The Power of Daily Mass: How Frequent Participation in the Eucharist Can Transform Your Life
By Bert Ghezzi
5/5
()
About this ebook
Using quotations from saints and testimonies from fellow daily Mass attendees, Ghezzi encourages Catholics to grow closer to Jesus and receive Christ’s power for daily Christian living through the Eucharist. Ghezzi highlights how more frequent participation in weekday Mass is a wonderful way to grow in love for the Lord and receive the guidance for living that can only come from scripture and the Eucharist.
Bert Ghezzi
A popular Catholic author and speaker, Bert Ghezzi has written twenty-six books, including The Heart of Catholicism,Voices of the Saints, Mystics and Miracles, and Prayers to the Holy Spirit. Hundreds of his articles have appeared in the religious press. Ghezzi has been involved in religious education for more than forty years. He has served as a leader and teacher in several Catholic renewal movements and has spoken at numerous educational and renewal conferences throughout the United States and Canada. He appears frequently as a guest on EWTN, which also features his television series Signs of Our Times. Ghezzi is often interviewed on Catholic radio and his two-minute spots on saints play regularly on EWTN radio. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, Ghezzi worked for seven years as a professor at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He has served as a senior editor for five publishing companies since 1975 and now works as an acquisitions editor for Our Sunday Visitor’s book division. Bert and Mary Lou, his wife of fifty years, have seven children and sixteen grandchildren. The Ghezzis live in Winter Park, Florida. You can read Ghezzi’s blog at www.bertghezzi.com.
Read more from Bert Ghezzi
Adventures in Daily Prayer: Experiencing the Power of God's Love Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Heart of Catholicism: Practicing the Everyday Habits That Shape Us Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLiving the Sacraments: Grace Into Action Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Angry Christian: A Bible-based Strategy to Care for and Discipline a Valuable Emotion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSaints at Heart: How Fault-Filled, Problem-Prone, Imperfect People Like Us Can Be Holy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Power of Daily Mass
Related ebooks
Return: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One Sunday at a Time (Cycle A): Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Minute in the Church: Life in Christ: One Minute Explanations of Catholic Practice and Devotions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeave No Soul Behind: A Handbook for Catholics Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAbide in the Heart of Christ: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Ignatius Loyola Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Spiritual Combat & The Way of the Cross (illustrated & annotated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Introduction to the Devout Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Month of Mary, According to the Spirit of St. Francis of Sales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRoad Map to Heaven: A Catholic Plan of Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ave Guide to Eucharistic Adoration Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDevotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Holy Hour & Calvary and the Mass Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Seven Words of Jesus and Mary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Month of Prayer with St. Catherine of Siena Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Holiness of Life (Annotated): Easy to Read Layout Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Set Your Heart Free: 30 Days with Francis de Sales Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Behold the Handmaid of the Lord: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Louis de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTreatise on the Love of God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Holy Hour Prayer Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Blessed Sacrament: God With Us: God With Us Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIntroduction to the Devout Life (Annotated): Easy to Read Layout Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mystical City of God: Vol 1 - The conception Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIntroduction to the Devout Life (Rediscovered Books): With linked Table of Contents Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5True Devotion to Mary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cross and the Beatitudes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Glories of Mary Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Year with the Eucharist: Daily Meditations on the Blessed Sacrament Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Q & A Guide to Mental Prayer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Eucharistic Adoration: Holy Hour Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMarian Consecration With Aquinas: A Nine Day Path for Growing Closer to the Mother of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Christianity For You
Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better (updated with two new chapters) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Book of Enoch: Standard English Version Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Less Fret, More Faith: An 11-Week Action Plan to Overcome Anxiety Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Experiencing God (2021 Edition): Knowing and Doing the Will of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for The Power of Daily Mass
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
The Power of Daily Mass - Bert Ghezzi
This book is not just for those who don’t yet go to daily Mass, but also for those who do. It reveals how powerful and relevant each Mass is for our lives, and will inspire and challenge you to really make the Eucharist your ‘daily bread.’
Vinny Flynn
Author of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist
Bert Ghezzi invites us to celebrate the blessings of daily Mass. He shows how the various parts of the Mass, culminating in the reception of the Eucharist, contain a rainbow of reasons why daily Mass is so valuable. Ample use of quotations from Church fathers, theologians, saints, and daily Mass attendees add vibrancy to his words. I highly recommend this book to Catholics looking for a guide to live a holy life.
Rev. Robert J. Hater
Author of Common Sense Catechetics
"Bert Ghezzi does a masterful job of telling Catholics about The Power of Daily Mass. He is thorough, helping readers to remember the power of the Eucharist and the need to take time after Mass to contemplate the goodness of God. This book will help anyone who wants to understand both the Mass and the Catholic Church. Don’t overlook the appendices."
