Carissa Kano: Church Visit #3 (Liturgical)

Carissa Kano
Church name: St. Peter’s Church
Church address: 110 W. Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Date attended: 11/02/14
Church Category: more liturgical (Catholic mass)

Describe the worship service you attended.  How was it similar to or different from your regular context?
Every time I go to Chicago, I’ve passed by St. Peter’s Church in the Loop and have even wandered inside a couple times.  I’ve always been struck by the beauty of the building, and I’ve never been to a Catholic Mass before, so I was excited to finally attend on Sunday.  When I first entered, I already noticed it was different because everyone dipped their fingers in a little pool and did the cross gesture.  Before they entered their pew, they also kneeled and bowed their heads.  I have never attended a very liturgical church, but mass was even more different because the liturgy itself was sung.  The priests would sing their parts, and then the congregation would join in following the pamphlets we were given upon entering.      

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?
 For me, the most beautiful part of the experience was the aesthetics of the physical building itself.  St. Peter’s Church is right in the Loop, so many people pass by everyday.  Yet as soon as you walk in the big marble doors, all is silent and peaceful.  I arrived a little early and had some time to just sit and take it all in.  The atmosphere was very reverent and awe-filled.  The grandeur of the marble interior and the many statues and beautiful artwork, as well as thousands of candles really made the service feel sacred.  I also appreciated the participatory parts of the congregation.  The priests had opera-esque voices, and then the congregation would resound and join in.  There was something spectacular about it.    

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?
I had googled “Catholic mass etiquette” the night before so I knew a little bit of what to expect and what to wear and such, but it was still pretty hard to follow along.  The pamphlet was many pages long and I often had a hard time finding where we were.  On top of that, I cannot sight read, so I couldn’t really participate in the liturgies because mostly everything was sung and I didn’t know the melodies.  I did recognize a couple Latin pieces from my Music 101 class though!
I also didn’t understand the rituals and was a little troubled by the stoicness of it all.  For me, church has been a place of warmth and experiencing God’s love through fellowship, as well as a time to worship God in reverence but also in power knowing that we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness.  I felt restricted during the service and was pretty nervous the entire time.  

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 really appreciated the reverent atmosphere.  While it is a beautiful gift that we are united with Christ and can have an intimate relationship with God, the fear of the Lord is not something to be taken for granted.  And though I couldn’t really sing along, I appreciated the participatory aspect of the mass.  The congregation was united in singing, and the music was beautiful integrated throughout Scripture reading and partaking in the Eucharist.  Union in worship was very intentional, as they sung much more than in an average contemporary service where they sing three songs in the beginning and maybe one at the end.  I liked how worship was woven throughout the entire program, as well as the reading of Scripture.