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The Divine Symphony: An Exordium to the Theology of the Catholic Mass
The Divine Symphony begins with this one presupposition; that all that God has revealed about Himself, and all that He yearns for His People to be, is offered through the Catholic Mass. The exposition of that presupposition resulted in this unique book on the Theology of the Catholic Mass. The Divine Symphony presents a beautiful and seamless presentation of the liturgical continuity of the history, meaning, and mystery of the central and highest expression of worship and prayer in the Catholic Church.
For the past century and longer, nearly every book written by Catholics about the Catholic Mass has taken to the approach of explaining the liturgy by dissecting it into separate parts and pieces. Contrary to this staunchly popular teaching style, the Catholic Mass is not a disjointed litany of things laity says, things the Priest says, times they stand, times they kneel, things they do, and things they don’t do. Rather, in all of its liturgical expressions, from East to West, the Catholic Mass is a singular and Divinely inspired composition, a familial song of prayers and confessions. It truly is a Divine Symphony called the ‘Ite, Missa est.’This makes David L. Gray’s work groundbreaking in that, finally, a book presents a harmonious symphony of the Catholic Mass.
Although Mr. Gray uses the Novus Ordo rite as the outline to narrate and guide the reader through the liturgical movements, he also draws into text much older Latin and Eastern rites for the objectives of deeper study and explanation of the purpose, meaning, mystery, and orientation of the sacred liturgy. Such incorporation of so many various rites demonstrates, most beautifully, the universality and continuity of Christ Jesus’ memorial sacrifice.
A second unique feature of this work is Mr. Gray’s use of the classical symphony orchestra as a way to explain the structure and flow of the Catholic Mass. Even if the reader is not trained in the classical works, Gray gives them enough history and examples to give the reader a good reason to appreciate and understand their many similarities in form and purpose. A third unique aspect of the book is that rather than attempting to explain the Mass through Scriptural proof texts, the author has rightly moved to explain the Scriptures through the Mass. For, as the Scriptures tell the story of salvation history, the Mass brings the promise of the story to its fulfillment.
Through beautiful prose and a concrete presentation of the Divine Symphony’s history, meaning, mystery, and liturgical continuity, David L. Gray, in this exordium, gives reason to all to know, love and pray the Mass.
This well-written and accessible book is for Catholics and anyone looking to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for what the Priests, Deacons, and the People are doing when they pray and confess the Ite, Missa Est. To know the Mass is to love it, and to love it is to pray it.
For the past century and longer, nearly every book written by Catholics about the Catholic Mass has taken to the approach of explaining the liturgy by dissecting it into separate parts and pieces. Contrary to this staunchly popular teaching style, the Catholic Mass is not a disjointed litany of things laity says, things the Priest says, times they stand, times they kneel, things they do, and things they don’t do. Rather, in all of its liturgical expressions, from East to West, the Catholic Mass is a singular and Divinely inspired composition, a familial song of prayers and confessions. It truly is a Divine Symphony called the ‘Ite, Missa est.’This makes David L. Gray’s work groundbreaking in that, finally, a book presents a harmonious symphony of the Catholic Mass.
Although Mr. Gray uses the Novus Ordo rite as the outline to narrate and guide the reader through the liturgical movements, he also draws into text much older Latin and Eastern rites for the objectives of deeper study and explanation of the purpose, meaning, mystery, and orientation of the sacred liturgy. Such incorporation of so many various rites demonstrates, most beautifully, the universality and continuity of Christ Jesus’ memorial sacrifice.
A second unique feature of this work is Mr. Gray’s use of the classical symphony orchestra as a way to explain the structure and flow of the Catholic Mass. Even if the reader is not trained in the classical works, Gray gives them enough history and examples to give the reader a good reason to appreciate and understand their many similarities in form and purpose. A third unique aspect of the book is that rather than attempting to explain the Mass through Scriptural proof texts, the author has rightly moved to explain the Scriptures through the Mass. For, as the Scriptures tell the story of salvation history, the Mass brings the promise of the story to its fulfillment.
Through beautiful prose and a concrete presentation of the Divine Symphony’s history, meaning, mystery, and liturgical continuity, David L. Gray, in this exordium, gives reason to all to know, love and pray the Mass.
This well-written and accessible book is for Catholics and anyone looking to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for what the Priests, Deacons, and the People are doing when they pray and confess the Ite, Missa Est. To know the Mass is to love it, and to love it is to pray it.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published April 8, 2018
17 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
David L. Gray
6 books5 followersDavid L. Gray is an American Catholic Theologian and Historian. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central State University (Ohio) and a Masters of Arts in Catholic Theology from Ohio Dominican University. His published work, 'Inside Prince Hall (Freemasonry)' predates his conversion to Catholicism.
Mr. Gray is currently the President and Publisher of Saint Dominic's Media, Inc., and he and his wife Felicia reside the Greater Saint Louis, Missouri area.
Mr. Gray is currently the President and Publisher of Saint Dominic's Media, Inc., and he and his wife Felicia reside the Greater Saint Louis, Missouri area.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 31, 2018
The Catholic Mass: The Composition of Christianity. A masterpiece, the embodiment of what we believe. The Mass makes God present to His people by telling His story, and is the daily echo of our Catholic faith.
As a cradle Catholic, I have a lifetime of love for the Mass. Yet, never before have I perceived it as a symphony; The Divine Symphony, as does David L. Gray in this remarkable book.
