Anglo-Catholics Down the Rabbit Hole

(Disclaimer:

If you are Catholic and are unfamiliar with me or this blog, please know that I love Catholics and, if a reader were to peek in my closet, he or she would probably find one.  (No, I don't have the neighbor locked in my closet; I'm referring to myself here.) It's just that we have, for many years, been distinctly Anglo-Catholic and have a great love for the sublime beauty of Anglican liturgy, patrimony, and tradition.  Please do not misconstrue anything I write here as being "anti-Catholic" or lacking in respect for Roman Catholicism.  It's just me trying to insert some humor into a difficult life transition.

If you are Catholic and are familiar with me or this blog, then deal with it.  You know I love you guys. Smiles.)

Simone Martini [Public domain]

~~~~

My tiny corner of the internet has been quiet for quite a while, I suppose.  You may remember that our family has, along with our parish, been experiencing some rough seas following the departure  of our diocese some years ago from the Episcopal Church.  Much of that was resolved recently, only to be followed by a final crashing wave that was quite unexpected, and caused us to finally own up to the fact that Anglicanism (even through our heavily Tractarian lens) will always be, at its heart, intrinsically Protestant, and we--well--just aren't.

Question: So--What now then?

<insert the melodic chirping of Anglo-Catholic crickets here>

Answer: We're not sure yet.

At any rate, in the midst of our indecision, and feeling quite like motherless children, we donned our church attire--veils and all, because we are whom we are-- and headed to the local Roman Catholic church.

So?

Well, this did not happen.  [Remember that disclaimer? :P ]

Here then, are our reactions:

1) We now know where all of the babies, toddlers, and young men under age 80 are.  You Catholics have them.  All of them.  (Seriously, there are no Anglicans, other than us, under age 80.)  I am now fully aware that the Catholic church may be my only possible route to grandchildren.  (If you don't hear from me within 48 hours, please send the authorities -- because it will mean that my daughter has read this and has locked me in the closet with the neighbor.)

By Wilfredor (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

2) The Novus Ordo mass is not the Kumbaya session that I had anticipated.  It was actually quite lovely. I felt no compulsion whatsoever to break out the smores. The two masses (Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic) are essentially identical, although there are parts of the language of the Anglican mass that I felt a twinge of aching for. Let's face it, the English do English exquisitely well.

3)  "Consubstantial with?"  I like the theological depth. I'm just wondering how many of the people in the pews really get it.

4) I loved--seriously loved-- the fact that the announcements were held until the end.  I'm not sure if this is widely held Catholic practice, or just typical of this particular parish, but it added so much to the fluidity of the mass. I have always felt that the association of the announcements with the passing of the peace sort of bisects the Anglican mass into two separate liturgies by stopping the mass short -- engaging in a quick garden party -- and then pressing "play" again on the mass. I did not feel this at all today in this Catholic mass. It was far more fluid.

5)The music was different from what we are used to, but Anglicanism is known for its music and pageantry, so I was sort of expecting that.

6) I wasn't expecting the general confession at the beginning.  I had always assumed that we (Anglicans) had sort of created that, since private confession -- while available to us -- is not required of us.

7) Standing to receive communion -- I do not love this idea.  At all.  I'm not saying it is wrong.  In fact, if memory serves, it is the more ancient practice.  I'm just saying that I do not love it.  At all.
[No we did not partake.  Please do not panic.  :) ]

8) We were in the back, but counted quite a few cups on the altar.  I'm guessing this means that communion was received in both kinds?  Could you hear my sigh of relief across the country?

By Ajuntament de Sant Vicenç de Montalt
 (Ajuntament de Sant Vicenç de Montalt)
 [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) 

9)  There was no incense, but I suppose I could get over that, other than on High Holy Days.  At the Easter Vigil, all bets are off.

9)  We still bowed when the processional cross passed.  All three of us.  "When in Rome" only goes so far, and some habits are too strong to be broken.  :)

10)  I was impressed by the general attire of the congregation.  Somehow, I expected folks to be dressed more casually, but they weren't for the most part.  There were suits and ties and dresses.  We, in all of our Anglo-Catholic stuffiness, loved that.  

11)  I have always loved the fact that the gospel is read from the center of the aisle in Anglican churches.  I think there is something beautiful and meaningful about the words of Christ being delivered in the midst of the people--just as they were by our Lord himself. I did miss that.

12)Babies!  And children!  And teenagers!  And young adults!  Did I mention that?  Seriously, you have no idea what a difference this is.  We actually couldn't hear parts of the homily because of the young children.  It was so awesome!--You have no idea.  Although--I was reminded what it is like to feel the pain of infertility at church, being surrounded by all those families.

13) After a couple of decades of driving two hours round trip to church, we left twenty minutes before the start of the mass today.  Five minutes in the car, that was it.  That was almost as welcome as the babies and the prospect of grandchildren.  (Okay, she's really going to lock me in the closet now.)

14) This church was beautiful.  Parting with our resplendent church building is excruciating, especially knowing that under the (newly court established) ownership of the Episcopal Church her fate is not at all certain.  Our local Catholic Church is lovely though; we were pleased.

15)  Mostly, it just wasn't really very different at all.  ...Okay, I missed things like this:

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, 

and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our 
hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may 
perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; 
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

...but other than the language of the mass, it wasn't all that different.  I'm not intending to minimize the theological differences between the Catholic Church's doctrinal solidity and the latitude that the Anglican Communion allows its more Protestant-leaning members -- but for a family that lies on the very Anglo-Catholic end of Anglicanism's Catholic-to-Protestant-continuum, it was pretty much a normal Sunday, other than not receiving communion, which...
...well, let's just say it's gonna be a tough week.  Please pray for us.

Pax Christi dear ones,
I pray you are well and resting in the Peace of Christ,
~Michelle

By the way: For those of you who are caught of guard by the notion that we are not Roman Catholic, ("What the heck?!")  <Smiles>

This:

Are We at Liturgical Time Catholic?

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