Click to edit Master text styles
Second level
Third level
Fourth level
Fifth level
![3D"conspirita_=](3D"master03_image003.gif")
=
![](3D"master03_image004.gif")
![](3D"master03_image005.gif")
A
self-guided learning tool for RCIA Coordinators and
Teams
![](3D"slide0001_image006.gif")
The
Rite of Election
A Tutorial
A Tutorial
=
Before you begin:
•<=
/span>Have a copy of the Rite book on hand.
<=
/span>
•<=
/span>Have something on which to write responses to the =
discussion questions if you are doing this alone.&=
#13;
•<=
/span>Make sure to read the notes sections on slides whe=
re there are asterisks **. If you are doing this in a
group, arrange to have s=
omeone
read the notes aloud to the group.
•<=
/span>There are breaks built into this tutorial at times=
where
the focus will shift.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Try to work on this until one of =
these breaks, to hold the continuity of the thoughts.=
3;
•<=
/span>Pray.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:75%;visibility:hidden'>•
![3D"lttr-949_t"](3D"slide0002_image007.jpg")
![3D"the_it_is_written_staff_will_pray_for_you"](3D"slide0002_image009.jpg")
=
Introduction
For
Whom is this tutorial designed?
–For RCIA Coordinators and Teams
![3D"http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=3Dtbn:LrFtREh5AX4L8M:http://www.rcag=](3D"slide0003_image011.jpg")
=
Introduction
•What ar=
e the purposes of
this tutorial?
1.By starting with the end in mind (thank you Stephe=
n Covey), to take a look at what the Rite of Election
tells us about the proc=
ess of
initiating.
2.To deepen understanding of the Rite of Election.&#=
13;
3.To increase familiarity with the ritual text.
=
4.To start to decode the high context language of th=
e ritual text.
(No surprise that RCIA Coordinators and Teams were not the target audience for the ritual =
text! Bishops are the primary audience, followed by
priests.)
=
![](3D"slide0005_image012.gif")
What=
are
the best uses of this tutorial?
•<=
/span>Individual self-guided learning: Gi=
ving
RCIA Coordinators and =
Team
members an opportunity to increase
their understanding of the initiation process without asking them to come to a meeting.
•
•
•<=
/span>Gathered RCIA Team Formation: Al=
l RCIA
Teams benefit from
continuing to learn about the implementation of the Rite.
This tutorial can form the basis of monthly or quarterly team formation meetings. Meet together, pray, watch the tutorial and enter into the discussion.&=
#13;
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
=
PRAY
•Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling =
the
spirit of God. ~Edwin Keith
•
• =
;
Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles i= n the breast.
~James Montgomery, What is Prayer?
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles i= n the breast.
~James Montgomery, What is Prayer?
![3D"the_it_is_written_staff_will_pray_for_you"](3D"slide0006_image013.jpg")
=
Please take this time to pray…<=
/div>
![3D"2007-12-18](3D"slide0007_image015.jpg")
![3D"2007-12-18](3D"slide0007_image017.jpg")
![3Dbalanced=](3D"slide0007_image019.jpg")
![3D"picture=](3D"slide0007_image021.jpg")
![3D"pictur=](3D"slide0007_image023.jpg")
=
PART ONE
What is the Rite of Election?**
What is the Rite of Election?**
•The secon=
d public
liturgical step in the restored process of Christian
initiation. (RCIA #118)
![3D"BD21313=](3D"slide0008_image025.gif")
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
•A ritual =
that
closes the period of the catechumenate and opens the period of=
purification
and enlightenment. (RCIA #118)
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
=
What is the Rite of Election?
A
ritual that is based upon (RCIA #119)=
:
&=
#8211;The
testimony of godparents/catechists
–The
catechumen’s reaffirmation of their intention to follow Christ=
in
the Roman Catholic tradition, as first stated in the Rite =
of Acceptance
into the Order of Catechumens
–A
communal discernment of readiness to embrace the way of the cro=
ss
and the life of discipleship (more on discernment to
come…)
![3D"BD21313_"](3D"slide0009_image027.gif")
=
What is the Rite of Election?