I read the book slowly, taking in the very familiar parts of the Ite Missa est, but seeing them in a new light–not as the Mass I’ve become used to, standing kneeling, responding, without much thought as to why we do all that–but as the particular movements of a symphonic journey revealing the Incarnation, and Christianity itself. David Gray reclaims our theology in this book, and reframes what we believe and why we believe it. He takes us through the essential life-giving act of God given to us in the Old Testament, and found in the memorial Passover sacrifice instituted before the exodus, then subsequently played out in the Crucifixion in the New Testament, and now, offered daily in Masses all over the world.
For those lifetime Catholics like me, this is a book for you. For those who are not Catholic and have wondered just what the Catholic Mass is–this book will reveal it. With examples from the Latin Rite, the Novus Ordo, Melkite, Orthodox—all—because, as David Gray says, “As God is one, so is there only one Mass that is expressed through various liturgical traditions that are rooted in a Divinely inspired cross-pollination with each other, especially for the first seven centuries of the Church.”
Backed up by biblical history, both Old and New Testament, along with the earliest church writers, David Gray has set his very keen eye on our beautiful Mass and laid before us an impeccable encapsulation of our faith.
In one sentence, The Divine Symphony is one of the most valuable books about the Catholic faith that I have read. Thank you, David, for offering it to me.
As a cradle Catholic, I have a lifetime of love for the Mass. Yet, never before have I perceived it as a symphony; The Divine Symphony, as does David L. Gray in this remarkable book.
I read the book slowly, taking in the very familiar parts of the Ite Missa est, but seeing them in a new light–not as the Mass I’ve become used to, standing kneeling, responding, without much thought as to why we do all that–but as the particular movements of a symphonic journey revealing the Incarnation, and Christianity itself. David Gray reclaims our theology in this book, and reframes what we believe and why we believe it. He takes us through the essential life-giving act of God given to us in the Old Testament, and found in the memorial Passover sacrifice instituted before the exodus, then subsequently played out in the Crucifixion in the New Testament, and now, offered daily in Masses all over the world.
For those lifetime Catholics like me, this is a book for you. For those who are not Catholic and have wondered just what the Catholic Mass is–this book will reveal it. With examples from the Latin Rite, the Novus Ordo, Melkite, Orthodox—all—because, as David Gray says, “As God is one, so is there only one Mass that is expressed through various liturgical traditions that are rooted in a Divinely inspired cross-pollination with each other, especially for the first seven centuries of the Church.”
Backed up by biblical history, both Old and New Testament, along with the earliest church writers, David Gray has set his very keen eye on our beautiful Mass and laid before us an impeccable encapsulation of our faith.
In one sentence, The Divine Symphony is one of the most valuable books about the Catholic faith that I have read. Thank you, David, for offering it to me.
February 11, 2020
David L. Gray is a convert to Catholicism. His vast knowledge of the Mass is all the more astounding because of this.
In this book, Gray compares the four parts of a symphony to the four parts of the Mass. Even more important than that, he continually emphasizes the solemnity of the Mass.
There are at least three areas that he addresses that have me doing extra thinking:
1. The praying of the Our Father - we as the congregation join the priest in this prayer. I think this is the only instance where the joining occurs .
2. The Sign of Peace - is based on the Holy Kiss. It should be done reverently.
3. The Receiving of the Holy Eucharist - should be done with humility and is a gift, not a privilege.
I felt so engaged in this book as I read it. Gray's words have helped me to appreciate the Mass so much more.
5 stars
In this book, Gray compares the four parts of a symphony to the four parts of the Mass. Even more important than that, he continually emphasizes the solemnity of the Mass.
There are at least three areas that he addresses that have me doing extra thinking:
1. The praying of the Our Father - we as the congregation join the priest in this prayer. I think this is the only instance where the joining occurs .
2. The Sign of Peace - is based on the Holy Kiss. It should be done reverently.
3. The Receiving of the Holy Eucharist - should be done with humility and is a gift, not a privilege.
I felt so engaged in this book as I read it. Gray's words have helped me to appreciate the Mass so much more.
5 stars
January 1, 2019
I met David through the internet. He stumbled across my blog that was my place to talk out what I was experiencing as someone converting to Catholicism. He interviewed me a few years back. That video can be viewed by searching for 'Paganism and Protestantism'.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My conversion came about because of events at the first Mass I attended. I have a strong attachment to the Mass and the Eucharist. I learned much. I will probably have to reread this book every few years to fully digest the depth of description David has gone to. I appreciate greatly his inclusion of different rites, include those Eastern rites that we long to reunite with.
I am especially grateful that early in the book, David assertively addresses the issue of the Tridentine and Novus Ordo, and specifically that they are equal expressions. The way David contrasts each and shows how they are expressions of the same thing is extremely helpful.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My conversion came about because of events at the first Mass I attended. I have a strong attachment to the Mass and the Eucharist. I learned much. I will probably have to reread this book every few years to fully digest the depth of description David has gone to. I appreciate greatly his inclusion of different rites, include those Eastern rites that we long to reunite with.
I am especially grateful that early in the book, David assertively addresses the issue of the Tridentine and Novus Ordo, and specifically that they are equal expressions. The way David contrasts each and shows how they are expressions of the same thing is extremely helpful.
March 30, 2021
David L. Gray's book was critical in my transformation from an angry rad trad to a joyful orthodox Catholic. His treatment of the Ordinary Form of the Mass breaks open the beauty to be found in the post Vatican II liturgy and what it can be when celebrated as written. I salute Mr. Gray for contributing this work to the Catholic book world.
December 25, 2023
The best concise guide through the parts of the Mass from beginning to the final blessing. This is an excellent read for anyone looking to understand more deeply the mystery they participate in when attend Mass.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews