"No better compendium of all that a Cathtolic should know about his holy religion has as yet appeared in our language than Rev. Dr. Brennan's translation of Father Gisler's Catholic worship. Every Catholic family will find it a household treasure."--Right Rev. John J. Kain. D.D., Bishop of Wheeling W. Va., Dec. 20 1888.


Your little book Catholic Worship is just what we need for our children when they have made their first holy communion. Their religious instruction must by all means be continued and rendered more interesting and attractive. Instead of a repetition of the Catechism we give into their hands this little book which brings up all religious truths in new forms and combinations, and introduces the youth to the life of the Church, which is to become their own life, growing in knowledge and practice." --Right Rev. M. Marty. O.S.B., Vicar Apostolic of Dakota, Dec. 23, 1888.


"The book entitled Catholic Worship, contains in very small space much useful information, which otherwise could be obtained by many persons only after extensive research, or through special instruction."--Right Rev. T. Mullen, D.D., Bishop of Erie, Dec. 24, 1888.

1. What do you mean by Catholic worship?

By Catholic worship we mean those acts of devotion by which the Church manifests the reverence due to God, and through which He is pleased in return to bestow His blessings on mankind. The Latin word "cultus" has this same meaning.


2. Who ordained this worship?

Catholic worship is God's own work; and Jesus Christ Himself gave it permanent existence, and commissioned the Church to develop and administer it.


3. In what does Catholic worship consist?

It consists:

1. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as the unbloody
    renewal of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
2. In the promulgation of the Word of God.
3. In the administration of the sacraments.
4. In the prayers and blessings of the Church.


4. What means does the Church use for the celebration of her worship?

She makes use: 1. Of speech. 2. Of visible acts. 3. Of numerous symbols. The visible acts and symbols which the Church has ordained for the celebration of her worship are also called ceremonies.


5. Why has the Church ordained these ceremonies?

She has ordained them in order that we may more easily lift up our hearts to God and the contemplation of heavenly things.


6. How do the ceremonies help us to raise our minds to God and heavenly things?

They help us: 1. By making the worship of the Church impressive and solemn, thereby fixing our attention. and directing it from things of this earth to God. 2. By placing before us visible symbols of invisible mysteries, thus enabling us more easily to reflect and meditate upon them.


7. Are not these ceremonies idle observances?

By no means, since: 1. God Himself in the Old Law prescribed for the Jews many ceremonies, with heavy penalties for their non-observance. 2. Christ Our Lord made use of various ceremonies. 3. Ceremonies were instituted by Christ Himself.


8. But should we not worship God in truth and spirit?

By all means; and for that end the Church wishes us not only to be present at her ceremonies, but also to fully understand their sense and meaning, and accompany them with prayers and pious thoughts.


9. Have all the ceremonies of the Church a peculiar sense and meaning?

Certainly. Every ceremony which the Church, inspired by the Holy Ghost, uses in the celebration of her worship has a mysterious significance, and should awaken holy thoughts within us.


10. Are these ceremonies the same everywhere?

Substantially they are. In some Eastern countries, however, the Church allows a ceremonial for the Mass and other services different from that practised in the West, permitting them to continue the customs introduced in the earliest ages of Christianity either by the holy Fathers or the apostles themselves. In all essential points, however, these Eastern forms are in harmony and consonance with the liturgy of the Western Church.

These various forms are called rites. In the East there are several. In the West the Church of Milan is the only one with a particular rite, which it received from St. Ambrose, one of the Fathers of the Church. Unimportant differences in the manner of worship will naturally be found between people of different race and country.


11. What language does the Church use in her worship?

She uses the Latin language.


12. Why does the Church use a strange language and not the language of the people?

1. Because the Latin comes from Rome, whence we also derive our faith. 2. Because, being a dead language, it will not change as modern languages do. 3. Because by this means, even in her worship, the unity and uniformity of the Church is manifested and advanced throughout the world.


13. Is the language of the people no where used in formal Catholic worship?

No. Although the liturgy of the Eastern Church is not in Latin, neither is it in the language spoken by the people of today, but in the old tongue which was in use at the introduction of Christianity.


Instruction in Catholic worship may be divided into two parts: I. Religious acts and practices.
II. The different periods of the ecclesiastical year.