My Mass Book

A Young Catholic Missal

By Rev. Demetrius Manousos

Ill. by Catherine Barnes

Copyright 1954

While the Mass of my childhood is slightly different than the 1954 Mass depicted in this children’s book, looking through the pages does bring back some very early memories.

My first memories of going to church are from quiet early morning Masses I attended with my mother.  I was always an early riser and sometimes when I got up very, very early, I could catch my mother before she headed out the door to church.  I knew she was going to church because she was wearing a little hat with a veil.  I think I remember her wearing skirts and nylons too, and that was definitely not a common occurrence!  She was most likely hoping to get some quiet time without children before the start of a busy day, but I wouldn’t hesitate to ruin her plans by asking if I could go with.  And I remember that sometimes she would sigh deeply, but then agree to take me along.  I didn’t know why we went to Mass, it was just something we did.

This little book uses simple language to attempt to explain something very mysterious.  I say attempt, because how can you really explain the unexplainable in words?  

I’ll be taking a little walk down my block today to go to church for Easter Mass – the same church I went to so many years ago as a very young child.  While I have a greater understanding than I did back then, no book can really explain to me what is happening at the Mass.  After all, faith is so much more than words.