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krissy343
Guest
Hi! At my Parish, the RCIA students have to leave Mass before Commuion. Is this a standard policy? If so, why? Thanks for your replies!!!
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
They leave right after the Homily to go discuss the Scripture readings. It is part of the RCIA class.
They are not fully initiated into the Church so they are not yet bound to the Holy Day of Obligation and its not like they are leaving early anyways as they are going to talk about the Scripture readings.
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content
Guest
Yes, I JUST finished RCIA and we were dismissed after the homily. I was told it dates back to making sure that non-Christians weren’t around to participate in Eucharist. This practice is common to all RCIA programs as far as I know - they want the candidates/catechumens to hear the Liturgy of the Word, but since they cannot participate in the Eucharist, they leave to study.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Yes, this should be the standard for Catechumens. The reason is in the early Church unbaptized persons were not allowed to remain for the Liturgy of the Eucharist and this is just a reflection of that practice.
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krissy343
Guest
Thanks for your replies! Makes sense to me now 
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Joannm
Guest
In addition to not being allowed to celebrate the Eucharist they were not allowed to pray the intercessions. The intercessions are called Prayer of the Faithful, because only the faithful were allowed to pray them.
If you recall the mass was divided into the Mass of the Catechumens and the Mass of the Faithful. Although Catechumens had stopped being dismissed for centuries, the terms remained until Vatican II when oddly enough the Catechumenate was reinstated.
If you recall the mass was divided into the Mass of the Catechumens and the Mass of the Faithful. Although Catechumens had stopped being dismissed for centuries, the terms remained until Vatican II when oddly enough the Catechumenate was reinstated.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
In the early church no one who had not been baptized was allowed to know of the Creed or the Eucharist until a few days before their baptism.
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puzzleannie
Guest
persons engaged in preparation for reception into the Catholic Church through the RCIA process are called catechumens (if they are not baptized) and are properly dismissed after the readings and homily, and before the Creed and prayer of the faithful. Their instruction is based largely upon the readings. In additions, they receive doctrinal instruction that may be drawn from the readings, or in format that follows another systematic structure.
Their group may included candidates (already baptized non-Catholic Christians preparing for confirmation and first communion) who should be staying for the entire Mass, and join the class later. If you have more questions about RCIA in general, evangelization forum is the place to be.
the Tridentine Rite Mass was actually divided into two parts, the Mass of the Catechumens (up to readings and sermon) and the Mass of the Faithful (Creed to the end), showing this distinction is old and honored tradition.
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Melo
Guest
At my Church, RCIA stayed the entire Mass. They are told to either stay in the pew during the Eucharist or to come up for a blessing.
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Mrs_V
Guest
When I was in RCIA we always left after the homily.
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kage_ar
Guest
When I was a canidate, our classes were on Thursday evening - we stayed for all the Mass.
In the parish where I am now, RCIA is also an evening class, and RCIA folks stay for the entire Mass.
Guess it varies from place to place
In the parish where I am now, RCIA is also an evening class, and RCIA folks stay for the entire Mass.
Guess it varies from place to place
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Genesis315
Guest
It’s an ancient custom. The part of the Mass known as the “Liturgy of the Word” used to be called the “Mass of the Catchumens” for this reason–and the “Liturgy of the Eucharist” was called the “Mass of the Faithful.” And those phrases were actually developed based on the “dismissal fo the Catechumens” and then the “dismissal of the faithful.”
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THutch04
Guest
My class wasn’t dismissed. I actually liked it better that way. All of us had been going to Mass for at least a few months before beginning RCIA, and we always stayed for the entire Mass (since if there is still a requirement that those not fully initiated leave before the Mass of the Faithful, nobody knew about it).
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
It was important in the early Church because spys were looking to find out who was Christian so that they could make plans to kill you. Generally that is not a problem today in most places.
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Pani_Rose
Guest
In the Eastern Catholic Byzantine Liturgy, these are the prayers if they are present… from the Litugy of St. Basil the Great - same as St. John Chrysostom in this part…
Exclamation:
For thou art a merciful God who lovest man, and untothee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the HolySpirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon:
** Pray ye unto the Lord, ye catechumens.
** O Lord our God, who dwellest in the heavens, andlookest down upon all thy works, look down upon thy servants, the catechumens,who have bowed their necks before thee, and grant them the light yoke.Make them honorable members of thy holy Church, and vouchsafe unto them the laver of regeneration, the forgiveness of sins, and the robe of incorruption,unto the knowledge of thee, our true God.**
Exclamation:
** That with us they also may glorify thine all-honorableand magnificent name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,now and ever, and unto ages of ages.**
** Choir: Amen.**
And the priest spreads out the antimension.
Deacon:
As many as are catechumens, depart.
If there is a second deacon, he exclaimsthus:
Catechumens, depart.
And again the first:
** As many as are catechumens, depart. Let no catechumens remain. As many as are of the faithful, again and again in peace let uspray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord,have mercy.**
** If there is but one deacon,or if the priest serve without a deacon, then he says:**
** As many as are catechumens, depart. Catechumens,depart. As many as are catechumens, depart. Let no catechumen remain. Asmany as are of the faithful, again and again in peace, let us pray to theLord.
*Choir: *Lord,have mercy.
