Hayes Thielman Visit # 2

            

Church name: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Church address: 36 N. Ellsworth, Naperville, IL 60540

Date attended: 11/1/15

Church category: Catholic Tridentine

The service took place during a Sunday night. Interestingly people did not dress up particularly well, nor were many bright colors seen in the congregation. Most either sat in the front of the sanctuary or at the back, the middle pews were sparsely occupied. Only two songs were sung, one at the beginning and one at the end, both were old hymns, not particularly catchy and it appeared as if no one cared to sing very loudly. This service was a bit more liturgical than my typical Presbyterian Church service. The sermon was very short and a bit brush off, as the whole thing appeared to be read off instead of spoken.  The most obvious difference of this church service was that despite the sermon and two songs the whole thing was spoken in Latin.  There was also a significant of movement in the service with lots of transitions from standing to kneeling, to sitting.

            To be honest the worship service at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church demonstrated to me just how different the catholic and protestant traditions are. Where Catholicism has the advantage of very strong tradition, Protestantism has an edge in accessibility. Obviously, this made me more grateful for the reformation, and the work of the reformers. I also now realize just how crucial of a moment in history this was, truly changing the image of the church for years to come. However, one must recognize that Catholicism has Protestantism edged out in term of years of tradition, times two. The architecture of the Catholics is quite beautiful, as well the art with which they ornate their cathedrals. The cathedral resembled the middle ages far more than any protestant worship space I have ever entered. Finally, there was a solemnity to the service that I was unused to as a protestant.

            This honestly made me more secure in my denominational decision as a protestant. As believes we are called to love the Lord with all our hearts, soul, minds, and strength. In my home church I feel confident that the way we worship is pursuing this high calling. Now I am not saying that Catholics are not doing this, but I will firmly say that I would struggle at this attending a Latin mass. I also value the preaching from the Bible that is so fundamental to most protestant traditions, through the exegesis of God’s word I am convicted, assured, inspired, and blessed. Attending mass made me appreciate the exegetical preaching that is foundational to the protestant movement. I do respect, however, the catholics devotion to communion, 1) in participating in it often, and 2) taking the table seriously enough to disallows some to not partake. These brothers and sister value the Lord’s supper.