What is this RCIA ritual called / Parts of Mass skipped?

[Elzee]

Our parish started a year-round RCIA program quite awhile back. We run “classes” every week and people can join when they want and candidates (those who have been baptized) will be Confirmed when our priest thinks he/she is ready without waiting for the Easter Vigil. Whenever someone wants to join, our priest, right after the greeting when Mass starts (after we make the first sign of the cross), will tell everyone to be seated and he will proceed with what we call the ‘Signing of the Senses’ (the sponsor traces the sign of the cross over the candidates eyes, ears, shoulders, etc.) Whenever we do this, because it takes a few minutes, our priest shortens the Mass and immediately goes to the readings - skipping the penitential rite and reciting the “Glory to God”, and he also skips the Creed (which he does on a regular basis anyway).

I have 2 questions:
Is “Signing of the Senses” the correct name? (It’s what our parish calls it, but I can’t count on that being correct).

Is it permissible to skip the first part of the Mass when this is done, as we do in our parish. I haven’t been able to find anything that says this is allowed.

Thank you.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Our parish started a year-round RCIA program quite awhile back. We run “classes” every week and people can join when they want and candidates (those who have been baptized) will be Confirmed when our priest thinks he/she is ready without waiting for the Easter Vigil. Whenever someone wants to join, our priest, right after the greeting when Mass starts (after we make the first sign of the cross), will tell everyone to be seated and he will proceed with what we call the ‘Signing of the Senses’ (the sponsor traces the sign of the cross over the candidates eyes, ears, shoulders, etc.) Whenever we do this, because it takes a few minutes, our priest shortens the Mass and immediately goes to the readings - skipping the penitential rite and reciting the “Glory to God”, and he also skips the Creed (which he does on a regular basis anyway).

I have 2 questions:
Is “Signing of the Senses” the correct name? (It’s what our parish calls it, but I can’t count on that being correct).

Is it permissible to skip the first part of the Mass when this is done, as we do in our parish. I haven’t been able to find anything that says this is allowed.

Thank you.

What you describe is either the Rite of Acceptance for those not Baptized or the Rite of Welcome for those who are Baptized. This Rite sould always take place **AFTER **a period of Inquiry has been completed. It should take place 3 or 4 times a year, not as each individual person enters the group.

It is never permissable to skip the Creed completely on Sunday. It may take different forms however. Where he is inserting the Rite is the correct place in the liturgy. It is sometimes done after the Homily. After the liturgy of the Word but before the liturgy of the Eucharist begins, the Catechumens (those not Baptized) are dismissed.

 

[Elzee]

What you describe is either the Rite of Acceptance for those not Baptized or the Rite of Welcome for those who are Baptized. This Rite sould always take place **AFTER **a period of Inquiry has been completed. It should take place 3 or 4 times a year, not as each individual person enters the group.

It is never permissable to skip the Creed completely on Sunday. It may take different forms however. Where he is inserting the Rite is the correct place in the liturgy. It is sometimes done after the Homily. After the liturgy of the Word but before the liturgy of the Eucharist begins, the Catechumens (those not Baptized) are dismissed.

Can he omit the penitential rite and the Gloria?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Can he omit the penitential rite and the Gloria?

Now that I have had a better chance to look at the Rite book. Yes, the Penitential Rite and Gloria are omitted. It also says at the end for the dismissal that the Creed and General Intercessions can also be omitted for “pastoral reasons”.

We usually don’t omit them they follow directly after the dismissal.

 

[John_Lilburne]

The liturgical book “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” is unclear on this Rite of Acceptance.

Part of it suggests that the Rite of Acceptance is not to be part of Mass. For example, it begins:
“48. … As the priest or deacon, wearing an alb or surplice, a stole, and, if desired, a cope of festive color, goes to meet them …”.

There is no mention of a chasuble, which a priest would wear if it were a Mass. But other parts indicate, clearly, that it can be part of a Mass:

“67. If the eucharist is to be celebrated, the catechumens are normally dismissed at this point …”.

The ceremony is described with the invitation for them to enter, without a Penitential Rite or Gloria. But does it mean this for a Mass?

The 2002 Roman Missal includes a Mass for the Rite of Election and Scrutinies. But not for this Rite of Accpetance. So the uncertainty remains.

My opinion is that just as the priest should realize he should wear a chasuble for Mass, so he should realize that he should include a Gloria on Sunday. The Penitential Rite can be replace with a sprinkling of holy water, so I am less certain on whether it can be omitted in this case.

But on the Profession of Faith it is explicit:
“68. When the eucharist is to follow, intercessory prayer is resumed with the usual general intercessions for the needs of the Church and the whole world; then, if required, the profession of faith is said. But for pastoral reasons these general intercessions and the profession of faith may be omitted. …”.
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 66).

This is specific permission to omit the Profession of Faith in this Mass. So can the other things be omitted? Hence the uncertainty.

So I think the priest may be honestly doing his best to follow the liturgical books with some complicated instructions.

 

[Elzee]

Thank you John.

Do you know why these things are not spelled out more clearly? This may sound rather simplistic, but does the Church just not have good technical writers, or are these things purposely left ambiguous?

It would seem if they wanted to give some latitude, they would opt for avoiding ambiguity and be more specific on what latitude is allowed to be exercised.

 

[puzzleannie]

yes the RCIA ritual book allows rather a lot of latitude, for various reasons. For one thing RCIA was initially intended for mission territories, and the bishops of each country made modifications according to conditions in their own country. Second, some of the rites must take place during Mass, some are preferred during Mass but may take place outside Mass, usually with a Liturgy of the Word. Some require a priest, some a priest or deacon, and a few may be done by catechists. I believe those rites allowed for catechists were intended to be so only in mission territories where the catechist is the person on hand directing the public worship of the community as well as catechesis, in the absence of regular clergy. Some are adapted for special persons, groups or circumstances: children, combined rites etc.

Since the priest is the liturgist for the parish, and far more likely to be an expert than someone who is not involved in RCIA liturgical rites on a regular basis, wouldn’t it be best if the average Catholic in the pews assume their priest is “doing the rites right” and not look for wedges to insert criticism.