Deacon Henry Libersat
Author of Catholic and Confident
Unless otherwise noted, scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Scripture quotations marked NJB are taken from the New Jerusalem Bible, copyright © 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd., and Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher.
____________________________________
© 2015 by Bert Ghezzi
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews, without written permission from Ave Maria Press®, Inc., P.O. Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556, 1-800-282-1865.
Founded in 1865, Ave Maria Press is a ministry of the United States Province of Holy Cross.
www.avemariapress.com
Paperback: ISBN-13 978-1-59471-562-4
E-book: ISBN-13 978-1-59471-563-1
Cover image © Agnus Images.
Cover and text design by Katherine Robinson.
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ghezzi, Bert.
The power of daily mass : how frequent participation in the Eucharist can transform your spiritual life / Bert Ghezzi.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-59471-562-4 -- ISBN 1-59471-562-9
1. Lord’s Supper--Frequency of communion 2. Mass--Frequency of celebration. 3. Lord’s Supper--Catholic Church. I. Title.
BX2236.6.G44 2015
264’.36--dc23
2014037306
For the Daily Mass Community
at
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church,
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Also by Bert Ghezzi
The Heart of Catholicism
Voices of the Saints
The Saints Devotional Bible (compiler/editor)
Prayers to the Holy Spirit
Discover Christ (coauthor)
Saints at Heart
Everyday Encounters with God (coauthor)
The Sign of the Cross
Mystics and Miracles
Living the Sacraments
Getting Free
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Every Day with Jesus
2. Honoring the Saints
3. Daily Repentance
4. Taking the Word to Heart
5. Frequent Intercession
6. Offering Ourselves to God
7. Offering the Eternal Sacrifice
8. Our Daily Bread
9. Equipped for the Day’s Service
Afterword
Appendix I: Prayers before Mass
Appendix II: Prayers after Mass
Appendix III: The General Roman Calendar Adapted for the United States of America
Appendix IV: Holy Days of Obligation in the United States of America
Appendix V: Liturgical Feasts of Mary
Resources
Notes
Preface
For the past eight years, I have attended daily Mass at my parish. I gather at 7 a.m. with a community of men and women who have become my close friends. When I decided to write this book, I asked many of them to tell me about the effect daily Mass has had on their lives. They reported a variety of benefits:
Daily Mass . . .
gives me courage and hope to face daily challenges and problems;
lets me participate in the greatest of miracles—the Eucharistic presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ;
makes me aware of how much God loves me;
realigns me to God’s plan for my life;
allows me to feel free to talk to the Lord;
gives me an opportunity to intercede for family and friends.
You will read more of their observations in the following pages. Once I asked a young visitor to our 7 a.m. liturgy why he came to Mass. He said, Because I love Jesus.
His heartfelt response undergirds all the other beneficial effects my friends reported.
I experience many of the same benefits. I especially take away from the readings a word that encourages me or gives me direction. Today, for example, I heard the Lord speak to me about calming my irritability with these words from James: Be . . . slow to anger, for anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God
(Jas 1:19–20). I need to do that because I don’t want to be a hearer only.
The highlight for me is receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood in Communion. That the God who fashioned the universe of 300 billion trillion stars comes to me fills me with awe. As I kneel in reflection, I often remember Curtis Martin’s profound observation that we are living monstrances,
bearing the Real Presence into our lives and relationships.¹
Worshiping at daily Mass offers you all these benefits and more. I designed this little book to describe them and show how to receive them. Each chapter presents one aspect of our participation in the Lord’s eternal sacrifice, and each chapter gives you a chance to reflect on the graces we receive as we celebrate the re-presentation of the death and resurrection of Jesus. As you read this book, you will review with me the way daily Mass forgives little sins; allows you to hear God speaking to you in scripture; gives you the opportunity both to offer yourself to God and also to offer Christ’s sacrifice with him; provides spiritual nourishment from eating Christ’s Body and drinking his Blood; and strengthens you for your day’s activities and challenges.
The Power of Daily Mass is a book for all Catholics. Those who already attend daily Mass will it inspires them by broadening their understanding and reinforcing their experience. It will encourage those who attend once in a while to get to daily Mass more regularly, and I hope the book will persuade many others to consider building Mass into their daily routine.
Acknowledgments
The faithful commitment of my sisters and brothers at my parish’s daily Mass community convinced me to write this book and they