Today, around the world, dioceses are celebrating the Rite of Election, the second \u201cstep\u201d of catechumens in their journey toward the Easter sacraments. In this rite, which closes the period of the catechumenate proper, the Church hears testimony as to the catechumens\u2019 readiness, and confirms that they are fit to take part in the next great celebration of the sacraments, at Easter.<\/p>\n
Language of \u201cjudging\u201d and \u201cdeciding\u201d should not distract us too much from the essential orientation of the Rite of Election, which is theological. The notes in the ritual text give priority to God\u2019s action. \u201cThis step is called election because the acceptance made by the Church is founded on the election by God, in whose name the Church acts.\u201d (RCIA 119). Election is a \u201cdivine mystery\u201d (RCIA 125) of God\u2019s unmerited grace (RCIA 135A), the mystery of a God who freely chooses, again and again, to call a people. It is part of the grand scheme of redemption.<\/p>\n
There is a response encoded in the rite too: \u201cThis step is also called the enrollment of names because as a pledge of fidelity the candidates inscribe their names in the book that lists those who have been chosen for initiation.\u201d (RCIA 119). Putting one\u2019s name \u201con the line\u201d is a fine natural symbol of commitment, of saying \u201cYes\u201d to God\u2019s election. I am reminded of the words of theologian Karl Barth,<\/p>\n
\u201cOur return to obedience is indeed the aim of free grace. It is for this that it makes us free. \u2026 The mystery of the election of God is the summons to obedience.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This people is called to mission; one\u2019s election is ultimately \u201cfor others\u201d as Christ showed us. The other names for the elect associated with this rite historically, photizomenoi<\/em> and illuminandi<\/em>, are both related to light. The elect are those who will bear the light of Christ, as the ritual of baptism with its giving of the Christ-light makes clear.<\/p>\n
A long time ago, I wrote a book about the Rite of Election (On the Rite of Election<\/a>,<\/em> LTP 1994). Some have said it is the best book written on the subject.<\/p>\n
It is the only book written on the subject.<\/p>\n
The reason I bring it up is to show that I have\u00a0a long-standing interest in the Rite of Election. So imagine my surprise and delight to find that in this age of the internet, one can actually spy a little on how things are going with this rite around the world. A few weeks ago, when preparing to give a webinar on the Rite of Election through TeamRCIA,<\/a> I took a tour.<\/p>\n
The Diocese of San Jose<\/a> has fabulous pictures. Westminster cathedral in London<\/a> is packing them in, and in these pictures from Singapore<\/a> a sense of parish engagement is evident. The visual impact of the rite was very striking in the diocese of Nanterre<\/a>\u00a0in France, where they drape the elect in a sort of purple shawl\u2014a rich, gorgeous color (royal purple?). I was reminded of Lucien Deiss\u2019s hymn:<\/p>\n
“Priestly people, kingly people, holy people, God\u2019s chosen people\u2014sing praise to the Lord!”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
They wear purple in Paris<\/a>, and in Grenoble<\/a>, Switzerland too. In French, the rite is called L\u2019Appel Decisif<\/em>\u2014the Decisive Call. It\u2019s a nice expression of the meaning of the celebration.<\/p>\n
Of course, I like calling this rite Election. But after sixteen years of beating the drum for the theology this title embodies, I realize it\u2019s a tough sell. We like to pay court to the bishop, visit the cathedral, get a thrill out of being in a big crowd. We don\u2019t so much like to remember that Jesus was called God\u2019s elect at his baptism, at his transfiguration, and on the cross<\/em>.<\/p>\n
Yet, I think these are clues as to what this rite is all about. The decisive call, and our \u201cyes\u201d made faithful in the \u201cyes\u201d of Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today, around the world, dioceses are celebrating the Rite of Election, the second \u201cstep\u201d of catechumens in their journey toward the Easter sacraments. In this rite, which closes the period of the catechumenate proper, the Church hears testimony as to the catechumens\u2019 readiness, and confirms that they are fit to take part in the next great celebration of the sacraments, at Easter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[15,31],"tags":[120,674],"class_list":["post-1047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-initiation-rcia","category-sacramental-theology","tag-catechumenate","tag-rite-of-election"],"yoast_head":"\n
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