Joey Miser - Church Visit #2

Church name: Holy Angels Roman Catholic Church

Church address: 180 South Russell Ave, Aurora, IL 60506

Date attended: March 20th, 2016 

Church category: Tridentine Mass

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

The Tridentine Mass I attended stood in stark contrast to any typical church service I have ever experienced. Other than my visit to the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem and other various church visits, my entire life consisted of Sunday mornings where the closest thing to liturgy was trying to find the right, isolated pew seat and singing the same old hymns. The Mass I attended, however, represented millennia of much more sacred and holy traditions. As I entered, I noticed the Catholic motif that characterized every aspect of the church. From the distinctly simple, yet ornate, architecture to the hundreds of dark wood pews and presence of icons, I knew immediately I was in a context unlike my own. During the worship service, the aberrations from my norm continued to compile. The priest in the distant, distant front of the massive chapel stood alone with his back to the shockingly sparse congregation and performed the service while speaking only latin. The liturgy he was performing was interrupted by a short, ten-minute sermon, or “homily.” In addition, this message was seemingly focused on right living instead of the power of the gospel. The congregation interacted with this liturgy only when they stood, knelt, prayed, and crossed themselves. In short, this service was different from my normal context in that it felt removed and frankly unwelcoming.

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

As I eluded earlier, the service showed me how deep tradition has formed part of the global church. The procession and the liturgy, as well the theology included in the homily, did not make sense to me and did not draw my mind, like I imagine it does for millions across the world, to our Heavenly Father. However, whether or not it made sense to me, it showed me the reverence and awe that so many approach God with. It challenged me to view those whom I so incorrectly thought of for so long in a new light—trying to see them in light of how God sees them. They are, like I, His children whom He loves. It broadened my understanding and encouraged me to once again contemplate the broad-reaching global church.

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

Coming into this environment with little to no expectation, I felt like an outsider viewing a strange procession that really did not seem appealing. I felt like my worship was inhibited. However, I was forced to examine my upbringing and compare it to the rich past of the catholic church. Where I differ in experience and understanding, I stand with my catholic brothers on the most foundational aspect of our faith: Jesus Christ. What I appreciated about the unique architecture was the huge presentation of the cross (covered with a black sheet for Holy Week) at the forefront of the chapel. This drew my mind away from the beautiful icons and the other symbols that highlight our differences and instead to the most crucial part of our shared faith. In a context in which I felt alienated and slightly uncomfortable, the remembrance of Christ’s work on the cross and my relationship with Him drew me back to what matters the most.