Reason One: The Upward Focus of Public Worship—The Mass

From: Opened Up to Grace—Five Reasons I Became Catholic at 53

“Moses told Pharaoh to let his people go to offer sacrifice to God in the desert (Exodus 7:16). There, God would teach them to worship Him in the way He prescribed and give them the covenant Law that made them His chosen people.

At the Last Supper Christ would prescribe the worship of those He called and gathered to be His new People. He commanded a new covenant sacrifice: “Do this in memory of me.” For this sublime action, the Father assembles us at every Mass.”*

—Catholic News Agency: Reprinted with permission from the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Over more than 40 years as a Protestant / Evangelical (hereafter referenced P/E), I took part in many conversations about the “worship service.” I read many more. The worship service is a highly-discussed topic in P/E conversations.

Discussions and Decisions, Every Sunday

Throughout my life as a believer, ongoing scrutiny of the “Sunday service” became increasingly tiresome. How should we sing? How will we preach/teach? What is the order? What do we wear?

In the US during the 1970s, traditional culture and values were steadily clashing with generational change ushered in by 1960s counter culture. The Jesus Movement was glorious, the largest P/E wave in US history, taking place mostly along the West Coast, bringing the Gospel to hundreds of thousands, genuinely evangelizing large groups of young people.

I didn’t know it until later, but the wave reached where I lived. With good hearts and pure motives, many around us wanted to do Christianity “better,” myself included. But cultural baggage came along with this movement, leading many churches to spend too much time focused on local issues, becoming unhealthily self-obsessed.

How SHOULD we conduct a worship service? Did you like this music? How was the sermon? How did it feel? How did YOU feel today? How SHOULD we feel? Did we “enjoy" it? Was it meaningful to ME? The band is too loud. The band is too soft. Why is there a band in the first place? Why ISN’T there a band? Shouldn’t we just use organ and piano? Why do we even use instruments?

Our preacher wears jeans. Our minister always wears a tie. Ours wears vestments. Our pastor only uses the Bible. Our church teaches with drama. I like drama. I don’t care for drama. None of this is “working” for me. I’m going to start a “new" church, one where we worship “Biblically.”

In those days, these kinds of conversations led public worship to take on new forms, evolving P/E culture into most of what we experience today in the West.

My Question, for Years —Is What We Do on Sunday “Real” Worship??

Perhaps P/Es should technically get a pass on this question. Real worship is in the hearts of believers, right? When the veil was torn we gained access to God through Christ. We don’t really need priests, services, or buildings. For many evangelicals, location is irrelevant.

So I’ll agree, we can indeed worship God, i.e. express our reverence or adoration for Him, anywhere, at any moment. Worship is not limited to Sunday, nor does it only take place “in community.”

But my question is about something different.

God always gave His people prescriptions for regular worship. This includes once each week when God’s people stop, rest, and worship Him in community. So why do many groups of believers decide to pass on a weekly opportunity to give attention to their Heavenly Father through reverence and adoration?

In my view, weekly “worship” is often replaced with a performance and a conversation. This is what many so-called worship services essentially are. We’ve been taught this is worship, and that these activities somehow lead us to a moment with God. I’m sure they do for some individuals at particular moments.

But many believers go through the entire week without stopping to worship God. All too frequently, our week is (mostly) focused on us. So-called followers of Christ sometimes go all week with hardly a thought of our Heavenly Father. I was guilty. Maybe you are too. God doesn’t condone or recommend this, but He understands it will happen. It’s among many reasons he put the seven-day cycle into place. God knows man needs to stop, refocus and rest.

But in most evangelical churches Sunday is hardly a day of rest. It’s often the day with the most activity. And in my personal experience, Sunday’s agenda in some aspects remained largely self centered. All too often on Sunday, well-intentioned evangelicals say a prayer or read a Scripture passage, then become spectators for a one hour performance, including a conversational period, where they listen as one of their leaders opines.

I sometimes led these events, aka worship services. Prior to age 40 I preached a few hundred sermons, and led “worship” regularly in our local congregations.

Mass Misconceptions

Roman Catholic worship is frequently stereotyped by outsiders and by some “cradle Catholics.” You hear statements like “they pay more attention to their traditions than to the Word of God,” or “Catholics repeat certain acts and don’t even know why they do them.” I used to think Catholic clergy were out to flaunt their own authority and position by parading around in colorful robes and big hats. I had no idea the vestments told the stories of church seasons and celebrations, or that the most elaborate head wear is the greatest sign of submission and service.

