Shelby Knowles--Church Visit #2

Shelby Knowles—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?

As we entered a large sanctuary lined with stained glass windows, there was a large bowl of water that was used to sprinkle on oneself as holy water. Then, before sitting, people would kneel to Mother Mary who was at the front of the sanctuary. All of these beginning steps were different from my regular context. The priest began with prayers and then a sermon in English about the Day of Saints and their significance today. This was followed by the Nicene creed. The priest then prayed over the bread and wine, using it “to atone for my numberless sins, offences, and negligences; on behalf of all here present and likewise for all faithful Christians living and dead”. This portion of the service was the most significantly different part—using the bread and wine to atone for sins, rather than receiving it as a sign of God’s grace. The sacrament was taken as a remedy for sins. The service contained prayers from the priest, some responses from the congregation, and both kneeling and standing.

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

 One of the most striking aspects of the service was their high regard for the saints. Not only were prayers directed at Mary and Michael the Archangel, but there were also prayers included from St. Thomas and Ambrose. The sermon the priest gave was on the intercessory power that the saints have, and how they can make prayers for us. This sort of respect for those who have gone before us is clearly a large part of the Catholic tradition and also the tradition we observed in the Orthodox churches. It would seem as if globally, the Church is much more conscious of the Church history, compared with the Protestant tradition I have experienced. It is also interesting to read from a liturgy that has been passed down for centuries, particularly in its original Latin language. This text has unified masses of people across time, and yet many of its beliefs particularly regarding the Sacraments, are completely different than what Protestants would believe.

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

There were many things I appreciated about such a different experience of worship than I am accustomed to. I liked the beauty of the building, and the iconography surrounding the pews, which highlighted significant figures in Church history. It was powerful to read prayers from Saints that came before us. I especially appreciated the picture of the whole congregation on their knees, receiving the Word of God together. Much of this sort of reverence for God and for the Saints is lost in the tradition I am from. There were, however, many important aspects to my faith that were missing. The process of the Sacraments seemed backwards to me—it was atonement for sin, rather than a sign of God’s grace to us through the saving work of Jesus Christ. The concept of grace was missing, and the forgiveness of sins once and for all through Christ’s death was not acknowledged. Rather, those in the service had to confess sins through a priest, and offer the bread and wine as a sacrifice to God. This made me thankful for my Protestant tradition that receives the bread and wine in remembrance for Christ’s atoning work on the cross—for all sin.