New Missal: what’s that got to do with RCIA?
Much of my current work is to do with preparing for the use of the new translation of the Roman Missal which we will begin to use in September this year. If you want to know more of the whys and wherefores look at the FAQs on the Liturgy Office website.
I want to highlight four aspects that relate to those supporting RCIA:
- experience
- catechesis
- liturgical catechesis
- liturgical formation
Experience
The first is a longterm reflection. Though it sometimes that the Rite thinks people come to us with no experience of Church many who come will already have been to Mass. From September part of that experience will be the new translation. Indeed they might even come to Mass becasue they have heard about this new translation. One thing that I have found in looking at the text with groups is that there are usually a wide range of opinions and the importance for those who lead RCIA is to recognise that their response might be different to others.
Catechesis
For teams that use the Creed as the foundation of their catechesis it is worth noting that there is a new translation of the Creed — both Nicene and Apostle's. An aim of the translation is to give us a text which is not just more faithful to the Latin but is theologically precise. For those interested in the changes Paul Turner's booklet Understanding the revised Mass texts provides a good introduction.
Liturgical Catechesis
The whole new translation is going to offer opportunities for catechesis as enquirers and catechumens ask questions about the new translation. Dioceses, deaneries, parishes will be providing formation in the new translation and it would be good if some of the team were able to avail of these opportunities. The translation will also offer a resource for catechesis. We are used to using scripture and the Lectionary as a source for major events in the life of Christ, to this we will able to add the texts of the liturgy such as the Preface as helping us to understand what we are celebrating.
Liturgical Formation
One of the 'tasks' of the Catechumenate is to form peoples in the habits of a disciple and this includes participation in the Mass and in particular Sunday Mass. This suggests that teams are preparing people for the translation, seeing as assisting them in participating through prayer and action and reflecting with them on the experience of the new translation.
Under the snow something stirs…
Unexpectedly, I open the curtains today to find a new world: my straggly end-of-season garden smoothed over by a thick blanket of snow. The forecast last night was 'snow showers, maybe', but every car in the road is a white lump, with occasional squares of tarmac where some hardy resident has dug themselves out and driven off. Everything looks different under the sudden change of season.
Further afield, though, and the seasons are mixed - trees still in autumn colours, thick snow on the ground and the sun sparkling on snow in the branches and sending a shining river of light across the surface of the lake. A glorious day, a day for standing in the surprising warmth of the sun and remembering the presence of God, everywhere.
On the first Sunday of Advent, the seasons also seem mixed. We have gone into purple and lit the first candle on the wreath, but the Scriptures at Mass are still looking towards the Second Coming and the end times, just as they were during the last weeks of Ordinary Time. And today's reading from Paul - 'let us appear in the light' - is something which we would not be surprised to find during Lent. So the beginning of our new liturgical year is not a clear-cut new start, new ideas, new life, new resolve, but a continuation of something we are used to, with a sharper focus brought by a change of scenery.
That's as it should be, because for most people the work of conversion is not a single, all-or-nothing event but something which takes time and many restarts. Snow when it falls looks clean and unmarked ('so relaxed!' cried the Franciscan sister from Kenya), but after a couple of days it's trampled and worn through, melted in patches, its perfect surface disrupted - the way we can so often feel when things aren't going well. But under the snow, there's work going on, and when the time comes, our new growth will be seen...
RCIA: A BALANCING EXERCISE
RCIA A Balancing Exercise
In the 21st century we have to become very adept at balancing: juggling our home life with our work commitments, ensuring a good balance of ‘busyness’ and ‘me-time’. It is the same with RCIA: using the resources at hand (and here it is helpful to keep reminding ourselves ‘that the initiation of adults is the responsibility of all the baptised’ RCIA 9), as a variety of enquirers, catechumens and candidates have to be assisted and supported along their journey of faith.
Fortunately as well as human helpers we are blessed by our scriptural and liturgical resources. There is the ease and importance of using lectionary based catechesis. ‘Ease’ because it follows the liturgical year and the scripture text comes around every three years, so it is experienced by every one of the faithful; and ‘important’ because it is the Word of God on which we all feed for the truth of what it means to be a catholic christian.
