RCIA: The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Twenty years ago, I was a happy and content Methodist. This had been my faith and the faith of my father's family prior to their immigration to America. I attended church regularly and participated in some of our large church's social activities. And then, I met my future husband, who happened to be Catholic. For the next three years, I went to my Methodist church and I went to his Catholic church. At first, I missed the Methodist service, the singing of the Gloria Patria and even the way we sang the Lord's Prayer when I was attending Mass. After time, I came to appreciate the beauty of the Catholic Mass as well. But, as I was considering my future with this wonderful man, I knew two things. First, I knew that I wanted to raise a family in one church, together as a family. Second, I knew this man I loved was never going to leave his Catholic faith to become Methodist. He never once asked me to consider leaving the Methodist Church, however. So it was without his knowledge that I contacted the priest at the Catholic Church we attended and inquired about the Catholic faith. This was my first introduction to RCIA: the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. After my conversion to Catholicism through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, I have had the good fortune of continuing my spiritual journey by walking the path of the RCIA with two friends as their sponsor.

While the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults process is designed for those wishing to become Catholic, RCIA is in many ways a journey of renewal for the parish itself. Each person seeking conversion participates in RCIA with a Catholic sponsor, but the entire parish helps in the formation process of the candidate. It is through participation in the life of the parish that candidates are mentored and formed. Those who sponsor a candidate are renewed in their faith by walking the path of conversion again. Every parishioner attending Sunday Mass, where the liturgical rites of initiation take place, manifests the presence of Christ within the parish community and therefore become a sign of Christ to the RCIA candidate!

The journey to conversion is generally one year long. Usually, the candidate will participate in weekly meetings, often with their sponsor present. In our parish, RCIA classes begin about the end of September and culminate with the new Catholic's First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. If the person seeking instruction through RCIA has never been baptized, they are called a Catechumen. During the Easter Vigil, they will be baptized and confirmed. Those already baptized are Candidates for full communion into the Catholic faith. The Catholic Church recognizes all Christian baptisms and does not rebaptize a person seeking to become Catholic. During the Easter Vigil, the Candidate makes a profession of faith and is confirmed.

There are four stages in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults: pre-catechumenate, catechumenate, Lenten purification and mystagogia. Each of these stages is preceded by a formal rite which takes place with the entire parish during Sunday Mass. Each rite is an internal and external affirmation that one is prepared to continue to the next step in their journey toward full communion in the Catholic faith.

The First Step of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) - Pre-Catechumenate

The obvious first step in one's journey to Catholicism is that time of questioning or inquiry. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults truly begins when a person contacts the church to request information about the Church or about becoming a Catholic. This is the time when inquirers seek information and discuss their thoughts and questions with the RCIA coordinator or priest. Once the inquiring pre-catechumen makes the decision to proceed, they will participate, usually with other pre-catechumens, in the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. This liturgical rite is usually celebrated during Sunday Mass. The pre-catechumen states their intention and then the parish community accepts and welcomes them and their intention to become members of the church. This Rite ushers the candidate into the next phase of the journey.

The Second Step of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) - Catechumenate

The second step in the spiritual journey is called the Catechumenate and is the period that takes many months to complete. During this phase, the Catechumen or Candidate receives their formal training in the Christian way of life. Generally, if the parish has a formal RCIA program, the Catechumens and Candidates meet with their sponsors and parish instructors to study scripture and learn about the doctrine of the Church. They begin to become involved in the life of the parish by attending weekly Mass and participating in some of the myriad of parish activities. This period is when the seeker learns what it truly means to be a Catholic Christian. Once the catechumen/candidate experiences true conversion to the life of a Christian, the second important rite occurs, usually in two steps: the Rite of Sending and the Rite of Election. God has now chosen the catechumens to receive the sacrament of initiation. On the First Sunday of Lent, the Catechumens participate in the Rite of Election. This rite generally takes place in a diocesan cathedral with the diocesan bishop as the presiding celebrant. During this holy rite, the Catechumen is called by name to sign the Book of the Elect. The Rite of Sending often occurs the weekend prior to the Rite of Election in the parish church as a celebration of their upcoming Election and is symbolically the parish's way of sending the catechumens to the bishop. Thus begins the final preparation on the journey to becoming Catholic.

The Third Step of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) - Purification and Enlightenment

After celebrating the Rite of Election, the Candidate/Catechumen is called the Elect. This more intense phase occurs during Lent and is a time of reflection and purification from sin for the Elect. The instruction of the Catechumenate step is finished and this is a period for prayer. The Elect will complete the Scrutinies, or purifying rituals, to help finalize their conversion. Candidates (those already baptized) will participate in the penitential rite, asking for forgiveness of their sin. Catechumens (not yet baptized) do not participate in the penitential rite as their baptism during Easter Vigil will cleanse their souls of all sin. The Elect will be anointed during this step. They will also participate in the Right of Exorcism (minor) which simply proclaims "the victory of Christ and the power of the Church over the demons." Finally, the Elect will be presented the Creed and the Lord's Prayer so to enlighten their minds during their final preparation to receive the sacraments.

Lent ends at sunset Thursday of Holy Week. The most sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter has then begun. After sunset on Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil. During Easter Vigil, the Elect participate in the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism (only for the unbaptized), Profession of Faith (for the previously baptized,) Confirmation and Holy Communion. After many months of preparation, instruction and prayer, the Elect complete their initiation by receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!

The Fourth Step of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults - Mystagogy

The word Mystagogy is derived from the Greek and signifies the unfolding of God's mysteries and the process of deepening our spiritual understanding of God's mysteries. The new Catholic Christian's initiation continues during Eastertide. This is a time for new Catholic to be a light unto the world as a part of the Body of Christ and to further the mission of Jesus Christ!

Sources:

E-catholic 2000

americancatholic.org