What's a 'dismissal' at Mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter KingAlfred
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KingAlfred

Guest
Right in the middle of Mass last Sunday, the deacon stood up, announced, “We have a dismissal”, and read a ‘dismissal’ decree to two parishioners who came forth and stood before the altar. As soon as he finished, they left (well before the end of Mass). What happened? What is a public ‘dismissal’?:confused:
 
At some point in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, the candidates and catechumen are called up at mass and released. I don’t know if this is what was happening, but this could explain it. This is done because these people have not been accepted fully into the church yet (not until Easter vigil) and since they can not fully celebrate with us (ie take Holy Communion) it would be “impolite” to have them stay. It is like inviting someone over for a dinner party, having a wonderful conversation (sharing the Word) and then not inviting them into the Dining Room to join you. While they are gone, our group discusses the readings and Gospel of the day. But, our Pastor usually explains this and offers some sort of blessing before sending them forth. Perhaps since this was done by a Deacon, it was handled differently. Just a thought.
 
People who are at a certain point in the RCIA process leave mass after the prayer of the faithful and go elsewhere to discuss the scripture readings. This only happens with the catechumens, those who have never been baptized. In the ancient church only baptized believers stayed for the celebration of the sacred mysteries.
 
KingAlfred said:
Right in the middle of Mass last Sunday, the deacon stood up, announced, “We have a dismissal”, and read a ‘dismissal’ decree to two parishioners who came forth and stood before the altar. As soon as he finished, they left (well before the end of Mass). What happened? What is a public ‘dismissal’?:confused:
Click to expand...
Those who are not Baptized are dismissed after the Liturgy of the word. This is a practice of the early Church and is used in the restored Rite of Christian Initiation.
 
The catechumens (unbaptized people who desire to enter the Church) leave in the middle of Mass, at the end (or just before the end, depending on how you break up the Mass) of the liturgy of the Word (formerly referred to as Mass of the Catechumens) and before the liturgy of the Eucharist (formerly referred to as the Mass of the Faithful). They leave before the Creed and the Prayer of the Faithful because a) they do not possess the faith professed in the Creed, and they do not yet share in the baptismal priesthood which is exercised first and foremost in the intercessory prayer (the prayer of the faithful).
 
Wow. Thanks. I thought they were being kicked out of the Church, or abandoning their training for religious life. One was dressed so as to pass for a nun in semi-casual attire. :o
 
Since I was baptized at age 12 in a First Baptist church, I will not be going through this?
 
George_C said:
Since I was baptized at age 12 in a First Baptist church, I will not be going through this?
Click to expand...
If yours was a trinitarian Baptism (in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit), then no, you are validly baptized and you shouldn’t be dismissed.
 
Phemie said:
If yours was a trinitarian Baptism (in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit), then no, you are validly baptized and you shouldn’t be dismissed.
Click to expand...
It was an immersion baptism. That’s all I remember. It’s been at least 30 years. :confused:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top