Confronting darkness – praying for Light…
We are in Eastertime – the most joyful time in the Church’s Year and yet, following their recent meeting, the Bishops of England and Wales have issued a statement expressing their deep sorrow for the pain that has been caused to children, young people and vulnerable adults by clerical abuse. You can find it here. For those of us charged with nurturing new Catholics and those still on the journey, it offers a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is how to deal with a subject that causes us shame – or anger – or evokes our own painful memories. How do we come to terms with the fact that “people like us” –priests, religious sisters, servers, musicians, catechists, MCs – could so tarnish ministries that should be about love and service to God and our neighbour? How do we reassure people that the Church is a safe place in which to be – and to bring up children? Is it easier simply to leave it to others? Or is it an opportunity to teach a profound lesson on the reality of sin and how the Church has ways with which to deal with it – even if it seems not to have been very good at using them in the area of clerical abuse.
It is quite likely that new Catholics, catechumens and candidates would be reluctant to bring up a subject that they know will be embarrassing and distressing to their priests and catechists. Where they do, it is worth reflecting on how to respond – and where they don’t, to find ways of addressing it. It can be helpful to speak honestly of the pain caused to the vast majority of priests and religious who also trusted those who committed these crimes – helping them to consider how they might be feeling, perhaps by thinking about how they would react if someone they respected or admired was found to have done similar things. Talk about how “ordinary” Catholics can feel betrayed – particularly when the crimes were committed in their own parish or nearby – and how their feelings about family baptisms, first Communions and other celebrations are tainted. It will take sensitivity to know how much to share of the “family’s” shame, but openness following decades of silence and cover-up can only be helpful in the healing process.
The bishops also ask Catholics to pray, particularly on the Fridays in May. Not one of us can put the clock back and stop the abuse from ever having happened but, as the bishops remind us, we can turn to the Holy Spirit who “guides us to sorrow and repentance, to a firm determination to better ways, and to a renewal of love and generosity towards all in need.”
For many of us, words have failed – what can we say that others haven’t said better? And are there enough words in the universe to express the anger and dismay we might feel? This is why one of the ways of prayer suggested by the bishops is silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps a time of such prayer could be built into a meeting. Set the scene with candles, flowers and incense – but explain that it is the Presence of our Risen Lord that is the most important thing. Choose a couple of psalms (for example, No 50: Have mercy on me God in your kindness, or 129: Out of the Depths) and pray them antiphonally, allowing pauses for the words to hang – and then at the end to fade into the silence. Select short phrases from Scripture to “drop” into the silence – or gentle music that speaks of sorrow. Alternatively, resources for group and personal prayers are being prepared. You can find some of them, and links to others, here. 
Ritual and symbol can also help when words fail. You could reflect on the darkness surrounding the abuse – of how it will have wounded and darkened the lives of those most directly affected – how it was used to conceal the crimes – and how a shadow has fallen upon many in the Church. Remind the group of the Triduum … of Holy Thursday and the watching in darkness – of Good Friday when, Scripture tells us, a deep darkness covered the earth as the Lord of Life died – of Holy Saturday and the long waiting for the evening – the gathering in the dark – until finally, the moment when the darkness was broken by the light of one candle and the acclamation: Christ our Light! And then the passing of that light from one to another until the church was filled with small lights which finally dispelled the darkness of that night. Our prayer may only be one little light – but it is, as the saying goes, better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Our Church needs light – to uncover and bring into the light all that has been sinful and damaging to so many people. Our new Catholics and those preparing to become Catholics offer us hope by showing us that, in the face of so much hostile press, they find much that is good, holy and attractive in the Church and want to be part of it. Drawing them into the prayers during May can help them to feel they belong – and be a blessing to those whose faith is being stretched to breaking point.
Lord God,
source of unfailing light,
by the death and resurrection of Christ
you have cast out the darkness of hatred and lies
and poured forth the light of truth and love
upon the human family.
