Note: I’m going to call your co-worker Joe because otherwise I get confused with my pronouns.
How would you answer a catholic co-worker who says catholic mass is very mundane, compared to the other Christian denominations?
Personally, I would say that Joe is mistaken in the purpose of worship. I say that, and I have been there myself (hence revert_jen). What is worship? According to the Catechism:
"CCC #2096-2097:
Adoration is the first act of the virtue of religion. To adore God is to acknowledge him as God, as the Creator and Savior, the Lord and Master of everything that exists, as infinite and merciful Love. “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve,” says Jesus, citing Deuteronomy.
To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the “nothingness of the creature” who would not exist but for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.
Are humility, respect, and absolute submission what is happening in the Protestant services your friend is attending? If not, then are they worship? The purpose of worship is not to entertain the worshippers. The purpose of worship is to render to God praise and exutation, not because He needs it, but because it is due God in justice, and because only by doing so can we appropriately remember the transcendance of God.
He has been attending christian services lately,
Please keep in mind that Catholic services are Christian services. It is not a good idea to talk as if Christian = Protestant. I know there are some Protestants who mistakenly do that, but as a Catholic if you do it (even through carelessness), it could cause confusion for others, not least your friend. When I saw the name of the thread, I thought you were opposing Christian services to something non-Christian like Jewish or Muslim or something.
the most recent one having actor Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ) as the speaker.
Joe should be safe enough for that one, as yes, Jim Caviezel is well known for being a devout Catholic.
My co-worker thought it was so cool; to have an actor at the church. He said the actor spoke the whole time about issues that really meant something to my co-worker in this day and age, whereas the priest at Mass doesn’t talk to the heart of people and is outdated. I’m sure he was awe-struck, as anyone would be.
Well you might remind Joe that this same speaker who understands the issues that mean something to him gets his own wisdom from his Catholicism. I’m sure that Mr. Caviezel would say so himself if it wouldn’t have been rude to do it at a Protestant service.
I’m sure that he attends Mass himself. I have a few suggestions for Joe:
- Find a different parish. Different priests have different skills in homiletics (preaching).
- Remember that not everyone at Mass is Joe. The priest may not be speaking to Joe, because he is speaking to another portion of the congregation. All kinds of people are in a Catholic Mass, just as all kinds of people are in the Church herself. And it would have to be that way, since God loves all people. Any presentation of the Gospel that seems tailor made for people in Joe’s situation is obviously missing something and is an incomplete Gospel, because the Good News is for everyone.
- Most importantly, the woship of God is not supposed to be entertainment like a movie or a fair or something. In this case, it should be Bread without circuses (if that’s not too irreverent). The Mass is about bringing us sacramentally to the foot of the Cross so we can be love God better, and is of course MOSTLY about God coming to be really present for us so that we can follow His commandment to “Do this in memory of me” because Jesus is “… the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever…” (Jn 6:51)
There is certainly no harm in attending lectures in which people speak of the faith. In fact it’s a great idea, and I’m lucky that there is an organization in my diocese that arranges a lot of such talks. (They are also available for free download later at
instituteofcatholicculture.org/media.htm.) A lecturer’s primary job is to speak well in front of groups, whereas a priest’s primary job is to provide the sacraments, so a lecturer may well speak better than a priest.
And of course there is nothing wrong with attending a Charismatic prayer service too, to dance and sing before the Lord if you want, but it is not the Mass, and nothing is or could be a substitute for the Mass.
And the most important thing for you is before you talk to Joe at all, make sure you pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you to present such arguments and in such a way that you speak to Joe’s heart.
–Jen