There is sometimes talk of “emptiness" when outsiders observe the Roman Catholic Mass, a feeling that there is “nothing there for me.” A traditional Mass seems to them slow, lifeless and rote. For anyone bringing along P/E cultural values born in the 70s I suppose this perspective is possible, absent the great liveliness, energy and noise. But once one clearly understands what is being symbolized, practiced and celebrated during the Catholic Mass, such misconceptions couldn’t be farther from reality.

Based on many years attending evangelical services it’s my experience and observation that worshipers sometimes “look up” during formal community worship. However, in those same services, great effort and energy are also spent “looking around” i.e. the “worship activities” are focused more on the people in the room, than on God. I know it’s a bit more complex, but for me, so many years of Protestant/Evangelical worship came down to this.

Catholic Mass —An Opportunity to Look Up

Participation is key to Catholic public worship. Catholics participate from the moment they walk in the door. The faithful are encouraged to prepare heart and attitude even before arriving.

Upon entering the Catholic church building there is usually a small container near the door, sometimes only near to the actual Nave (P/E term is Sanctuary). This “font" contains Holy Water. This water is blessed by a priest or bishop used for symbolic cleansing and liturgical purposes.

The very first thing a Catholic will do upon entering the church building is to dip fingers or hand in the Holy Water and make the sign of the cross. The water is a reminder of Baptism. Entering the church is a time to begin remembering spiritual commitments, Baptism being first. We make the sign of the cross as a reminder of Jesus and his sacrifice, also making such a commitment to begin His formal ministry. Personally, I touch my forehead with the Holy Water which helps me recall my Baptism and thank God for being part of His Church.

So as we enter, Catholics immediately experience worship. We’re immediately involved and we involve our senses. The church is quiet when we enter, sometimes music is playing softly. We’re polite and cordial to those around us. Sometimes there are brief whispered conversations. But the occasion of the Mass is not immediately focused on enjoying relationships with others. Instead it’s an attitude of prayer, a solemn preparation to look up.

When we enter the Nave, we also genuflect (kneel by bending one knee). We do this out of respect for our Lord Jesus Christ, as we enter the place of worship. As Catholics we believe in the physical presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, the bread and cup. So we genuflect toward the Tabernacle where the Eucharistic hosts reside.

There’s usually a small red light or a candle burning behind the altar near the tabernacle to mark the location. The prescribed action is to genuflect when you enter the Nave, but many Catholics enter and walk to their seat, then genuflect before they sit down. Either way, this is a place where our Lord and King resides, is remembered and celebrated. We begin to worship Him even before sitting down.

As we take our seat, we open what is usually a kneeling platform connected to the pew in front of us, and we take time to kneel and pray. This is the next opportunity to bring our hearts and attitudes in tune to the worship celebration we’re about to be part of. Now more deeply than remembering our Baptism, we begin to take stock of our own condition.

Prayers at this time are sometimes recited from memory, or spontaneous prayers are offered to God acknowledging sin and asking forgiveness. It may also be a time to intercede for others, share our own prayer intentions for the Mass, or go to God with other specific requests. The objective continues to be our own preparation before God to worship Him. Ahead of our personal desires to have a meaningful experience, we are already participating in true worship giving God the reverence He deserves, celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ, looking up.

A “meaningful experience” essentially begins as we place God and ourselves in perspective.

Kneeling in Catholic worship demonstrates our contrition and respect to God. The physical posture helps us to remember our spiritual posture before God. When I first started attending Mass, kneeling in public was a little out of character for me. This actually may not be the case for all P/Es, where kneeling may be more a part of their church culture or personal prayer life. In a short time for me kneeling became very normal, even meaningful. It’s completely appropriate and expresses an attitude and posture I need.

I should bring to the reader’s attention here that the Catholic believer pauses for the Holy Water, genuflects and prays (kneeling) whenever entering the Nave, not just before Mass. This has to do with a fundamental difference in the Catholic understanding of the actual building (church) structure vs the Protestant/Evangelical view.

