Jessica Hawthorne - Church Visit #2

St. John Cantius Parish
825 N. Carpenter St., Chicago, Illinois 60642-5499
17 April 2016

1. Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?
Attending the high Tridentine mass at St. John Cantius church was extraordinarily different from my regular context. Today was the final Sunday that the parish incorporated Mozart's sacred pieces into their service so we were privileged to hear the stunning music of the Resurrection choir and orchestra as they accompanied the service. We took our seats in wooden pews near the back of the sanctuary and listened as the choir and orchestra began the processional while the priest made his way to the altar. The music was positively enchanting and the aesthetics of the building were remarkable; thus it was not surprising when the priest informed the congregation prior to his homily that St. John's had been voted the most beautiful cathedral in the nation. I was taken aback by the smell of the incense and the meticulous motions of the priests and altar boys. Everyone moved in perfect harmony yet were it not for a small booklet containing the latin and it's translation accompanied by short descriptions of the priest's movements and their significance, I would have been completely unaware of what was happening. 
I was surprised by the priest's homily which happened to be spoken in English. After giving a few announcements for the church body, he began his homily though it only lasted for two or three minutes at the most. He finished his time at the pulpit with a short reading from the gospel of John and then he returned to the altar. Most all of the service revolved around the Lord's supper and its preparation and veneration. The congregation watched as the priest prepared and blessed the sacraments and moved from one side of the altar to the other. Though the words that the priest was speaking were written in the book of liturgy, the congregation was unable to hear what the priest was saying. I was also surprised by the long line of people on either side of the sanctuary waiting for their confession to be heard by a priest. I was unaware that this sacrament was available during mass. 
Overall, I was impressed by the beauty of the building and the music that we were privileged to hear, however I am deeply thankful for the church that I attend and the worship that I am able to be a part of each Sunday. Though I enjoyed the unique experience of the Tridentine mass, I was made more aware of the things I have to be thankful for in my own Protestant denomination. 

2. What aspects of Roman Catholic theology did you notice expressed in the service?
The most obvious aspect of Catholic theology that was expressed in this service was the veneration of the Eucharist. Catholic mass by nature revolves around the celebration of the eucharist, however it was obvious that this service was intended to honor and praise the Lord in celebration of his bodily sacrifice. The book of liturgy also made obvious the Catholic's belief in transubstantiation as did the Priest's careful and meticulous dealings with the bread and the wine. 
I also witnessed the high honor that the Catholic church gives to tradition alongside Scripture. More so than the previous service I attended, this service made plain the "like devotion and reverence" that is to be attributed to Catholic tradition. The entire service was laden with tradition and this was made obvious by the ritualistic kneeling, standing, and sitting followed by the congregation along with the precise movements of the priests and altar boys near the altar. Everything was done with reverence and honor and every movement had its particular place within the ceremony. This aspect of the service was very unique from any religious ceremony in which I have participated in the past. 

3. What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?
I think the most pertinent aspect of theology that this worship service illuminated for me was the importance of the Eucharist. Having attended a number of Catholic masses, I am consistently impressed by the reverence they have for the body and blood of which they partake. This service in particular emphasized the sacred nature of the elements. During his short homily, the priest emphasized that beauty should direct our gaze towards the glory of God. His message was made explicit through the architectural beauty of the church and the beauty of the sound that emanated from the choir and the chanting of the liturgy and the prayers. All the beauty expressed through the service was intended for the glory of God and was meant to be incorporated into the worship of the sacraments. I find that this element of worship and theology is not as evident in my normal Protestant worship context and is, to some extent, looked down upon. Though I recognize the danger of focusing too heavily on aesthetics as it easily becomes a distraction, I also recognize its usefulness in assisting our worship to God's glory.