Don’t do “stuff” to the scrutinies to make them less “scrutinish”
and don’t be frightened by the word “exorcism.” We know the “exorcisms” portrayed in Hollywood movies are not what is intended in the celebration of the scrutinies. The principal symbols of the scrutinies are Word and Intercession. The primary symbol—the main event—in this rite is the exorcism. You can find the exorcism at paragraphs 141, 155, and 162. There are some things that we need to do well to make the exorcisms as liturgically meaningful as possible.
Use the prayers for “Christian Initiation: The Scrutinies”
Encourage the presider to use the prayers for “Christian Initiation: The Scrutinies” instead of the prayers for the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent at the Masses where the scrutinies will be celebrated (RCIA #133, 137, 151, 158). You’ll find the mass prayers for the scrutinies in the back of the sacramentary in the section titled “Ritual Masses”.
Ask the elect to kneel (vs. bowing heads) at the beginning of the rite
Ask the elect to kneel (if they can) instead of merely bowing their heads. This is a much more dramatic posture, and it will create a more lasting memory for them of their liberation from darkness.
Write specific prayers of intercession for your elect
The effort you put in here will have a profound impact on your elect for the rest of their life. RCIA #140 allows for adaption of the intercessions for the elect to suit their current circumstances. This is the principle purpose of the scrutinies, to pray for the elect and their specific spiritual needs at this point on their faith journey. Create time, space and place to do a spiritual, deep reading of the gospel. Include the elect, godparents, and other team members. Ask some reflective questions before the reading of the gospel. Get some reflection back from the elect about what they are hearing in each of the gospels, particularly focusing on what is difficult, the barriers they currently feel, and what is lacking or what are they longing for in their lives that the gospel exposes. Their responses will help you craft the intercessions that are deep and meaningful for them within the power of the scrutinies.
Pay attention to the words of exorcism
Use the exact words given in the text. No adapting texts. The presider needs to rehearse the text out loud. Focus on the verbs. Practice the gestures as you say the words. Imagine you are brand new to the faith and hearing these words for the first time. What is it the elect most need from these prayers? That becomes your focus.
Laying on of hands
In the exorcism the rite appears to allow the laying on of hands as optional. To communicate the full power of this rite, don’t make it optional! The presider should solemnly and prayerfully lay hands on each of the elect.
You can add to the solemnity by having the RCIA leader also lay hands on each of the elect after the presider. And the godparents can lay hands on their own elect after the RCIA leader. Solemnly. Prayerfully.
Silence is golden
If the laying on of hands is done is deep silence, the power of the exorcism is heightened. Do not underscore this action with music. Do not rush the silence. Let the silence seep into the bones of the elect. The silence also highlights the importance of the ritual to the participating community.
The godparents have a primary role
Be sure to celebrate all three scrutinies with the elect and their godparents. During the intercessions the godparents stand with their right hand on the shoulder of the elect (RCIA #140) and ask the godparents to also lay hands on their elect (see above). Make sure the elect and godparents have the dates of the scrutinies and any other special liturgies during Lent in their calendars long before Lent begins.
The intercessions for the elect are different from the prayer of the faithful
RCIA #140 is specific intercessions for the elect. RCIA #143 is the instruction for the general intercession, profession of faith and liturgy of the eucharist. Make sure you are familiar with the options in both #140 and #143.
Involve the entire parish
If you have more than one Sunday Mass, those who are not at the scrutiny should have a sense that the scrutinies are being celebrated. Consider how you can do this, either through the prayers of intercession and mass/bulletin announcements.
What not to do
These things detract from the primary symbolic action of the scrutinies. If you are not doing these, pat yourself on your ritual back. If you are doing them just because you’ve always done it that way, then it will be easy to simply stop doing them.
If you are doing one or more of these things because you love them, I’d suggest you take a hard second look at them and try doing the ritual as given to us in the RCIA. Here are some of the things that are added onto the scrutiny that may not serve the rite well.
Don’t change the exorcism prayer
Leaders (and sometimes the presider) are used to adapting texts in the rite because we are frequently encouraged to do so by the rite itself. However, this isn’t one of those times. Don’t tinker, the three exorcism prayers, as given to us, are clear and powerful. There is no compelling reason to change them or add to them.
Don’t anoint the elect
This confusion seems to occur if there are children as well as adults participating in the scrutiny. The children’s adaptation of the scrutiny (starting at RCIA #277) does include an optional anointing of the child catechumens, however, it is not in the adult rite. In this situation, follow the adult rite and only do the laying on of hands on both adult and child elect. (Note that the rite has the anointing of the child(ren) at RCIA #291 within the celebration of baptism)
Don’t add in the presentations
The Presentation of the Creed is meant to be celebrated at a weekday Mass during the third week of Lent (see RCIA 135, 144). The Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer is meant to take place at a weekday Mass during the fifth week of Lent (see RCIA 165). Adding them into or after the scrutiny rites detracts from the centrality of the exorcism and makes the liturgy seem cluttered.
If you want to celebrate the Presentations on a Sunday, consider doing them in Ordinary Time, just before Lent, with those catechumens who will be celebrating the Rite of Election (see RCIA #21, #134). This is a practical solution for many parishes with no or limited weekday masses or to deal with the weekday work rostering arrangements of the elect.
Don’t scrutinize the baptised candidates
This is something that cannot be done. The scrutinies are only for the unbaptised who have participated in the rite of election and will be baptised at the coming Easter vigil.
Don’t scrutinize the assembly
Do not ask the assembly to kneel. This is a scrutiny of the elect, not of the assembly. Yes, we all need regular scrutiny, but this is not the time for an examination of conscience for the faithful. The scrutinies are not an examination of conscience or a penitential rite for Catholics. They are exorcism prayers in preparation for baptism. By blurring the lines like this, we create a great confusion about the real difference between the unbaptised and the baptised. And that, in turn, diminishes what we teach about true salvation given freely to us in the sacraments of initiation.
Re-evaluate inviting the entire assembly to lay hands on the elect
Some parishes invite the entire assembly to lay hands on the elect. This is not a “don’t,” but do be careful. You must do it with the same reverence and grace that happens when we venerate the Cross on Good Friday. You also need to be conscious of the amount of time it will take.
What could happen to our parishes if we did the scrutinies well?
Go to the Christian Initiation Australia Network Facebook page and add your own comments