On the 32nd Sunday in ordinary time as we near the end of this liturgical year it is easy to follow on from All Saints and All Souls and discuss the promise of resurrection in our sessions or meetings. In balancing the needs of the unbaptised: whether initial enquirer or catechumen, and those perhaps of the already baptised: whether uncatechised catholic or those pursuing reception into full communion with the catholic church, the lectio divina process could be employed.
- Depending on when they became involved in the RCIA process, enquirers* should be open to learning about this ancient form of prayer. I find that it helps the focus, to use the shortened version of this text (Luke 20:27, 34-38).
- By explaining the whole exercise in advance, the enquirer knows how the time is going to be spent.
- Before it is first proclaimed, ask them to listen to it and to see if a word, phrase or image strikes them. (I find it breaks concentration if you say this after it has been read)
- If this is their first experience of lectio divina you may find it helpful to read it a second time before you invite them to share their phrase.
- Invite them to listen to what strikes them when they hear it proclaimed again.
- Then for the next reading invite them to listen to how the Word of God is meeting them at this stage of their life.
- In the final proclamation ask them to dig deep into their heart and ask what God is calling them to do.
- After each reading give at least a couple of minutes for reflection.
- After sharing give further time for meditation on what has been said.
The challenge of this type of prayer is that you don’t always know where it is going to lead, but it can offer a real insight into where your enquirer or catechumen are in their journey.
* For those making initial enquiry I would use part of the gospel, read once and invite them to spend a couple of minutes in quiet reflection on what it is saying to them,
You might also find it useful to look at the Rite of Acceptance with the enquirer. In the first acceptance of the gospel all the proposed addresses stress that faith leads to ‘eternal life’ #52.
What does eternal life mean to those approaching the catholic church? How does the promise of eternal life impinge on their present way of living? Does it involve change and if so what support will they need from the community?
This also offers consideration for the discernment process. The uncatechised baptised may benefit from celebrating a Rite of Welcome #381. This needs to be discerned.
Discernment is also needed when considering the committed non catholic churchgoer. Perhaps in their previous church they were involved in church ministries and so may need very little ‘doctrinal and spiritual preparation’ #391. Their individual journey will help channel their journey, having regard that the Rite of Reception ‘is so arranged that no greater burden than necessary is required...’#387.
Whatever the individual journey lectionary based catechesis is an essential tool.
A Reflection for All Saints
Holiness- A Gift Offered to All the Baptised
Once again we are invited to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. We can admire and be inspired by the example of all the saints and be aided by their prayers. But as we celebrate we can also be challenged, challenged with the invitation to become one of their number!
Our reaction to this may take many forms, perhaps it is ‘Lord, I am not worthy...’ or alternatively we may share the sentiments of Groucho Marx who famously said “I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.” And yet the challenge and the invitation remain. By God’s grace we are called to become saints.
Many will know that this theme was emphasised at Vatican II and again significantly at the turn of the Millennium with these words:
“stressing holiness remains more than ever an urgent pastoral task. It is necessary therefore to rediscover the full practical significance of Chapter 5 of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, dedicated to the ‘universal call to holiness’. The Council Fathers laid such stress on this point, not just to embellish ecclesiology with a kind of spiritual veneer, but to make the call to holiness an intrinsic and essential aspect of their teaching on the Church. The rediscovery of the Church as ‘mystery’, or as a people ‘gathered together by the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’, was bound to bring with it a rediscovery of the Church's ‘holiness’, understood in the basic sense of belonging to him who is in essence the Holy One, the ‘thrice Holy’ (cf. Is 6:3). To profess the Church as holy means to point to her as the Bride of Christ, for whom he gave himself precisely in order to make her holy (Eph 5:25-26). This as it were objective gift of holiness is offered to all the baptised.”(NMI 30)
This striking last sentence deserves some consideration, it tells us clearly that the gift of holiness is offered to all the baptised. This gift of holiness is offered therefore to us and to all those that we journey with on the RCIA process, all seeking baptism and full belonging to the Church. It reminds us that we are all on a journey. Some of us may be on a journey of initiation, but all of us are on the journey towards holiness. On this journey we accompany each other. And it is ultimately, from an eternal perspective, it is the only journey that really counts.
Pope John Paul II goes on to stress that the gift of holiness “in turn becomes a task, which must shape the whole of Christian life: ‘This is the will of God, your sanctification’ (1 Th 4:3). It is a duty which concerns not only certain Christians: ‘All the Christian faithful, of whatever state or rank, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity’”. (NMI 30)
So as we celebrate together, as we journey together, let us take this opportunity to be open to holiness, to be open to the gift that it is, and open to the task that it entails. And as we do so let us remember that many have trod this path before us, and pray for us to join them.
