The
author, Scott Hahn ,
"The Book of Revelation for the Masses"
I want to show ordinary Catholics (and all Christians)
how the mystery of the Mass is our actual participation in
the heavenly liturgy, just as St John first discovered and
then described it in the visions of the Book of Revelation.
If this sounds pretty deep, believe me, it is, even for the
experts and scholars! But since it's also true and real and
very important, I figured it was worth trying hard to make it
accessible--by keeping it light enough for the average
lay-reader to understand and enjoy it. (Okay, so I DO resort
to wordplays in the sub-headings; still, that does not mean
that critics have to pun-ish the author in their reviews...
Mea culpa!) In Part One ("The Mass Revealed"), I
touch upon the scriptural basis for the main parts of the
Mass (from the OT and NT). In Part Two ("The Revelation
of Heaven"), I look at the controversial Book of
Revelation, in order to show how the heavenly liturgy is the
golden thread that runs throughout the book-- tying together
the various elements of John's visions--just as it reflects
the early Church's eucharistic worship. I also show how this
"apocalyptic" view of the Eucharist was a
commonplace in the early Church Fathers (Greek, Latin and
especially Syriac). In Part Three ("Revelation for the
Masses"), I explore how this biblical vision of the Mass
can transform our everyday lives (i.e., on earth, at home, on
the job): when we unite our daily struggles with the
redemptive sacrifice of Christ, we come to a greater share in
His royal priestly victory over the world, the flesh, and the
devil. BTW, I realize this book is far from perfect; but I'd
fall back on G.K. Chesterton's line: "If something is
REALLY worth doing, it's worth doing badly." Indeed, if
this book helps anyone in any way to get closer to our
Lord--in the Mass and in Scripture--then give thanks to God,
not to this sinner (orare pro me ad Dominum, Deum nostrum).
