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by Timothy P. O'Malley (Author), McGrath Institute for Church Life (Author)
Winner of two 2025 CMA Book Awards from the Catholic Media Association: The Future of the Church (First Place), and Pastoral Ministry Catechetical (Third Place).
Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of Eucharistic worship with Behold, Believe, Become--where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and the Mass becomes a soul-saving, life-changing encounter with Christ, our Eucharistic Lord.
In Behold, Believe, Become, Timothy P. O'Malley, a distinguished leader in the Eucharistic Revival movement and bestselling author of Becoming Eucharistic People and Real Presence, shows you how to see differently--through newly formed habits of contemplation--fifteen ordinary, physical things that the Church uses at Mass to point us toward Christ. You will explore layers of meaning found in noble doors and stained-glass windows, sunlight and water, oil and fire, altars and church pews, and bread and wine become Body and Blood. O'Malley helps you see how each element tells us something about who Christ is and who we are to become as Christian people.
Inspired by the towering genius of the twentieth-century liturgical movement, Fr. Romano Guardini (1865-1968), O'Malley offers an unconventional walk through the Mass, highlighting that "matter matters." This book doesn't delve into the intricate history of Eucharistic Prayers or the doctrinal meaning of various words and actions. Instead, it provides a unique exploration of the material stuff of the Mass that we encounter from the time we enter the church until the time we depart at the end.
Whether you're seeking personal growth or exploring this journey with a small group, Behold, Believe, Become is the perfect companion, providing brief online videos featuring Rachel and Jason Bulman of "Meet the Bulmans" and chapter-ending reflection questions to help connect your everyday life to the celebration of Mass. And for those craving a communal experience, a small-group leader's guide and parish planning kit make this an invaluable resource for parishes, schools, and other Catholic communities.
Are you ready to witness the Mass in a new light? Behold, Believe, Become is your key to unlocking a richer, more meaningful Eucharistic experience.
Author Biography
Timothy P. O'Malley is a Catholic theologian, author, and professor. He serves in the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame as the associate director for research and academic director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. He regularly teaches courses on marriage and family, sacraments, and catechesis.
O'Malley earned his bachelor's degree in theology and philosophy and his master's degree in theology with a concentration in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame. He earned a doctorate in theology and education from Boston College, where he wrote on liturgical formation in Augustine of Hippo.
O'Malley is the author of ten books including three award-winning books published by Ave Maria Press: Off the Hook: God, Love, Dating, and Marriage in a Hookup World; Real Presence: What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter?; and Becoming Eucharistic People: The Hope and Promise of Parish Life. He has written for scholarly journals, the McGrath Institute for Church Life's own Church Life Journal, and popular magazines throughout the United States.
O'Malley is the lead investigator on two grants from the Lilly Foundation: one related to preaching and the other on children and worship. These grants pertain to his interest in cultivating a contemplative and sacramental imagination in an age dominated by technology, spectacle, and polarization.
He lives with his family in the South Bend, Indiana, area.
The McGrath Institute for Church Life was founded as the Center for Pastoral and Social Ministry by the late Notre Dame president Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, in 1976. The McGrath Institute partners with Catholic dioceses, parishes, and schools to provide theological education and formation to address pressing pastoral problems. The Institute connects the Catholic intellectual tradition to the pastoral life of the Church in forming faithful Catholic leaders for service to the Church and the world. The McGrath Institute strives to be the preeminent source of creative Catholic content and programming for the new evangelization in the United States.
