Arenas- Church Visit 2

Blog Title: John Arenas - Church Visit 2

Church Name: St. John Cantius Church

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

Date Attended: November 1

Church Category: Roman Catholic

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

            The first thing I noticed about the worship service I attended was the ornate, gilded designs that surrounded the sanctuary and culminated in a huge altar at the front. I have visited other Catholic churches, but this was one was by far the most extravagant, save for the Vatican. I took my seat and the service began with the ringing of a high pitched bell as the two priests, one of higher rank and one of lower rank walked out and immediately turned away from the congregation and began speaking inaudibly in Latin to what I assumed was where the elements were kept. I kept expecting them to address the congregation or speak up, but the most I got was the occasional “Dominus” from the priest. I did my best to keep up with the standing and the sitting of the service with no idea what was going on, until it was finally time for the congregants to receive the Eucharist, and I watched carefully as they took the body and blood with reverence. As soon as that was done the priest lead the congregation in a few Hail Mary’s and the service ended.

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

            During this service I paid careful attention to what the priests were doing to the Eucharist before it was celebrated. I am familiar with the concept of Eucharistic Adoration, and I understand the logic, but it was a little different watching the priests seeming to worship the bread and wine. I was also struck with a Jewishness of the whole service. I was reminded of a priest in Leviticus dutifully going through all of the rites in order to make a sacrifice. Every step was careful and planned. My inability to keep up at all with service made me very grateful for the Reformers decision, and later Vatican II’s, to switch to the vernacular.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

            From reading the works of the Church Fathers and hearing about the apostolic succession, I went into this visit very intrigued with Catholicism and eager to learn more. Unfortunately, I left the service disappointed because of the steep learning curve to be able to take part in the service. While I have respect for the rite and tradition of the Catholic Church and would not mind it occasionally, it is my personal feeling that if that was all I was exposed to it would be much harder to nurture my faith. Interestingly, a visit that I thought would make me more Catholic, has made me more firmly Protestant. However, the timing of visiting a Catholic Church the day after Reformation day was not lost on me. I saw a church full of believers seeking after Jesus, albeit in a way that is quite different than I am used to. Above all, the visit instilled in me a desire to see the Church reconciled and reunited. We should be one as the Father and the Son are one.