Justin Smith––Church Visit #2

Blog Title: Justin Smith – Church Visit #2

Church name: Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church

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

Date attended: 11.01.2015

Church category: Tridentine Mass

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

            The worship service at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church seemed to be the median between my regular church context and the Greek Orthodox Church that I visited a month ago. For starters, the people looked more like the church crowd I am accustomed to––more of a mixed bag (as far as predominantly Caucasian churches go…) in terms of ethnicity. There was not one singular group, e.g. Greek people, which dominated the pews. The Church was beautiful and well ornamented, but not quite as artsy as the Orthodox Church––and much less iconcentric.

However, the beauty of the church captivated me, which was good because I sure wasn’t picking up on any of the Latin. There was a chronological depiction of the crucifixion that circled around the room in a variety of paintings. Also, there was a lot of kneeling. As I thumbed through the bulletin I read some of the prayers of the Saints and could get a vibe for what direction the service was heading in. The most familiar part of the service was the sermon, which was focused on the Feast of All Saints. The pastor noted that it was the day when all the “unofficial saints” were to be recognized (whom he defined as all who have received “God’s grace departing life”).

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

            The fact that the Tridentine mass felt like a synergy between the Greek Orthodox Church and my Protestant Church really put substance to the history of the church at large. I also found it interesting that although many at Wheaton would affirm an egalitarian approach to ecclesiastical office, there seems to be a uniform reservation among the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. In fact, it seems as if the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are much closer to one another on a lot of issues than the Protestant Church. This, I think, should cause some pause and humility when we critique the doctrines of the holistic church.

            Just as in the Orthodox service, there was a tangible connection to the history of the church. As saints of the past were discussed, and saints of the present as well, I could not help but feel like the church had more of a self-awareness, and identity because of it, than Protestant churches. There was a true sense of a historical and global church.

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

            In the aforementioned bulletin, a prayer from St. Ambrose read, “I ardently desire to have him as my savior, whom I am unable to withstand as my judge.” I found it to be one of the most beautiful lines of prayer I’ve ever heard. I think that, for me, has more impact on feeling identity within the contexts of different traditions, than any ecumenical argument.

            I also felt very protestant after this service. The service was structured and dry, and I caught myself wondering what it would be like if I attended a church like this every week. The people were largely disinterested, and the pews rather spacious. Also, the offering “plates” were like large spoons that the deacons appeared to use for attacking the congregational cereal––but you know what they say, different strokes for different folks.