The Scrutinies in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

Tomorrow and for the next two Sundays, the Church will assist the Elect, those preparing for Baptism, to prepare for the celebration of the sacrament by a ritual called "the Scrutinies." Through this ritual, the Church will pray with these men and women for conversion of life and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Conversion and repentance are celebrated in the Church through the Sacrament of Penance. However, since Baptism is a prerequisite for the other six sacraments, this ritual is not available for the Elect. They will be able to confess their sins and receive absolution only after they have been baptized. As we have all been taught, Baptism washes away not only the effects of Original Sin but also all sins committed in a person's lifetime. So the Sacrament of Penance only applies to the sins committed after Baptism.

Consequently, to assist the Elect in preparing for Baptism, the Church, on three successive Sundays of Lent, prays over the Elect and asks them to recognize the power of sin in their lives. Having recognized sin, they then turn toward Christ who is Living Water, the Light of the World, and the Resurrection and the Life. (The readings for Lenten Masses which are celebrated with the Scrutinies always use the readings from the A Cycle of the Lectionary, the cycle which features the readings from John's Gospel and include the "Woman at the Well," "The Man Born Blind," and "The Raising of Lazarus.")

Although the Scrutinies are for the Elect, the entire congregation is asked to "uncover" that which needs repentance in their lives as well. Lent offers us that special time to plumb the depths of sin which can flood our hearts if we do not, from time to time, make a special effort to "Turn from sin and believe the Gospel."