RCIA Study Guide

Catechumenate- In the second stage of the RCIA process is called the Catechumenate stage. The participants in this stage are called chumates and continue to meet weekly, but are still dismissed Sundays after the homily, for the purpose of pondering the word of God and applying it to their life. They are now taught moral and doctrine catechesis. This stage begins in November and ends in lent. They are then given the rite of sending. Shady Jobs- In order to participate in the RCIA process, there are certain jobs that people could not have. You could not be a gladiator, pimp, prostitute, soldier, or actor/ actress. You had to change your profession if you wanted to join the Christian faith. 9 readings- There are 9 readings during Holy Saturday, which is also known as the Easter Vigil. These readings are from the creation to the resurrection of Jesus. This mass is the longest and most sacred mass. A bonfire is lit and the Pascal candle is used to spread the fire. This is also when the RCIA people are baptized. Mystagogy- This is the last stage of the RCIA process and means mysteries. This process lasts 50 days and is white on the liturgical calendar. During this stage the participants are called neophytes, and are still meeting weekly. They are taught about the mission and the ministry of the church, so that when they are full Christians they are fully aware where they are needed and what they would be good at. They now receive envelopes, which teaches them where the donations of the church go. The main goal of this stage is to make the neophytes want ownership in the church. Market place- After Christianity was banned and they were being persecuted, this is where they preached, and invited people to their agape meals. This was very dangerous because the were being persecuted.

Morality- One of the beliefs of the Christians is that they had high moral standards. This means that the follow the 613 laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Focus of the catechesis in early church. Evangelization- Evangelization is spreading the good news of God, and bringing the news of Jesus Christ to others who have not yet seen his glory. Chrism Oil- This is the oil used to baptize people on Holy Saturday, for the RCIA participants, and the baptisms on any other day. Cathedral- This is where the rite of sending and the rite of election happen here. The rite of sending is when you are sent to the bishop in the cathedral. The rite of election is when you write your name in the book of the elect. The rite of sending occurs in the second stage, and the rite of election occurs at the end of the third stage. Catechist- This is the teacher of the catechesis in the Catechumenate and preCatechumenate stage. He teaches the inquirers and chatechumates.

1. Be able to explain the early church initiation process before and after persecution. (Ethiopian) Before persecution, all Christians had to do was say I believe and then go to the water to be baptized. An ex of this is the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch. All he had to say was I believe. After persecution the initiation was a combination of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. The Catechumen would stay up all night (Easter vigil) and then be baptized in the morning. The initiation consisted of baptism, where the bishop would anoint the candidate then the candidate disrobe with the deacon/deaconess, bishop, and sponsor present. Then the candidate would enter pool (dunked 3 times- father son Holy spirit), this symbolizes the dying

of the old and the birth of the new. This part is considered baptism. Then when the candidate comes out he is anointed again by the bishop and given a white robe. This part is the confirmation. Then the candidate had Eucharist with the community. 2. What is the role of the Sponsor in early church initiation? What is the role of the Sponsor today - RCIA? The sponsor was the person who follows the candidate around in early RCIA process. The sponsor would figure out the profession of the candidate and follow them around to make sure they werent out to expose the Christians to the Romans. Today, the sponsor recommends someone for the RCIA process. The sponsor should also go to the meetings with catechumen and be dismissed with them during mass. 3. What were the three rumors of early church "secret" Christian meetings and why? Orgies (because Agape meal means love fest so people thought that the Christians were having orgies during their secret meetings), incest (people call each other brother and sisters), and baking infants in bread (body of Christ) 4. What was the role of the Bishop in early church initiation? What is it today (Elections)? Anoint the candidate during baptism and confirmation. Today during the Catechumenate stage of the process the Catechumen would go to meet the bishop (2nd rite) and then sign their name in the book of the elect (3rd rite) 5. Why did early church choose Lent as a time for more intense preparation for the Sacraments? Its right before Easter which is when the candidate gets baptized. Lent is also a time which focuses on the Paschal mystery, which is a major part of our faith. 6. Describe and diagram the double sacrament of early church. How was the community involved? The initiation was a combination of Baptism, Confirmation,

