Sarah Mitchell
The Scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who wish to be baptised and are celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. The second scrutiny involves the healing of the man born blind and symbolises the contrast between blindness and sight. The Gospels on the three Sundays on which the Scrutinies are celebrated teach the 'Elect' about the mystery of sin and fill them with the Spirit of Christ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent |
| Participants | Adults who wish to be baptized |
| Purpose | To uncover and heal all that is weak, defective or sinful in the hearts of the elect |
| Symbol | Water |
| Gospel | Healing of the man born blind |
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What You'll Learn
- The Second Scrutiny is about the contrast between blindness and sight
- The Gospel reading is about Jesus healing a man born blind
- The Scrutinies are Rites celebrated on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent
- The Scrutinies are rites of self-searching and repentance
- The Scrutinies are a period of purification and enlightenment for the Elect
The Second Scrutiny is about the contrast between blindness and sight
The Scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who are preparing to be baptised and are celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. These rites are meant for the RCIA Elect but can help all Catholics seeking to live a life of continuous conversion.
The scrutinies are described by the Church as:
> Rites for self-searching and repentance, which are meant to uncover, then heal, all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong and good.
The scrutinies are a period of purification and enlightenment for the Elect. They are a time to learn and live out the Christian faith, and to be celebrated among the entire parish community.
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The Gospel reading is about Jesus healing a man born blind
The Scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who wish to be baptised. They are celebrated on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent, by those preparing to be baptised at Easter, known as "The Elect". The Gospels on these three Sundays teach the Elect about the mystery of sin and fill them with the Spirit of Christ.
The Gospel reading for the second scrutiny is about Jesus healing a man born blind. This story is told in John 9 and is about spiritual healing and enlightenment. Jesus took the initiative by approaching the blind man, but the healing would not have happened unless the man had responded with faith-filled, obedient actions. Jesus told the man to wash in the pool of Siloam, and he was healed.
The story also contains an allusion to the Old Testament story of Naaman, the leper, who was told by Elisha to cure himself by washing in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:10). In the Gospel of John, Jesus frequently uses the phrase "I am" (egō eimi in Greek), and the healed man appears to mimic this usage, proclaiming "I am the man". This suggests that the man has found his own identity in an encounter with the divine.
The Second Scrutiny with the Man Born Blind is about the contrast between blindness and sight. It teaches that Christ is the Light of the World and that he came into the world "so that the blind may see". This is not just about physical blindness but also about spiritual blindness, as Jesus came to bring light to those who cannot see the truth of God.
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The Scrutinies are Rites celebrated on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent
The Scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who are preparing to be baptised and are celebrated on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent. These rites are meant for the RCIA Elect but can help all Catholics seeking to live a life of continuous conversion. The scrutinies are described by the Church as:
> “rites for self-searching and repentance, which are meant to uncover, then heal, all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong and good. The Scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.”
The Gospels on the three Sundays on which the Scrutinies are celebrated teach the Elect about the mystery of sin and fill them with the Spirit of Christ. The first Gospel (the Samaritan Woman at the well) tells us that Christ is the Living Water. The second (healing of the man born blind) tells us that he is the Light of the World. The third (the raising of Lazarus from the dead) tells us that he is the Resurrection and the Life.
The Scrutinies include a 'Rite of Exorcism', which is a prayer for the Elect to free them from sin, protect them from the power of Satan, and help them towards salvation. The overall prayers and laying on of hands are to help the Elect be enlightened by the Word and grace of God.
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The Scrutinies are rites of self-searching and repentance
The Scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who are preparing to be baptised and are celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. These rites are meant for the RCIA Elect but can help all Catholics seeking to live a life of continuous conversion. The scrutinies are rites of self-searching and repentance, with the purpose of "uncover [ing], then heal [ing] all that is weak, defective, or sinful" in the hearts of the Elect and to "strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good".
The Gospels on the three Sundays on which the Scrutinies are celebrated teach the Elect about the mystery of sin and fill them with the Spirit of Christ. The first Gospel (the Samaritan Woman at the well) tells us that Christ is the Living Water; the second (healing of the man born blind), that he is the Light of the World; and the third (the raising of Lazarus from the dead), that he is the Resurrection and the Life.
The Scrutinies include a 'Rite of Exorcism', which is a prayer for the Elect to free them from sin, protect them from the power of Satan and help them towards salvation. The overall prayers and laying on of hands are to help the Elect be enlightened by the Word and grace of God. During the three-week period of the Scrutinies, the Elect open the eyes of their souls, examine carefully how sin works in their lives, and make the deliberate choice to turn away from sin so they can step joyfully into the light of Christ at their Baptisms.
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The Scrutinies are a period of purification and enlightenment for the Elect
The Scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who are preparing to be baptised and are celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. This is a period of purification and enlightenment for the Elect, who are those to be initiated at Easter. The Elect are led to consider contrasts: thirst and water (the First Scrutiny with the Samaritan woman); blindness and sight (the Second Scrutiny with the Man Born Blind); and life and death (the Third and Final Scrutiny with the raising of Lazarus).
The Gospels on the three Sundays on which the Scrutinies are celebrated teach the Elect about the mystery of sin and fill them with the Spirit of Christ. The first Gospel tells us that Christ is the Living Water; the second, that he is the Light of the World; and the third, that he is the Resurrection and the Life. Each of the Gospels proclaimed in the three Scrutinies illustrates Christ's purpose: "To give life in abundance" (John 10:10).
The Scrutinies include a 'Rite of Exorcism', which is a prayer for the Elect to free them from sin, protect them from the power of Satan and help them towards salvation. The overall prayers and laying on of hands are to help the Elect be enlightened by the Word and grace of God. The Scrutinies are meant to "uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful" in the hearts of the Elect and to "strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good". Although the word "scrutinize" may sound negative, its true meaning is simply "to see clearly or inspect closely". The Scrutinies are about seeing sin in its true aspect and coming to understand how we fall victim to it.
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Frequently asked questions
The Scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who wish to be baptized and join the Catholic Church.
The Scrutinies are celebrated on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent.
The purpose of the Scrutinies is to help those preparing to be baptized examine and reflect on their personal weaknesses and sins, and to strengthen their resolve to follow Christ.
The first Scrutiny is about thirst and water, with the Samaritan Woman at the well. The second Scrutiny is about blindness and sight, with the healing of the man born blind. The third Scrutiny is about the 'last day' and the resurrection, with the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
The Scrutinies are also a time for existing Catholics to experience renewal and to deepen their commitment to God and the Catholic faith.
