The Church against the current

What if a XVI Century clergyman would have written a criticism about Church, Tradition and Culture that sounded similar to texts written in the XXI century? The content could be similar to this:

"Brothers and sisters, 

have you noticed how our Church is straying from the path laid down by the holy apostles and the Church Fathers? We see innovations creeping in that obscure the purity of worship, innovations that, dare I say, are affronts to the true spirit of devotion.

Take, for instance, the use of instruments in our worship—something entirely foreign to the tradition of the early Church. The saints of old sang with one voice, in simplicity, lifting their souls to God without the distraction of worldly instruments. But now, the sound of the organ and other instruments fills our temples, drawing hearts away and entangling the faithful in worldly sensations. The deafening roar of this instrument, originally from the Roman circus, drowns out the people’s singing, when true worship should be the voice of the congregation, not the pomp of a concert. Polyphony, a recent addition, disturbs the unity of sacred song, turning our praises into a cacophony, fracturing what should be one voice into many, as though it were appropriate to bring the chaos of the marketplace into God’s house. And what can be said of the spectacle created by brass instruments?

It is not only the sounds that corrupt our worship; our temples have become palaces of imagery and senses. Where once the spirit was elevated by contemplating the divine mystery, we are now surrounded by paintings, images, stained glass, depictions of Christ, incense, and liturgical gestures—so numerous and varied that one could hardly tell whether we stand in a Christian temple or a hall of earthly glories. The simplicity that should mark the house of God is exchanged for visual excess, distracting the mind, confusing the spirit, and turning hearts away. The simplicity of faith, our rightful inheritance, is corrupted by this vain display. Could this be the spirit of the early Church, which shunned ostentation and focused solely on the mystery of faith?

And what of the pastors? Look how they adorn themselves with flowing robes, golden crosses, colorful stoles, all in stark contrast to the modesty of our first presbyters, who wore nothing more than the clothing of ordinary people. Have they forgotten the example of humility and service Christ left for us? What’s more, it seems that there is no longer a place for the active participation of God’s people; the ministers do everything themselves, perhaps seeking the spotlight, relegating the assembly to passive silence. The increasing self-centeredness of pastors and clergy, allowing themselves to be elevated as figures of admiration, almost celebrities before their flock—is this not exactly what the world does with its leaders and rulers? A spectacle of vanity, utterly opposed to the humble spirit Christ taught us.

Brothers and sisters, we are losing our focus. The church that shapes itself according to the tastes of the age is, in truth, abandoning the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We are competing with the world when we should be rejecting its methods and remaining faithful to the eternal Word of God. Worship, which should be a time of reverence and holiness, has become an opportunity for entertainment and vanity, leading us away from true devotion.

But what if we chose instead to return to our roots? What if our churches became once again simple and pure, without the distractions of adornments and the overwhelming sounds that stifle the people’s authentic praise? If our pastors dressed like ordinary people, as they did in the first three hundred years of the Church—like servants, without adornments, without the vain distinctions they now wear—humble, without seeking personal glory, leading worship as servants, not lords? And what if, instead of offering this weekly spectacle, the church focused on preaching the Word with clarity and devotion, guiding souls toward salvation?

Yes, a church like this would seem to go against the current of the modern world. But, brothers, is that not the true calling of the Church? Indeed, we are called to be distinct from the world, not to conform to it. Wisdom, dear brothers and sisters, lies in returning to the narrow path of simplicity and true faith. True wisdom often seems like folly to the world. The true Church is not a marketplace, and the success we seek is not the applause of men but faithfulness to our Lord. The Church should be the place where the Gospel is preached clearly, and the truth of Christ is lived out in community.

Let us remain faithful. Let us be the Church, and Church only.

Rev. Anselm
AD 1594"