Kelsey Wall- Church Visit #2

Church name: St John Cantius Church

Church address: 825 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60642

Date attended: 10/30/16

Church category: Tridentine Mass 

1. Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

The mass, as with the Orthodox service, was overall more formal than my non-denomination upbringing and current church context. Though the service was formal, there was still a variety in people’s attire, with some men in suits and women with veils, and others with jeans and sweatshirts on. The church itself was absolutely beautiful, with immaculate stained glass windows and representations of the saints lining the boundaries of the church. The high mass, Latin service began with the priest entering in holding a large cross, followed behind by men with candles. Before entering the pew, each person touched his or her knee to the ground. The singing and prayers were done in Latin and the sermon, which was on the kingship of Christ, was in English, lasting only about 10 minutes. The taking of communion was the focus of the service, whereas the sermon is the climax and central focus in my church context. Furthermore, the choir singing was located at the back of the church on the second level, out of sight of the congregation.

2. How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

Having the opportunity to speak to the Father after the service aided greatly in illuminating the contours of global Christianity from this service. The priest explained the symbolism that pervaded the church, focusing particularly on the statues of the saints and significance of the items on their garments or at their feet. These symbols are reminders to how God worked in and through the saints and the way this should inspire us to live for Christ as well. In order to understand the importance of the figures and symbolism of a church, a knowledge of church history and saints is necessary. The physical church itself is beautiful, but the symbolism behind the physical space indicates the role tradition plays in the Tridentine mass. I know my experience in mass would have been all the more valuable had I understood the meaning of the icons and symbols during the service, rather than simply acknowledging their beauty.

3. How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?
Attending this Tridentine mass was a reminder of the way tradition unites the church community in such a unique way. When I worship at my non-denominational church, it is very individualized and I have a great deal of person freedom in the way I worship. In a mass like the one I attended at St. John’s, everyone is participating in the same actions of kneeling, standing, and doing the sign of the cross, which creates a sense of unity in the body of Christ. Furthermore, having the choir out of sight brought to my attentions how easily the worship leaders at the front of the church can distract from directing our worship to Christ. I found that after being better informed about the iconography, I saw the way the church symbolism draws one to pursue living a life for Christ. Many of the saints suffered and yet did not turn from Christ. The rich tradition does not remain stuck in the past, but plays a part in how I live out my faith right now.