Scrutinies and RCIA first communion

[robin_hood]

I am a trainee Catechist at my local parsh and help out with the RCIA program, but something inside me tells me that something is wrong.For instance the first two scrutinies were held in the RCIA class and led by Catechists , no Priest was present. But all the reading I have done points to the Scrutinies being held in Church and being led by a Priest. I vaguely remember one of the Catechists saying that the Bishop has asked the Catechists to hold the scrutinies. Is this right or has the Bishop overstepped his authority.
Also before the Easter vigil the Baptised candidates will have there first confession.But tonight the leader mentioned that the unbaptised catechumens will not have there first Confession till after the Easter vigil when they will receive First Communion.I always believed that you should receive your first Confession before your first Communion.
Help

 

[Elzee]

robin hood:

Also before the Easter vigil the Baptised candidates will have there first confession.But tonight the leader mentioned that the unbaptised catechumens will not have there first Confession till after the Easter vigil when they will receive First Communion.I always believed that you should receive your first Confession before your first Communion.
Help

I’ll let someone else answer your question about the Scrutinies, but the Catechumens do not need to make their First Confession before receiving the Eucharist because they will be baptized prior to Communion at the Easter Vigil. Baptism washes away original sin and all sins committed up to that point through the sanctifying grace of God. Candidates, however (those already baptized) will need to make their First Confession prior to the Easter Vigil. I hope this helps.

 

[Catholic_Heart]

**Hi…The scrutinies are ordinarily held in the church, during the regular Mass. I’m not sure why two of yours was held privately, but you should ask.

Those who are to be baptized are not required to go to confession…Their baptism will wash away any sin…so no need.

I have been a catechist with the RICA for years, and am always learing something new about the process…Good luck to you. This ministry is so worth all the effort! Just wait 'till the Easter Vigil, and your people “graduate”…so to speak. You will be thrilled, and the experience will call you back to the ministry next year.

Sandy
**

 

[robin_hood]

Elzee:

I’ll let someone else answer your question about the Scrutinies, but the Catechumens do not need to make their First Confession before receiving the Eucharist because they will be baptized prior to Communion at the Easter Vigil. Baptism washes away original sin and all sins committed up to that point through the sanctifying grace of God. Candidates, however (those already baptized) will need to make their First Confession prior to the Easter Vigil. I hope this helps.

:banghead: What a fool I am of course Baptism removes all sin .Well I needed a good dose of humility

 

[puzzleannie]

all of the Rites have alternatives for special situations, including a complete set of the Rites for children. Scrutinies in any case are only for the unbaptized, not for candidates. Some of the rites are optional and have provision for deacon or catechist to substitute for the priest, some are only for the priest. I keep forgetting to bring my Ritual book home (because I need it daily at work) but as I recall from this morning the rubrics called for Celebrant and Assisting Minister, but can’t recall if that has to be a priest, will try to remember to look it up tomorrow.

Some of the rites for children provide for an alternative time and place to Sunday Mass, since it is assumed they might be shy about being in front of the whole assembly (a problem many adults have, too, to judge by this forum) and can be done in the gathering with their peers, presumably during CCD etc.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

robin hood:

I am a trainee Catechist at my local parsh and help out with the RCIA program, but something inside me tells me that something is wrong.For instance the first two scrutinies were held in the RCIA class and led by Catechists , no Priest was present. But all the reading I have done points to the Scrutinies being held in Church and being led by a Priest. I vaguely remember one of the Catechists saying that the Bishop has asked the Catechists to hold the scrutinies. Is this right or has the Bishop overstepped his authority.
Also before the Easter vigil the Baptised candidates will have there first confession.But tonight the leader mentioned that the unbaptised catechumens will not have there first Confession till after the Easter vigil when they will receive First Communion.I always believed that you should receive your first Confession before your first Communion.
Help

I don’t find anything in the Rite allowing anyone other than a priest to celebrate the Scrutinies. They do not need to be celebrated on Sunday or within a Mass and can be celebrated within a Liturgy of the Word instead. Scrutinies would never be celebrated outside of a liturgy by a priest. They should always take place with at least some of the parish Community present.

 

[LeahInancsi]

For the 1,000th time, I thank God for my excellent priests and RCIA director. :bowdown2:

I went through the Second Scrutiny this morning. I was beautiful, wonderful, heavenly, there are no words to describe it. The Gospel reading from John and the priest’s homily were the perfect setting for the Scrutiny.

If the Scrutiny had been performed in a meeting room by the RCIA instructor, it would be meaningless.

I’d be on the phone to the bishop and searching for another Catholic church, if that happened to me.

 

[John_Lilburne]

My understanding is that the bishop can direct catechists to perform “minor exorcisms”. But this does not include the “exorcism in a scrunity”, which can only be performed by a priest or deacon.

According to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) n. 12: “… Finally, when pastoral care requires, the bishop should depute catechists, truly worthy and properly prepared, to celebrate the minor exorcisms (nos. 90-94) and the blessings of the catechumens (nos. 95-97).”

In RCIA n. 16, about catechists: “… When deputed by the bishop (see no. 12), they may perform the minor exorcisms and blessings contained in the ritual.”

From the RCIA : “91. The presiding celebrant for the minor exorcisms is a priest, a deacon, or a qualified catechist appointed by the bishop for this ministry (see no. 16)”.
“92. The minor exorcisms take place within a celebration of the word of God held in a church, a chapel, or in a centre for the catechumenate. A minor exorcism may be held at the beginning or end of a meeting for catechisis. When there is a special need, one of these prayers of exorcism may be said privately for individual catechumens.”

But in discussing the Scrutinies, it has in RCIA n. 144: “In the rite of exorcism (nos. 154, 168, 175), which is celebrated by a priest or a deacon, the elect, who have already learned from the Church …”. And in RCIA n. 145 “The priest or deacon who is the presiding celebrant should …”.

The Scrutinies should be on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent. But from RCIA n. 146 “When, for pastoral reasons, these ritual Masses cannot be celebrated on their proper Sundays, they are celebrated on other Sundays of Lent or even convenient days during the week.”

So Robin Hood should check whether it was a minor exorcism or a Scrunity. Perhaps there is confusion about the difference between the two by the bishop or the catechists.

My copy of the RCIA is from The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0.