Understanding the Latin Mass

Understanding the Latin Mass: Hear and Learn the Words of the Novus Ordo
Text and Audio CD by Marion P. Smedberg

Now available!

Explore the meaning of the Latin words of the Mass with this book and its accompanying audio CD. Each word of the Latin Novus Ordo Mass is translated literally, and the form by which you would look it up in a Latin dictionary is given. Then, to help you remember the meaning of the Latin word, the author gives you English words which come from the Latin word. For example, Dominus means "Lord, master," and an English word which comes from dominus is dominate, the way a master would dominate his domain.

Understanding the Latin Mass is unique in its audio-lingual approach to learning the meaning of the Mass, and in its thoroughness. This is not a loose translation, but a digging down into the Latin itself, to understand each Latin word from the "inside."

Reviews

Understanding the Latin Mass will be a valuable resource for promoting the active participation of the faithful who are present at the celebration of the Mass in Latin. The book (along with its accompanying CD) permits one to listen to the Latin language and understand the meaning of the texts so that each part of the Mass may become more and more familiar. Understanding the Latin Mass will aid everyone desiring to enter more prayerfully into the Mass whenever it is celebrated in the Latin language.

The faithful, from time immemorial, have learned Latin by the ancient and humble method of singing and praying the Latin Mass. With teachers like Marion Smedberg, we can follow in their footsteps. This book and CD is a valuable resource for Latin teachers, parents, and parishes who want to pray the Latin Mass with understanding. And by connecting the sonorous sounds of Latin and their English meanings, an added benefit will be a great understanding of both Latin and English. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you."

Given the Holy Father's recent directive to catechists worldwide to teach children the universal language of the Church, Marion Smedberg's Understanding the Latin Mass comes at the perfect time! With a fresh approach to tackling the Latin texts of the Novus Ordo Mass, the book's format breaks down each prayer, giving word-for-word English equivalents, so that anyone - including catechists, parents, or students - can come away with a greater understanding of essential meanings as well as linguistic structures. This book can be adapted as a teacher's manual, a group discussion outline, or a self-study guide for all those interested in deepenging their knowledge of the Roman Rite - from dabbling a bit in Latin antecedents to delving into definitions, syntax, and grammatical constructions. I recommend it in particular for religious education programs where most of the participants are just beginning to sound the depths of the riches of the Latin Mass.

Marion Smedberg's book, Understanding the Latin Mass, is exceptional. We used her materials to instruct my parishioners in the basics of the Latin liturgy, enabling them to fully participate in the Latin Mass as Vatican II intended. The parishioners who used this information were so enthusiastic that our classes were featured in a Washington Times article. The information contained in Understanding the Latin Mass proves to be a simple, enjoyable way to provide a parishioner with the confidence to participate in the Latin liturgy. I highly recommend this book and CD.

Order today!