Catholic service vs. basic worship
I was born into the Catholic faith. I was baptized, received my first communion, and attended Catholic Church service regularly. I was even an altar server. (I was never introduced to confession.) Shortly before I would have been confirmed, my mother, step-father, and I changed churches. I am not sure of the details, but basically my step-father had no wish to remain catholic.
We started attending a non-denominational church. At the church we sing worship songs (many are the same I sang in catholic service, with the exception that this church uses more technology -- microphones, lighting, etc.) and then the pastor comes out to speak. Occasionally, the catholic beliefs are spoken ("We believe in one God...") and on the first of the month communion is given. I enjoy communion and wish it were given more often, but other than that I truly prefer this church.
I recall many a time when because of the hour or my age I felt myself drifting in my pew during Catholic service. I often missed the message delivered by the priest because it blurred in with the rest of the service. (I have attended 4 separate Catholic churches.) In the non-denominational church, I feel I can truly sing out my love for the Lord and on more than one occasion when I asked the Lord for guidance in some matter, that matter was the topic of our pastor’s service. I truly feel that the Lord has spoken directly to me through our pastor.
Here is my dilemma. I respect the tradition of the Catholic Church and still think of myself as Catholic. I like to occasionally go to mass, but still, even though I am older now, get boarded by it. I feel terrible that this is my reaction, but am unable to prevent it. In the non-denominational church however, I am always excited to go. I sing the songs loudly to the Lord and listen intently to the pastor's message.
The bible says that belief in Jesus and his sacrifice for us, as well as the asking for forgiveness from sins is what is required to have everlasting life. I truly believe that this solely is what will deliver me to heaven and not the choice of church I choose to attend.
I have recently discovered your Q and A board, however, and am interested to hear your views and advise on the topic. Thank you!
QUESTION from Lynn on June 10, 2004
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on June 13, 2004
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Dear Lynn: I am a convert to Catholic Church. For fifteen years I was a baptist preacher. I know what you are talking about in terms of the differences in Catholic Mass vs. Protestant Sunday services. The reason for this difference, I discovered, is the definition of worship. True Worship is not entertainment, feeling good, a pep rally, or a motivational seminar. Frankly, Protestant services tend to be these things. The Catholic Church worships God in the fashion that tradition and God Himself instructed us in how to worship Him. The Catholic Mass is a sacred place and a sacred time. This is why folk music, and swaying with the music and clapping type songs are not performed in Catholic Mass. While those kinds of music are great for a fellowship meeting or a praise meeting, it is inappropriate to the Mass. Because the Mass is sacred, so should be the music, the gestures, and the entire ambiance of the Mass. When I converted I was at a Basilica that was beautiful and the Mass was beautiful with all the "smells and bells" and the entire Mass sung. That is the only Mass I knew. Then I went home to visit my parents.... In my hometown I went to the local Catholic Church. It was a ho-hum kind of ambiance, the priest looked like he didn't want to be there, the homily was boring, the people look like the living dead. One would think this to be a bad experience; but I did not. I found something out about the true nature of worship.... Jesus was there. Even though the Mass was otherwise boring and unenthusiastic, JESUS was there in the Eucharist. That is all that matters. To be quite frank, Protestants cannot experience this because Jesus is not there in their services in the literal way that He is there in a Catholic Mass. Since the God of the Universe is with the Protestant services only spiritual instead of literally like the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, what else can they do than to be entertained, feel good, sing folk music and express their emotion-based worship. Emotions, however, can come and go and this is why so many have a lack-luster faith or leave the faith, because they base their worship with how they feel. The Catholic Church worships God with the whole person -- body, soul, and spirit -- and not merely with emotions and do so in a more profound way that is possible to experience in Protestant services. Thus we do not have a Mass that entertains, or a Mass where the sermon is the focus, but a Mass where the sole focus is God, and all else is incorporated into that focus. The Mass is one big prayer from beginning to end, not just a few words of prayer in introduction and benediction as is the practice in most Protestant groups. More scripture is read in a Catholic Mass than an ANY Protestant fellowship, more prayer, and more worship, more profound worship than is possible in any Protestant fellowships. No matter how boring the Priest might be, no mature person can truly be bored in a Catholic Mass if they understand what is truly happening in the Mass. No Protestants, and unfortunately even many Catholics do not understand what is going on in the Mass and thus feel bored. I have been in Sunday Mass in parishes that, from an outside point-of-view, were terribly boring, almost dead boring, and yet I have NEVER been bored. Why? Because I am not there to be entertained, I am not there to focus on a sermon, though a sermon should be instructional, I am there to worship my Lord and My God. As long as the God of the Universe is there, there cannot be any boredom. I understand your dilemma. What you are use to is a pep rally, and in the Catholic Church you are not likely to find that style. There is nothing wrong with a pep rally, but as the Bible itself says, there is a time and place for everything under the sun. The Sacred Mass is not a place for folksy, pedestrian, and common music and activities. The Sacred Mass is only for a Sacred time and place. It is wonderful that you retain a respect for the Catholic Church despite not being in the Church and despite the negative experiences. The bottomline, is that your experience in the Catholic Mass is a result of not being used to the Catholic style as opposed to the style of your own church, and also because you really do not understand the full significance and nature of what the Mass is doing. There is one thing I must say, however, just in case -- whenever you visit a Catholic Mass, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are you to receive the Eucharist in communion. Communion in the Catholic Church is only for those Catholics in full communion with the Church. Since you are not in full communion, you are not to receive the Eucharist. When the others go forward to receive the Eucharist, you should remain in the pew and pray.
God Bless, |