…
Enable (us) to pass from darkness to light
and, delivered from the prince of darkness,
to live always as children of the light.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
(Prayer from the Second Scrutiny, RCIA #155B,
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults approved for use in the Dioceses of England and Wales and Scotland, p91)
Setting souls free…
A conversation a couple of weeks ago has left me wondering … if the person to whom I was speaking was seeking full communion with the Church (they weren’t) how would the Team deal with what the person came with?
It was clear from the conversation that there were some mental health issues but, sensing some deep spiritual disturbance, I continued with gentle questioning which brought out the fact that the person had been heavily involved in tarot reading and that many aspects of their life was now controlled by the cards. They were convinced of the presence of an evil spirit and terrified that, if they got rid of the cards, it would harm them and members of their family. We got as far as putting the cards out of easy reach and I am hoping that we will get as far as the cards being given to me or to someone else who can destroy them on the person’s behalf… it would take a long time for them to be able to do this for themselves.
But the thought lingered – and so I thought this opportunity to prompt discussion could be helpful not just to me but to others who might be walking alongside someone who has had a similar experience.
If the person is not baptised, there are, of course, the minor exorcisms where there is provision made for a prayer asking that, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, God will remove “the worship of false gods and magic, witchcraft and dealings with the dead” (Prayer B, p42 of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). But how often is this part of the prayer used? Is there a temptation to avoid saying the words out loud? Are we inclined to see such a prayer as appropriate in mission territories – or perhaps in Pentecostal churches – but less necessary for us? And yet, tarot – astrology – wicca – mediums – and more – are increasingly prevalent in the UK and many who are searching for “the spiritual” will often have tried some of them on their way to Christianity. Some may have emerged apparently unscathed. Others, such as the person with whom I was speaking, may be very seriously affected both mentally and spiritually and in need of medical intervention but also deep spiritual healing.
People who are baptised may also have been attracted to similar practices. The Rite does suggest that some of the rites belonging to the catechumenate could be used in the preparation of the candidates preparing for full communion. We often use the presentations of the Creed, Lord’s Prayer and Gospels and a penitential rite – but would we consider bringing in the minor exorcisms – and how would we do it? Obviously, there will be occasions when this is best done in private – and some people may need a fairly lengthy process of coming to trust that they have been set free of what was holding them bound with several rites along the way. (Discernment would be needed by catechists, sponsors and clergy as to how this might work bearing in mind the individual’s vulnerability). But might there be a place for the minor exorcisms to take place within a meeting – or during a service in the church? Does anyone have experience of doing this – and how did it work?
The person I was speaking to has a long journey ahead and its outcome is far from clear.
The prayer has to be that whatever brought them to take the step of getting in touch will give them the strength to continue the journey to healing… that they will continue to search for the truth – the real truth that will set them – and keep them – free.
At the Turning of the Year
Readers in the UK will know that many people are beset with huge problems caused by storms and what meteorologists have called a "once-in-a-thousand-year-rainfall-event". For those waiting to go home to see just how bad the damage to their homes has been - for the rescue workers and emergency services - for engineers trying to ensure the safety of highways and bridges - for teachers and students wondering whether schools should risk reopening - for all of these folk, the reality of the next few weeks as we approach the Christmas festivities will be bleak indeed. It all probably feels pretty apocalyptic - echoing some of the readings that the Church puts before us at this time of year. For all of us in the northern hemisphere, the nights are going to draw in still further until we reach the winter solstice - the weather will get colder - possibly wilder, windier and wetter - winter really is strengthening its grip ... and for some of us, the idea of hibernation for humans seems an increasingly good idea!
But the Gospel messages of the weeks ahead will be "Stay Awake!" "Be ready!" Rather than curling up somewhere cosy and letting the world go by until the warm weather returns, we are exhorted to stay awake - to be ready - to read the signs - to keep faith.
