Emily Felty
Church Visit #2
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
36 N. Ellsworth, Naperville, IL 60540
November 1, 2015 at 5:30
Catholic Tridentine Service

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

Firstly, the worship service was in Latin, which I am not accustomed to. There was a translation in the program I picked up from the table; however, I could barely find what point the service was at because I could barely hear, let alone understand. The entire service was scripted (the church I go to only has a brief outline of the service) and we were constantly moving—one minute we were sitting, then we standing up, then kneeling. Secondly, the building we were in was ornate and beautiful, with images of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The church I regularly attend has no images whatsoever and does not look so traditionally like a cathedral. Lastly, there seemed to be no sermon, except for a brief summary of “Saints Day.” Overall, it was the most bizarre experience, completely different from the church tradition I am grew up in.

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

The thought that most frequently crossed my mind during the service was that this service has been the same for hundreds of years throughout the world. I noticed my skepticism of the traditions that were foreign to me. Whether this is because of my Protestantism or the fact that I live in an age of skepticism (or both!) I am not sure, but it made me ponder the importance of tradition and trust in the Catholic Church and how that contrasts with Protestantism. It really seemed to me that Catholicism and Protestantism were as different as night and day as far as methodology and priorities go, but there were profound theological similarities in many of the prayers scripted in the program (Nicene Creed, Scripture). I really the unity regarding the way that this  mass is pretty much the same universally, anytime, anywhere.

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

The most noticeable component of my Christian identity that I noticed was my strong protestant tendency. I felt uncomfortable with pretty much everything—the incense/smoke and holy water, the robes, the Latin prayers that I couldn’t hear, communion, and the lack of a sermon. One of the main reasons I go to church is to hear the teaching and to invest in relationships with the fellow members of the church body; the Tridentate mass did not seem to focus on either of these aspects, but rather emphasized the importance of corporate reverence through prayer and worship through prayer and readings. I valued attending the service and it really illuminated my identity as a Christian because I was able to differentiate my beliefs and opinions about what a service is from this experience.