|
Dear Sister
and Brothers in the Lord,
When I was
a child (not so long ago really!), the only time that we ever had
chocolate milk was at school. Because it was out of the ordinary, it was
something that we looked forward to and an important part of the school
day. Little did I know that the ‘milk break’ was only for those in the
primary grades (first and second grades) and ended when you reached
third grade, what a disappointment!
Hot cross
buns are now sold from before Lent until well after Easter. For me,
sharing hot cross buns is a way of celebrating Good Friday. What does
the cross mean otherwise? Another link between a special custom and a
particular time of year is lost. Each month or season of the year
becomes like every other and the year loses its rhythm- its sense of ebb
and flow.
It seems
that much the same phenomenon is happening with the church year. This is
evidenced by Confirmation and first Communion now being held all year
round. Our parish celebrates confirmation in the Fall because the
preparation sessions fit in neatly between seventh and eighth grade
events and activities; it helps to alleviate the crunch of major
celebrations in May.
The
liturgical year has a rhythm that needs to be respected; otherwise it
too loses its sense of ebb and flow. Certain parts of the year focus on
different aspects of the mystery of Christ. Some are appropriate for
celebrating the sacraments of initiation and others are not.
The General
Introduction to Christian Initiation shows the connection between Easter
and the sacraments of initiation.
Through
the sacraments of Christian initiation, men and women are freed from the
power of darkness. With Christ they die, are buried, and rise again.
They receive the Spirit of adoption that makes them God's sons and
daughters and with the entire people of God they celebrate the memorial
of the Lord's death and resurrection.
Easter
(meaning the Vigil, Easter Sunday and the Easter Season) is the time for
initiation in the Catholic Church. Easter is the annual peak celebration
of the paschal mystery – the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The
readings, prayers, symbols and rituals of Easter provide the ideal
context and catechesis for Christian initiation. Lent is a time to
prepare for the celebration of the sacraments of initiation at Easter,
whether of infants or adults.
The Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults sets out clearly when the various RCIA
rites are to be celebrated:
The rite
of election or enrolment of names should as a rule be celebrated on the
First Sunday of Lent. The scrutinies should take place on the Third,
Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent, or, if necessary, on the other
Sundays of Lent. The celebration of the sacraments of Christian
initiation should take place at the Easter Vigil itself.
If the link
between certain seasons and liturgical rituals is lost, the rhythm of
the Church year is flattened out so that there are no longer any special
highpoints or light or shade. The whole year has a sense of sameness
about it like the secular year because we give way to convenience and a
false sense of ‘being pastoral’.
Let give
our hearts and minds to the Lord this Lent.
- Fr.
Joe |
