I'm a traditionalist.
- I prefer solemn hymns accompanied by an organ, not guitars, and please, no clapping along to the beat.
- Don't hold my hand or introduce yourself at any point during the mass.
- Burn some incense and light some candles.
- Speak Latin.
- Give me quaint wooden churches like the one we attended as a child or huge cathedrals like the one we attended when we visited the grandparents.
I like to feel like I've spiritually been someplace holy, not at a town council or PTA meeting.
10 comments:
I miss traditional Catholic Latin mass too. In the 60's, I went with some friends, their family and guests to a Catholic mass. They were Unitarians harboring a Guatemalan family who didn't speak any English, and were very scared. When the mass started they relaxed. I remember thinking how nice it was that wherever they go they could hear mass in Latin just like they had at home, a few years later that changed of course. I could do without the incense.
I don't like the hand holding stuff either.
I think that people forget what church is supposed to be about. We're so caught up in the way the message is delivered, that we miss the message.
Susan - All true.
Jen - Also true. I just prefer a more solemn atmosphere, I guess.
A while back I was invited to attend a friend's church. I'm not an avid church-goer, but my friend (Kristy) is passionate about her church so I went.
This wasn't a "church" in my eyes, it was a huge school, the service was held in a huge auditorium with video screens and the preacher dressed in a suit.
It wasn't church.
I don't recall a service in Latin, but I did miss all of the traditions of the Catholic church. I was just brought up that way.
Zina - I know what you mean. Some of those guys are great speakers but I don't FEEL anything at a service like that. One of the hazards of being raised Catholic, I suppose.
It's been decades since I've been Catholic and don't miss a thing about the Church. I've grown to admire proactive churches who've taken the message out of sanctuary and into neighborhoods . . . somebody has to do it. However, my wife, who was raised in a Southern Baptist Church, has made comments similar to yours about Baptist worship services(shhhh . . . don't tell anybody; this church is trying to hide its Baptist affiliation) . . . give her some of that ol' time religion . . .
George - I'm with your wife but I congratulate you on your ability to adapt.
I can remember as a teen in a Baptist church we had a relaxed dress code and you could actually wear jeans and a nice sweater to service.
Nowadays I would have no clue. Something basic probably.
Grimm - I didn't even mention the dress code (or lack thereof). Way too casual. We should still be wearing hats.
came across this previous post but had to comment. that man's son was getting married and it hit me the day before that i should probably go to confession as his entire family would be at the wedding. only church i could find on a friday afternoon that was hearing confessions was a tiny, little mission church in sweet lake, la -- not far from cameron. so i make the 20+ mile drive. it's a precious, little wooden church where there are head coverings on a stand if you haven't brought your own;the rosary is recited before mass starts; the altar is at the BACK of the church; you kneel for communion where you RECEIVE the host -- you do not touch it; and some of the prayers are in latin. when i left that day it was as if i had been transported back in time! ok -- know this is waaaay past the normal period of comments but just had to share. peace!
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