The culture that I am studying and doing my cultural reporter project is the Catholic Church. I wanted to study this culture because my town is made up of the religion Lutheran, which is what I am, and Catholics. I know there are a lot of differences and similarities between the two religions, which I have had debates about with my friends and so I want to try and learn about their religion so that I can get a better idea about the differences and similarities. I am learning about the differences of the Church by attending church services, interviewing people such as Catholics, and the Priests. I have attended two different Catholic church services, one is the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, and the other is the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish at the Newman Center. I will be comparing these churches to the Lutheran church I attend which is the Southwood Lutheran Church.
The last two Sundays I have attended two different mass services, one at the Newman Center and the other at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ. The first thing I noticed about these Churches is that they had the most beautiful windows that told the story of Christ. The both had water in bowls where the Catholics put their fingers in and then make the action of the cross from their head, to their chest, to their one shoulder and then to their other shoulder. Then they go sit in the pew but before they sit in the pew, they kneel to acknowledge that Jesus is in the room. Next a lot of people kneeled and at the Newman Center they just prayed, but at the Cathedral they were saying the Rosary which is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. (How to Pray the Rosary) Next it started with certain prayers and hymns that are assigned to that certain day, which can be found in a book. After prayers and some hymns, the sermon took place. At the Newman Center, I thought that the Priest did a really good job, explaining that God has a plan for everyone, when he shared a story about a boy who had a brain tumor and was going to pass away and had accepted it. Next it was more praying and hymns and the greeting which the people shake hands and say “Peace be with you.”
Then the Communion took place, which is a holy time of worship when we corporately come together as one body to remember and celebrate what Christ did for us. (Fairchild) When Communion takes place, the people go up to the front of the room and take a wafer which is symbolized as the body of the Christ. I am not supposed to go up and attend the communion because I am not Catholic. I don’t really know the reason why but when I plan to talk with the priest, it will be one of the questions I have for him. Finally the service closed with announcements and then parting and shaking hands with the Priest.
I noticed there are a lot of differences between the Lutheran Church and the Catholic Church. My church says the Apostles Creed where at the Catholic Church they say the Nicene Creed. (Reardon) Also at Southwood Lutheran, we do communion every other week and we eat the bread and drink the wine( body and blood of Christ) and the Catholic Church does communion every week and they just eat the bread and only on special occasions like holidays, do they drink the wine. Also I noticed that we sang a lot of the same songs, but the differences weren’t the words, they were the sound of the music which is what was different.
I spoke with one of my friends about the Catholic Church and his name is Eric Uher, I interviewed him because he is a really strong Catholic which has probably missed two church services in his whole life time. He said that the Catholic Church is a lot stricter than the Lutheran Church. He explained why they do certain things in the Church and I am planning on speaking more with him and talking to the Priest for my next blog.
WORK CITED
The Nicene and Apostles' Creeds
A close look at these two creeds helps define what Christians believe.
A close look at these two creeds helps define what Christians believe.
What is Communion and Why Do Christians Observe Communion?
How To Pray The Rosary
The Newman Center
Cathedral of the Risen Christ
No comments:
Post a Comment