Hawken Sawyer - Church Visit #2

Church Name: St. Peter and Paul Catholic School
Church Address: 201 E Franklin Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
Date Attended: 10/30/16
Church Category: Tridentine Mass 

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

The interior of the church was extremely beautiful. I loved watching the stained glass windows change color throughout the service as the sun went down. The church was very large and was actually quite filled for the time of the service. We entered into silence – people were praying or simply waiting for the service to begin. I noticed that many women were wearing head scarves. As soon as the service began, there was almost nonstop singing in Latin. The priest and deacons would do things very slowly and deliberately – like splash holy water on the audience, or fill the whole building with the smell of burning frankincense.  Most of the service was liturgy between the priest and the choir in Latin, but there was about a 10 minute reading of scripture and sermon in English. This is very different from my normal context because usually the whole service is in English!

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

This service made me much more aware of the tradition that exists within the Catholic Church. When I was very young, I visited a church like this with my Nana, but I was unable to appreciate the reverence and awe that they attribute to things like the Eucharist and the liturgy. Also, during the short sermon in English, the priest spoke about problems that other Catholic churches were facing around the world. He asked for us to keep them in our prayers and to consider donating money to help. This touched me because I loved seeing the unity that exists within the global Catholic Church. When one church struggles, the rest know about it and come to their aid. I think this is definitely something that Protestants can learn from our Catholic brothers and sisters. If a protestant church in Italy is struggling monetarily, unfortunately I don’t think that I would ever hear about it. Yet the fact that this priest keeps his congregation aware of the global Catholic body is very encouraging.

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

During this worship service, I had plenty of time to be alone with the Lord. During the liturgy and the celebration of the Eucharist, I was able to reflect and pray. This worked especially well because I couldn’t understand what was being said in the liturgy. This service provided a great atmosphere, to be centered on the Lord and to reflect on His glory. I smelled the frankincense, I saw people taking communion; I saw the stained glass all around me – along with the other depictions from Jesus’ life which helped me reflect on what all this means for me as a Christian. It felt like we were all spread out in this massive church seeking a holy and perfect God. In Protestant churches, I always hear about how near to my heart God is, but at this church, I am reminded more about who this God really is.