and Eucharist. The double sacrament was the combining of baptism and confirmation in the process. The Catechumen would stay up all night (Easter vigil) and then be baptized in the morning. The initiation consisted of baptism, where the bishop would anoint the candidate then the candidate disrobe with the deacon/deaconess, bishop, and sponsor present. Then the candidate would enter pool (dunked 3 times- father son Holy spirit), this symbolizes the dying of the old and the birth of the new. This part is considered baptism. Then when the candidate comes out he is anointed again by the bishop and given a white robe. This part is the confirmation. Then the candidate had Eucharist with the community. The community would meet the candidate after confirmation. 7. What are the "strong" beliefs of the early Christians? (4) Believe in one God, Living justly (respect other Jews and your neighbor is all people), High moral standard (follow 613 laws in Dt and Lv), and Jesus is fully human and fully divine. 8. What does RCIA (RCIC) means? What are the four stages of the RCIA process today? Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults/ Children. The 4 stages include preCatechumenate, Catechumenate, Purification- Enlightenment, and Mystagogy. 9. What is the focus of catechesis in the early church process of initiation? What is it today four stages? The focus in early church was on moral training. Today in preCatechumenate the inquirer asks basic question about our faith and in the Catechumenate stage the catechumen has more intense catechesis where he/she learns about the hierarchy and sacraments. 10. What is presented to the participants within the nine-month process? (Why and when) During the rite of acceptance the candidate receives a cross and a bible (icons of

faith) and during the purification stage (1st and 3rd Sunday) receive the our father and the creed. Reminders of early Christian initiation. 11. Who might make up the RCIA team? What are their responsibilities? Inquirers (asks questions), sponsor (there for support and be involved with the learning dismiss with them), catechist (teacher), and a deacon or priest who guide their faith journey. 12. What is the difference between candidate and catechumen? What is the timeframe of the RCIA stages? Candidate has already been baptized and is converting to another faith and a catechumen has not. 1st stage is 6-8 weeks, 2nd November- April, 3rd stage coincides with lent (4-5 weeks) and the last stage is 50 days (the Easter season) 13. What are the names given to those being baptized RCIA today? Meaning? Inquirers because they ask questions, Catechumens (means instruction), Elect because of the book of the elect 14. Be able to give examples of who might choose to participate in an RCIA/RCIC process? Converts of another faith, walk-ins, and recommendations. 15. Why are participants in the RCIA process dismissed during Mass? (2) Because they cant receive Eucharist yet and because it is tradition/ it gives them a chance to interpret the word for themselves. 16. Be able to explain the three rites within the RCIA process. (Acceptance, Sending, Elections) Acceptance is when the inquirer is introduced to the faith community, the rite of sending is when the catechumen is sent to the cathedral to meet the bishop, the rite of elections is when the catechumen writes their names in the book of the elect

17. What happened to the initiation ritual when Christianity became the favored religion? They made the time it takes to join the faith much shorter and easier. Went from 2-3 years to 6 weeks where the candidate received baptism and Eucharist. 18. What does more intense preparation mean? What happened during the vigil? The candidate would have to memorize the creed and the our father during the 40 days of Lent. During the vigil there are 9 readings, candle memorial, and the participants receive the sacraments. 19. What elements of the RCIA are tradition (passed down) from the early church ritual of baptism? The dunking 3 times, use of water and oil, and the bishop or priest does it. 20. Be able to describe the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil celebration. The Easter vigil ends the purification stage. This is when the elect participates in the sacraments they have been preparing for. Everyone has a small candle and they light it from the paschal candle- only during baptism, funerals, and Holy Saturday is this candle lit. There are 9 readings from creation to resurrection. 21. What is a Scrutiny and what three factors are highlighted within the ritual? Its a minor exorcism. The 3 factors are: give wisdom and strength to the recipient, bring them to a deeper understanding of the Gospel, and help them accept the challenge of Christian living.