On Sundays and Wednesdays, my family and I attend a Protestant church called Corinth Baptist Church. I have never been apart of a Catholic worship service before visiting one for this assignment. Many of the events in the ceremony were unfamiliar to me, but to my surprise there were numerous traditions that I do in my church. By observing the decor of the chapel, I made the assumption that Jesus Christ was the center of attention. There were beautiful crosses everywhere and pictures of each moment of the crucifixion along the walls.
Also, a statue of Mary, Jesus’s mother, was in the front of the sanctuary, and it had several candles around which made her look important. This piece of art was used as an alter for the church members. On the stage, a table set in the center which was the location where the priest prepared the Holy Communion. Furthermore, in a Mass various objects are used throughout the service. When someone walks in, they dip their fingers into the Holy Water and mark themselves with the sign of the cross. Next, Catholics go to a pew to sit and look up the day’s missal.
The Missalette is a book that provides the congregation readings of each Sunday through a particular season. During the communion, sacred vessels are used by the host to assemble the wine and the bread. Some of these include the Chalice which holds the wine, the Paten that holds the bread, the Communion Cups, the Lavabo Bowl & Towel which is what the priest uses to wash his hands, the Corporal, the Purificator, and the Pall; these are cloths that clean and cover all of these items. During the ritual, I felt completely lost because the whole process was a routine. Catholics have a very precise church service that requires a big memory.
Everyone knew when to stand, kneel, speak, and sing which made the space feel very formal. However, the gospel songs that we sang during my visitation made the ceremony feel more like a peaceful worship time. The bright lighting of the building and the hand raising of individuals helped lift this emotion as well. To continue, a Catholic ceremony includes multiply persons that control the event. One is the reader; this person’s job is to read the missal of the day to the rest of the churchgoers. Second are the altar boys who help the priest with preparation of the Communion.
The service that I set in had teenaged girls in this role even though originally the name was specifically appointed to young males. The leader of the commemoration is called the priest or host; he is the significant figure who teaches a sermon, leads the Last Supper, and receives the confessions from the Catholic followers. These people walk into the chapel last with the Roman Missal book. The “altar girls” wore white robes called albes that symbolize purity. The leader wore a green robe called a chasuble and a priest stole; these articles of clothing represent the “Yoke of Christ”.
Moreover, I noticed that there was some discussion of life after death during the lesson part of this occasion. The host talked about how all people are sinners, but thankfully God is full of grace and forgives us if we confess our wrongdoings. By practicing this behavior along with an official baptism, Catholics have faith that they will go to heaven. Secondly, the readings from that day told a story of a diseased girl who was healed by the Son of God. This scripture informed me that Catholics also believe in the healing power of God and can cure all the suffering of the world.
Lastly, these particular Christians think they have solved the human issue of moral decision making because they make their choices by following the guidelines of their Master. In relation to their topics, Catholics have several beliefs that they express in a variety of ways. In the creeds they quote, they inform that God has three forms which are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. While singing hymns like “Amazing Grace” and, the assembly admits that their Lord is all-loving and all-powerful, as well as believing that Jesus died on the cross and rose again on he third day.
Finally, my last thoughts about this denomination comes from the attitudes and physical appearances of the Catholic people. By just stepping into the parking lot, I could tell that the members dressed casually, because there were no dresses or ties. On the contrary, the congregation showed great formality through their emotions and actions during their Lord’s Day routine. For example, no one spoke unless they were reading, praying, or singing. The Catholics were very socially involved with each other too just like a family would be.
Because of my observation, I can conclude many differences between my church and a Catholic church. First, Protestant unions get to nominate a Pastor of their choice, however in a Catholic correlation, the hosts are rotated every so often. Second, a church like mine has a Sunday School time for adults and children year round, but Catholics only have classes for kids during the winter months. Third, in my christian walk, I have a personal relationship with God, and I do not use a priest to declare my sins as Catholics do.
In conclusion, my visit to a Catholic church was a great learning experience. The most interesting aspect to me was the organization of the service and the memorization of prayers and creeds. Also, I found it amazing that many of the beliefs and traditions of Catholics are similar to my own religion. For instance, we both believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and practice the Lord’s Supper. It is wonderful to know all the steps of a Catholic ritual, and I am glad that I can now explain the contrasting aspects of Protestant and Catholic christians.
