Richard Moomjian--Church Visit #2

Richard Moomjian--Church Visit #2

Church: Holy Angels Church

Address: 180 S Russell Ave Aurora, Illinois 60506

Date: 1/1/15

Category: Tridentine Mass

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

Holy Angels Church is a newer building with stained wood, contemporary stained glass windows, and comfortable seats. It rivaled a traditional Protestant church. The whole service was in Latin--so naturally it was difficult to be edified by any of the conversation or theological words in the Mass. The sermon however was in the vulgar English language and it explained the meaning behind All Saints' Day celebrated that week. Most of the service was performed by one priest—while the laity saying a few phrases here and there. The majority of the Mass was silent as the priest prayed silently to God in Latin. It was quite difficult to take the priest seriously when he kept fumbling over the Latin words. Unfortunately it didn’t seem like he was too enthusiastic about worshipping in Latin, as the service took all of 45 minutes to end. I found it quite difficult to engage with the Mass and its liturgy when in a different language. I was quite lost amidst the ancient language.

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

As a Protestant who believes firmly in the clarity and accessibility of God’s Word to all, experiencing a Latin Mass frustrated me. I was able to see the sort of need to translate the Missal liturgy and works of the Church into the vulgar language of every people. The Tridentine expression of liturgy helped me to understand some of the feelings Martin Luther might have experienced and also the feelings of those running the Second Vatican Council might have felt.  It is important for the people of God to know their Lord and also to understand Him. I was estranged from the message of the church that morning. I could clearly see the need to make God’s word and the Church’s message available to those who speak other languages. Furthermore, I learned that the message of the Church is deeply embedded in the culture and language that it is written in. That Latin-flavor of Christianity can still be heard even in the United States if you search for it.

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

As an American Protestant Christian, I had reservations about entering into a Latin-speaking Mass. I kept asking myself questions like, “Who got it right?” and “Why are they doing that this way?” But I enjoyed a connection between our two Christian faiths—when we meet together we are always open-handed before God. The Protestants comes together to accept a Word from God’s gracious mouth—that they may receive life. The Catholics come together to accept the body and blood of Jesus from God’s gracious hand—that they may receive life. The language and traditional barriers between us that shows no distinction is this: that we both come to God empty-handed and receive a gracious Gift from Him. So personally as a Protestant, the worship service illuminated our need for God’s gracious gift of Life. The powerful image of the people of God coming to Him, kneeling before Him, and receiving Life encouraged me to have a humble posture as I approach the Life of God’s Word.