Many places will be preparing to celebrate the Rites of Acceptance and Welcome, marking a new stage in the journeys of faith of catechumens and those preparing to be received into the Church. It often seems appropriate to mark the beginning of a new Church Year by honouring this new beginning for them. And, in the midst of deepening darkness, this shared looking ahead to the new life of baptism and Easter is a powerful sign of faith and hope - for those at the "receiving end" and for the parish communities witnessing it.
The Christian message is that, when things seem at their darkest, there is hope -the promise of light. Unless people have walked in darkness there is no need for a prophet to assure them that they will see a great light. If people have not known oppression (in one of its many forms), there is no reason for them to long for liberation. If we have not experienced the weariness of journeys (actual or of life itself), how can we welcome the promise that rough places will be made smooth for us, paths that seem to be going nowhere will finally show us the way forward - that insurmountable obstacles will be laid low and valleys of despondency raised up? Life's experience takes us through the dark as well as the light. We have four more weeks of days getting shorter to get through - and several more months of wintry weather - but in these days, we know things are on the turn. We have the witness of people who have found in our communities something that has been as a light to them - something (or rather Someone) they have chosen to follow.
Suggested ritual for the Turning of the Year
Either on your own - or with a group - reflect back on the year just gone... and name some of the blessings received.
Dim the lights - if possible aim for total darkness - and reflect and, where appropriate, name some of the dark things that have affected you and the world over the year (and, possibly, longer). Simply let the words drop into the darkness - don't judge or, if in a group, comment or engage in conversation about them ...
When you feel ready - or people in the group have shared all they wish to, light a taper or candle (a lit tee-light tucked out of sight can make this a little less obtrusive than lighting a match!). You might like to use a psalm - part of Ps 27 or 43, for example, or the second of the Opening Prayers for next Sunday's Mass;
Father in heaven,
our hearts desire the warmth of your love
and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.
(At this point, you might wish to light a candle, perhaps the first in an Advent wreath)
Then continue (perhaps have the words below printed for the group to join in)
Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour
and give us the strength to grow in love,
that the dawn of his coming
may he find us rejoicing in his presence
and welcome the light of his truth.
Amen.
Spreading the Word – Mass in the Park
Many apologies for the lateness of the posting of this week’s blog – as the saying goes “circumstances beyond our control”!
It was one of those blogs that you can’t prepare in advance since the plan was to share the story of something that happened on Sunday morning (21 June) that could provide ideas for evangelising and witnessing to the joy of being people of faith to people who wouldn’t remotely set foot through a church door (save for “hatchings, matchings and despatchings”).
A bit of history first… In 2006, our diocese created Pastoral Areas in which parishes would be encouraged to work more closely together and support each other in developing the faith lives of the people in their Area and in reaching out to others. In my own Area, there had often been the thought that it would be good idea to come together for a shared celebration but, with 1500 Catholics, no venue was readily available. However, across the road from one of the churches, which is geographically in the middle of the Area, is a park – and in the park is a bandstand. The bandstand is host to concerts during the summer and, in years gone by, was the focus of the parish’s Corpus Christi processions. These had ceased years before though many parishioners could remember their First Communion year in which they wore their Communion Day clothes and scattered rose petals before the Blessed Sacrament – when the Polish community turned out in force in national dress – and when people in the town would stand and watch. Quite what they made of what they saw no-one knows but it was an event that was part of the town’s calendar and proclaimed that here was a community confident in its faith.
