The Journey of the
Catechumen
The Sacraments
Document #: TX002103
The Journey of the Catechumen
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The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process through which adults, and
now children seven or older (seven being the age of reason) enter the Catholic
Church.
•
The Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church, an ecumenical or worldwide
council that met in the early 1960s, chose first to revise the liturgy so that it would
more closely follow the liturgical norms of the early Church. At this time the Church
also decided to revise and reintroduce the ancient pattern of Christian initiation into
the Church, reformulated as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, as the
normative pattern for Christian Initiation. (See the handout “Vocabulary for Unit 3”
[Document #: TX002091] for an explanation of this term.)
Major Stages
•
•
•
•
Period of Inquiry (Pre-Catechumenate and Evangelization)
o Rite of Acceptance (first step)
Catechumenate
o Period of the Catechumenate
o Rite of Election (second step)
Purification and Enlightenment
o Sacrament of Initiation (third step)
Mystagogy
Inquiry Stage
• Pre-Catechumenate
• Period of Evangelization
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First Step
Rite of Acceptance into
the Order of Catechumens
• The first public step
made by the
inquirer
• Accepted into the
Order of
Catechumens
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Questions for Inquirers (Candidates)
• What is your name?
• What do you ask of God’s Church? (faith)
• What does faith offer you? (eternal life)
Period of the
Catechumenate
• A time of spiritual and
catechetical formation
• Involves the whole
person
o
o
o
o
o
emotions
spiritual life
intellect
physical self
all one’s gifts and
weaknesses
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Formation through:
• Catechesis
• Spiritual development
• Liturgy (participation in the Liturgy of the Word, followed by
dismissal and further catechesis)
• Apostolic witness
Catechesis
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• Introduction to the mystery of Christ
• Incorporating the Liturgy of the Word
Spiritual Development
• Deals with the catechumen’s spiritual life
• Learn to pray
• Learn to see Christ’s presence in others
• Learn to witness to the Gospel
Liturgy
• The liturgy is the
manner in which the
community expresses
its faith and unity and
is strengthened and
fed by the Body of
Christ.
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Apostolic Witness
• Learning to become
a member of the
body of Christ
• Sharing the Gospel
• Living a life in Christ
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Rite of Election
• Whereas the inquirer freely chooses to “accept” the next step of
becoming a catechumen, the Church chooses or elects the
catechumen as a sign of the Church’s acceptance.
• Catechumens are now given a new title: the elect.
• Enrollment of Names
Period of Purification
and Enlightenment
• This period
coincides with the
season of Lent.
• It involves prayer,
fasting, and works
of mercy.
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Scrutinies
• Support the
catechumen
• Three liturgical
rites, on the third,
fourth, and fifth
Sundays of Lent
• Self-examination,
repentance, and
healing
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Presentation of the Creed and
the Lord’s Prayer
• Two liturgical
celebrations in
which the Creed
and the Lord’s
Prayer are
presented
The Celebration of the
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
at the Easter Vigil
• Baptism
• Confirmation
• the Eucharist
• Period of Mystagogy
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Procession with the Paschal Candle
The Symbol of the Risen Christ
• All eyes are upon the
candle as the deacon
sings the Exsultet
(from its first word,
Rejoice!)
• Liturgy of the Word
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Baptism
• Litany of Saints
• Blessing of the Water
• Profession of Faith
• Baptism ([Name], I
baptize you in the
name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit.”)
(RCIA, 317)
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Symbols of Baptism
• White garment
• Lighted candle
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Confirmation
• Confirmed by the
presiding priest
• Holy Spirit will
strengthen the
new Christians
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The Eucharist
• Reception of the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time
• Completion of Christian Initiation
Period of Mystagogy
• Study of the mysteries
• Postbaptismal catechesis
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