The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass - Active listening to receive God's love for you in the Mass
- Drawing on the wisdom of the saints
- Why there are periods of silence in the mass & how to receive them
- Attuning your heart to these silences to increase the graces you receive
Get More out of Holy Communion
- How to Get More Out of Holy Communion
- Written by a saint who had a special devotion to the Eucharist
- Beautiful, encouraging guidance
- Learn what you must do - and must not do - after Holy Communion in order to maximize its effects in your soul
- Looking for happiness in this life? How Holy Communion is your key even to the most lasting worldly joys
The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass In this game-changing book, Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., reveals how you can actively listen and open yourself to receive God’s personal love for you in the Mass, where our Lord waits to quench your deepest longing and heal your wounds. Drawing from the wisdom of the saints, modern-day spiritual giants, and his own penetrating reflections, you will learn how to quiet your mind, stretch your heart, and become childlike in the sense of experiencing the sacred mysteries with wonder and awe.
The Mass, as most Catholics are aware, consists of words and gestures through which the Church worships the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. But as far fewer Catholics know, the periods of silence are more than pauses or empty spaces, as Fr. Hicks explains. They are beautifully textured with prescribed prayers spoken quietly by the priest, meaningful images such as incense and chalice veils, and expectant faith ready to surrender or receive from God in particular ways. Learning how to attune our hearts to these silences can greatly increase the fruitfulness of our reception of grace at Mass.
In these soul-enriching pages, you will explore the various textures of silence in general, the ways in which silence affects your interior life, and how silence can draw you into more intimate prayer. You will also find:
- How our Lady is the supreme model on how to cultivate active and receptive silence
- The secret to settling slowly into silence, relaxing, and entering into an inner dialogue with God
- Tips on how to commune with God in your heart and on practicing lectio divina
- What St. Benedict teaches on developing silence in prayer, speech, activities, and thoughts
Fr. Hicks further guides you through each of the nine silent (secreto) prayers of the priest, the silent gestures in the Mass, such as the use of incense and the unveiling of the chalice, and the intentional periods of silence, including during the Liturgy of the Word and after receiving Holy Communion.
You will discover the pattern through which divine life came to earth and how the fire of Christ’s merciful love comes to the soul. Moreover, you will come to understand how your physical silence at Mass fosters your spiritual silence and becomes an “act of love” through self-offering, adoration, communion, and resting in the inexpressible mystery.
Each chapter includes reflection questions designed to foster group discussions so parish members can reflect on and grow together in the way they pray during Mass. Through such intimate encounter, you will learn to enjoy praying at Mass with your whole heart, mind, and soul and will arrive at a more conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the sacred liturgy.
Get More out of Holy If going to Mass and taking Communion has become just another routine for you, don't assume that indifference is an ordinary part of growing mature in the Faith. On the contrary: your love of Communion should be growing stronger. You can strengthen it now with this wise book from a little-known saint, Peter Julian Eymard.
St. Peter shows you how surprisingly easy it is to break out of the dullness that can settles into your soul, obscuring the glory of meeting your Lord in Communion. You'll learn from him how to approach Holy Communion not as a duty, but as a preparation for Heaven. His direction can help you, too, to draw on the spiritual resources God gives you in every Communion.
You'll find valuable directions about what to do when you feel unworthy to receive Communion, as well as useful - and unexpected - advice about how to make your post-Communion thanksgivings more fruitful.
Through Scripture and holy logic, St. Peter Julian Eymard will impress upon you exactly how important Holy Communion is for growth in the spiritual life. Now is the time for you to take up this brief book and let this holy man show you how to transform your Communions into the bountiful sources of grace God wants them to be.
You'll learn:
- Why Holy Communion must be central to your prayer and work - and how it can be
- How Holy Communion actually helps you grow in virtue and holiness
- How Communion helps you bring order and harmony to your human relationships
- Eternal life: how Holy Communion plants its seed in your soul today
- Your spiritual life: why it quickly languishes without regular Communion
- How to avoid the common mistake people make that renders their Communions ineffective
- Not experiencing any spiritual joy in Communion? What you must do
- And much more that will transform your Communions from routine observances to dynamic encounters with the living God!