Rite of Election

[Lily0fthevalley]

DH and I will be going to the Rite of Election on Feb 26, the Bishop will be there. What is expected there? we were told that we may be there for a couple hours or so.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Should be like, two hours max. Mine was like an hour, and there were 200 candidates and catechumens there. It’s basically a Liturgy of the Word, then a homily from the bishop, then all the RCIA people will go up to sign their names in this fancy calligraphy-ized book, then that’s it. Mine was actually very nice, and the cantor (in the choir loft, thank God) was probably the best tenors I’ve ever heard in my life. Many dioceses will break it up and have several of them with several parishes attending each so as to not prolong it. I really liked it, actually.

 

[TheMc]

I’d say maybe an hour, possibly more depending on homily length and number of catechumens and candidates participating. Probably not much more, though. The basic outline is thus:

• Procession
• Brief introductory rites
• Liturgy of the Word
• Homily
• The actual “rite of election” itself, which concludes with…
• …catechumens and candidates signing the book(s) (often accompanied by a choir piece, at least in my area)
• The Universal Prayer
• Pontifical blessing and dismissal

I may have forgotten something (it’s been a year since I went to one!!), but that’s pretty much everything.

 

[TheMc]

ps, your informant may know something we don’t, but I think to say it’ll last “a couple of hours” is probably not very accurate. As I said, and YTC said, probably closer to an hour.

 

[KarenElissa]

A couple of hours may include the getting there before hand and all of that. I think 2 hours was about right for my diocese, getting there 30 minutes early and a hour, hour and a half long.

You have some good explanations, but I will add in some diocese the actual signing of the books happens and the local parish and then the books are presented to the bishop and the people all go up and shake his hand before the prayers for them. I would imagine it depends on how big the diocese is and how many catechumens / candidates there usually are.

 

[TheMc]

A couple of hours may include the getting there before hand and all of that. I think 2 hours was about right for my diocese, getting there 30 minutes early and a hour, hour and a half long.

You have some good explanations, but I will add in some diocese the actual signing of the books happens and the local parish and then the books are presented to the bishop and the people all go up and shake his hand before the prayers for them. I would imagine it depends on how big the diocese is and how many catechumens / candidates there usually are.

Oh yes, the whole event is probably a couple of hours, including arrival, seating, the liturgy itself, and the usual reception. I was just thinking the liturgy, not any of that.

 

[puzzleannie]

DH and I will be going to the Rite of Election on Feb 26, the Bishop will be there. What is expected there? we were told that we may be there for a couple hours or so.

it depends on how many catechumens there are, whether he greets each of them personally, does each catechumen say his name, and the logistics. For instance Here I tell families to figure two hours max but it may be a bit less. Also some parts of the rite are optional so if every part is done it will take longer.

Here, the catechumens will go outside, be called formally by the bishop to enter through the main door of the basilica (our cathedral is old and too small for these events). They may or may not each come to a microphone to say their name and be individually greeted, or the DRE or pastor’s delegate may simply present the catechumens from their parish as a group, and give the book of the Elect to the bishop to sign. In some places, if the catechumens have not signed the book already in their parish at a Rite of Sending for Election, they may do it at this time, which of course takes longer.

The godparents will be asked to affirm the readiness of their candidate to proceed to the Easter sacraments, and their willingness to carry out their role and responsibilities. The catechumens will be asked to state their desire to proceed and go through the rites of and immediate preparation for Easter in the period of the purification and enlightenment. This is when the sponsors end their role and the godparents take over (although sometimes this may be actually the same person). You will probably be not exactly rehearsed, but prepared, before this happens.

In some places the candidates for reception into full communion will also be welcomed in their own rite in the context of the same celebration. Here that is on another night because of the numbers of people involved.

. For the coming weeks and months, take each thing as it comes in the proper order as it comes and go with the flow, and don’t worry about anticipating each step. The RCIA has your back, you will be prepared as the time comes. Concentrate on your own process of continuing conversion. Your formal study of doctrine and the gospel is growing less and the interior spiritual preparation, strengthened by the Rites, is coming to the fore.

Welcome home

ps when planning the time ask what is the best time to arrive, here I tell the families withing a narrow range, too soon and Mass is still going on so there is no place to park, too late and the families may have to stand, as sponsors and catechumens sit together in places reserved by parish or deanery. If for some reason they are late and can’t find their group I remind them to keep heads up and when they hear our parish called to come forward from wherever they are sitting. I also remind them not to leave after our parish is presented because the blessing at the end is a most important part of the rite.