Patrick Kiernan – Church visit #2

Inside St. John Cantius Church

Church name: St. John Cantius Church

Church address: 825 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60642

Date attended: 4/10/16

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

This was the first Tridentine mass that I have been to. The church was immaculate, so full of icons and breathtaking imagery. I walked in to the smell of frankincense, and sat in a pew in the back. The church was fuller than I expected, I thought that since mass was in Latin there would be less people. Everyone stood up as waves of altar boys, deacons, and priest proceeded down the main aisle. The priest’s back was turned to the congregation as he sang out the liturgy in Latin. Gregorian chant was sung from a choir in the balcony. If asked to describe this experience, I would say that it was extremely religious. From the body language of the laity to the music to the physical beauty of the building, the atmosphere evoked a kind of reverence and awareness that something sacred was taking place. This is not my experience in Protestant churches with their whitewashed walls and pulpits.

What aspects of Roman Catholic theology did you notice expressed in the service?

The mass was almost completely in Latin. While few people seemed to understand the Latin, I think people attend the Tridentine mass because they want to hold onto the foundations of their Latin speaking tradition. The only time English was spoken was during announcements, the reading from the Gospel of John, and the homily. During the homily, the priest began to address an apparent issue that has come up with regard to a recent encyclical by Pope Francis. The priest said that the media (the wolves) are misconstruing Pope Francis’ statements and are trying to cause Roman Catholics (the sheep) to scatter. I had never heard a priest talk about interchurch debates like this before and I think this indicates that the congregation was largely made up of serious and conservative Catholics who have a stake/awareness of inside debates within Roman Catholicism.

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

It was the first time in a long time that I felt like I was not “religious enough” and was thinking that everyone was looking at me. People fervently prayed to my right and my left, kneeling at the pews with a rosary in hand and many women had their heads covered. The atmosphere felt extremely religious and as I looked at all of the imagery that was channeled towards Jesus Christ and his glory, I felt more aware of my own sinfulness. While I enjoyed the atmosphere, I went through the entire service without talking to anyone. There was no one to greet me as I came in or left, and there was never a time designated to greet your neighbor. All of this taught me that theologically there has to be a balance between the emphasis on icons that spark veneration towards Christ and social structures that foster community within the church body.