And so, in exploring the possibility of a Mass for people across the Pastoral Area, the thought of an Open Air Mass on the bandstand grew. A team of volunteers came together to plan the celebration – which, to run smoothly, had to be organised a bit like a military operation. The PA system for the bandstand and its operators had to be booked (fortunately, a Mass in the Park for the church’s patronal feast last year had given them experience of what would be required). Chairs were also borrowed to supplement those brought by participants. Banners and bunting decorated the bandstand and volunteers were working on moving altars and lecterns, chairs and flowers from 7am on the Day. The list of songs to be used was posted on the PA website and circulated to the mailing list. Readers were invited for the different churches as were Ministers of Communion. Children who had made – or are soon to make – their First Communion brought forward the Gifts, which included pictures and a prayer commemorating the event which would be blessed and taken back to the six churches in the Area. Young people rehearsed and performed a mime to accompany the proclamation of the Gospel. Car parking was made as easy as it could be for people who did not know the area with maps and information circulated through the website – and, on the Day, a team of welcomers and ushers (identifiable by their green sashes) made sure that everyone was made welcome and had Mass booklets, those with disabilities seated so that Ministers could bring Communion to them and generally keeping an eye out to iron out potential hiccups.
On the day, all three priests from the Pastoral Area concelebrated – joined by deacons and those in training … and around 500 people came together to sing, pray and worship together. It was a memorable experience and one that we hope will be repeated. But, such a public act of worship does not go un-noticed. The park is a major thoroughfare and people going backwards and forwards to the shops slowed and watched what was happening.
Children and parents heading to and from the play area looked at the unusual spectacle of the decorated bandstand with priests, deacons and servers.
Dog walkers settled their dogs and, for just a few moments, became part of something very different from their usual Sunday morning stroll.
To cater for those who might have been attracted by what they experienced, a note was put into the Mass booklet inviting people to pick up “Seekers’” leaflets and to come along to an evening in a couple of weeks to find out a little more about these people and their faith.
How many will take up the invitation we don’t know – but in drawing communities together and proclaiming our faith to local people, hopefully a few will be drawn to find out more – and those in the various churches will be as welcoming and as joyful as they were at the sunlit Midsummer Mass in the Park.
What’s next
So the Day of Resurrection that took a week to celebrate draws to a close. Birthing pools for baptism by total immersion are put away; the Easter flowers are beginning to fade; congratulations cards are being filed away with smiles as the names of well-wishers known and unknown are read … there is a real sense that a stage in the journey is complete and, despite the promise of mystagogia for the rest of one’s life, there can begin to creep in a sense of anti-climax… a “what next?” True, there are some whose enthusiasm will stay on a high for some time – particularly if they are given opportunities to relive the experience of the Vigil – but even for them the story of Thomas in the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Easter can sow useful seeds for the future.
It is strange that of all the wonderful stories in the Gospel, this is one the very few that we hear every year – and always at the end of the Easter Octave. True, it is about appearances of the Risen Lord – but most of us will probably remember Doubting Thomas and his frustration at the “tall tales” his friends - previously seen as fairly sane if not always quick on the uptake - are telling him – and their frustration at his not being able to accept what they say. You can imagine the Aramaic equivalent of “oh you had to be there…” springing to their lips, particularly as at that stage, Jesus had given no indication as to whether this was a one-off appearance or was to become a regular occurrence. How do you convey the encounter with a man who was dead in ways that convince someone who wasn’t there when he turned up? Thomas’ (again Aramaic equivalent of) “Yeah… right…” is actually quite sensible under the circumstances.
Caravaggio's painting of Thomas and the Risen Jesus
But – and here’s the rub – isn’t that what we are doing in the RCIA – telling others of our own encounters with one who was dead and who is now risen? But we can’t see him and we don’t hear his voice and we can’t put our own fingers in his wounds (even if we could overcome our squeamishness to do it) and we haven’t smelt and tasted the bread and fish that he served up after the resurrection either.. As eye witnesses it doesn’t make us very good, does it? And yet – somehow we do it! Something in our joy at believing without seeing comes across and people are drawn in to learn more – though we have to admit that an awful lot more come into the “Yeah… right…” category.
So how can we help our newly-fledged Christians and Catholics as they prepare to take flight – to encounter those who will be bemused by their decision and perhaps even be hostile to it? And how do we prepare them for the moment when all the “specialness” begins to evaporate and new set of people are the catechumens – the Elect – and they are just part of a congregation? What about when even for them, faith begins to become niggling doubt – or the pulls of daily living in a frequently unsympathetic society take the edge off the joy they thought they would never forget?
