The Hidden Treasure: The Immense Excellence of the Holy Mass
By St. Leonard of Port Maurice · Published by TAN Books
Overview
How many times have we sat in a church pew, letting our minds drift to secular anxieties, completely unaware of the cosmic miracle occurring just feet away? It is a tragic reality of our time that the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar has become routine to many, treated as a mere social gathering or a symbolic commemorative meal. If the veil separating earth from heaven were pulled back for just a single second, we would fall to our knees in trembling awe at the boundless flood of grace bursting forth from the hands of the priest.
In The Hidden Treasure: The Immense Excellence of the Holy Mass, the great Franciscan missionary St. Leonard of Port Maurice unveils the staggering, hidden reality of the Eucharistic liturgy. Writing with an incandescent, apostolic zeal that converted thousands during his lifetime, St. Leonard explains why the Holy Mass is the absolute pinnacle of human existence and the greatest gift God has bestowed upon mankind. This timeless masterwork breaks down the infinite propitiatory and impetratory value of the Mass, demonstrating how a single celebration brings more glory to the Blessed Trinity than all the prayers, penances, and martyrdoms of the saints combined. More than just a theological explanation, this book provides a beautiful, practical method for actively assisting at Mass, changing it from a weekly obligation into a deeply personal, life-giving encounter with Christ.
- Infinite Merit Exposed: Discover the theological reality of how Christ continually offers Himself on the altar as an infinite satisfaction for our daily sins and failures.
- The Key to Answered Prayer: Learn why petitions offered *during* the Holy Sacrifice carry an unmatched, supernatural power to pierce the heavens and win God's favor.
- A Shield Against Calamity: Read St. Leonard’s profound insights into how devout attendance at Mass attracts temporal protection, wards off spiritual dangers, and secures a holy death.
- Relief for the Poor Souls: Understand the explicit, absolute efficacy of the Mass in bringing immediate cooling relief and rapid liberation to our loved ones suffering in Purgatory.
- The Four-Step Devotional Method: Master St. Leonard's famous, practical framework for dividing the Mass into four distinct mental offerings: Adoration, Thanksgiving, Reparation, and Petition.
The Treasury Within This Classic Text:
- Fiery Apostolic Preaching: Written by a renowned Doctor of the Spiritual Life whose words are designed to actively melt lukewarmness and ignite a burning love for the Eucharist.
- Anecdotes of the Saints: Filled with inspiring historical examples and mystical insights illustrating how the great saints utilized the Mass as their primary weapon for holiness.
- A Dynamic Companion: Small and focused enough to be brought directly to church for meditation before the opening procession or during silent moments.
Intended Audience
This classic volume is essential reading for any Catholic who struggles with distraction, dry devotion, or routine tepidity during Sunday Mass. It serves as an extraordinary text for those preparing to enter the Church via RCIA/OCIA, parents looking to instill a holy fear of God in their children, and any believer seeking to unlock the infinite spiritual currency available to them at every single liturgy.
FAQs
Who was St. Leonard of Port Maurice?
St. Leonard (1676–1751) was a holy Franciscan friar, an extraordinary missionary preacher, and a counselor to popes. He is famously responsible for popularizing the devotion of the Stations of the Cross throughout Europe and was declared by Pope Pius XII to be the patron saint of all parish missions.
Does this book provide a method for following along if I don't use a missal?
Yes, perfectly. St. Leonard provides an incredible, easy-to-remember method for dividing your interior attention into four quarters during the Mass, allowing you to pray along with the actions of the priest even without reading along word-for-word in a missal.
Is this book a dense scholastic work?
Not at all. It is highly pastoral, deeply poetic, and incredibly accessible. St. Leonard writes from the heart of a missionary priest directly to the soul of the ordinary layman, making his profound theological points through vivid analogies and moving expressions of faith.
Key Themes
- The Eternal Calvary: Recognizing that every Mass is a literal, unbloody re-presentation of the single sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.
- Supernatural Currency: Capitalizing on the infinite, boundless storehouse of merits made available to those who assist at the altar with devotion.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Cultivating an authentic interior posture of deep humility, absolute thanksgiving, and bold intercession.
- SKU:
- 111
- Imprint:
- TAN Books
- Pages:
- 140
- Publication Date:
- 1/1/1952
- Product Format:
- Paperbound
- Pdf:
- https://tanbooks.com/content/0111_Preview.pdf
- Height:
- 8.50
- Width:
- 5.50
8 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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The Hidden Treasure
Excellent in all aspects
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The Hidden Treasures Holy Mass
An Incredible book for every Catholic!! You must read it !! It will change your life and the way you participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!! Beautiful! Wonderful, Amazing!!
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THE HIDDEN TREASURE HOLY MASS
INCREDIBLE, AMAZING !!! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! EVERY CATHOLIC NEED TO READ IT
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The Hidden Treasure: Holy Mass
i attend daily Mass but a now firmly committed to it thanks to St. Leonard. Assisting devoutly at Mass as often as possible is the surest way to heaven. I feel like I discovered the Pearl of Great Price.
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The Hidden Treasure: Holy Mass
Review of The Hidden Treasure: Holy Mass As noted by the eminent Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani (in his magistral brief to Pope Paul VI A Brief Critical Study of the Novus Ordo Missae by a group of Roman Theologiansù) the dogmas relating to the Holy Sacrifice of Mass as taught by the Council of Trent, are of such a nature that to these dogmas the Catholic conscience is bound forever.ù What are these dogmas that the Catholic conscience is forever bound? 1. The Holy Mass is a true and proper Sacrifice. 2. In the Sacrifice of the Mass, Christs Sacrifice on the Cross is made present, its memory is celebrated, and its saving power is applied. 3. In the Sacrifice of the Mass and in the Sacrifice of the Cross the Sacrificial Gift and the Primary Sacrificing Priest are identical; only the nature and mode of the offering are different. 4. The Sacrifice of the Mass is not merely a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, but also a sacrifice of expiation and impetration. These beautiful Catholic dogmatic statements are clearly and forcefully brought to life for the modern-day Catholic by this wonderful book by St Leonard of Port Maurice. St Leonard is considered the greatest missionary priest of the 18th century and when you read this book you will understand why. This book provides a forceful presentation of the profound nature of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and will be of benefit to all who read it. It is well written and translated and was originally written for the common Catholic reader with no formal theological training. I have read and reread this book many times. This marvelous book has enlarged my understanding of and deepened my interior participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I wish I could buy a copy of this book and give one to every Catholic in the world. May the good God bless all who read this review.
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A Treasure Indeed
This is one of the most important books in my collection. Every Catholic will benefit from it and should read it as well as St Leonard of Port Maurices sermon on the Few that are Savedù. I attend the Latin Mass and this book allows one to assist at Mass with profit. A must have.
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Beautiful
I will never attend mass in the same way again!! Thank you!! :pray:
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Our rich inheritance
After reading this you will never attend Mass the same way.
