Michael Brooks
Rites of passage are significant events in a person's life that are marked by rituals. In the Catholic Church, there are seven holy sacraments that are seen as mystical channels of divine grace, instituted by Christ. Each sacrament is celebrated with a visible rite, reflecting its spiritual essence. These sacraments include baptism, confirmation, first confession, first communion, marriage, anointing of the sick, and the Eucharist or Holy Communion. Other rituals include the Mass, striking of the breast, genuflection, the Sign of the Cross, incense, candles, bowing at the Incarnatus, and the priest's posture of begging during prayer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rites of passage | Events that take place at significant times in life |
| Sacraments | An outward sign of an inward grace |
| Baptism | Admission to the faith, bringing sanctifying grace to the person being baptised |
| Eucharist or Holy Communion | The central rite of Catholic worship |
| First confession | Precedes a child's first communion |
| Confirmation | Confirms a baptised person in their faith |
| Anointing of the sick | Gives strength and comfort to the ill and unites their suffering with that of Christ |
| Reconciliation | Opportunity for self-reflection and renewal |
| Marriage | A couple's dedication to each other witnessed by God, friends and family |
| Mass | A ritual that involves striking of the breast, genuflection, the Sign of the Cross, incense, candles and beeswax, bowing at the Incarnatus, the priest’s posture of begging during prayer, and gestures |
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What You'll Learn
The Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate
During this period, individuals are known as "inquirers" and may seek guidance from priests or parish directors of Christian Initiation. They reflect on their faith, consider their beliefs, and may engage in conversations with spiritual leaders. This stage can be lengthy for some, while others may find their calling sooner. It is a time for self-discovery and spiritual exploration.
The inquirers may then choose to take the next step and express their desire to become baptised members of the Catholic Church. This intention is declared publicly within the parish community, and the inquirer becomes a Catechumen, marking the beginning of their formal initiation process.
The Precatechumenate phase is a time for evangelisation, where the living God and the salvation offered by Jesus Christ are proclaimed. It is about spreading the Good News and reaching out to those beyond the walls of the church. This period is not merely a series of classes but a dynamic and often messy process of spiritual transformation.
It is a time for parish leaders and initiation ministers to create supportive structures that accompany and guide individuals on their faith journey. They provide practical tools, resources, and insights to help seekers respond to the Gospel message and cultivate a relationship with God through Christ.
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Baptism
The Catholic Church baptises infants, and the baby wears white as a sign of purity. The parents and godparents make promises for the child, including that they will bring the child up as a Christian, and turn away from sin and towards Christ in their lives. Water is poured over the baby's head three times, or the baby is immersed in water three times.
For adults, the process of becoming a baptised member of the Catholic Church begins with the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate, during which an individual learns about Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. This is followed by the Rite for Entrance, where the individual stands before the parish community and expresses their desire to become a baptised member of the Catholic Church. The individual then becomes a Catechumen and enters the Period of the Catechumenate, which involves studying the Scriptures and the teachings of the Catholic Church. When the Catechumen is ready to make a faith commitment, they request baptism and celebrate the Rite of Election, which includes enrolling their name for baptism at the coming Easter Vigil.
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Confirmation
The Catholic Church describes the process for entrance into the Catholic Church for already-baptised Christians. In most cases, these individuals make a profession of faith but are not baptised again. To prepare for this reception, individuals, referred to as
Prior to beginning the process of becoming a Christian, an individual comes to some knowledge of Jesus Christ, considers their relationship with Jesus Christ, and is usually attracted in some way to the Catholic Church. This period is known as the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate. After a conversation with a priest or a parish director of Christian Initiation, the person, known as an "inquirer", may seek acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, through the Rite for Entrance. During this Rite, the inquirer stands amidst the parish community and states their desire to become a baptised member of the Catholic Church. The parish assembly affirms this desire, and the inquirer becomes a Catechumen.
The Period of the Catechumenate can last for several years or a shorter time, depending on how the person is growing in faith, what questions they encounter, and how God leads them on their journey. During this time, the Catechumens consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God's inspiration, and what Baptism in the Catholic Church means. When a Catechumen and the priest and the parish team working with them believe the person is ready, the next step is the request for baptism and the celebration of the Rite of Election.
The Rite of Confirmation usually takes place at Mass, and the bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation. For pastoral reasons, he may delegate a priest to administer the sacrament. Each candidate goes to the bishop, or the bishop may go to the individual candidates. The one who presented the candidate places their right hand on the latter’s shoulder and gives the candidate’s name to the bishop; or the candidate may give their own name. The bishop then dips his right thumb in the Chrism and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the one to be confirmed, saying: “(Name), be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The newly confirmed respond with "Amen", and the bishop says, "Peace be with you", to which the newly confirmed respond, "And with your spirit".
In the mid-20th century, Confirmation began to be seen as an occasion for professing personal commitment to the faith on the part of someone approaching adulthood. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns that adult faith should not be confused with the adult age of natural growth, and that baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election that does not need 'ratification' to become effective.
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Marriage
The Catholic Church recognises marriage as a contract between individuals. The heart of the marriage ritual is found in two key moments: the consent exchanged by the couple and the nuptial blessing given to the newly married couple. The consent is seen as the indispensable element that makes the marriage. During this exchange, the bride and groom are the ministers of the sacrament to each other, and the celebrant receives their consent in the name of the Church. The Nuptial Blessing includes an invocation of the Holy Spirit, whom the Catechism describes as the "seal" of the new spouses' covenant and the source of their love and strength.
The Catholic marriage ritual consists of the following elements:
- A declaration of consent made by both parties and formally ratified by the priest in the words: "Ego conungo vos in matrimonium in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen" (I unite you in wedlock in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen).
- A form for the blessing of the ring, which the bridegroom receives back from the priest to place on the ring finger of the bride's left hand.
- Certain short versicles and a final benedictory prayer.
- The Nuptial Mass, in which there are Collects for the married couple and solemn blessings.
The Catholic Church has recently revised its Order of Celebrating Matrimony, which includes changes such as an expanded introduction, additional choices for Scriptural readings, and the inclusion of the Gloria in ritual Masses for marriage. These revisions aim to keep the rites relevant and understandable for modern times.
It is important to note that Catholic weddings can also take place without a Mass, such as when a Catholic marries a baptised non-Catholic Christian or when a priest is unavailable. In such cases, the marriage is still considered valid and sacramental, as long as both spouses are baptised.
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Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick is a Catholic rite of passage, also referred to as a sacrament, which is administered to bring spiritual and physical strength to the sick, especially near the time of death. It is typically one of the last sacraments a person will receive.
The sacrament is performed by a bishop or priest, who uses oleum infirmorum ('oil of the sick'), an olive oil or another pure plant oil blessed by a bishop, to anoint the patient's forehead and other parts of the body. The priest may anoint other parts of the body in accordance with local culture, traditions, and the needs of the sick person. The previous form of the Roman Rite included anointing seven parts of the body: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, walking, and carnal delectation.
The Anointing of the Sick is mentioned in the Bible, in James 5:14–15: "Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him." Mark 6:13 also alludes to the sacrament, recounting how Jesus sent out the twelve disciples to preach, and "they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them".
The Anointing of the Sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, is in danger due to sickness or old age. If a new illness develops or the first illness relapses or worsens, the sacrament may be received again. The Anointing of the Sick can take place at home, in a hospital, a care institution, or a church, and is often celebrated during a Catholic Mass.
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