You often hear P/Es discuss being minimalist with the building, or having no building at all, renting some commercial facility or even house worship "like the early church." Well-intentioned P/Es state that we don’t need “all that ornateness” to worship God, and that God’s money is better used to help the poor and support the missionaries. Well it’s true that God’s money is put to great use for such purposes. And there’s no organization in history who has dedicated greater finances toward the poor or sent more missionaries than the Roman Catholic Church. So there’s no conflict of interest when it comes to beautiful Catholic buildings.

The Catholic Church routinely erects glorious structures. Not everywhere. There are of course locations of humble means where simple structures are built, according to available finances. But for Catholics, structures are of major importance. God lives there, literally. Giving Him less than a beautiful work of design and construction would in fact show a lack of respect. Elaborateness may be relative to a particular culture or location, but God deserves a project that is thoughtful and well done. Catholic buildings have prescribed, purposeful design.

Once the Catholic worshiper enters and prays, they sit quietly in thought or prayer, awaiting the entrance of the priest, altar servers, deacons and other participants in the Mass. Even looking around the church, the believer is reminded of our spiritual legacy and our Lord, through carefully selected artwork found in stained glass windows, statues, paintings, displays, and the Stations of the Cross surrounding the room. The building where Jesus is housed, and His community meets to honor Him tells the story of Salvation History and man’s relationship with God, in multidimensional ways.

To begin Mass the procession enters from the back, a priest or two, perhaps a deacon, altar servers, sometimes the readers of Scripture. The procession will be led by a cross, and a large book containing the New Testament Gospels. Often accused of not bringing Bibles to church, or anywhere else, Catholics actually believe the Gospels are so important they give them a special place of prominence in the Mass. These actual words of Jesus, the historical accounts of His life are carried in as part of the entrance processional and laid on the altar. Later comes a Gospel reading for which the faithful will stand.

As the priest and servers enter they bow when they approach the altar or pass in front of it. Actually anyone who passes the center of the church in front of the altar at any time, during Mass or otherwise, should bow. This is another opportunity to show reverence and respect to the place where God has a physical presence during the Mass. The priest will step behind the altar, where the Gospels are also placed, and kiss it, again to reverently observe the altar’s significance and importance.

On occasions of special celebration, the priest walks around the altar spreading incense as a sign of reverence and respect. At these times the incense will also be offered later while the Gospel reading takes place, and sometimes also presented towards the faithful as they stand.

Incense is an opportunity to involve another of the senses in worship and reminds the believer the importance of creating a special place for God. In the Catholic Mass the worshiper is involved spiritually, intellectually and physically at all times. We worship God with all senses, allowing a beautiful and orderly Mass to call us towards a beautiful and orderly God.

As the priest takes his place beside the altar, he welcomes the community with a greeting. One beautiful and practical aspect of the Roman Catholic Mass: on any given day, it’s the same everywhere; on the other side of town or the other side of the world. There are components and variations of prayers and responses which can be interchanged, but the Liturgy is the same set of components, the same prescription. In this sense there’s submission to the Church’s authority (a topic for a later chapter), which is submission to Jesus, who established the Church’s authority. In this liturgical structure and prescribed approach there is little room for opinion or whim, such that it strengthens the bond of unity locally and globally.

The Priest greets the assembly by making the Sign of the Cross accompanied by the faithful, and sharing a greeting to which the people respond, signifying the Lord’s presence in the Mass. This simple exercise formally introduces and reminds those assembled why and for whom they are gathered as part of the sacred mystery of the Church. An opening prayer is recited or read, the collect prayer.

Following the prayer, the priest reminds the community once again of their sin via the Penitential Act. If you haven’t focused on your sin yet in any other activity, or even if you have, this is a time the community prays together, acknowledging their sinfulness. In a prescribed prayer the faithful acknowledge their sin to one another and ask each other to pray for them as sinners.

Can these liturgical steps become routine and lose their meaning? Perhaps. But it’s hard to get more real than standing with people all around you and admitting you’re a sinner who has recently sinned. The most common Penitential Act, the Kyrie, Eleison (Lord, have mercy), is usually sung prayerfully together by all in the Mass, sometimes in Latin, otherwise in the local language.

By comparison with the P/E worship service, early in the Mass the focus is much more on our own sinfulness and much less on "how I want the show to go today." I know that sounds harsh. In fairness, I spent 40 years in P/E services so that leaves me somewhat qualified to evaluate. Maybe no others are coming from where I came from? But perhaps many understand. This was my position.

