The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith

Rating:
Summary: Thank you
Review: Thank you very much for the kind words! I'm the illustrator of this book, and I was very happy and touched when I observed the exhaustive reviews above. I absolutely agree with them, the story is really wonderful. I especially admire its polished style, it is really carefully-chosen. I remember when I red it the first time, it was a special experience for me to read the story. It is so touching, beautiful and amazing. I warmly recommend this book for everybody, who loves the classical values.

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite, beautiful, luminous story and illustrations!
Review: The Weight Of A Mass: A Tale Of Faith by Josephine Nobisso is an enhanting children's fairy tale picturebook based on a true event, about a widow who brings about change in the formerly cold hearts of a kingdom when she begs for stale bread in exchange for participating in the royal wedding Mass. Gentle color illustrations by Katalin Szegedi enrich this heartwarming and enthusiastically recommended tale of human spirit and faith in God.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story!
Review: This is a really special book, one that helps teach children the value of attending mass. How often have you found yourself trying to convince your children how important it is to go to mass? Well, this beautiful book will help you share your faith and love of the mass. The story has a lovely fairy tale quality to it. The illustrations alone are just beautiful. Together the story and pictures are perfect. It is deep and ernest and loving. It is appropriate for any age. There is never a moment of heavy handedness. It is like reading any other fairytale, but there is so much more depth to it.

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite, beautiful, luminous story and illustrations!
Review: Want to give your children or other children whom you love a precious gift? Give them this book! It's one they'll read as children and they'll read 40 years from now to their own children. It's not only a beautiful story, but one that will strengthen their faith.

Wonderfully written by Josephine Nobisso and luminously illustrated by Katalin Szegedi, The Weight of a Mass, is an original cultural folk tale based upon a true story. The story reads and looks like a fairy tale.

A ragged, destitute widow arrives at the kingdom's prosperous bakery and begs only a crust of bread in exchange for offering a royal wedding Mass for the baker.

The baker scoffs and tears off a tiny piece of tissue paper on which he writes the words: One Mass, intending to place them it on the scale to find out the value of a Mass.

Much to his surprise, when he drops a piece of old bread on the other side of the scale, it does not tip. So, he enlists his son to stack more and more baked goods on top of the scale. Out come cherry topped cupcakes, marzipan apple, filled chocolates, poppy seed cakes, rolls, donuts, fruitcakes, cream cakes, berry tarts, poached pears, plum pudding, candied fruits, almond confetti, crsuhed walnuts, and eventually the royal wedding cake.

The father, his son, the old woman, and others in the kingdom come to learn the weight of a Mass.

The story includes an author's postscript recounting the original story as told by Father Stanislaus from Luxembourg who tells of a conversation between a butcher and a Captain of the Forest Guards that was interrupted by an old woman begging a morsel of meat in exchange for a Holy Mass intention. As a result of the miracle, the Captian began attending Mass daily and one of his sons later received a calling to the priesthood.

I cannot say praise this book enough. It's a genre that is sorely needed in children's literature. Not only is it a beautiful book, but it teaches about the richness of the Mass and the priceless presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

The paintings are wonderful, particularly those of an arched interior of the Cathedral and the bishop holding up the Eucharist at the wedding Mass.

Do yourself a favor. Purchase this book for your children, your grandchildren, and any other children whom you love.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book!
Review: What a wonderful way to explain the importance and power of a single Mass! And the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL! We read this book today and are definitely going to be adding it to our library.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book!
Review: What a wonderful way to explain the importance and power of a single Mass! And the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL! We read this book today and are definitely going to be adding it to our library.