Paul that I have read. I picked the first, The Wonders of the Mass, book up because it was promoted by TAN books in an email blast. They were promoting a bundle of books by Father Paul O'Sullivan. I know I have seen the covers before. After reading the first one I picked up a few more. And this was the second volume I have read. The description of this book is:
“Says "The Mass is the greatest wonder in the world," seconded only by "the next greatest wonder. . .the indifference and ignorance of Catholics regarding the Mass." Quotes Saints, plus Our Lord Himself in revelations to various Saints. Filled with incomparable insights on the glories of the Mass.”
And the chapters are:
The Wonders of Holy Mass
What is the Mass?
The Joy of the Saints at Mass
Priests, The Happiest of Men
The Benefits of the Mass
Priests – Angels on Earth
How to Hear Mass with profit
This was a great little volume. It is the second by Father Paul I have read and it will not be the last. Right now, legally I cannot attend mass. But I can attend online masses. I have been able to attend Latin Masses, Extraordinary forms of the mass, and mass by several priests who I have read books from and follow-on social media. Not being able to attend mass for most of the past year has mad me realize how important and central it is to my life. This book offers tips and advice for appreciating the mass more. And for realizing it’s power and centrality to our faith. And even if I am mostly watching online this book can help me to learn to go deeper.
Some of the sections I highlighted my first time through this volume are:
“The Mass is the greatest wonder in the world. There is nothing on Earth equal to it, and there is nothing in Heaven greater than it.”
“No intelligent, no enlightened Christian would fail to attend Mass if he only knew what it was.”
“By hearing Mass, the day would become worth a thousand days to them, so wonderful would be the graces and benefits they should receive.”
“Similar wonderful favors are granted to the humblest of the faithful, to anyone who hears Mass devoutly.”
“St. John Damascene: “If anyone wishes to know how the bread is changed into the Body of Jesus Christ, I will tell him. The Holy Ghost overshadows the priest and acts on him as He acted on the Blessed Virgin Mary.””
“4. Nothing on this Earth, nothing in Heaven itself, gives more glory to God and obtains more benefits for us than a single Mass.”
“7. No prayers, no suffrages, no matter how fervent, can help the Holy Souls as the Mass. Oh, let us think of the Souls in Purgatory! Among them may be our dear father and mother and friends. We can help them most easily, we can relieve their awful pains most efficaciously by hearing Mass for them.”
“All good Christians would do well to follow these holy examples and ask God every time they hear Mass to grant them the grace of a holy death and freedom from the fires of Purgatory.”
“One Mass heard with understanding and devotion obtains for us more graces than a hundred, than a thousand Masses heard carelessly and in ignorance of what the Mass is.”
“Remember, Dear Reader, that the day you hear Mass is worth a thousand days to you, that all the labors and works of a day, or a week, or a whole year are nothing in comparison with the value of one Mass.”
As can be see by these samples from the book. The book helps us realize the importance of the Mass. Helps us learn to draw in deeper during mass. And helps us to get the most out of the mass. It is an excellent volume that any Catholic would benefit from reading.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Father Paul.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!
“Says "The Mass is the greatest wonder in the world," seconded only by "the next greatest wonder. . .the indifference and ignorance of Catholics regarding the Mass." Quotes Saints, plus Our Lord Himself in revelations to various Saints. Filled with incomparable insights on the glories of the Mass.”
And the chapters are:
The Wonders of Holy Mass
What is the Mass?
The Joy of the Saints at Mass
Priests, The Happiest of Men
The Benefits of the Mass
Priests – Angels on Earth
How to Hear Mass with profit
This was a great little volume. It is the second by Father Paul I have read and it will not be the last. Right now, legally I cannot attend mass. But I can attend online masses. I have been able to attend Latin Masses, Extraordinary forms of the mass, and mass by several priests who I have read books from and follow-on social media. Not being able to attend mass for most of the past year has mad me realize how important and central it is to my life. This book offers tips and advice for appreciating the mass more. And for realizing it’s power and centrality to our faith. And even if I am mostly watching online this book can help me to learn to go deeper.
Some of the sections I highlighted my first time through this volume are:
“The Mass is the greatest wonder in the world. There is nothing on Earth equal to it, and there is nothing in Heaven greater than it.”
“No intelligent, no enlightened Christian would fail to attend Mass if he only knew what it was.”
“By hearing Mass, the day would become worth a thousand days to them, so wonderful would be the graces and benefits they should receive.”
