The Priest at the Altar

<p><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>In a word the service of God is meant to be beautiful because a true instinct of man makes him realize even when he is in a state of retrogression and barbarism that all that is best and noblest must be made subservient to the worship of the Lord and Creator of all.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Dom Ernest Graf begins his work </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>The Priest at the Altar</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> with this declaration that beauty is the fundamental form of the Liturgy. The ensuing chapters vividly unfold how the Extraordinary Form Latin Mass displays the hermeneutic of beauty directed to worship of the Lord. Beginning with a brief overview on the nature of liturgy in general Graf then presents a discourse on each individual element of the Mass -- from the </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Introibo</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> to the Thanksgiving Prayers after Mass. His treatment includes not only the historical foundation of the liturgical practices but also the spiritual significance of the Priest's actions. Though concise Graf's writing elucidates both the logic of the Church's tradition and the rich signification of the Mass as sacrifice and sacrament. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>While each priest deacon or altar server is sure to be enriched by Graf's reflections </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>The Priest at the Altar</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>'s layman reader will inevitably be led to a deeper appreciation of the Liturgy as well. His humility will be awakened by new reflections on the </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Confiteor</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>; his joy at the </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Gloria</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> will be stirred; and a new and profound devotion for the Eucharist will surely flood his heart when he recalls Graf's words on the </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Domine Non Sum Dignus. </em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Newly typeset this edition of </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>The Priest at the Altar</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> displays the profound beauty and intelligibility contained in the Latin Mass carrying the wisdom of the ages into today's liturgies.</span></p>