Review of “Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed” (Ascension Press)

I love speaking to youth. Their seemingly boundless energy and sincere interest in truth is inspiring! Yet, when I talk with them about the Mass, I hear things like, “Mass is boring” or “I don’t see what Mass has to do with my life every day.”  These painfully honest responses begs the question: How do we respond? What determines whether teens will–or even want to–continue attending Mass as adults?

Many youth view the Mass as merely an “obligation”, something they “have to do” but don’t understand why they have to be there. They come to Mass because mommy and daddy make them go, or they can’t get Confirmed unless they show-up every Sunday. The truth is that our youth are looking for more: they want to know and experience Jesus Christ personally but don’t see the Mass as a life-giving encounter with God.

How do we change this? How can we satisfy our youth’s desire for truth by explaining the Mass in such a way that they experience the love of Christ without watering down, compromising, or secularizing the beauty and  meaning of God’s great gift to the Church? How do we connect what happens at Mass to the minds and hearts of our teens?

Ascension Press, the creators of the popular Confirmation and Faith Formation DVD series Chosen, have created Altaration, a program that makes the connection for teens between what happens at Mass and their every day lived experience! Altaration addresses the “Why?” of the Mass in a powerful, beautiful, and meaningful way. The Mass is a love affair with Jesus, and through their experience of Altaration, teens will come to know and love Jesus more deeply and intimately. This is the program every parent has been praying for!

You can find out more about Altaration and purchase a copy for your parish youth program at the Ascension Press website.