Well, maybe we can look at Thomas – what made the difference for him? We know that Thomas was one of the apostles who said he would go with Jesus and die with him – but didn’t… Also he was the one who admitted he didn’t know where Jesus was going so how could he know the way? Like the other disciples, it would take the personal meeting with the Risen Jesus to make sense of the things he had said about dying and rising again.
That personal encounter…. that moment when the rest of the world falls away and Christ becomes all in all… So where was it for our neophytes? Where for our candidates? Was it in the Word – something that spoke so clearly that it changed their lives? Was it in the Body of Christ – the People of God? Or in a priest? Or, in that moment of receiving the Lord in Communion for the first time? When did they know with all the capacity of their being that this was true – and could say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God”?
Legend has it that Thomas left Jerusalem and took the Gospel to India. It is likely that there were times when he would have quite liked to have given up – and plenty of conversations with people who were not remotely interested in the Good News of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But that moment – the moment of meeting with Jesus and hearing his words “Doubt no longer but believe…” somehow kept him going.
So as we reflect with our new Catholics on the next stage of their journey, perhaps we can bring Thomas alongside as a guide. When he set forth from Jerusalem, he probably had no idea of the way he was going to follow – but he did know who his Way was – and his Truth – and his Life. And so do our new Catholics…
Thoughts to reflect on…
- What are the “soul-memories” of ways in which we have encountered Christ over months and years? How do we keep them alive and ready to strengthen us for the way ahead?
- When I look at the Host and Chalice elevated during the Eucharistic Prayer – and receive the Body and Blood of Christ, how can I develop a sense of this being my personal encounter with “My Lord and my God”?
Of course I want to…
One aspect of the ministry of welcoming people into the Church is encountering the brokenness people often bring with them – brokenness which can often challenge us. We also meet people who are tentative in their approach: based on what they perceive Church teaching to be – the Gospel according to the media – they question “Can someone like me belong?” Others – and this probably happens rarely – come, like the leper in the Gospel of the Sixth Sunday of Year B, and metaphorically throw themselves on their knees and plead for help in finding healing and meaning for their lives.
I am reminded of the story of a woman who gradually started attending Mass with one of our committed parishioners who, over time revealed a past of heartbreak – isolation – violence – whose sense of unworthiness was almost crippling but gradually eased as she was welcomed by people who guessed part of her story but made no judgement upon her – who shared her delight when the long awaited annulment came through a few days before the Easter at which she was to be baptised and which now freed her to become engaged at the same time – whose wedding was a source of resounding joy for the community – and the baptism of her baby at an Easter Vigil a couple of years later seemed to seal a healing.
When, three years later, she was diagnosed with inoperable and aggressive cancer the extent of that healing was manifest in her faith that God was saying to her that the burden of the past was too great and that it was now time to rest … that her child would be loved and that her love from heaven would be matched by that of the people she had come to know… And an almost awestruck moment as she gave and received what were to be the first – and last - hugs to members of the RCIA team who had accompanied her… “You see – if you’d tried to do that years ago I couldn’t have let you … I’d have thought I disgusted you really – that you were pretending. I know now you meant it – when you said that you wanted me to know God loved me and wanted me whole… And I’m not afraid… I know God wants me whole and if that means dying then I know he knows this is the best way for me – because I know this (a hand held – and another hug) is real… “
How we respond to those who turn up on our doorsteps can make a huge difference. At the back of our minds might be the realities of Church teaching ringing alarm bells… “irregular marriage…” “living in a homosexual partnership…” which can be real obstacles along the journey to reception and full communion with the Church. There may also be past sins that challenge our own understanding of forgiveness – “I drank/ took drugs and killed someone ….” “I downloaded images of child sexual abuse…” followed by an expression of deep remorse that seems genuine and a desire to make amends for the thing they have done. They seem to see in the Church a community that can help to rebuild their lives – They come searching for the person who can “cure me” – or “help me” – “strengthen me” – “protect me” – “show me the way” – “transform me” – “carry on the saving work you started”… the person of Jesus.
