{"product_id":"heaven-on-earth-ralph-barnett-9798315297437","title":"Heaven on Earth: The Order and Meaning of Mass, Second Edition: Author's Personal Shelf","description":"\"We're living through the greatest loss of faith in the history of the Catholic Church,\" a refrain reverberating thru Catholic America. Likely, you are familiar with the statistics: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e25% percent decline in Mass attendance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e15% of churches closed and\/or consolidated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e65% of Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCatholicism, the largest Christian creed followed closely by fallen away Catholics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmerica's religious decline is not new. Experts claim, \"Christianity has been on decline since the removal of prayer from public schools in 1962.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCatholic school enrollment declined concurrently. Yet prayer was not removed from Catholic schools. Predictably, Mass attendance followed. What changed? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCatholic authorities proffered explanations and recommendations; none of which stemmed the tide . . . a sure sign the root cause was not rightly identified. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs a cradle-Catholic father, grandfather, and amateur student of Mass, I offer an assertion supported by my love of Catholicism, logic . . . and a book! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"What changed\" was the equivalent of removing the pillar of prayer from public schools . . . Mass was removed from Catholic catechesis - school, CCD, RCIA, adult formation, ambo, and domestic church. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA cursory look at a Baltimore Catechism, the 1950-60s field manual for Catholics, reveals a 30-page segment, \"Catechism of the Mass,\" immersing students in liturgical details. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA cursory look at current Catholic curricula reveals a paucity of information on Mass ranging from a few paragraphs in school texts to \"take home\" trifolds for CCD, RCIA, etc. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIs Mass that important? Did you know Mass . . .\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the most perfect way for man to praise and give thanks to God?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the only sacrifice perfect, pleasing, and acceptable to God?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the most sacred function of the Church, surpassing all others in efficacy?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the Church's greatest prayer?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs an offering for the whole Mystical Body of Christ?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the highest form of prayer for the faithful?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the Church's #1 effort to save souls?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the same sacrifice Christ made on the Cross?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the perfect answer to prayer as it brings mercy and salvation Christ won for us?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs required attendance every Sunday and six Holy Days a year but Communion only once?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs the Source and Summit of our Faith?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSeemingly, Mass is the answer to everything integral to Catholicism. Why is it not taught in Catholic education settings? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHow do we reverse the tide? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePope John Paul II: \"\u003cb\u003eMass i\u003c\/b\u003es Heaven on Earth. What we celebrate on Earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly liturgy.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIf Catholics realized Mass is tantamount to Heaven on Earth, would we be witnessing \"the greatest loss of faith in the history of the Catholic Church?\" Emphatically, \"No.\" As one Priest opined, \"We'd have to double Masses and they'd be SRO.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWe would witness the greatest flood of student enrollment and Mass attendance since the inception of Catholicism in America. We would have to double Catholic school classes and reopen shuttered schools and churches. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCatholics must re-assess school, CCD, RCIA, adult formation and domestic church catechesis to make space for a deep dive into Mass. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTo fulfill the need, I submit a book series, \"Heaven on Earth: The Order and Meaning of Mass: \"\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\"Heaven on Earth\" second edition text for adults.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\"Curriculum\" for students and educators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\"Workbook\" of lesson reviews for students.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Heaven on Earth\" is not a theological or academic treatise but a user-friendly, step-by-step guide to Mass for the faithful unlike anything available elsewhere. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAuthor's Promise: \"You will never ever go to church, attend Mass, or receive Communion the same way again.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ralph Barnett\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798315297437\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/23\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 134\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.72lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.29d","brand":"Ralph Barnett","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49083841249535,"sku":"9798315297437","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/heaven-on-earth-ralph-barnett-9798315297437","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}