Alexandra Willig- Church Visit #1

Alexandra Willig - Church Visit #1

Church name: St. Michael's Church

Church address: 310 South Wheaton Avenue, Wheaton, IL, United States

Date attended: February 11, 2015

Church category: Roman Catholic

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

The service I attended was a morning mass celebrating Our Lady of Lourdes, a festival day for the Blessed Mother in the Roman Catholic tradition. When entering the space, my friend and I made the mistake of not bowing before the crucifix. The procession occurred after all the Catholic school children at St. Michael's had been seated, and the mass started with a hymn and readings. Prior to reading from the Gospel we sang a song of adoration. Because there was no book or hand-out to follow, we found it hard to respond to parts of the liturgy. The homily was given by the church's Polish priest, who spoke with an accent that made him difficult to understand. Following the homily came preparation for and distribution of communion, of which my friend and I did not partake. We prayed for leaders and members of the church, then sang a song and left following the exiting procession. 

The church was very different from my usual context, for traditionally I grew up in a Baptist church and in Wheaton I have been primarily attending a Pentecostal church. The high church with priest distributing sacraments, the structured liturgy, the formality of bowing or kneeling before the cross, and singing from the hymnal are all components which my church in Wheaton does not practice. Most importantly, my church does not distribute the sacraments everyday. The mass was similar, however, in the corporate prayer for world leaders and members of the church (although I admit I do not think my church has prayed corporately for Pope Francis). 

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

What I found most interesting about the service was the homily about the Virgin Mary, following the Gospel reading about her and Jesus' interaction at the Wedding at Cana where he turned water into wine. The priest contended that Mary and Jesus' relationship is of utmost significance, and it is often He who sends her out into the world. Consequently, many signs and wonders have occurred with people meeting the Holy Mother. I have never heard a sermon preached on the Virgin Mary, much less heard the story of Our Lady of Lourdes. In this story a young peasant girl goes into the woods, and sees before her a woman in a white robe. The girl begins to pray, and when reached the prayer to Mary the woman smiles. The meet about 18 times, and only after a few encounters does the woman speak, responding to the questions of the girl. According to the Polish priest sharing the story, the woman in white claims she is "the immaculate conception, she who was born without sin". 

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

This story and worship of Mary I found challenging. This is a radical point of departure in the Protestant church. I have been to many masses prior to this morning, but this was the first time I heard spoken a homily pertaining to Mary and verifying her immaculate conception and holy status. Basically, this was the first time I "worshipped" Mary. The priest claimed that signs and wonders still occur for members of the church to "remind us to pray for the sinners and poor of the world", and that the primary messenger is the Holy Mother. I am not certain I agree with this, and find the preoccupation with chapels, structures and holy sites built around encounters with the Holy Mother rather disorienting. 

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

The service illuminated for me two important points of theology: (1) direct communication with God through indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and (2) miracles. In regards to the first, I think that believers are offered direct communication with the Godhead. I do not understand having a mediator between a human and the Trinity besides the Holy Spirit, God himself, who intercedes on our behalf. The thought of praying to a disciple, such as John or Paul, or praying to the Mother Mary does not seem as satisfying when as a believer I have access to God himself. The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost and dwells within believers. This topic in theology I desire to know better, particularly following this service and some of the tensions felt. Second, miracles have happened in the gospels and continue to happen today. I agree with the priest's statement about signs and wonders still occurring and bringing people to a fuller understanding of Christ. I am not sure I agree with the messenger often being the Mother Mary, because in my Pentecostal church that has not been the case.