Archive for the ‘Rite of Election’ Category

In our Diocese of San Jose, we have dancing books for the Rite of Election. Now hold on before you start groaning as you imagine young waifs in tights and leotards flitting about the altar. Our Scriptural tradition has many stories of dancing—but the kind of dancing that comes out of ordinary, everyday people. David [...]

If you participated in the webinar on the Rite of Election a few weeks ago, you will be ready to appreciate the good and the not-so-good aspects of any celebration of that rite. Even if you missed the webinar, however, I hope you are quite familiar with the rite as it appears in the ritual text [...]

How do you know if the catechumens are ready for the rite of election? Who decides? What is the process for discerning their readiness? Take a look at Sr. Miriam Malone’s invitation to a one-hour, live training workshop to answer these questions and more. Click here here for more information and to register for the [...]

Many have interpreted the signing of the Book of the Elect to be a sign of commitment and discipleship. This is certainly true, and when seen in this light, it would seem appropriate for both catechumens (the unbaptized) and candidates (the already-baptized) to sign the Book of the Elect. However, the commitment and discipleship that [...]

A number of years ago, I wrote a little book about election (On the Rite of Election, LTP, 1994) for the Forum Essays series. I felt that divine election was an important concept to grapple with, and that—for a variety of reasons—our liturgical celebrations of election were missing the boat. The main problem at that [...]

Rehearsal outline: Sending of the Catechumens for Election RCIA 106-117 6:30 Before everyone arrives Turn on lights and put out microphones. Put stand or table for the Book of the Elect in place. Place the book and a substantial pen on it. Put the lectionary on the ambo. Put presider’s script or ritual book on [...]

A central element in the Rite of Election is the enrollment of names. This part of the rite is so important it is given equal billing in the title: “The second step in Christian initiation is the liturgical rite called both election and the enrollment of names.” (RCIA 118). Their enrollment is a sign of [...]

The Rite of Election is one of those “hinge” rites in the RCIA because it marks the transition from one period to the next for a person becoming baptized. But most people in your church won’t ever see a Rite of Election which usually takes place at the diocesan Cathedral. What most people will experience [...]

The testimonies during the Rite of Election can be one of the most moving moments in the catechumenate process. Let’s look at how they happen. How does the testimony happen in the election rite? In the Rite of Election, the ritual text gives two ways for the godparents to offer their testimony (paragraph 131). Option [...]

Lent comes early in 2008—February 6. That means that you only have a few weeks to decide who among your catechumens will celebrate the rite of election. Unless you have a year-round process, you’ve probably already made the decision. In most parishes, anyone who celebrated the Rite of Acceptance this past fall (or even this [...]