**
First Prayer of the Faithful
Thou, O Lord, hast shown us this great mystery ofsalvation. Thou hast vouchsafed us, thy humble and unworthy servants, tobe the ministrants of thy holy Altar. Make us sufficient with the power of thy Holy Spirit for this service, that, standing uncondemned beforethy holy glory, we may offer thee a sacrifice of praise, for thou art Hethat worketh all things in all men. Grant, 0 Lord, that our sacrifice forour own sins and for the ignorance of thy people, may be acceptable andwell-pleasing before thee…
Code:
Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do goodworks in this holy and revered temple, for those who labor and those whosing, and for the people present who await of thee a great and rich mercy.
*Choir:* Lord,have mercy. *thrice*For thou art a merciful God who lovest man, and untothee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the HolySpirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon:
** Pray ye unto the Lord, ye catechumens.
- Choir:* Lord,have mercy.**
- Choir:* Lord,have mercy.**
- Choir:* Lord,have mercy.**
- Choir:* Lord,have mercy.**
- Choir:* Lord,have mercy.**
- Choir:* Lord,have mercy.**
- Choir: Lord,have mercy.*
- Choir: To thee,0 Lord.*
** O Lord our God, who dwellest in the heavens, andlookest down upon all thy works, look down upon thy servants, the catechumens,who have bowed their necks before thee, and grant them the light yoke.Make them honorable members of thy holy Church, and vouchsafe unto them the laver of regeneration, the forgiveness of sins, and the robe of incorruption,unto the knowledge of thee, our true God.**
Exclamation:
** That with us they also may glorify thine all-honorableand magnificent name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,now and ever, and unto ages of ages.**
** Choir: Amen.**
And the priest spreads out the antimension.
Deacon:
As many as are catechumens, depart.
If there is a second deacon, he exclaimsthus:
Catechumens, depart.
And again the first:
** As many as are catechumens, depart. Let no catechumens remain. As many as are of the faithful, again and again in peace let uspray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord,have mercy.**
** If there is but one deacon,or if the priest serve without a deacon, then he says:**
** As many as are catechumens, depart. Catechumens,depart. As many as are catechumens, depart. Let no catechumen remain. Asmany as are of the faithful, again and again in peace, let us pray to theLord.
*Choir: *Lord,have mercy.
**
First Prayer of the Faithful
Thou, O Lord, hast shown us this great mystery ofsalvation. Thou hast vouchsafed us, thy humble and unworthy servants, tobe the ministrants of thy holy Altar. Make us sufficient with the power of thy Holy Spirit for this service, that, standing uncondemned beforethy holy glory, we may offer thee a sacrifice of praise, for thou art Hethat worketh all things in all men. Grant, 0 Lord, that our sacrifice forour own sins and for the ignorance of thy people, may be acceptable andwell-pleasing before thee…
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heathernoel
Guest
We leave right after the homily. I am a candidate. When I can attend weekday masses, I do stay for the entire mass and receive a blessing.
I wish I could stay for the whole Mass on Sundays. I stayed when my daughter received her first communion…it was SO beautiful.
I wish I could stay for the whole Mass on Sundays. I stayed when my daughter received her first communion…it was SO beautiful.
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Contarini
Guest
This was one of the things that really annoyed me when I was a candidate. It made sense in the early Church, because no non-communicants were allowed to be present. It makes no sense to attend Mass after Mass as an inquirer and then to be told that once you are accepted as a candidate you have to leave. For me, as someone coming from the Episcopal Church (though I’d only been Episcopalian for about a year and a half), it felt really weird. I’m medieval enough that I could have been satisfied with just adoring the Blessed Sacrament and not receiving, but being sent out to a Bible study (which frankly was not very edifying) felt like spiritual starvation. I stood it for two months and scurried back to the Episcopal Church (obviously being sent out of Mass wasn’t the main reason for this, but it contributed to my frustration).
Edwin
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Texas_Roofer
Guest
Do you recall the legal issue used to crucify Jesus? I think you will find the Roman’s cited treason being loyal to an authority other than Caesar. While the Jews cited Blasphemy. Church tradition had a prolonged period when the catechumens were prevented from witnessing worship of Eucharist, as that would allow the catechumens to testify against the Christian facing the same charges.
Today we recognize this tradition by sending out the Catechumens. It is not all symbolic. Much of the Catholic religion had to be carried by tradition for some time after Jesus’ death. Tradition predates the Bible so to dismiss tradition is to dismiss much of the religion.
Today we recognize this tradition by sending out the Catechumens. It is not all symbolic. Much of the Catholic religion had to be carried by tradition for some time after Jesus’ death. Tradition predates the Bible so to dismiss tradition is to dismiss much of the religion.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
As a Candidate you DO NOT leave. As a Baptized Christian you have a right and obligation to remain for the Liturgy of the Eucharist! ONLY the Catechumens, those NOT Baptized are dismissed. Candidates can join the Catechumens for continued discussion after Mass is over.
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Sina
Guest
When I was in RCIA, it was on wednesday nights through the college I went to so on sunday’s, I stayed through the entire mass. Even before RCIA when I was attending mass on my own, I would stay for the entire mass.
I guess it works either way though as the parish I attend now excuses RCIA after the homily. Kinda neat though as the candidates get identified at each mass and we can pray for them and be hopeful in them. They are a wonderful reminder of myself when I was in RCIA.
I guess it works either way though as the parish I attend now excuses RCIA after the homily. Kinda neat though as the candidates get identified at each mass and we can pray for them and be hopeful in them. They are a wonderful reminder of myself when I was in RCIA.
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