We are in a privileged position as people begin to open up – and our task is not to quench that wavering flame of faith in danger of drowning in a lifetime of care and wrong decisions – nor to crush that reed crushed under so much pain and guilt. Like Jesus, we feel sorry for them – our hearts filled with compassion as we strive to help individuals find healing in a deepening relationship with Jesus. There will come times when, like Jesus, we need to send our people to “show themselves to the priest” – perhaps to make the offering prescribed for healing… entering the process of annulment, for example, or making a full confession to a priest. But these requirements will be better understood – even welcomed – as ways of making real the love and forgiveness they have encountered through reading and pondering on the Word and in the Word made flesh in Jesus … and in us.
People in darkness…
It was odd coming back from Evening Prayer tonight... for the first time I noticed that there weren't so many lights on the outsides of houses this year. No enormous blow-up snowmen or Santas climbing walls - and just a few flashing icicles and snowflakes – and, bizarrely, one Father Christmas on a penny-farthing! (Obviously a new tradition in the making there!)
It's as if the financial gloom is being translated into a literal gloom with fewer lights to brighten dull winter nights. Perhaps it speaks too of an inner gloom besetting the minds and hearts of people as the fears of unemployment and loss of income take hold. Faced with massive uncertainty, people seem to become stuck in wintriness and losing faith that things will get better – and it is true that the light on the horizon is very faint for many people at present.
But as we approach the darkness of the longest night, we know (somewhere very deep down) that the nights will begin to draw out and light will prove stronger than the darkness. As we approach the feast of Christmas – with its timing at the darkest part of the year – we may be lighting the third and fourth candles of Advent wreaths and seeing the increase in light reminding us of this. On the other hand, Advent candles are gradually burning down – and the chocolates in the Advent calendars running out!
We are also coming up to the pre-Christmas Octave and the time of the O Antiphons – the antiphons that open the praying of the Magnificat at Evening Prayer in the days leading up to Christmas. These are a rich source of images and thoughts for prayer – for the dark time of year and the chill of economic troubles – drawn as they are from a heritage of faith of people who lived through their own dark times – of slavery – of Exile – of longing for a shoot of hope from long-dead tree.
Even if time does not permit the praying of the whole of the Evening Prayer of the Church, it could be worth finding the antiphon for each day (see below) and praying it – and the Magnificat – and praying that the prophecies and promises of God intervening in the world will be fulfilled. We can explore the Divine Office and its role in the prayer life of the whole Church – and then unpack the meaning of the Antiphons a little with our catechumens and candidates.
The opening words of the Antiphons form titles of Christ – and the links between the dates and the titles are as follows
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17 December - O Wisdom
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18 December - O Adonai (an ancient name of God)
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19 December - O stock of Jesse
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20 December - O key of David
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21 December - O Rising Sun
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22 December - O King...
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23 December - O Immanuel...
And, as a thought for Christmas Eve, we could add, though not a title of Christ, an acknowledgement of the woman who made it possible with
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24 December - Blessed is she...
There is a variety of places to find the O Antiphons – in the Office books for starters but also online – at http://www.universalis.com/ for example. A daily reflection on them with a Scripture reading and questions can be found from http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/o_antiphons/index.htm
As people become – like those in the time of Isaiah – people who walk in darkness, we can point them to the promise of Light… to the One whose titles span the centuries – the One who is Emmanuel, God in it with us.
Sharing the invitation to the eternal banquet
Those who have loved and lost know what Good Friday and Holy Saturday feel like – and know too the yearning for hope beyond them. The Paschal Mystery at the heart of our faith offers that hope and our sharing of it may start with a simple invitation to come to Mass in November and light a candle in memory of a loved one.
