Fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Roman Catholic Mass.
"The future of Catholic book publishing has arrived."
-Lino Rulli
3-time Emmy award winner; Host of Catholic Guy on SiriusXM Satellite Radio
"Solid liturgical scholarship and cutting-edge technology."
-Patrick Madrid
Host of the EWTN "Right Here, Right Now" radio show
"This will forever change the way you learn about the Faith."
-Greg Willits
Author, radio host and founder of New Evangelizers and Rosary Army
"Vivid and fresh. A must-have app for the New Evangelization."
-Brandon Vogt
Blogger and author of "The Church and New Media"
"An extraordinary work using the latest technology
-The Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski
to advance the proclamation of the Gospel."
Archbishop of Miami
"Holy Cow! Absolutely fantastic—full and rich.
-Gus Lloyd
I am so impressed. A really, really cool app!"
Author and radio host of "Seize the Day"
"The app is really astonishing
-Amy Welborn
and beyond anything that is currently available."
Blogger and author of over 25 books"
"A premier example of how digital media
-Fr. Steve Grunow
can enhance and serve the New Evangelization."
CEO, Word On Fire Catholic Ministries"
The Catholic Mass is the source and summit of our Faith, but few are aware of what it all means. While cradle Catholics may know the prayers and responses said in the liturgy, many do not know their significance or historical development.
As the title suggests, the Mass Explained app is a multimedia learning experience focusing on the Catholic Mass—more specifically, the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the Mass with which most Catholics are familiar. It explores the roots of each section of the liturgy with its unique prayers and gestures. Packed with scriptural references, quotes from the Church Fathers, the Catechism and excerpts from councils and encyclicals, the publication is scholarly yet totally approachable and thoroughly entertaining.
In addition to the hundreds of photographs, drawings, charts and graphs that make for a visually stunning user experience, The Mass Explained iPad, Android and online app contains several interactive elements including:
The works of the great masters as well as those of lesser known artists help illustrate the evolution of the Roman Catholic Mass.
Feel like you are there. 360° images of towering cathedrals, inspiring pilgrimage sites and ancient excavations abound.
Explore possible Emmaus sites, follow Paul's missionary journeys, discover where saintly remains are venerated today.
Take a 6th century Byzantine cross for a spin. Both sides of the coin reveal the Mercury Dime's association with the Mass.
Prayers in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and English as well as chants and other liturgical music take center stage in the Mass Explained app.
Often incorporating 3D animations, the videos in the Mass Explained app shed light on various aspects of the Eucharist.
Pilot the app through gestures, buttons or drop-down menus. Which you decide to use is your personal choice.
"God is in the detail." Explore the intricacies of medieval illuminations and marvel at the brushwork of the great masters.
Reviewed by priests and scholars, the app received a Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. It is faithful to the Magisterium.
As the title suggests, it is a look at the Catholic Mass. More specifically, the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. While the app frequently references the Extraordinary Form (the Latin Mass) as well as the Orthodox liturgy and other rites, its focus is on the Mass with which most Catholics are familiar.
Yes, the MassExplained app is ideal for class instruction and group study. The app is available through Apple's Volume Purchase Program (VPP) allowing your school, class, institution, parish or group to receive a 50% discount when purchasing the app in quantities of 20 or more. This makes the MassExplained app ideal for study in:
| • High Schools • Homeschools • Seminaries • RCIA • Bible Studies |
• Prayer Groups • Young Adult Ministry • Emmaus & KOC Meetings • Adult Catechesis • Private Study Groups |
When purchased through Apple's VPP, Mass Explained can be distributed to your students or group members through redeemable codes or installed over the air automatically without user interaction. VPP purchases may be made using purchase orders, credit cards or PayPal. For more information on Apple's VPP, visit www.apple.com/education/it/vpp/
Yes, the Mass Explained app is faithful to the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church. The app has received two declarations from the Church assuring that it is free of doctrinal or moral error. The Nihil Obstat was granted by Monsignor Terence E. Hogan, SLD, Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry at St. Thomas University. The Imprimatur was granted by The Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, FL on October 14, 2013. The app was also reviewed by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Approval from the USCCB was granted on December 20, 2013 by Monsignor Rick Hilgartner, Executive Director, Secretariat of Divine Worship. Several scholars, catechists, liturgical musicians, priests, nuns and lay ministers have provided their expertise and input throughout the project.
The Catholic Church has been blessed with a vast inheritance of paintings, sculptures, vessels, vestments, churches, cathedrals and sacred sites—not to mention its treasury of prayers and liturgical chants. While nothing can compare to actually witnessing the art and architecture or hearing the music first-hand, modern technology allows for a more complete user experience than would a static photo or lengthy description.
The Roman Catholic Mass can be divided into four parts: the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites. This first volume of the Mass Explained app explores the first two parts of the Mass. A second volume will follow that will address the last two sections of the Mass.
The Mass Explained app is only available in English.
iPad: Apple iPad 2 or newer running iOS v9 or greater. Will not work on first-generation iPads.
Android Tablet: Tablet must run Android 4.1 or newer. A 7" or larger screen suggested.
Web Reader: Experience the Mass Explained app online in your browser without an iPad or Android tablet. Requires internet connection.
The Mass Explained tablet app requires 325 MB of free space and is designed to work in portrait (vertical) orientation only.