In the Mass we remember the cross, our Baptism and the Gospel. The priest will be dressed in a particular color, which also calls attention to an aspect of our worship and to particular seasons or occasions being celebrated per the Liturgical Calendar.. For example purple is the color of penance, green is the color of hope.

As sinfulness is acknowledged following multiple opportunities, the worshiper is more prepared to hear what God has to say. So the Mass moves to the Liturgy of the Word. This is actually one of the most interesting aspects of comparison between the Mass and the P/E worship service.

In most P/E services the “Word of God" is preached/taught from the pulpit. Scripture is usually read and frequently referenced throughout the sermon/teaching. But there’s also a great deal of time spent, sometimes the majority of the service, hearing what someone (a pastor, preacher or teacher) has to say about the passage of scripture.

Let me add that I often do want to know what this person has to say. It’s frequently interesting and often relevant. The preacher will remind the listener that he (or she) is following the Apostles’ tradition as they taught truth and doctrine to the Church. At that time there was no Canon of Scripture. Neither did the Church or its members have the New Testament, easy access to the Graphé or the Septuagint. In the earliest period the Church primarily relied on what the Apostles taught concerning truth they learned first hand from Jesus, and guidance they received immediately from the Holy Spirit.

Now we HAVE the Bible, the Canon of Scripture. Catholics, using the Bible in the Liturgy of the Word, spend little time in the Mass on what man has to say. To be fair, there is a plethora of writing and content created by and for Catholics, no shortage exists historically on what man has to say to Catholics from current leaders and laity, priests and religious, Church Fathers, and Saints presently and throughout history. The Catholic Church almost certainly possesses the largest theological, academic and spiritual content library in history.

But Mass is for man’s attention to God, not what man says about God. It’s a time to read what God says, what He divinely inspired the authors to write in the Canon of Scripture. We read four times from the Bible at weekend Mass, three times during weekday Mass. In a three-year reading cycle, Catholics who attend daily Mass will hear a large portion of the Bible. It's true, most Catholics don’t bring their Bible to church. The readings are all found in the missal, usually provided in the pew.

Right before the Liturgy of the Word, a hymn is sung, one of the oldest in the Church, the Gloria in Excelsis (Glory to God in the highest). This hymn must be sung or recited by the faithful or alternately with the choir. Its purpose is to offer praise and glory to God the Father and the Lamb, upon their thrones. It is sung at weekend Mass but not weekday Mass, with the exception of solemn celebrations.

The Liturgy of the Word begins with a reading from the Old Testament, performed by a member of the parish community. The second reading is a Psalm, most often sung by the cantor (leader of singing), with responsorial participation by the worshipers. The third reading is from the New Testament, read again by someone from the community. The readings are organized into yearly cycles selected to be read together and are the same each day worldwide, providing unity and continuity for God’s people.

The fourth reading, also cyclical and worldwide, is from one of the four Gospels. It’s introduced by music and is usually read by a priest or deacon. The ceremony for the Gospel reading involves holding the book up high for all to see. On some occasions incense will be spread around the volume prior to the reading. As the reader announces the Gospel text, the faithful thank Jesus stating “Glory to you, O Lord,” and three small Signs of the Cross are made, one over the forehead, one over the mouth and one over the heart, symbolizing three places the Word of God / Gospel message reaches and resides.

After the Gospel reading is the homily. This sermon is given usually by the priest, sometimes by a deacon, usually on the topic of one of the day’s readings, the occasion of a liturgical celebration or sometimes (rarely) a current event. It’s typical for the homily to last 10-15 minutes, sometimes more. The homily is a teaching time to explain and apply the Scripture, explain Catholic faith and doctrine, challenge or encourage the believer in their spiritual walk. It’s a positive time of encouragement.

Disputation of the Holy Sacrament is a Renaissance painting by Raphael. Painted between 1509 and 1510 the artist depicts a scene spanning heaven and earth, suggesting a scene which may be taking place at the moment the Blessed Sacrament is consecrated and celebrated upon the altar during every Mass. / Image credit: Dominicajournal dot org

The end of the homily transitions the worship community to confessing their faith, out loud together, in recitation of the Nicene or Apostles’ Creed. This time of unity is again an opportunity to focus on key and common aspects of our faith. Then the priest and a reader or deacon lead the faithful in a group prayer, where a list of broad intentions (requests) are prayed for, such as for state leaders, first responders, the unborn, those suffering for their faith, and perhaps local concerns such as certain sick or recently departed (deceased) loved ones and their families. The person praying will read the prayer intention and the community affirms the prayer out loud with a reply such as “Lord graciously hear us” or “Lord hear our prayers.”

