From playing video games to sleeping in, teens can think of countless things they would rather do than go to Mass on Sunday morning. That is, unless they knew what they were missing. Do I Have to Go? explains the meaning and the mystery of Mass in such a way that teens will be asking, Why wouldn t I go?
With wit, clarity, and common sense, Matthew Pinto and Chris Stefanick answer the tough questions teens have about the Mass, from the rituals contained in the Liturgy, to the doctrines of the Eucharist and the priesthood. When teens understand that the Mass is literally the meeting place between heaven and earth, they will have a newfound sense of awe and a deeper understanding of their role as a Catholic in a post-modern world.
In Do I Have to Go? teens will learn:
- Why the Mass is an essential part of the Christian life.
- The mystery of the Eucharist as the Real Presence of Jesus s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
- How the redemptive work of Jesus Christ is communicated to and through the Church and the sacraments.
- The meaning of all the gestures and symbols of the Mass.
- How the Mass has developed from its roots in the Old Testament, through its institution by Christ.
- The importance of the liturgical seasons for the spiritual life.
Since he began full-time ministry twenty-five years ago, Matthew Pinto has been at the forefront of multiple Catholic initiatives, including the Theology of the Body Institute, Envoy Magazine, and CatholicExchange.com. Matt is the founder and president of Ascension Press, a leading Catholic publisher.
Matt has authored or co-authored more than a dozen Catholic educational resources, including Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons? and the Amazing Grace series. He also conceived and co-wrote A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About the Passion of the Christ, which went on to become one of the highest-ranking Catholic books ever to hit the New York Times religious best-seller list.
Matt regularly travels to different dioceses and Catholic conferences to share ideas for building faith formation programs that reach adults and teens with the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith. His most recent project is blogging weekly about Catholic and secular trends at MatthewPinto.com. A resident of suburban Philadelphia, Matt and his wife, Maryanne, are the parents of six children.
Chris Stefanick is a co-author and presenter for Chosen. He speaks to more than 50,000 teens, young adults, and parents every year. He is the founder and president of Real Life Catholic. Chris is a syndicated columnist, has authored or co-authored several books, and is a regular on Catholic TV and radio. Chris and his wife, Natalie, live with their children in Denver, Colorado.