How is God ‘Abba’ to us?
Before all the important moments of his life, Jesus takes time out to be with his father.
Luke gives us a slightly shorter version of Jesus's response to the question 'Teach us to pray', beginning with a simple intimate greeting equivalent to 'Papa' or 'Dad', and continuing as we know 'may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.' Again the simplicity strikes me - 'may your kingdom come' - may we really live out what we believe and share the life you give us with others, bringing your kingdom among us; and may we rely on you each day to nourish us with your life, and forgive us as we forgive each other. For the catechumen, and for each of us in the community, our life in Christ is like a spiral, ever deepening, the more we open to the truth Jesus gives us. And the truth today is staggering - that God is our 'dad'. In the human family, the dad is traditionally the member of the family responsible for providing for the needs of the body - food, shelter and warmth. He gives identity to his children. SO a son becomes a man and knows himself and his abilities from the way his father relates to him and what he says to and about his son. And in the same way, a daughter gains her identity as a woman through the way her father treats her and communicates with her. The father also provides protection and security. (A mother, and siblings/ friends have different roles in the formation of our person too, which you can align with the Holy Spirit and with Jesus, but I wont go into these here).
Towards the end of the catechumenal journey of conversion (either at the end of the catechumenate period, or during Lent), the Lord's Prayer, our prayer of the church, as an integral part of our daily prayer and our liturgy - is ritually 'presented' or proclaimed for and over the catechumens (or elect) - God is drawing them to himself, like a father who lifts up his child and holds them close (Hosea 11). This is a very moving moment - a moment of recognition of the compassion and love of God calling them to the waters of baptism - as the rite suggests: 'Give them new birth in your living waters, so that they may be numbered among your adopted children.' It is a preparation for the moment when they as baptised Christians will for the first time recite this prayer in the liturgical assembly of the faithful. It is a sign of recognition by the community of the progress of the candidates in spiritual maturity - they recognse who they are becoming. It echoes the process of human development in a family too.
In order for the catechumens to be able to publicly receive and pray the 'Our Father', it would be vitally important for the community, as represented in the team members and sponsor, to be aware of the need for ritual prayer throughout the catechumenate to help them towards this point - blessings, annointing and minor exorcism - all of which are there for affirmation and healing. None of our family backgrounds are perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Ask a room full of people to put up their hands if 
they consider they come from a 'dysfunctional family' and 95% will do so! For all sorts of reasons, our family members may not have understood or were unable to f'perfectly' fulfil their roles in our lives - and this can lead to a misunderstanding of the who God is as Loving Father, or who Jesus is, or the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the blessings, annointings and minor exorcisms are to heal the wounds and lies that may have been learned from our experience, enable us to understand and forgive our families/those in close relationship for any inadequacies in their roles, and to open to the truth of the incredible intimacy offered by God, who says call me 'Abba' , offering identity, security and protection, as well as giving a joyful purpose for our lives as Christian family reaching out to love, heal and serve in the world.
The invitation to the elect following the Presentation of the Lord's Prayer has a prophetic ring about it:
'Although you cannot yet participate fully in the Lord's eucharist, stay with us as a sign of our hope that all God's children will eat and drink with the Lord and work with his Spirit to re-create the face of the earth'.
It’s Great To Be Growing! (Reflections for Corpus Christi)
Recently I planted some bedding plants in the garden ably assisted by my two children. A few days later after the copious amounts of sun, and rain, that we have enjoyed recently the plants had bloomed. Upon witnessing this, the joyful cry went up ‘THE PLANTS ARE GROWING!!!’
It’s great to see growth! It brings us joy and a sense of fulfilment.
When we see growth in the lives of neophytes we have been journeying with, and in our own lives, it too can give us a real sense that the God is truly with us. We can know once more that while we have done our best to be faithful ’planters’ and ‘waterers’ of the seed of God’s Word, it has been God alone who has given the growth.
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." (1 Corinthians 3:5-7)
In the period of Mystagogy that many of us are now experiencing, as well as celebrating the growth that has taken place we can also look ahead with hope for the growth that is still to come. Our hope is that we will see growth in our own lives, in the lives of the neophytes and in the Christian communities to which we all belong. But how can we encourage this growth?
