Meditations Before Mass

In these pages written for the average Catholic in the pew by an internationally-acclaimed master of the spiritual life you'll learn how to pay closer attention during Mass and to pray better despite distractions or other obstacles to prayer. And you'll discover: * The three principal hindrances to full participation in the Mass to which all of us are prone * The real meaning of "keeping holy" the Sabbath. Its special importance for the family * One tendency we must overcome when listening to Scripture readings * How to gain control over your wandering attention * The one indispensable element of a deep liturgical life * What to do when the Mass becomes boring and "routine" * How to achieve a genuine not superficial stillness * The importance of listening. Inner barriers that prevent it * Why it's good to arrive early at Mass whenever possible * The true significance of kneeling and standing in church * When to start preparing for Mass, and how * The source of the sense of monotony. Ho