Ben Norton - Church Visit #3

Church Name: St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church

Church Address: 36 N Ellsworth St. Naperville 60540

Date Attended: 11/1/2015

Church Category: More Liturgical (Tridentine Mass)

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

The mass began with the sprinkling of holy water conducted by a priest. Priests then congregated at the foot of a central altar. This was followed by a Latin recitation of Psalm 42 and Psalm 124. After several moments for silent confession, the priest gave the sign of the cross, and conducted what I understand to be typical aspects of a Catholic mass: the Introit, Kyrie eleison, Gloria, and Collect. These parts were all sung, and were accompanied by organ, harp, and several other classical instruments. The music was beautiful and sound reverberated throughout the sizable cathedral. New testament scripture was read, primarily from the Epistles. The choir, predominantly middle-aged men and women, sang Alleluia and several other notorious pieces. Up to this point, the entirety of the service was in Latin, with English translation of liturgy given on screen. This changed when the priest began the lesson. After a brief sermon, the service concluded with a reading of the Nicene creed (in Latin). Many aspects of the service were familiar: the ethnicity of the congregation, the length of the service (which was appreciated after a 4 hour service at the last church I attended), the clothing worn by priests and the congregation, and the music. The service greatly differed in that it really on drew from the Gospels and the Epistles. It was also in Latin, which is an obvious difference.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

The music in the service was beautiful. A positive personal reception to the music of a church is generally a good indicator of whether or not I will continue to attend. While this may sound petty, music is one of the places in which I encounter God most fully. The echo in the large sanctuary and the communal voice of the choir communicate what words often cannot. I believe that God speaks to the soul through music--it can be healing and it can reveal things that were not obvious before. I left the service infatuated by the Alleluia chorus. I also really appreciated the tradition. Like the Coptic church I visited, it affirmed a sense of reverence for God's sovereignty and divinity. Another thing that appealed to me was how welcoming the church body was. The priests were very inviting and many younger people and families were in attendance. 

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

The most obvious challenge was that the service was in Latin. This wasn't entirely troubling for the majority of the service because I had the English translation to fall back on. I tried to listen to the Latin and decipher all that I could from my limited Latin knowledge, and I speak Italian so there are some core similarities. This was only a big issue during the sermon, as there was no translation. However, many people were sleeping or distantly attentive, as they couldn't understand either. The lack of physical Bibles was not surprising, but it was still bothersome. In past Catholic churches that I have attended, physical copies of liturgy have been absent as well. I was somewhat confused by several of the rites at the beginning of the service. Some of the congregation would kneel rather than sit at times, and I was unaware of what was appropriate.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not percieved as clearly in your regular context?

There is something to be said about hearing Scripture and liturgy read aloud in a different language. I felt that whether or not I could communicate in the language, God's love was universal. It connects people across cultural boundaries. I also felt that hearing the Latin connected me to Christian tradition across time. While I know Latin was not the language of Jesus Christ, I felt as though there was definite and concrete value behind the tradition associated with the Roman Catholic Church. Similar to the Coptic church, I was able to more fully grasp God's magnificence through the music, and His divinity and sovereignty through the tradition and liturgy. At times, things did feel mechanical and bureaucratic, which made me question what Christ would say if he was in attendance. However, the priests and congregation seemed genuine and authentic, which I have doubted in previous churches I have been to.