Jesse Xiao - Church Visit #2

Jesse Xiao - Church Visit #2
Church name: Held by St Joseph Church in St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Church address: 36 N. Ellsworth, Naperville, IL 60540
Date attended: October 30, 2016
Church category: Tridentine Mass

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

St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church has very traditional Latin cross form with a long nave crossed by a transept. There was a bell tower on the south west side, the three pointed arches at the entrance, and some statues of Marry. Inside there is mosaic icons telling stories of apostles and statues of angles and Marry. In the front, there is an additional altar and an altar where the Eucharist was placed.

The priest in white Alb, yellow Amice, and black Biretta went down from the altar several times holding the cross and sprinkling water with deacons. The rest of time, he did something at the additional altar and seated at the seat at the south west of the altar. The choir sang at the balcony, I could hardly see. I think most of time it was them who sang in Latin rather than the priest. During the mass, we alternated between standing, seating, and knelling. At last, there was Eucharist.

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

We can see the great differences between Catholicism and Protestantism.

There is more emphasis on material or context in Catholic Church. The structure of the building, the clothes which the priest wears, and the altar all have deeper meaning behind. There are statues, icons, bibles, candles, and incense to convey the theology and to create a sacred atmosphere which may make participators more attentive. Their theology is not only expressed by their speeches or writings, but also by their daily activities. Catholic Church holds the oral tradition from apostles for nearly two thousand years and they still practice it.

It is ignorant for protestants to depreciate or ignore all these traditions and the influence of material world. For example, protestants believe in Apostle Creed which is not written in the Bible, but derived from the tradition. For protestants, we should respect Catholicism, since it is the church in Europe for a thousand years, which is a great part of God’s work in the history.

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

The service is very struggling for me. I thought I could participate with my full heart and soul if I get used to the Tridentine Mass, as other Catholic Christians who do not understand Latin, since we worship the same Trinitarian God and I assume He accepts both Protestants’ and Catholics’ worship. However, in the Mass, I really had no peace in my heart but felt stirring in the soul. I am from a charismatic church where the spiritual felling is very important.

There are two possible interpretations. The easy answer is that I am used to the Mass. Another is that worshiping is not really about my feeling, but about worshiping God. But this idea really diminishes my identity, and I think worshiping contains interaction between worshipers and God. Further the latter interpretation leads to a serious question about church market theory. What is the principle of choosing a church? Is my personal feeling real and useful?