Celebrating the RCIA scrutinies outside the usual times

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14 thoughts on “Celebrating the RCIA scrutinies outside the usual times”

  1. Thank you for your knowledgeable insight into the RCIA!
    We have received a dispensation for two of the scrutinies from our bishop. Do you know if the bishop can give a dispensation for the third? I thought I had heard that he could only dispense from two. But we are in a unique time in history!
    My preference would be to celebrate the scrutiny with them if I can work it in. We have not yet returned to the celebration of Mass, but are hoping for Pentecost weekend,( with only 25% capacity of the church allowed). I am not yet certain when our priest is planning to celebrate the sacraments for RCIA. I am hoping that our deacon will help with the celebration of the scrutiny outside of Mass, but he has other commitments.
    Thanks for your help.

    1. Hi Dianna. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults only permits the bishop to dispense from two scrutinies. See RCIA 20.

  2. Mariola Gozdek

    The Scrutinies are sometimes underestimated by parishes/Pastors. Sometimes leaders skip them.
    Could someone explain/ or should we dwell collectively on the huge, huge, huge spiritual benefits of Scrutinies?
    (I agree with the benefits)

      1. Mariola Gozdek

        Basically, I believe parishes do not understand Scrutinies well enough and in many cases do not celebrate them at all, even in non pandemic year.

  3. The Prayer of Exorcism and Laying on of Hands given in “Christian Initiation of Adults in Exceptional Circumstances (Abbreviated Form),” nos. 351-352 seems to accomplish the same work as the Scrutinies. Obviously it would be best to have three distinct celebrations of the Scrutinies but it seems to me that, with one’s bishop’s permission, this might be the prudent choice for many in light of current circumstances?

  4. Hi Andrew. In this age of COVID-time, I think we can be as flexible with the rites as we need to be. Even so, I’m not sure I’d use the Exceptional Circumstances section. The rite defines extraordinary circumstances as “sickness, old age, change of residence, long absence for travel” (332).

    The issue caused by the pandemic is not that the personal circumstances of the candidates have caused them to need to hurry up with the rites. So I think it is more appropriate to turn to the “outside usual times” provisions (26-30).

    If the local community feels it is safer to only gather once for a scrutiny and they do not feel it is pastorally beneficial to wait until there is a safer time to gather, the normal celebration of the rites allow for the dispensation of up to two of the scrutinies (20). In that case, I would prefer to celebrate one “normal” scrutiny and not use the exceptional circumstances ritual.

  5. We are starting RCIA late this year and trying to change how we do the scrutinizes since we only have 3 people involved who are not baptized. Just curious how other RCIA teams celebrate it. Any input would be appreciated

  6. Where in the Rite does it say that the scrutinies can be celebrated during a Liturgy of the Word service instead of during the Mass? I can’t find that allowance anywhere, and it doesn’t seem possible, in light of no. 146: “The scrutinies SHOULD take place within the ritual Masses … . IN EVERY CASE, the ritual Masses “Christian Initiation: The Scrutinies” are celebrated … .”

    1. Hi Nicholas. I think the preference would always be that the srutinies are celebrated within a Mass, and ideally the parish Masses on third, forth, and firth Sundays of Lent. However, RCIA 145 allows for a deacon to be the “presiding celebrant” at the scrutinies, in which case, the celebration would not include the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Also, RCIA 156 begins with the phrase: “When the eucharist is to follow…”, which indicates that at times the eucharist might not follow.

      The sections you cited seem to indicate that when the scrutiny is celebrated within a Mass, it should take place within the ritual Mass for the scrutinies and not within the Mass for the Third, Fourth, or Fifth Sunday of Lent.

      1. Siouxsie Stewart

        Hi, I was at weekday Mass today and during the homily it was mentioned that the Scrutinies historically happened on Wednesdays.

        Do you have any insight as to why, historically, they were done on Wednesdays? Were there any other practices then associated with the “mini exorcisms”? When / what year did the Scrutinies move from Wednesday to Sunday? Post Vatican 2 or before that time?

        Thanks in advance for any info!!

        May God Bless You!!

        1. Hi Siouxsie. I have never heard that the scrutinies historically happened on Wednesdays. You might want to ask the homilist if he has a source. They did happen on weekdays in some places, but not specifically Wednesday. Sunday, however, is historically the most traditional day of celebration.

          The history of the scrutinies is long and varied. Depending on what century and what part of the world we’re talking about, the scrutinies varied in number and form and the days of celebration. The scrutinies that we celebrate today are an original creation of a study group established by Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council. The study group looked at the various forms of scrutiny over the centuries and pulled together the most essential elements that would make the most sense for today’s church.

          I’m not sure what you mean by mini-exorcisms. There are minor exorcisms that are celebrated during the period of the catechumenate, but these are not the same as the exorcisms celebrated within the scrutinies. Exorcism, too, has a varied history, depending upon where and when.

          The ritual exorcism of demons that gets popularized and exploited by Hollywood is a completely different rite than the baptismal exorcism of the scrutinies. While the exorcism of demons dates back to the New Testament, official guidelines for performing that kind of exorcism were not established in the church until the 1600’s.

          You can read more about the difference between baptismal and demonic exorcism here: https://teamrcia.com/2013/01/rcia-vs-hollywoodthe-true-meaning-of-exorcism/

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