“Similar wonderful favors are granted to the humblest of the faithful, to anyone who hears Mass devoutly.”
“St. John Damascene: “If anyone wishes to know how the bread is changed into the Body of Jesus Christ, I will tell him. The Holy Ghost overshadows the priest and acts on him as He acted on the Blessed Virgin Mary.””
“4. Nothing on this Earth, nothing in Heaven itself, gives more glory to God and obtains more benefits for us than a single Mass.”
“7. No prayers, no suffrages, no matter how fervent, can help the Holy Souls as the Mass. Oh, let us think of the Souls in Purgatory! Among them may be our dear father and mother and friends. We can help them most easily, we can relieve their awful pains most efficaciously by hearing Mass for them.”
“All good Christians would do well to follow these holy examples and ask God every time they hear Mass to grant them the grace of a holy death and freedom from the fires of Purgatory.”
“One Mass heard with understanding and devotion obtains for us more graces than a hundred, than a thousand Masses heard carelessly and in ignorance of what the Mass is.”
“Remember, Dear Reader, that the day you hear Mass is worth a thousand days to you, that all the labors and works of a day, or a week, or a whole year are nothing in comparison with the value of one Mass.”
As can be see by these samples from the book. The book helps us realize the importance of the Mass. Helps us learn to draw in deeper during mass. And helps us to get the most out of the mass. It is an excellent volume that any Catholic would benefit from reading.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Father Paul.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!
April 20, 2024
Pasajes seleccionados del libro:
¿QUÉ ES LA MISA?
1. En la Misa, el Hijo de Dios se hace hombre otra vez, para que el extraordinario Misterio de la Encarnación, con todos sus infinitos méritos, se repita como cuando el Hijo de Dios se hizo hombre en el vientre de la Virgen María.
San Agustín nos dice: “¡Qué dignidad tan sublime tiene el sacerdote, en cuyas manos Cristo se convierte en hombre una vez más!”
2. La Misa es el nacimiento de Jesucristo. Él nace realmente en el altar cada vez que se celebra la Misa, así como Él nació en Belén.
San Juan Damasceno dijo: “Si alguien desea saber cómo el pan se transforma en el cuerpo de Jesucristo, yo se lo diré. El Espíritu Santo eclipsa al sacerdote y obra en él como obró en la Santísima Virgen María”.
San Buenaventura dijo: “Cuando Dios desciende sobre el altar, no hace menos de lo que realizó cuando se hizo hombre por primera vez en el vientre de la Virgen María”.
3. La Misa es igual al Sacrificio del Calvario. En ella Dios muere como murió el primer Viernes Santo. Tiene el mismo valor incalculable del Calvario y da a los hombres las mismas gracias inestimables.
La Misa no es una imitación o un recuerdo del Calvario, es exactamente el mismo sacrificio y difiere solamente en la manera como se ofrece.
En cada Misa la sangre de Jesús se derrama por nosotros otra vez. San Agustín dice: “En la Misa, la Sangre de Cristo fluye de nuevo por los pecadores”.
4. Nada en esta tierra, ni en el mismo cielo, da más gloria a Dios y obtiene más beneficios para nosotros que una sola Misa.
5. Por medio de la Misa ofrecemos a Dios la mayor gloria y alabanza que Él podría desear y le damos gracias por todos los beneficios que nos ha concedido. Hacemos mejor reparación de nuestras faltas que con las penitencias más severas.
6. No podemos hacer nada mejor por la conversión de los pecadores que ofrecer por ellos el Sacrificio de la Santa Misa. Si las madres solamente oyeran y ofrecieran Misas por las intenciones de sus hijos descarriados y las esposas por las de sus maridos, ¡qué felices serían sus familias!
La Misa, como hemos visto, es un estupendo misterio. Nuestras mentes, por otro lado, son débiles y lentas para entender. Por lo tanto, tenemos que leer con frecuencia y reflexionar seriamente en las maravillas de la Misa. Una Misa oída con comprensión y devoción consigue para nosotros más gracias que cientos o miles de Misas oídas negligentemente e ignorando lo que es la Misa.
Deberíamos establecer como regla inviolable el llegar a la iglesia unos minutos antes de que comience la Misa. En primer lugar, para estar preparados y en calma cuando el sacerdote suba al altar y en segundo lugar, para no distraer a otras personas.
Deberíamos no solamente oír la Misa, sino ofrecerla con el sacerdote. Más aún, deberíamos tener la intención de oír y ofrecer todas las Misas que se dicen al mismo tiempo en todo el mundo. ¡De esta manera recibiríamos una participación en estas innumerables Misas!
