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Recalling a
highlight of the Lenten Season
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
The Season of Lent ends with the evening Mass on Holy Thursday.
Hopefully it has been an enriching time. The goal of Lent, of course, is
to create a clean heart in us. Taken seriously, Lent becomes a powerful
moment of grace leading us to a renewal of our baptismal commitment. In
a special way it leads the unbaptized and those baptized in other faith
traditions who are seeking membership in the Catholic Church to that
moment when they will be able to join the rest of us at the Eucharistic
table as full members of the Catholic faith family.
My thoughts go back to the first and second Sundays in Lent. On the
first Sunday, people traveled to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the
Immaculate Conception from 30 parishes for the RCIA (Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults) ceremony of election. It is a most moving
ritual in which I, as pastor of our Local Church, declare those
unbaptized who are completing the catechumenate chosen or
elected to enter a final period of intense preparation for the
reception of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. This is
done in the context of a prayer service. After Scripture readings and
the homily, questions are asked of the catechumens, their godparents and
the assembly. The questions are instructive.
To the godparents: Have they (the catechumens) faithfully listened to
God’s word proclaimed by the Church? Have they responded to that word
and begun to walk in God’s presence? Have they shared the company of
their Christian brothers and sisters and joined with them in prayer?
RCIA team members, relatives and friends, representing the Local Church
of Northcentral Indiana, are then asked: Are you ready to support the
testimony expressed about these catechumens and include them in your
prayer and affection as we move toward Easter?
The election follows: The Church in the name of Christ accepts
the judgment of godparents, teachers and the entire community and calls
the unbaptized to the Easter sacraments. The bishop says: Since you have
already heard the call of Christ, you must now express your response to
that call clearly and in the presence of the Holy Church. Therefore, do
you wish to enter fully into the life of the Church through the
sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist?
The unbaptized give their response by signing the Book of the Elect.
Each person comes forward with his/her godparent and places their name
in this book. On the first Sunday of Lent, there were 180 signatures.
The significance of the Rite of Election is rooted in St. John’s Gospel
where Jesus says: “It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you”
(Jn. 15:16). God calls us. He calls us through his Church. He calls us
to relate to him as members of a faith community. A person becomes a
full member of that community through the sacraments of initiation.
The bishop is the normative celebrant of the Rite of Election. Hearing
the judgment of godparents and the community, having questioned the
catechumens, and acting in the name of Christ and his Church, the bishop
declares the unbaptized chosen to become full members of the Catholic
faith community at the Easter Vigil. He opens to all the divine mystery
shown in the call of the Church and in its liturgical celebration. He
reminds the faithful to give good example to the elect and, together
with them, to prepare themselves for the Easter solemnities (Rite No.
138).
It is one of the great cathedral ceremonies of the year. A similar but
quite different ceremony takes places on the second Sunday in Lent. It
is the “Call to Continuing Conversion” in which the bishop, as pastor of
the Local Church, recognizes the baptism of those coming from other
faith traditions who desire to become Catholics, and calls them to do so
by receiving the sacrament of confirmation and the Eucharist. These
candidates (as they are called) are greeted by the bishop in these
words: “The Church recognizes your desire to have a place at Christ’s
Eucharistic table. Join with us this Lent in a spirit of repentance.
Hear the Lord’s call to conversion and be faithful to your baptismal
covenant.”
General intercessions followed:
• That these candidates may come to a deeper appreciation of their
baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection.
• That God bless those who have nurtured these candidates in faith.
• That these candidates may embrace the discipline of Lent as a means of
purification and approach the sacrament of reconciliation with trust in
God’s mercy.
• That they may open their hearts to the promptings of God’s Holy
Spirit.
• That they may approach the table of Christ’s sacrifice with
thanksgiving and praise.
As we enter Holy Week and then the Sacred Triduum, it is my prayer that
each one of us will walk in spirit with those who are becoming full
members of the Church this Easter. I pray, too, that each one of us will
embrace the renewal of baptismal promises that are a key part of the
Easter solemnities.
It is highly recommended that you take full advantage of the Holy Week
liturgies, particularly the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday
and the Good Friday liturgy. The Easter Vigil is the great liturgy of
the entire Church year. Not cut out for children due to its length, it
is a magnificent conclusion to a Lenten Season well lived. Most, of
course will celebrate Mass on Easter day. As you thank God for the
blessings of Lent and Holy Week, pray for me and your priests that we
may live up to the expectations of our vocation. And, ask God to open
the ears of those men whom he is calling to the priesthood and to give
them the courage to say yes to that call.
On my part, I will pray that God will strengthen the faith of each and
every Catholic in Northcentral Indiana. |