“Behold: The greatest Catholic app invented by man (we are serious). No hyperbole…This glorious educational app is in a class by itself. This app does what all apps should do with the lofty subject of our Catholic faith–push the extreme limits of digital craftsmanship that the reader deserves. THIS is digital evangelization at its very best.”—Jennifer Kane, CatholicApptitude.org. Read full review
“The Mass Explained app completely knocked me off my feet… There is so much to look at and so much to take in, you’ll want to go back to it over and over… I can see this being used in a classroom situation for middle school Theology classes all the way to RCIA classes.”—Katie O'Keefe, CatholicMom.com. Read full review
“The book is undeniably impressive in both content and execution. It’s a catechist’s dream…The author, Dan Gonzalez, merges solid research with a strong catechetical style and a superb sense of design to create something new in Catholic circles: a high-end multimedia learning experience that fulfills the promise of new media in the new evangelization.”—Thomas McDonald, Patheos: God and the Machine. Read full review
“I was really stunned by how good the layout is along with all the graphic media found on every page. This is a very beautiful app…I am extremely impressed.”—Jeff Miller, The Curt Jester. Read full review
“…like the Catholicism series, [MassExplained] should be a model for anyone seeking to produce engaging and substantive catechetical and evangelical materials. Yes, I’d put it at that level.”—Amy Welborn, Charlotte was Both. Read full review
“The Mass Explained is without question the most elegant, content-rich, beautiful app for the iPad that I have come across. While this app is an investment, it’s a worthy one if you want to dive deeply into the riches of the Mass.”—Clayton Emmer, The Weight of Glory. Read full review
“The Mass Explained is so brilliant and so useful, it’s not only worth the $25, it’s worth buying an iPad just to have it...every Catholic parent and educator needs to see this..My friends, this is what iPads are for. I haven’t seen a better interactive tool for teaching and explaining the faith.”—Dr. James Stone, Biltrix.com. Read full review
“Mass Explained for iPad hits a home run...This is a great application for people looking to go beyond a basic understanding of the Mass. I could easily see RCIA catechists using Mass Explained to introduce the Mass to prospective Catholics.”—Christopher Smith, OP, Christopher's Apologies. Read full review
“...the Mass Explained app...takes advantage of visual and aural technology...The pages are filled with pop-up definitions and explanations, podcasts, 3-D tours, slide-shows, maps and more.”—Joyce Donahue, The Liturgical Catechist. Read full review
“…it is the Mass in slow motion, explaining anthropological, biblical, historical, and symbolic background to each part…you will be delighted with this app.”—Rev. Bosco Peters, Liturgy—Worship That Works. Read full review
“This new app on the liturgy will be very helpful to both those not only in high school but also those involved in adult religious formation…”—Ana Rodriguez-Soto, The Florida Catholic. Read full review
“…these pages come alive; from tabbed windows and sliders, to chronological samplers of different liturgical music, to Renaissance paintings and high-quality panoramas that allow the user to scroll and zoom for a greater appreciation of the real-world art they represent, to 3-dimensional objects you can turn with the flick of a finger or get audio descriptions of with a simple tap, to embedded videos explaining ancient customs that find their fulfillment in the Mass, this app surpasses its aim to stimulate minds young and old with holy learning.”—Micah Murphy, Truth and Charity. Read full review
“...a beautifully designed, richly informative, and fully interactive experience...this is the most effective medium to display this kind of information. The Mass is an extremely visual, interactive, and sensory experience, so why shouldn’t an in-depth guide to the Mass be the same?”—Joe Houde, John Paul the Great Catholic University. Read full review
“Dan González...spared no artistic expense in making his work a thing of beauty. The app is visually stunning, from its opening swinging thurible through its 23 well-laid-out chapters.”—Joanne Mercier, Ministry and Liturgy Magazine. Read full review
“This app Mass Explained is not only informative, but it presents the beauty, mystery and sacredness of the Ordinary Form of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in a format that is magnificent. Worth every penny!”—Cielodome, AppStore Review
“The future of catechetical resources has arrived to support the New Evangelization. I'd go so far as to say that this app could be a good enough reason to justify the purchase of an iPad, looking like a must-have resource for catechesis on the Mass.”—ScottMaentz, AppStore Review
“My bookshelf is lined with books about the Mass, but this app is unlike anything else I have seen…..The Mass is heaven breaking open here on earth, and this app will be a powerful aid in helping you break open the Mass.”—DekeSean, AppStore Review
“A great app for those who want to find out more about the Catholic Mass! The app is in a book format and it's loaded with video, audio and interactive content! A wonderful app!”—Clover Soldier, AppStore Review
“A perfect companion to any religion classroom or as a standalone “e-text”. Great for any individual or for school use at any age, you won’t be disappointed.”—EDjuvinator, AppStore Review
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Dan Gonzalez—the author of Mass Explained—was interviewed by Gus Lloyd, host of the morning show Seize the Day which airs on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Full interview (16 minutes) |
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Morning Air is a daily national radio show that airs on Relevant Radio. Hear host Glen Lewerenz interview Dan Gonzalez on the creation of the MassExplained iPad app. Full interview (15 minutes) |
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Father Dave Dwyer and the Busted Halo team discuss the MassExplained App. The Busted Halo Show airs on The Catholic Channel, Sirius XM, Monday - Friday 7 - 10 PM. Full interview (22 minutes) |
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Judy Zarick is host of the show Called to Witness on American Catholic Radio. Dan González tells her of his reversion which culminated in the MassExplained App. Full interview (6 minutes) |
Download the Mass Explained Press Kit with high resolution screenshots, logo and other print and online assets.
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