How does the Church grow?
This question was asked by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council. In response they stated that “as often as the sacrifice of the Cross by which Christ our Passover was sacrificed is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried on.” In short they were affirming that the celebration of the Eucharist is at the centre of the process of the Church’s growth (Lumen Gentium 3, Ecclesia de Eucharistia 21).
Pope John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia remarks that “the Apostles, by accepting in the Upper Room Jesus' invitation: ‘Take, eat’, ‘Drink of it, all of you’, entered for the first time into sacramental communion with him. From that time forward, until the end of the age, the Church is built up through sacramental communion with the Son of God who was sacrificed for our sake.” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia 21). He adds that “incorporation into Christ, which is brought about by Baptism, is constantly renewed and consolidated by sharing in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, especially by that full sharing which takes place in sacramental communion.” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia 22)
As we look back to the joys of our Easter celebrations, it is heartening to know that the grace of those baptisms are ‘constantly renewed and consolidated by sharing in the Eucharistic Sacrifice’.
So the Eucharist constantly renews and consolidates the gift of new life given at baptism, builds us up and enables us to continue to grow in our Christian life. This is captured in the Rite itself where the instruction for the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil states:
“Before saying ‘This is the Lamb of God’, the celebrant may briefly remind the neophytes of the pre-eminence of the Eucharist, which is the climax of their initiation and the centre of the whole Christian life.” (RCIA 233).
So right at the outset, in the Rite, and in the Easter liturgy itself, the Church is encouraging us to find the source of our life and of our future growth in the Eucharist. These can be deeply encouraging truths and timely for us as prepare for and celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.
As we look ahead, to future ministry opportunities and new groups of catechumens and candidates we can also receive consolation and support by knowing that “from the perpetuation of the sacrifice of the Cross and her communion with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, the Church draws the spiritual power needed to carry out her mission.” The truth is that “the Eucharist... appears as both the source and the summit of all evangelisation...” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia 22)
So the Eucharist renews and strengthens us, it is the centre of our Christian lives and also gives us the spiritual power we need to witness and share the Good News in many and various ways. Truly we can grow strong and bloom if we can remain true to this great Sacrament.
To end here is a song that I heard some children singing at our local Catholic School, the words are set to the traditional tune Frère Jacques. As we continue to be a Eucharistic people we pray that the truth of these simple and childlike words can become our own as we see the growth that God’s grace will bring in our lives as we share the one bread and the one cup.
"I am growing, I am growing big and tall, big and tall. Growing up for Jesus, growing up for Jesus, big and strong, big and strong!”
Believing in the Past
I have recently been reading Paul Bradshaw's Reconstructing Early Christian Worship. It follows on from two previous books: The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship and Eucharistic Origins. Paul Bradshaw is an liturgical historian who is interested what we know of the practice of the Early Church. He describes himself as a splitter rather than an a lumper. A lumper is someone who makes connection and fits the pieces into an overall picture; a splitter looks at the evidence and is suspicious of any suggestion that goes far beyond the text.
In this most recent book he looks at his three areas of interest: Eucharist, Baptism and Prayer, and explores a series of questions. His method is to look at what various writers or Church documents in the early Church tell us but recognising the geographical differences. This requires a careful reading of the texts but also acknowledgement that the we only ever have glimpses of the picture. Imagine, for example, that in 100 years time this blog was the evidence for RCIA - what picture would you construct.
There are 3 chapters on Baptism: Catechumens and the Gospel, the Profession of Faith and Varieties of Anointing, The third traces the differences in the practice across the churches of pre and post-baptismal anointing, The first, Catechumens and the Gospel, ask the question at what point did Catechumens hear the gospel. In looking at the evidence from the first 3 centuries the possible answer seems to be surprising late. Initial formation seemed to been ethical — how to live.
The second chapter of the section, the Profession of Faith, builds on the first chapter. Bradshaw first suggests that a profession of faith seems to be a key element in the process of initiation and then makes the distinction that we cannot be certain that credal texts in early documents are a record of catechetical or liturgical use. Looking at 4th century Syrian sources he notes that there was shift from a profession of faith in Christ coming when catechumens began to hear the Gospel, to a fuller credal statement which is connected to baptism. In Roman practice he makes the interesting proposal that the text: 'Do you believe…' 'I do believe' is not just a consequence of Latin not have a word for 'yes' but that form of question and answer is that of a Roman contract. So he suggests that someone being initiated understood themselves as making a contract with Christ rather than just assenting to a set of beliefs. This has implications for infant baptism as a sponsor is, in Roman legal terms, a proxy making contract.