Some seeds of ideas …
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This November, draw on some of the traditions of the Church and live them with catechumens and candidates.
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Consider ways of using this season of remembrance as a means of evangelising with those who plan the liturgy.
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Explore appropriate ways for those involved in bereavement support to act as evangelisers.
RCIA – Burkinabé-style
It was an interesting conversation in a small parish office - talking about RCIA - initiating adults - how challenging it could be to sort out irregularities in marriages of people coming forward to join the Church- the process of ensuring that people had begun to conform their lives to Christ - marking the journey to Baptism with various rites and making sure that the new Catholics were well-supported during the period of mystagogia.
We are all familiar with the process - but this was somewhat different as the office was in the parish of St Vincent de Paul, Koko, Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. (If you’re not sure where Burkina is or what it is like, click this link to see what Wikipedia says about on Burkina Faso). I had gone out for the ordination of a new Missionary of Africa (White Father), Anselme Tarpaga, in the cathedral there and the opportunity to chat to people about the inculturation of liturgy and Christian Initiation was irresistible.
Pere Albert with young women from a local village in Konadougou parish
Among those who spoke of the culture in which the White Fathers and Sisters were evangelising was Père Albert, a German priest with 37 years experience of living and working among the peoples of Africa. He invited me to spend a few days out in the mission station of Konadougou in the south-west in the Diocese of Banfora. This is pretty remote and Père Albert said that when he first came people hid behind trees as he passed in his truck… now they clamour for a lift as he passes at the end of the day! In such a place, evening meetings are impossible – people are understandably reluctant to risk meeting snakes on the way home! So much of the catechesis is done in basic Christian communities with leaders coming together for formation and to discuss how their catechumens are progressing. As the leaders can travel up to 20 km, meetings take place during the day and the people obviously need to be fed before returning home. Catechumens are brought together for a 7-day retreat each year with a two-week one during the Lent before their baptism – a chance to reflect together and deepen their spiritual lives... and a hefty commitment of time for subsistence farmers at the hottest time of year. Each week in Lent has its own rite – but given the distance between the Mass centres, not all can happen in every centre every week (as indeed Mass does not always happen).
A family's fetish in the village
The process takes 3-4 years – a one year pre-catechumenate and three year catechumenate – though this can be slightly less where candidates are literate and can undertake study and reflection at home.
Most of the people coming forward are animists, brought up with fetishes and animal sacrifices – and polygamy. It is the latter that often exercises the catechists and clergy and questions about the marital status of the catechumen form a significant part of the questionnaire the leader of the Basic Christian Community fills in to state the readiness of any given candidate. Where a man or woman is in a polygamous marriage, they cannot be baptised but, after their four years of formation receive a blessing during Eastertime. Where the marriage is to one other person, it is regularised as a religious marriage (to go along with the traditional and civil ceremonies that most people also have).
In the town, catechist Georges described a very similar process with candidates following a course of books which opens with the very simple question – who/ what is a catechist? (It prompts the thought about whether people coming to our sessions actually know who or what a catechist might be!) At the end of each year, the prospective new Catholic receives a small token to make the stage in their journey:
End of pre-catechumenate – a miraculous medal
Year 1 of catechumenate – a rosary
Year 2 – medaille croix – a cross with small images of the miraculous medal, St Christopher, the Holy Spirit, Christ and a Madonna
Year 3 – a crucifix
The main responsibility for the formation of the new Christian rests with the Basic Christian Community.
Lent is again marked by rites for each week – and, being in a town, means that people are more able to participate. Week 1 is the call of the candidate who seeks baptism and the vouching for them of the Base Community, catechists and clergy.
Week 2 is the formal renunciation of animistic practices and an exorcism of “esprits mauvaises”.
Week 3 is the giving of and recitation of the Creed by the catechumens.
Week 4 has the “Rite du Sel” – where candidates take salt as a sign of being salt of the earth. There is also the signing of the senses.
