By Brandon Harvey

The Holy and Divine Encounter is not your typical book on the Catholic Mass. It is a book aimed at helping the people of God participate more authentically at Mass by allowing the prayers and symbols of the liturgy to form their internal prayers. In this work you will find a breakdown of the major prayers and actions of the Mass so that the lay person may better understand and participate in what is going on in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The book relies primarily on Sacred Scripture to comment on the Roman Missal. It also utilizes the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Church Councils, Liturgical Documents, Thomas Aquinas and Benedict XVI. The book is written in the spirit of the liturgical thought of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI). While this book is not a critique of the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) Mass it does take up various issues such as gestures during the Our Father, the busyness during the Sign of Peace and the direction the priest faces when praying to God. Saint Pius X’s Tra le Sollecitudini (on Sacred Music) is provided in full in the appendix.

• Binding: Paperback
  Pages: 106

Brandon Harvey is a young theologian whose love for the Church and passion for the liturgy is positively infectious. Harvey has been highly influenced by years of participating in the Divine Liturgy of Byzantine Christians, the liturgical theology of Joseph Ratzinger and the community of the Liturgical Institute in Mundelein. He received his theological training from Briar Cliff University and Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Constantly seeking to aid the faith of his fellow members of the Body of Christ, Harvey has spent the past 10 years serving the People of God in various ways such as youth ministry, catechesis, the ministry of instituted Acolyte, adjunct professor and diaconate formation instructor. Harvey primarily serves through his vocation as husband and father.

Harvey's insightful work has been featured in publications such as “The Homiletic and Pastoral Review” and “Catholic Digest.” His speaking engagements include retreats, conferences, parishes and Catholic schools where he never fails to captivate audiences on various liturgical subjects. An avid "Trekkie," Harvey aims to inform and deepen the faith and liturgical participation of the faithful so that all might "live long and prosper" (i.e. go to heaven).