What the RCIA Teaches us M308 IPM Mike Pascual, MA

Goal We looked at the portrayal of faith from the Synoptic Gospels, and they all point to a faith involving the Church. We’re going to look at the ritual design of initiation into the Church: The RCIA WHY? Lex orandi, lex credenda How does the Church accept the believer into its membership? Ultimately, the guiding question is “What does the RCIA teach us about faith?”

Before we continue: notes for consideration Sacraments are symbolic rituals The individual must have FAITH for it to have meaning In this case, it is faith that brings one to realize the privileged encounter with the Paschal Mystery.

RCIA Acronym The process by which one becomes a full member of the Catholic Church. Culminates in the sacraments of initiation, but the initiation process still continues afterwards! Two Types Catechumen Candidate for full communion http://www.stjudeatlanta.net/pictures/RCIA%20Logo%20-%20new.jpg Acronym for “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” The process by which one becomes a full member of the Catholic Church. They may be An unbaptized person, “a catechumen” A baptized person from another Christian denomination, “candidates for full communion”

The Sacraments of Initiation The three sacraments – Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, through which one enters into full membership into the catholic church Key word here is Initiation, meaning to accept fully into membership of a community or organization http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1RCVSXZ27A/TieS0fOxg6I/AAAAAAAAAB0/c0ybIHSSz8M/s1600/images.jpg

The Process of Initiation Theology of Initiation From Klein, Gregory and Robert A. Wolfe. Pastoral Foundations of the Sacraments: A Catholic Perspective. (Paulist Press, 1998).

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Four “Periods” Three “Steps” http://www.swoy.org.uk/images/jif2.jpg

Sacraments of Initiation The Stages… Typically Pentecost RITE of Election RITE of Acceptance Sacraments of Initiation Stage Period of Inquiry Or Evangelization and Precatechumenate The Catechemunate Purification and Enlightenment Postbaptismal catechesis or Mystagogy Person is known as Inquirer Catechumen The Elect Neophytes Length of time As much as needed 40 days (sorta) during Season of Lent Typically Easter Season

Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate Hence, the candidate is known as an “inquirer” This is a time, of no fixed duration or structure, for inquiry and introduction to gospel values, an opportunity for the beginning of faith.

FIRST STEP: Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens RITE of ACCEPTANCE The inquirer is now known as a “catechumen” This is the liturgical rite, usually celebrated on some annual date or dates, marking the beginning of the catechumenate proper.

Period of the Catechumenate This is the time, in duration corresponding to the progress of the individual, for the nurturing and growth of the catechumens’ faith and conversion to God; celebrations of the word and prayers of exorcism and blessing are meant to assist the process.

Note: Catechesis Comes from the Greek word “to echo” In ancient times, this was used for RCIA New members were trained to echo the faith Hence, a catechist is one who trains to echo Catechesis is the process “of echoing” Important note: The root word is also used by the ancient Greeks to describe the work of poets You can say the catechist is like a poet… or the work of catechesis is like the work of a poet Poetic, emotive, vulnerable at the edge of the stage, reaching out to stir the desires of the heart Conclusion: catechesis is not purely a head exercise…

Implications for Catechesis… To foster: CONVERSION The poet speaks from the heart… (s)he sees and feels the heart of the crowd The heart (for the Hebrew) is the very center of the self, the source of truth that flowed through the human. The poet requires a level of presence and honesty that leaves the speaker in a vulnerable place. Catechesis is thus a holistic education/formation…A CONVERSION

SECOND STEP: Election or Enrollment of Names RITE of ELECTION Catechumens are now the elect, who express the will to receive these sacraments. This is the liturgical rite, usually celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent, by which the church formally recognizes the catechumens’ readiness for the sacraments of initiation Catechumens are now the elect, who express the will to receive these sacraments.

Period of Purification and Enlightenment http://bajalatapa.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/homer.jpg This is the time immediately preceding the elect’s initiation, usually the Lenten season preceding the celebration of this initiation at the Easter vigil; it is a time of reflection, intensely centered on conversion, marked by celebration of the scrutinies and presentations and of the preparation rites on Holy Saturday.

THIRD STEP: Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation Typically in the Easter Vigil http://www.pinoygigs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/easter-vigil.jpg This is the liturgical rite, usually integrated into the Easter Vigil, by which the elect are initiated through Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.

Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy usually the Easter season, following the celebration of initiation, the newly initiated experience being fully a part of Christian community by means of pertinent catechesis and particularly by participation with all the faithful in the Sunday eucharistic celebration.

Sacraments of Initiation The Stages… Typically Pentecost RITE of Election RITE of Acceptance Sacraments of Initiation Stage Period of Inquiry Or Evangelization and Precatechumenate The Catechemunate Purification and Enlightenment Postbaptismal catechesis or Mystagogy Person is known as Inquirer Catechumen The Elect Neophytes Length of time As much as needed 40 days (sorta) during Season of Lent Typically Easter Season Thus we see a PROCESS of CONVERSION, various stages and rituals for the candidate Inquiry Stage (pre-catechumenate) Ends with the Rite of Acceptance Catechumenate stage Ends with the Rite of Election Purification and enlightenment stage Ends with the rites/Sacraments of initiation Mystagogy Typically ends on pentecost Continues with lifelong formation

So what does this teach us?

“the process of adult initiation” is the NORM for Baptism The adult rite makes clear what it means to be baptized The process of initiation happens before and after the celebration of the Sacrament. What happens if we make baptism an isolated moment? The process of adult initiation . . . teaches us important insights into the meaning of baptism. This is why we call it the norm for baptism.  Even though we continue to baptize far more infants than adults, it is the adult rite that makes clear the meaning of Christian initiation.   Baptism is part of a process of initiation. It does not stand as an isolated moment, but it is a high point in a process that both precedes and follows the celebration of the sacrament.  Initiation is not the work of a moment, but a process that takes a considerable amount of time. Other sacraments may not require quite as much time, but each of them needs a process of preparation and follow-up to make them truly effective for spiritual growth.

RCIA is about conversion RCIA shows ritual and process working together Faith does not happen without conversion Conversion happens before baptism Moreover, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults shows us how ritual and process work together . The rituals celebrated throughout the catechumenate articulate what is happening in the process . They celebrate what God is doing in the lives of the catechumens, and the celebration itself fosters further progress on their journey. It makes no sense to celebrate these rituals, whether minor rituals or the sacraments themselves, unless something has been happening in the process that gives us reason to celebrate together. The sacraments are not magical actions that produce results automatically; to be spiritually effective, they must be prepared for and celebrated well.   Rituals celebrated throughout the catechumenate articulate what is happening in the process. They celebrate what God is doing in the lives of the catechumens. How might this be the case? RCIA is discernment of conversion as it occurs in the lives of the catechumens This enables the community to determine when they are ready for the next stage of the process How does this work with infant baptism? The process of turning one’s life over to God Greek term: “metanoia” A result of an encounter with God (mysterion), Involves developing a personal relationship with Christ and shaping one’s life around Gospel values   Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit, but the catechumenate seeks to create an environment in which conversion can be fostered.  That cooperation with the work of the Spirit is the proper role of the church and is, the RCIA insists, “the responsibility of all the baptized” (no. 9). The involvement of the whole community is another insight that can be gained from the rite. Welcoming and supporting new members is the responsibility of the whole community, not just the ordained ministers or the religious professionals.  Thus, the rite presumes that the rituals of initiation, including the sacraments, will be celebrated by the whole community. These are not private matters of concern only to the immediate family. Initiation is the concern of every member of the church, for we are welcoming a new brother or sister into the family of God whenever initiation is celebrated.  This reflects an understanding of grace and nature, a cooperation in the Spirit of God.

The Process What is the role of the Catechumenate? Church? Sponsor? Who is responsible for creating the environment for conversion? Why would the Ritual books say that an adult who is baptized should receive Confirmation and Eucharist in the same ceremony? Why do catechumens and candidates say they “feel spoiled by the RCIA process”? Who is responsible for creating this environment? Why? Note, not a catechist, but acts like one To share in the journey of the candidate as a friend Why are they essential?

Implications The RCIA picks up where the synoptic gospels leaves off: Faith in Christ leads to the church The RCIA is how the church (ideally) accepts its members Demonstrates that everyone is involved Conversion precedes faith Is this informing our ministry programs? In other words, does our ministries evangelize and allow for conversion? Or are we simply giving information? (CONOCER vs SABER)