Bradshaw does not study and write about the past just so that we know about the past but is fully aware of its implications for the present. He is not though someone who wants to recreate the past rather he wants to do a couple of things. One, help us understand what we are doing at present within the history of what the Church has done and secondly not to get stuck with the idea that there is one way of doing or understanding something.
The Rite of Election approaches – are we ready?
On Sunday next, 1st Sunday of Lent, our catechumens and candidates from across the Diocese will gather in the Cathedral, and be presented to our Bishop with the words :
'They have found strength in God's grace, and support in our community's prayers and example. Now they ask that after the celebration of the scrutinies, they be allowed to participate in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the eucharist'.
Those who have journeyed with them to this point find them 'to be sincere in their desire. They have listened to the word of Christ,and endeavoured to follow his commands; they have shared the company of their Christian brothers and sisters and joined with them in prayer', and so the Bishop announces to all present 'that our community has decided to call them to the sacraments', and then once again, he seeks the opinions of the godparents:
'As God is your witness, do you consider these candidates worthy to be admitted to the sacraments of Christian initiation?'
'Have they 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?
And then speakly directly to the catechumens, the Bishop invites them to 'express your response clearly and in the presence of the whole Church', after which they are declared 'members of the elect'. The whole Church are charged with acceptance of these 'chosen of the Lord', and asked to continue to sustain them through 'loving care and example'
Quite a responsibility. Are we ready?
Lent is offered as a gift for the healing, encouragement and renewal of all - the catechumens, candidates, both adults and children, and the whole community:
- to grow in love
- to overcome hesitations and trust in Christ
- to find joy in daily prayer and reflection on the scriptures
- to acknowledge faults and work to correct them
- to share with others the joy found in faith.
In other words, as described in the Rite (RCIA 125-126) it is more about interior reflection than catechetical instruction - a time intended to purify and enlighten minds and hearts through a deeper knowledge and experience of Christ. So let go of anxiety about 'have we given them enough doctrine'/'do they know enough' - after all, the Rite of Election reminds us very firmly that this is a process of initiation - and relax, and allow lent to be the time of 'retreat' and deepening of relationship with Christ.
A friend offered me this Lenten Prayer which may help us to get the focus for Lent right!
Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them. Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life. Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the realityof light. Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify. Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude. Fast from anger; feast on patience. Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism. Fast from worry; feast on trust. Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation. Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives; fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer. Gentle God, during the season of feasting and fasting, gift us with Your Presence, so we can be gift to others in carrying out your work. Amen.
Rite of Welcome/Acceptance in the West Country
I often wonder why some communities ignore the Rite of Acceptance into the Catechumenate and the Rites of Welcome for candidates, perhaps for fear of imposing a burden on people, but they are missing some exciting opportunities in the process. Our parish looks forward to celebrating these rites each year. At our recent combined Rite of Welcome and Acceptance held at the beginning of a Saturday evening parish Mass, there were so many people that we worried that our RCIA group, their families and sponsors and the parish community would not fit into the church. A recent Sunday Gospel reading from Luke 5:1-11 with its abundant image of bursting fishing nets full of teaming fish seemed rather apt.
Whereas we normally have three or four adults, plus a few children for RCIA and CICCA (Catholic Initiation of Children of Catechetical Age) in our city parish here in the West country, this year we have twenty-five adults and children coming forward to be baptised and received at Easter, including seven adult baptisms and six adult receptions. This has brought its own logistical problems in our small church, one of three, which make up our small parish, where the total combined Mass attendance across three parishes, numbers no more than three hundred.
Although we had described the Rites briefly to the members of the RCIA group, - the danger of revealing too much could detract from the actual impact of the experience on the day, there was much excitement on the day of the event. The group had had two questions to consider "What do you ask of the Church and why?" Each had agreed to give an individual, personal answer. Responses were written at a previous RCIA session, to act as an aide-memoir in case adults and children were nervous on the day.
