Catholic Herald Parenting™

	Home Base

Nineteenth century writer Elbert Hubbard wrote, "Religions are many and diverse, but reason and goodness are one." As brothers and sisters in Christ, Christians profess a fundamental theological bond. Yet, what are the components that distinguish and define our experience of the Catholic liturgy?

Judy Longdin, archdiocesan director of ecumenical and interfaith concerns, said distinctions must be made between liturgical and non-liturgical denominations when discussing Catholic vs. Protestant worship services.

"With the main-line liturgical denominations, such as Lutheran, Anglican or Episcopalian, the format of their service almost mirrors ours," she said. They use many of the same prayers, and the structure of their service is much the same in terms of the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist, she said. "The difference boils down to our understanding of the role of the priest and our understanding of the Eucharist. In non-liturgical denominations, such as the more fundamentalist groups, most emphasis is placed upon Scripture and its interpretation," she added.

For some it's ordinances, not sacraments

Rev. Steve Kuhl of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is an assistant professor of historical theology at Saint Francis Seminary, St. Francis. Most non-liturgical denominations do not speak of sacraments in their services, but ordinances, he explained in an interview with Catholic Herald Parenting.

"They call them ordinances because they don't see them as acts of God, but actions that are directed toward God, opposed to sacraments which involve God directing himself to us," he said.

Most of these denominations do follow a specific order in their worship services, he explained. "There would be hymn-singing and Scripture reading, followed by a sermon which would flesh out the Scripture readings in more detail. These services are probably more on par with what we would call a word and prayer service, without a eucharistic component." Kuhl said Lutheran and Roman Catholic liturgies have many similarities.

A visitor to a Lutheran service would probably find it strikingly similar to a Catholic liturgy in terms of the order of the service and the elements found within it, he said. Theological differences involving our understanding of the Eucharist would form the basis of the most significant difference, he noted.

Fundamental theological differences exist

"We don't often attempt to emphasize the differences between our communities," said the Rev. A. Mark Schudde, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in New Berlin. "After all, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. But there are some fundamental theological differences. Lutheran theology says that what happened on the cross, happened on the cross. Christ died once for all. According to (Lutheran) doctrine, the action of the priest or pastor at the altar does not result in transubstantiation. As Lutherans, we consecrate the bread and wine for sacred use," he explained.

The Catholic belief in the mystery of the Eucharist comprises a vital, distinct element of our faith, said Fr. Jerome A. Rinzel, pastor of St. Leonard Parish in Muskego. "The eucharistic element is one of the most important elements that we as Catholics engage in," he said. "It is the action of the mystical body of Christ in perfect prayer and worship.

"In Eucharist, the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary is renewed. In Eucharist, Christ takes our offerings and prayers and unites them to his perfect sacrificial offering on the cross and presents them to his heavenly Father. We are thus able to offer ourselves to God in and through Jesus Christ. One cannot engage in this eucharistic moment unless one is baptized and therefore fully united to Jesus Christ as a member of his mystical body. In that body, Jesus is the head, the Spirit of God is the life-giving force, and we are individual members."

He added, "This eucharistic moment cannot be celebrated alone, or by oneself, but must be celebrated in the context of a group, a body of living and baptized members of the mystical body."

What makes worship meaningful?

"The primary symbol of the liturgy is the full, active participation of the assembly," said Nancie Chmielewski, director of liturgy at St. Dominic Parish in Brookfield. "My experience has shown me that the most successful approach is to honor a number of traditions. I need to respect the backgrounds and needs of the various people who gather together at liturgy."

One visible and tangible component of the liturgical celebration is music, and Chmielewksi noted that music selection can play a prominent role in a successful liturgy. "Music is an ongoing dialog of prayer," she said. "But we have limits on what we can include in a celebration of Mass. There are different settings of the Mass that we can use and tailor to the needs of our particular congregation, but an entire event centered around songs of religious praise is outside the realm of a liturgical service."

There are outlets and venues for Catholic musicians of all ages to become involved with religious music of various styles, she noted. Many youth organizations have presented musical offerings with contemporary vocals and instrumentation. Music and prayer services have been popular complements to Sunday worship with many congregations. These have been enthusiastically received by young and old alike, but they do not constitute a liturgical celebration, she said.

Music must accompany ritual

Joseph Wittmann, director of liturgy and music at St. Rita Parish in West Allis, concurs. "The music chosen for the Mass must accompany the ritual action that is taking place," he explained.

"If the music is not appropriate, the congregation will not be engaged. We sing the liturgy," he explained. "We don't select music just to make people feel good."

Wittmann said the community culture must help shape the components necessary for a successful liturgy. "I have worked in a number of parishes and they all have different traditions, which are certainly equally meaningful, but you have to be attuned to the strengths and needs of your particular congregation when selecting what goes into the liturgy. I ask myself, 'What is our history? Where are we going as a pilgrim people?' And with that in mind I try to plan a meaningful expression within the liturgical framework."

As Chmielewski observed "The Greek root of the word liturgy actually means 'the work of the people.' It is this communal element that really defines and distinguishes our Catholic liturgy. Through that work you can come to know transformation and God's presence."