Todos notamos de inmediato la presencia del crucifijo en cada altar, que las vestiduras de los sacerdotes están todas marcadas con el signo de la Cruz, que el sacerdote comienza la Misa con la señal de la Cruz, que él hace esta santa señal muchas veces durante la Misa. ¿Por qué? Para dejarnos bien claro que la Misa es realmente y en verdad el Sacrificio de la Cruz. Que en la Misa, Cristo es crucificado, vierte su Preciosa Sangre y muere por nosotros.
¿QUÉ ES LA MISA?
1. En la Misa, el Hijo de Dios se hace hombre otra vez, para que el extraordinario Misterio de la Encarnación, con todos sus infinitos méritos, se repita como cuando el Hijo de Dios se hizo hombre en el vientre de la Virgen María.
San Agustín nos dice: “¡Qué dignidad tan sublime tiene el sacerdote, en cuyas manos Cristo se convierte en hombre una vez más!”
2. La Misa es el nacimiento de Jesucristo. Él nace realmente en el altar cada vez que se celebra la Misa, así como Él nació en Belén.
San Juan Damasceno dijo: “Si alguien desea saber cómo el pan se transforma en el cuerpo de Jesucristo, yo se lo diré. El Espíritu Santo eclipsa al sacerdote y obra en él como obró en la Santísima Virgen María”.
San Buenaventura dijo: “Cuando Dios desciende sobre el altar, no hace menos de lo que realizó cuando se hizo hombre por primera vez en el vientre de la Virgen María”.
3. La Misa es igual al Sacrificio del Calvario. En ella Dios muere como murió el primer Viernes Santo. Tiene el mismo valor incalculable del Calvario y da a los hombres las mismas gracias inestimables.
La Misa no es una imitación o un recuerdo del Calvario, es exactamente el mismo sacrificio y difiere solamente en la manera como se ofrece.
En cada Misa la sangre de Jesús se derrama por nosotros otra vez. San Agustín dice: “En la Misa, la Sangre de Cristo fluye de nuevo por los pecadores”.
4. Nada en esta tierra, ni en el mismo cielo, da más gloria a Dios y obtiene más beneficios para nosotros que una sola Misa.
5. Por medio de la Misa ofrecemos a Dios la mayor gloria y alabanza que Él podría desear y le damos gracias por todos los beneficios que nos ha concedido. Hacemos mejor reparación de nuestras faltas que con las penitencias más severas.
6. No podemos hacer nada mejor por la conversión de los pecadores que ofrecer por ellos el Sacrificio de la Santa Misa. Si las madres solamente oyeran y ofrecieran Misas por las intenciones de sus hijos descarriados y las esposas por las de sus maridos, ¡qué felices serían sus familias!
La Misa, como hemos visto, es un estupendo misterio. Nuestras mentes, por otro lado, son débiles y lentas para entender. Por lo tanto, tenemos que leer con frecuencia y reflexionar seriamente en las maravillas de la Misa. Una Misa oída con comprensión y devoción consigue para nosotros más gracias que cientos o miles de Misas oídas negligentemente e ignorando lo que es la Misa.
Deberíamos establecer como regla inviolable el llegar a la iglesia unos minutos antes de que comience la Misa. En primer lugar, para estar preparados y en calma cuando el sacerdote suba al altar y en segundo lugar, para no distraer a otras personas.
Deberíamos no solamente oír la Misa, sino ofrecerla con el sacerdote. Más aún, deberíamos tener la intención de oír y ofrecer todas las Misas que se dicen al mismo tiempo en todo el mundo. ¡De esta manera recibiríamos una participación en estas innumerables Misas!
Todos notamos de inmediato la presencia del crucifijo en cada altar, que las vestiduras de los sacerdotes están todas marcadas con el signo de la Cruz, que el sacerdote comienza la Misa con la señal de la Cruz, que él hace esta santa señal muchas veces durante la Misa. ¿Por qué? Para dejarnos bien claro que la Misa es realmente y en verdad el Sacrificio de la Cruz. Que en la Misa, Cristo es crucificado, vierte su Preciosa Sangre y muere por nosotros.
October 18, 2024
A great little booklet on the wonders and marvels of the Traditional Latin Mass, the TRUE mass itself, not the Novus Ordo Mass which is very protestant and full of many errors.