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:75%;visibility:hidden'>•
•A liturgical rite that is the focal point of the
Church’s concer=
n for
catechumens. (RCIA #121)
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:75%;visibility:hidden'>•
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:75%;visibility:hidden'>•
•An episcopal liturgy which means it is a liturgy
presided over by the Bisho=
p or
his delegate. This is signif=
icant because the Bishop will affirm God’s action =
in our
midst and acknowledge t=
he
Church’s witness to that action on behalf of the entire Roman Catholic Church.**
=
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
![3D"BD21313_"](3D"slide0010_image029.gif")
=
![](3D"slide0011_image030.gif")
For Discussion
1.
1.
1.What
is new information in this explanation of the Rite of Election?
2.What
do you see in this explanation that affirms what you are already doing in your initiation process?&=
#13;
3.Write
down any questions you have. Look
for them to be an=
swered
in the remainder of the tutorial.
If they are n=
ot,
contact ConSpirita at info@conspirita.com and we’ll
do our best to help you.
4.
•
=
![](3D"slide0012_image031.gif")
What is
“discernment of readiness”?
•It’s
different than just making a decision.&nb=
sp;
According to Donna Steffen in her book =
Discerning
Disciples, “Discernment is not so much a rational proces=
s,
but a listening to what God is doing, to where God is leading.”**
![3D16765](3D"slide0012_image033.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0013_image034.gif")
What =
is
“discernment of readiness?”
•The word
discernment comes from the Latin discernere. It=
has a
sense of sifting through or separating,
taking apart.
•
•What ar=
e we
“sifting through”? The
various spirits that are
operating. It begins with
observing behavior and then =
goes
deeper: what’s causing the
behavior? Discernment involv=
es the
heart, feelings, gut inst=
incts
and of course, the mind.
• Steffen, pages 6 and 7
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
=
![](3D"slide0014_image035.gif")
What can help us discern?
Start with the RITUAL TEXT **.
It
gives us the marks of spiritual development for =
each stage of the initiation process. Since the ritual text has the same authority as Canon Law, <=
/span>=
all initiation practitioners are to carry out the =
intentions of the ritual text. This is one of the =
many ways we preserve the union of the Church and acknowledge the action of the Holy Spirit in <=
/span>=
our midst.
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
![3D41Z32V8ZMXL](3D"slide0014_image037.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0015_image038.gif")
=
What can help us discern?
•Rite=
of
Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
•P=
aragraph
42
• lists the marks of
spiritual development that are to have taken place BEFORE the celebration of the Rite of =
Acceptance.
•
•Rite=
of
Election
•P=
aragraph
120
•(which =
builds
on paragraph 43)
• lists the marks of
spiritual development that are to have taken place BEFORE the celebration of the Rite of =
Election. &n=
bsp;
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
![3D"lttr-949_t"](3D"slide0015_image039.jpg")
=
A Look at the Ritual Text
Remember,=
the
Rite of Election is based upon the idea that readiness has be=
en discerned.
Readiness is characterized by (RCIA
#120):
1.A conversion in mi=
nd
and action
2.A
sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching
3.A spirit of faith&=
#13;
4.A spirit of
charity
![3D"BD21322_"](3D"slide0016_image041.gif")
=
![](3D"slide0017_image042.gif")
What do =
these
descriptions of readiness mean?
![](3D"slide0017_image044.gif")
![3D"http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=3Dtbn:N8JxekTOZUxmOM:http://static-p=](3D"slide0017_image046.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0018_image047.gif")
What do =
these
descriptions of readiness mean?
•A sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching
–Long enough, several years if necessary, for the <=
/span>conversion and faith of the catechumen to become <=
/span>strong. A
sufficiently long period of probation.&nb=
sp;
(RCIA #76)
<=
/div>
–<=
/span>A period of formation beginning at the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and including both the periods of the catechumenate an=
d purification and enlightenment, that should be AT LEAST (emphasis ad=
ded) one full year.&nb=
sp;
(National Statutes #6**)
<=
/span>
![3DCalendar](3D"slide0018_image049.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0019_image050.gif")
What do =
these
descriptions of readiness mean?