At this time the transition to the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins. In this interlude, an offering collection is taken. At the same time the priest begins preparing the bread and wine for consecration. In the weekend Mass the elements to be consecrated are brought forward in the form of a gift from the faithful, during or following the offering. There are prescribed reciting and prayers by the priest in the consecration process, sometimes inaudible to the worshipers, or in some formats, the worshipers participate. The entire ceremony, and really the entire Mass thus far leads up to this focus now on the elements being prepared.

The focus of the Eucharistic mysteries is remembering and celebrating the work of Jesus on the cross, with the elements He instituted on the night of his passion. The priest shares the story as he consecrates the bread and cup. During this moment in the Mass, the consecrated elements are ceremoniously and mysteriously transformed into the body and blood of Christ, under the signs of bread and wine. Differently than in P/E communities, only Catholic believers in communion with the Church should receive these elements in the celebration of Holy Communion.

As the elements are consecrated, the worshipers are again reminded of the importance and solemnity in this act, standing and kneeling before the elements at appropriate and prescribed times. At the end of the consecration, the community stands and recites the Our Father (Lord’s Prayer) together as a sign of unity. In some places holding hands is practiced. Following the prayer the Sign of Peace is offered to one another; mostly a handshake, friendly nod or wave in America followed by “Peace be with you” or in Spanish Mass simply “La Paz.” The Sign of Peace is an energetic reminder during the solemn moment of the Eucharist that the community of believers is unified as they prepare to move toward the Eucharistic elements together.

Following the Sign of Peace the worshipers once again kneel before Jesus’ body and blood under the signs of bread and wine. Each worshiper in turn has the opportunity to stand, go forward and approach the priest or Communion servers. The fact that believers move forward to receive the Eucharist, instead of it being delivered (passed) is actually very powerful, as it demonstrates the willingness of each individual to participate in this act of worship and celebration. This takes a few minutes longer, but is essential to the experience.

As the worshiper approaches, the person serving states “the body of Christ” or “the blood of Christ” respectively while offering each element. The worshiper again shows reverence and humility by bowing before each element prior to receiving and taking part in this intimate unity with the mysterious presence of Jesus Christ. Upon receiving the host and prior to sipping the wine, the worshiper replies, “Amen.”

As the faithful return to their seat, they continue to kneel until all have approached and been served, and the remaining elements are collected and put away in the Tabernacle. At this time the priest offers concluding rites, a prayer, sometimes a blessing. The end of Mass is announced, the faithful are encouraged to go forth in peace and share the Gospel. There’s a closing processional.

There’s no magical redeeming power for the Catholic attending the Mass, but it is considered a sin and violation of God’s command to not attend weekly Mass. Within the Mass, however, there are multiple opportunities to reflect on one’s sin, faith and life before God. There is plenty of opportunity to look to God Himself, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Most importantly, in the Mass there's opportunity to receive God’s Grace through the Sacrament. More on grace and the Sacraments is coming later. Receiving God’s Grace truly is the life-giving, and the most important essential aspect of the Mass for each believer.

The weekly Mass is a relief and rest from the week’s work and concerns. It’s preparation for the coming week’s challenges and blessings. There is no condemnation in the Mass, only a community of sinners who are recipients of grace. Mass begins solemnly, and ends happily as a time of joy and peace. It’s ritualistic and traditional. It’s also simple and personal. It’s an hour to change everything, followed by a day of rest.

I didn’t know about the Mass before becoming Catholic, even though I’d been to a few. If you’re reading this perhaps you didn’t either.

The Mass, with its Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist became a key reason for me to consider the Catholic Church and became one of my top five reasons for committing to Catholic tradition and teaching as my community of personal faith. The opportunity once a week or daily, to spend more time looking up than looking around is exactly what I need. It leads me to look up more often. The Church understands this, which is why the Mass is offered daily, and worldwide.

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