Traditional Roman Catholic Thoughts

Traditional Roman Catholic Thoughts

Reintroducing Logic and Reason to the Age of Sentimentalism

The Mass, Proper Worship and Megachurch Confusion

Should Catholics look towards Protestant megachurches for tips on worship experience? How about on church design? These are a few questions being asked within the Catholic Church today. In my last post, I examined why this would be a bad idea in regards to Catholic teaching. Now I’d like to examine the theology behind the Mass and our churches, to demonstrate how Protestant’s get them wrong.

What is the purpose of the Mass? The Baltimore Catechism (922) states:

“The ends for which the sacrifice of the Cross was offered were:
1. To honor and glorify God;
2. To thank Him for all the graces bestowed on the whole world;
3. To satisfy God’s justice for the sins of men;
4. To obtain all graces and blessings.

Christian worship should focus on Jesus Christ, Who is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist. While retaining the physical properties of bread and wine, when the priest says the words of consecration, they have become Jesus’ Body and Blood. His bloodied sacrifice of the Cross on Calvary is re-presented at the unbloodied sacrifice of the Altar, a sacrifice which can only be made by a validly ordained priest.

Tridentine Mass

In order for this reality to become manifest to those present, it is crucial for the space in which we worship to be reverent, solemn, and silent. Beauty adds to this atmosphere, as it draws us in to ponder the mysteries of this world and the next. This is why Catholics place many beautiful pieces of art and gold in their Churches. Sacred art invites those present to focus their prayer and contemplate God’s mysteries.

When churches remove elements of beauty, we lose opportunities to enter into contemplative prayer. Likewise, when the Mass is trivialized, we lose focus on Jesus Christ, and begin to focus on ourselves. Unfortunately, many Catholics believe we should look to Protestant megachurches, in order to influence the Mass and other facets of Catholic life.

We should see what one of these megachurches look like in order to draw a good comparison. Fortunately Boniface from Unam Sanctam Catholicam took a tour of his local Protestant megachurch.

Upon entering this particular “church”, you immediately see children playing soccer in their indoor soccer field. Yes, they have their very own indoor soccer field. Having worked at a high-quality fitness chain for a year and a half, I can tell you that the above church bears many resemblances. Boniface spends time walking around the building documenting all of the different facilities this megachurch has at its disposal.

They have their very own coffee shop, where you can go to get your mocha or latte. Or, if coffee doesn’t interest you, you can certainly grab a bite to eat. There is a play place where all the children can take off their shoes and run through the colorful tubes. Along the way, Boniface finds a timeline where the church traces its roots, all the way back to 2002. Ironically they list Jesus’ death, but ignore 2000 years of Christian history, showcasing their belief that their man-made church is far more important.

It isn’t until the end of the video that we discover the “auditorium”, as they call their place of “worship”, is on the other side of the soccer field. Nothing prepares someone for time with God better than a tour through a gymnasium! Ironically, the doors to the auditorium are locked. No longer do Christians recognize they are in need of the Lord’s saving grace; gone are the days when they go to a Church to pray, in the Lord’s own house. Why bother when you can easily spend your prayer time at the coffee shop?

There is hardly any indication this megachurch is even Christian. This odd building takes away focus from the sacred and spotlights the profane. It is about the temporal welfare of the believer, instead of the spiritual. I suspect they preach a gospel of prosperity, that is, God rewards His faithful with wealth.

the eucharist

As Catholics, we have to realize Jesus is physically present in the Eucharist. He resides in our tabernacles awaiting for us to adore Him. This reality affects how we properly worship God. There is no more perfect way to worship God and glorify Him than by attending Mass, receiving Him worthily in communion, and adoring Him in Adoration. We do not go to Mass to be friendly with our neighbors. We go to honor and glorify God, to thank Him for all the graces bestowed on the whole world, to satisfy God’s justice for the sins of men, and to obtain all graces and blessings. Social benefits should not draw us in, but the desire to come face to face with Jesus at the consecration: a most solemn moment. Once our focus is taken off of Christ and put onto ourselves, we have lost the meaning of the Mass, and what it means to be a Christian.

Jeff February 24, 2015 1 Comment Permalink

Can Catholics Learn from Protestant Megachurches?

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No.

Oh, you wanted me to elaborate more? I suppose I can.

Catholics can learn a great deal from Protestant Megachurches. In fact, Protestants can teach Catholics much in regards to defying Christ. Protestantism, which is a heresy against the Truth of Christ, can only teach Catholics error, falsities, and heresy. Even if a particular Protestant teaching is aligned with Catholic teaching, it is best to avoid it lest we become seduced into agreeing with error.

Protestants have been protesting the Catholic Church and her teachings and doctrines, which come from Christ, since the days of Martin Luther. It’s been a rather long protest and is motivated by human error, pride, and arrogance. These churches do not hold the truth and are man-made religions.

Seeing as the Catholic Church is the only Church Christ founded, we know it to have the fullness of the Truth. This Truth, which comes directly from God, gives assurance to this world that whatever the Church rules in the matters of faith and morals, has the backing of God. The Catholic Church is correct when it comes to worship, teaching, doctrine, and dogma.

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Once Martin Luther broke away from the One True Church, he introduced error into all of his teachings, even those teachings he brought along from the Church. This is because he no longer accepted the fullness of Truth. Likewise, once Martin Luther broke away due to his disagreements with the Church’s teachings, thousands of other men and women like Luther have left either the Church or Luther to find their own “church”.

Protestant megachurches are so far down the broken branches of Christianity, they are hardly recognizably Christian. Rock and roll, charismaticism, hand waving, and long-drawn out sermons are the trademark of these groups. They use the name of Christ often to give a false confidence in their worship and to appear as if they hold the truth, but proclaim a false gospel by doing so. They have twisted the core of Genesis 1:26 and instead of conforming themselves and their wills to that of God’s, they have made a god in their own image, a god they can physically see every time they look in the mirror.

While even a broken clock is correct twice a day, I do not rely on a broken clock to tell me what the time is. If by happenstance the broken clock is correct, I do not know if it is correct, unless I have a working clock to compare. The same can be said with Protestantism. We only know if Protestant teaching is correct if we compare it with Catholic teaching, and if we need Catholic teaching to tell us if it is right or wrong, what good is the Protestant teaching?

The purpose of Christianity is to make as many members as possible, but not at the expense of undermining the Truth. When we undermine the Truth to gain members, we spread lies and false hope. Many people are attracted to the Truth and beauty of Catholicism. When listening to conversion stories, converts never become Catholic because of the “fun” or “giddiness” or the “welcoming”. But rather, they became Catholic because of the immense beauty and the Truth that Catholicism possesses which can be found in no other religion or creed on this Earth.

In reality, Catholics have far more they can teach Protestant megachurches on how to become more Christian. Being poised in matters of faith and morals, we can teach them how to properly worship God that is pleasing to Him through the Sacraments and devotions. Catholics can demonstrate to Protestants the beauty and Truth we possess in the Mass and our Liturgies, especially when celebrated according to the rubrics set up by our forefathers.

If we, as Catholics, continue this erroneous mentality that we can learn from Protestants to become better Catholics, we slip dangerously into the temptation of reducing the Church Christ founded into one of many churches. We reduce the effectiveness of the Truth being proclaimed because if we appear incorrect in one facet of faith, many will question if we are wrong in others. We risk the possibility of losing souls to error. Those souls who are outside the Church and outside of the state of grace at the moment of their death are likely to spend an eternity outside of God’s Kingdom, whether they chose to or not.

Jeff February 15, 2015 4 Comments Permalink