A sufficient acquaintance with=
Christian teaching
=
–Contains
these components of formation: Word, Worship, Communal Li=
fe
and Work for Charity and Justice. (RCIA
#75)
![3DBible-](3D"slide0019_image051.jpg")
![3D9780867168167](3D"slide0019_image052.jpg")
![3D"300px-Cathedral_of_the_sacred_heart_"](3D"slide0019_image053.jpg")
![3Dstations](3D"slide0019_image054.jpg")
![3D040805funeral](3D"slide0019_image056.jpg")
![3D"feeding_the_hungry_2"](3D"slide0019_image057.jpg")
![3Dpeace](3D"slide0019_image059.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0020_image060.gif")
What do =
these
descriptors mean?
![3Dlyeaster](3D"slide0020_image062.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0021_image063.gif")
What do
these descriptors mean?
![3Dlp2](3D"slide0021_image065.jpg")
![3Dcreed-apos](3D"slide0021_image067.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0022_image068.gif")
T=
horoughly
Comprehensive also means
=
![](3D"slide0023_image069.gif")
What
do the phrases “Moral Formation” &
“Approved Catechetical Texts” mean?
“Approved Catechetical Texts” mean?
–_“=
;Moral
Formation” means those teachings that concern individual morality as well as the Church’s treasury of
social morality known =
as
Catholic Social Teaching.
–<=
/span>Aided by “approved catechetical texts”=
means
that the sources we pla=
ce
into the hands of catechumens to help their understanding of Catholic doctrine should bear the
ecclesial designations imprimatur and
nihil obstat, both of which indicate that all of the doctrinal content of the resource is within the scope of official Church teaching.
– The=
US
Conference of Catholic Bishops, in its November, 2007 meeting, determined that they will not be issuing a
“curriculum” for
RCIA, but will instead focus on the ways in which the US Catholic
Catechism for Adults can be
appropriately used to suppor=
t this
segment of initiation.
![3D"X257_150"](3D"slide0023_image071.jpg")
=
Review
Comprehensive Catechesis= means:
Comprehensive Catechesis= means:
•<=
/span>Once around the liturgical year
=
•<=
/span>Doctrinal truths based on the
<=
/div>
• liturgical year
•<=
/span>When more than one doctrinal truth flows from the =
liturgy,
then the choice is made based upon those truths found in the
Apostle’s Creed and the
Lord’s Prayer
•<=
/span>Prayer and spirituality introduced and some
<=
/span>
• practices established (inclu=
ding
mystagogical reflection)
•<=
/span>Individual and social morality explored
•<=
/span>Reflection on works of justice and charity
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>•
![3Dlyeaster](3D"slide0024_image072.jpg")
![3D"X257_150"](3D"slide0024_image073.jpg")
![3D"Sunset4%2520lulu%2520gift"](3D"slide0024_image075.jpg")
![3Dcreed](3D"slide0024_image077.jpg")
![3Dprayer](3D"slide0024_image079.jpg")
![3Dart-logo](3D"slide0024_image081.jpg")
=
![](3D"slide0025_image082.gif")
=
What we’ve done so far:
• =
;
Introduced discernment
• =
;
Offered some decoding of the phrases:
• =
;
A sufficient acquaintance with Christian teaching
• =
;
Thoroughly comprehensive
• =
;
Moral formation
• =
;
Approved catechetical texts
•We still have two more p=
hrases
to “decode”:
• a. A spirit of =
faith
• b. A spirit of
charity
•But before we do, weR=
17;ll
pause to discuss:
![](3D"slide0025_image083.gif")
![](3D"slide0025_image084.gif")
![](3D"slide0025_image085.gif")
![](3D"slide0025_image086.gif")
![](3D"slide0025_image087.gif")
![](3D"slide0025_image088.gif")
![](3D"slide0025_image089.gif")
![](3D"slide0025_image090.gif")