This Sunday we had the "Rite of Candidacy" at our parish for several people entering into the church, who desire as adults to recieve the sacrements. Besides this we also have several other candidates who wish to recieve "Full Communion".
Recently the whole Order of Bringing in Candidates to the church was changed from: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). But regardless, the "steps" of this are the same.
Cathecumens who desire to learn and be part of the church, begin to learn about the faith, then their are several steps for them to enter into the church. If they are not Baptized, then they are baptized at the Easter Vigil. These are the Candidates we had at mass this weekend. They put their names into a book at this rite, to say and vow, we are going to be part of the church, we will be Catholic, we will be Baptized on the Easter Vigil.
The Rite of Candidacy is also apart of other places in the church, like becoming a Deacon or Priest. Candidacy begins a vow to God, that I have accepted God's call in my life, and as I have started on this path, I will continue. The Episcopal Ordination speaks of this very thing: "May God who has begun the Good work in you, bring it into completeness.". Even in both of these we say different steps along the path, of both Priestly, Diaconate, and RCIA (OCIA) "rites" in the church.
Above all, even in our own lives, God works in steps, meeting us where we are, and bringing us where he wants us to be (like the quote I said before from the Episcopal Ordination). Thus the line applies to us all. God works through us in steps, even as we see this in our own sacremental life. The Easter Vigil brings us a glimpse of how God works in steps, telling us of Salvation History, from Adam and Eve, to Christ. God's work of history, as in our life, is a step-wise process.
So as our candidates accept their full journey into the church, as they continue to learn, and as we help them along the way. We must support our candidates in our own parish, if we are blest to have any. I have a great respect for Converts, they are great defenders of our faith, like Trent Horn, Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. John Bergsma, all of these men are converts, and are great defenders of the faith. They begin to seek the church and learn about it on their own, eventually becoming part of OCIA, learning and then taking the steps.
God Bless,
Matthew
PS, when I speak of "Episcopate" (Episcopal) I refer to the Bishopric, and not to the Protestant Denomination
Comments
Post a Comment