Going to Mass, not Church

While pondering the difference between Catholic and 

Protestant ecclesiology, I began to wonder if a huge gulf 

in understanding could be bridged or at least narrowed 

by simply saying, "go to Mass" and instead of "go to Church".

The Beverly Hillbillies used to say "You're wearin' Sunday 

go ta meetin' clothes." Mass is not simply a meeting.  Nor 

is it simply a meeting where we hear the Gospel and a sermon.  

It is a meeting centered on the Word made flesh, who sacrificed 

Himself for us, that re-presents that eternal (not repetitive) 

Sacrifice to us in time. Its goal is to bring us to Christ.  The 

music isn't there to evoke an emotion that dissolves once Mass 

is over. It's supposed to bring us closer to Christ.  The homily 

isn't supposed to do that either, or entertain.  It's supposed to 

bring us to Christ.  

Understood in this light, the priest facing east, veils for women, 

and chant all make sense, even if it doens't appeal to the sensibilities 

(or rather, insensibilities) of our modern times.