January 21, 2014
The Mass is the "Greatest wonder of the world". More people need to be made aware of what exactly the Mass is.
February 5, 2024
미사의 신비에 대해 한글로 읽었지만 한글 제목이 없으니 영어로 올렸다.
미사에서 예수님이 매번 우리처럼 살과 육신으로 이 세상에 오셔서 우리를 위해 십자가상에 돌아가시는 성사가 이루어지니 우리는 온 몸과 영으로 온 정성을 다해 미사를 바쳐야한다. 미사를 지내는 사제는 천사보다 위대하며 하느님 외에는 사제보다 위대한 이는 없다. 미사 때 사제의 손은 성자를 이 세상에 태어나게 하신 성모님의 손이 된다. 미사는 가장 큰 찬양이며 가장 큰 속죄이기도 하다. 죄인의 회개를 위해 미사를 바치는 것처럼 좋은 일은 없다. 우리는 수천명의 천사들에 싸여 미사를 바치는 것이다. 그 다음에는 이런저런 성인들이 미사 때 어떠한 은혜를 체험하고 목격했는지를 소개했다. 그리고 천사보다 높은 사제를 어떻게 존경하고 도우며 미사 전의 준비와 어떤 자세로 미사에 임해야하는지를 설명한다. 기도와 성인들을 간단히 설명했다. 맨 뒤에는. 그래도 미사의 거룩함을 잊을 수 있으니 수시로 이런책을 읽고 사제들도 교우들에게 미사의 중요성내지 미사에 임해야하는 태도에 대해서 강론을 했으면 좋겠다.
미사에서 예수님이 매번 우리처럼 살과 육신으로 이 세상에 오셔서 우리를 위해 십자가상에 돌아가시는 성사가 이루어지니 우리는 온 몸과 영으로 온 정성을 다해 미사를 바쳐야한다. 미사를 지내는 사제는 천사보다 위대하며 하느님 외에는 사제보다 위대한 이는 없다. 미사 때 사제의 손은 성자를 이 세상에 태어나게 하신 성모님의 손이 된다. 미사는 가장 큰 찬양이며 가장 큰 속죄이기도 하다. 죄인의 회개를 위해 미사를 바치는 것처럼 좋은 일은 없다. 우리는 수천명의 천사들에 싸여 미사를 바치는 것이다. 그 다음에는 이런저런 성인들이 미사 때 어떠한 은혜를 체험하고 목격했는지를 소개했다. 그리고 천사보다 높은 사제를 어떻게 존경하고 도우며 미사 전의 준비와 어떤 자세로 미사에 임해야하는지를 설명한다. 기도와 성인들을 간단히 설명했다. 맨 뒤에는. 그래도 미사의 거룩함을 잊을 수 있으니 수시로 이런책을 읽고 사제들도 교우들에게 미사의 중요성내지 미사에 임해야하는 태도에 대해서 강론을 했으면 좋겠다.
June 25, 2025
Some of the stuff in here was really good and helped to describe how wonderful and important the Mass is. But some other stuff really rubbed me the wrong way and just didn't seem right. Part of that may have been because this is an older book so some of the Church's teachings may have been slightly different. But I really don't think that that's the case for most of it, sadly.
I'm disappointed with this book. I've read other books by the author that were really good, so I don't know why this one wasn't.
I'm disappointed with this book. I've read other books by the author that were really good, so I don't know why this one wasn't.
December 10, 2022
A must read for all!
Very thought provoking. Only took about an hour to read and was well worth the time. I plan to read it over and over again.
Very thought provoking. Only took about an hour to read and was well worth the time. I plan to read it over and over again.
June 8, 2023
Good source for quotes on the power of the Mass.
March 18, 2024
Sublime. Thanks be to God! Alleluia! 🙏🏼
January 1, 2022
Great short booklet for inspiring awe in the mass. It briefly explains what the mass is all about but it mostly provides quotes and mystical experiences from the saints. Definitely geared towards uninspired pew-sitting Catholics. Would be an excellent resource to hand out in any vestibule.
March 4, 2022
Great booklet, briefly explaining the nature of the Mass (the traditional Mass, of course, not the modernist/Protestantized Novus Ordo Mass) and the graces benefits It gives to Catholics.
September 18, 2019
93/100 (= 5.5/6) ≈ 5 Stars
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The most important thing on earth. Gives one a greater appreciation for the Mass and a desire to attend more often.
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The most important thing on earth. Gives one a greater appreciation for the Mass and a desire to attend more often.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews