TALE OF TWO CITY .... CHURCHES

Last Sunday on Austrian TV I was watching a mass held at St. Augustine church in Vienna. But this wasn’t just church TV, it was actually a documentary on the use of classical music within the structure of a Sunday mass. The priest would chant his part and then the orchestra and choir would sing a classical piece based upon what was chanted. The music was always a part of a religious piece from either the Baroque or classical period.
There was beautiful music, within beautiful surroundings, beautifully put together, programmed and excellently performed. Some people would consider that heaven on earth. But as the camera panned the congregation I noticed that none of the congregation was participating in any physical or tangible way. It pretty much looked like there was no real outward participation going on. That is not to say however that people were not in a spiritual mood. I did noticed people with eyes closed, head bowed, or head looking upward as if towards God. What I did noticed though was that it looked more like it was inward focused. Nothing wrong with that. Introspection is needed. Introspection is good for the soul. It is very spiritual. But where was the corporate interaction? Other than standing at certain times and sitting other times the congregation as a whole did not reflect any togetherness as a church body. Each person was focused on their own thoughts and ideas. Instead of the music being incorporated into the worship service, instead of the music engaging the people into what was going on in the service, it seemed as if the music was interrupted by the priestly duties. It was as if a concert was being interrupted by a solo chant that had nothing in common with the music other than it was the same subject matter.
I’ve heard a lot about the importance of coming to church for just this idea. To come and meditate, think, reflect all without direction. This sounds like a great church service. But is it worship? When they close their eyes what’s going on behind the eyelids?
Right after that show another church related show came on. This one was in fact a worship service of another church in Vienna. The thing that caught my attention right away was the soccer ball up front. There was also a bouquet of flowers in the design of a soccer ball. Why, I asked myself would they have a soccer ball in the worship service, but then I realized that all this week Austria was hosting the Euro 2008 soccer tournament.
then in the middle of the service some of the young people came forward and started playing soccer in the middle of the aisle. The play ended with someone scoring a goal. Then there was a scripture read and then another play started in the aisle. After a foul was performed another scripture was read. Now I don’t speak German and understand even less, but I’m guessing the first scripture was about “pressing on towards the goal” what Paul was talking about, and maybe the second one had to do with the forgiveness of God when we make a mistake. Or maybe it was from Romans “the wages of sin (in this case a foul) is death!”
The congregation was singing contemporary songs along with other parts of the service for the congregation to participate in.
Here your mind was being directed to a specific thought rather then just being left to meditate on what you just heard. You were being directed to participate together in the same thought. Even in the homily a soccer ball was used as an object lesson.
Using a contemporary happening, the Euro 2008 soccer tournament in Austria was the vehicle by which the service moved.
I’m thinking who ever planned this worship service was on the ball. They understood the goal of the service. Okay I’ll stop before I go afoul…. Sorry I just can’t help myself.
And all this within the boundaries of a Catholic Mass. What a difference between the two churches in the same city.
John