Week 5 is the choice of Christian name – where the catechumens give the name they have chosen and why.
The catechumens stay in Mass throughout their catechumenate – there is no dismissal after the Liturgy of the Word – and take full part in the liturgies of Holy Week.
The Easter Vigil starts at 21.00 with the Liturgy of Light and of the Word – and is timed so that the baptisms take place at midnight. There is then a thanksgiving Mass for the newly-baptised on Easter Monday with a blessing for those whose polygamous marriage prevents their being baptised.
Confirmation is deferred for a year and further instruction continues, reinforcing the new way of life the Christian is establishing. Various pictures are used for discussion and particularly significant seemed to be the emphasis on Christ as the perfect sacrifice and the need for the new Christian not to revert back to the sacrifice of chickens, sheep or goats of their animist past. There was also the interesting picture of a man beating a woman – with the explanation that this behaviour too is something that is not appropriate in a Christian marriage.
Of necessity, this really is just a brief summary of the conversations and experience of the Church in Burkina Faso – a country in Africa that prides itself on being an integrated nation where Moslems. Christians and animists live side by side. More snippets can be found on the blog I kept during my time there… including the experience of going to a place sacred to animists. Click here to read more: http://www.bilbosjourneys.blogspot.com/
An Emmaus Walk
It's a shame that, at least as far as Sundays are concerned, we only hear the story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus once every three years. As a story that shows the power of meeting Jesus in the Word and Eucharist, it is wonderful for all Christians - and a real gift for those in these early days of mystagogy. It's a Gospel we can go back to from time to time and reflect on how we have met Jesus - and what effect this has had on our own discipleship.
At some point, the weather in the UK has to improve - our bleak weather at Easter must soon give way to springtime! There are signs of spring around us - but they are hard to spot from under and umbrella or behind a scarf and hat. So, having a bit of faith... let us assume that this is the week when it will be warm enough to get outside and maybe take an Emmaus Walk for ourselves.
New Catholics might like to do this with their godparent or sponsor - or it could be done in small groups. The main thing is to ensure that there is space for talk - and space for the silence in which the Word can speak. It can be useful to give each person a certain amount of time - to speak without interruption or to keep silent - their companion offering respectful listening before having their own time to speak.
The Walk can be divided roughly into four parts. Though each part will have its own dynamic and there has to be flexibility if something really significant comes up, it is important that all four areas are experienced to give a sense of wholeness and completion by... Participants can always agree to come back to the parts that seem worth revisiting.
Read the first part of the Emmaus Story: Luke 24: 13-17
What were the sorts of things that we were discussing at the beginning of the Journey to initiation? And what issues along the way caused us to ask hard questions - perhaps even to wonder if this was the right path for us: was this man Jesus actually the one we wanted to follow? What helped to resolve the issues - or are there still things we are pondering on?
Read the second part of the Emmaus Story: Luke 24: 18-27
What are our memories of the Easter Triduum? Of Holy Thursday evening? Of the solemn celebration of the Lord's Passion and the long hours of waiting at the end of Good Friday and Holy Saturday? How easy was it to feel part of the events we were recalling? What emotions did we experience?
What spoke to us in the Word of God during those days? Where did we hear the voice of Jesus as the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus did - speaking - explaining - challenging - as we listened to the many pieces of Scripture of the Triduum?
Read the third part of the Emmaus Story Luke 24: 28-31 (If this can be timed to arrival at a convenient hostelry or tea room for refreshments so much the better!)
What was the experience of taking part fully in the Liturgy of the Eucharist like? What did it mean for me - does it mean for me - to recognise Jesus in the breaking of bread?
Read the final part of the story: Luke 24: 32-35
So - having encountered our Risen Lord in our confusions and questions - in the Word of God - and in the breaking of bread - what are we going to do with it? Leave it all behind with the hymnbook at the end of Mass? Or...
As we walk back to our own "Jerusalem" what do we take back - and how do we share that with other people?