Rebecca Carswel--Church Visit #2

Church Name: Saint Peter and Saint Paul

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

Date Attended: March 20, 2016

Church Category: Tridentine Mass

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

This church was different than any Palm Sunday service I have been to in that they handed us a palm branch, we put it on the pew next to us, and then we never touched it again. Perhaps having it next to you is a sufficient reminder of the occasion?

I also realized that none of the communicants, other than the priest (and maybe the deacons, too), drank wine but only took bread. I am curious why it was only reserved for those ordained. Perhaps the laity are not holy enough?

Also, all the statues were covered with purple cloths, which I have not seen before, but perhaps this is because I rarely ever worship in churches with statues.

About half of the women wore head coverings, which I have never seen before at a church.

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

Except for all the contemporary clothing the congregation was wearing, I felt like I had been transported several hundred years back in time. It was beautiful. Even the “sermon” was historical: There was no commentary; he just read an excerpt from St. Leo.

I also think it is so cool that less than sixty years ago, everyone (okay, all Catholics) worshipped in the same language. I can imagine all western Christians, throughout space, worshipping in the same language back in Medieval times—what a beautiful reversal of Babel. This would also create such unity amongst the church.  

However, I also resonate with uneducated Catholics of the past, who may have attended mass week after week, but still understood virtually nothing. (It took me about half way through the mass to figure out which book/pamphlet to use, and even then I was rather lost.) I do think that this could be rather problematic because I think that having a decent understanding the faith is essential (although I am sure some uneducated Catholics still understood their faith deeply).

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

Since attending the service helped me feel the catholicity of the church throughout time and space, I feel more connected to believers throughout time and space, and I also feel like I am a part of something larger than myself and larger than say, the evangelical church.

It also made me think about whether language is truly necessary to use (or understand) in prayer. I could not understand nearly all of the service, yet I joined in each time they sang, “Amen,” and I felt like I was praying with them even though I did not know what I am praying.