RCIA issue. Thoughts?

[1ke]

eriously though, it doesn’t appear to be that nasty a thing. At my church, the priest literally spoon feeds the response.

Perhaps the best thing you could do for your anxiety is to stand up and go through with it.

No, no, no.

The scrutinies are for the elect, not candidates.

 

[1ke]

My parish combines catechumens and candidates together for RCIA. Together, they go through the Rite of Sending, distinction is made at Rite of Election, and all go through the Scrutinies.

This is all kinds of wrong.

 

[Joe_5859]

You should not be made to participate. Tell your RCIA director you will not be participating in the scrutinies.

Definitely. I’m the RCIA coordinator at my parish, and if someone came up to me and just said, “Sorry, I cannot make it to the Scrutinies,” I’d say, “Okay, see you at our next meeting!” If they told me they had anxiety issues about it, I’d be doubly supportive.

 

[jesusmademe]

Scrutinies refers to?
I have heard of catechumen.

 

[Joe_5859]

Scrutinies refers to?

Scrutinies are extra prayers at Mass that are said on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sunday of Lent (typically). They are explicitly for the unbaptized. They include prayers of exorcism and are intended to be part of the purification that they are going through during Lent in order to be prepared to receive Baptism at the Easter Vigil.

 

[jesusmademe]

Ok. I never heard those at the local parish. I only know of prayers said at the first sunday of lent for people bevoming catholics. But I dont live in the USA

 

[Joe_5859]

Ok. I never heard those at the local parish. I only know of prayers said at the first sunday of lent for people bevoming catholics. But I dont live in the USA

Not every parish does them. My RCIA book is specific to the U.S., so I cannot say I know what differences there might be with other parts of the world.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Have you had a meeting with your Pastor?

The Scrutinies are beautiful, however, they are not required (meaning, if you are sick that Sunday and cannot attend, it is not a deal breaker). Your pastor and the Faith Formation office at the Diocese will find a way to work around your disabilities, but, you have to make them aware and give them a chance.

HUGS

 

[Shasta-Rose]

I’m not sure what the Scrutinies are but I probably went through them. Another candidate and I, with proof of baptism, went through all the stuff the catechumens went through. Had to have hands laid on by the bishop. Just, at the end, we were not rebaptized, of course. Just go through it. It’s sort of like a hazing without the booze. Once it’s over, you are just so happy.

 

[Shasta-Rose]

Now that I read what they are, I realize that we didn’t do scrutinies in our parish, either.

 

[Cecilia2017]

Was anyone being baptised? If not then they wouldn’t / shouldn’t.

 

[Convert3]

My RCIA experience was unique since it was split between two different parishes in two states. I don’t recall the scrutinizes, so I probably missed them. I also missed the Rite of the Elect. It didn’t stop me from entering the Church.
I also suffer from anxiety and am under treatment for it. The medication I’m on is not expensive, but I understand everyone’s situation is different. But once I got it under control, I’m now a Lector and Extraordinary Minister. Our Holy Mother gives me great comfort when I need it.

 

[Gorgias]

This is all kinds of wrong.

Maybe for the scrutinies, but not for the others. Technically, candidates aren’t participating in the “Rite of Election”. It’s not so much that there is a ‘distinction made’. Rather, the candidates participate in a different rite, not the rite of election.