When this was tried last year, as a result of a suggestion made by the parish priest, but greeted with a little scepticism by hard bitten catechists, the catechists had been surprised that the adults had agreed to it and secondly, how deeply it had prompted the group to think about their responses. The third surprise was the witness that it gave and the impact it had had on the parish communities, who had strained to listen to every word of the moving answers. There was even a tear or two. This year a microphone was used!
On Saturday morning, the phone lines were busy, as catechists phoned and checked that people were OK and knew what they were doing, reassured those who were nervous, listened to question responses that had been changed, reminded people to arrive early. Both individuals and families shared how nervous and excited they felt. Some parents were busy listening to their children’s answers. Some could not but help mention at work, what was going to take place at the weekend. Some had spoken to others in the group and compared notes. Some shared how this had made them think very seriously about the step they were taking. It seemed the very act of preparing for the rites had brought the whole group together.
Even our parish priest, who enjoys celebrating these beautiful rites - he himself came into the church through the RCIA process – was becoming a little apprehensive, less he fail to remember which part of the rite applied to each adult and child. There was a master spreadsheet which showed all the permutations, which became translated into colour coded cards with names. The complication came when families had members who were to be received and baptised and where parents had to speak not only on their own behalf, but on behalf of younger children not old enough to be part of CICCA.
One of our parishioners, who normally directs the traffic in our local, large ferry terminal to make sure that all the lorries and cars are correctly loaded onto the ferries, made short work of organising the movement of prospective candidates and catechumens, adults, children and babies, sponsors, catechists etc., as they were greeted at the door at the back of the church at the beginning of Mass and then moved around our tiny church, so there was room for catechists and sponsors to continue with the signing after the priest etc., and the rite could be celebrated in a dignified manner.
After the homily, gospels were presented to each person. The Mass was a long one, but no one seemed to mind, as the excitement felt by the RCIA and CICCA groups was communicated to parishioners and reminded those who had been received in previous years of their own experience.
When entered into enthusiastically, these rites provide a profound experience for those standing at the threshold of their new Christian journey or encouragement for those already on their journey, they mark the next step, they give visible witness to the building of community and give heart to all of us who are on the self same journey.
The Messiah Is Among You
The Messiah Is Among you.
In one way it may seem the ideal if our Journey in Faith groups were to continue to meet over the Christmas season. It would be so good to share experiences of this and other Christmases in the light of the rich liturgies we will celebrate. As a catechist part of me wants to explore the richness of Word and prayer and living traditions. However, in the absence of dismissal catechesis at present, we have already bade farewell until January. This is ‘right and proper’. Family and other commitments also need to be honoured. I suspect it may be another reminder for us that the Spirit of God was at work calling our inquirers, catechumens and candidates to Christ in their familiar places, long before we met them.
Hopefully the next two weeks will also be a time when parishioners, with varying degrees of awareness, will have particular scope for their essential role:
“…the people of God should understand and show by their concern that initiation of adults is the responsibility of all the baptised… Hence, the entire community must help the candidates and the catechumens throughout the process of initiation… They should therefore show themselves ready to give the candidates welcome into their homes, into personal conversations, and into community gatherings…” RCIA n9
I am reminded of the story of the holy Rabbi living in the woods near a monastery that was declining in fervour and numbers. When the Abbot consulted him about his concerns the Rabbi told him that he had, indeed a message for him that he could repeat only once: the Messiah was living in his community. Returning to the abbey the Abbot told his brothers what the Rabbi had said, with the feeling that he had not received anything very helpful. It could just be true, but who could it be?! Gradually attitudes to each other changed – just in case this one or that one was the Messiah in disguise! This led to changes in the way they lived and prayed and soon others were attracted by their way of living and came to pray with them and some came to join them. Almost imperceptibly they’d found and shared a new way of living.
In responding to the Advent messages and all the preparations for celebrating Christmas (and the ancient ‘rites’ of the midwinter solstice too!) the parish community lives its response to the message that the Messiah is among us. In simple, unpretentious ways God’s presence will be witnessed again in this season.
Attracting people who wish to know more about being a Catholic Christian happens unseen, unknown to us. It is different for everyone but in our stepping back to appreciate this time of celebrating Incarnation we can consciously trust that it is the Spirit of God that works among us: individuals and parish.
By encouraging everyone to pray for each other, especially inquirers and candidates perhaps our community awareness of Christ being born in and among us will be heightened and grow the more.