Appreciating The Simple Beauty Of The Rite Of Election
God’s call to the Prophet Jeremiah is described in these words: “The word of the Lord came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Psalm 139 praises “The All-knowing and Ever-present God” in creating each person: “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works” (Psalm 139:13-14).
These two verses can help us understand the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion to be celebrated this Sunday, February 17, at 2 p.m. in St. Benedict Cathedral with Bishop Charles affirming the readiness of our catechumens to be admitted into the life of the Church through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, and our candidates to full communion through Profession of Faith, Confirmation and Eucharist.
This ritual of the RCIA is probably one of the simplest and plainest of all the rituals. Its beauty is not found in extraordinary ritual actions. In fact, it is the wordiest of all the RCIA rituals with few signs and symbols used. The beauty of the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion is to be found in the women, men and children who stand before the bishop and the Church professing their desire to join their lives to Christ within the community of the Church through the Easter Sacraments and to continue their conversion the rest of their lives.
The beauty of this Rite is that our catechumens and candidates united around our bishop become a revelation that they belong to a church larger than their own parishes. Although they will celebrate their initiation or be received into full communion with the Catholic Church in their local parishes, their love and concern must extend to the Church of God throughout the world.
The beauty of this Rite reveals that Christ is truly alive and still calling people to be his disciples in every generation so that the world might not perish but must find life through Him and the ministry of the Church. Our new members perform an invaluable ministry in the life of the Church reminding us that Christ continues to call us to grow in our faith and conversion as we journey with them to new and eternal life.
The beauty of this Rite is found in the truth that Christians recognize we have done absolutely nothing to deserve what we celebrate this day, namely, that “in Christ God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that God granted us in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6).
“In the name of Christ, the Christian Community welcomes with you great joy.”
