In the previous posts in this series, we have been exploring how to make the catechumenate — and specifically the rites of the catechumenate — more effective. In this post, I want to focus on a specific element of effective ritual that Fr. Clarence Rivers called “catharsis.”
Catharsis is an emotional release or purification that occurs when we experience a dramatic event. Fr. Rivers, the father of Black Catholic liturgy in the United States, said that catharsis is essential for fostering conversion and renewal in the catechumenate process.
Why is catharsis important?
Fr. Rivers believed that human beings are made for transcendence. We long for a deeper connection with the divine, and we yearn for something that transcends the ordinary experiences of our lives.
He recognized that the world can be a difficult place, and we often carry burdens of pain, fear, and doubt. He said that for worship to be effective, it needs to touch us at this deeper level. Effective worship must move us beyond the intellectual and engage us emotionally and spiritually. It should be a transformative experience that touches our souls and leads us to a deeper relationship with God.
And that’s were catharsis comes in. According to Fr. Rivers, catharsis is a crucial pathway to transcendence. When we experience a cathartic event, we are released from the grip of our past, and we are opened to the possibility of conversion. In other words, the experience of catharsis prepares us for the profound spiritual renewal that Fr. Rivers calls “gospel metanoia.”
Effective worship must move us beyond the intellectual and engage us emotionally and spiritually. It should be a transformative experience that touches our souls and leads us to a deeper relationship with God.
Why is catharsis important in the catechumenate?
This concept resonates deeply with the teachings of Victor Turner. Turner was a British cultural anthropologist best known for his work on symbols, rituals, and rites of passage. Turner understood catharsis as a crucial element of what he termed “liminal experiences.” A liminal experience is a transitional state where individuals have let go of their past, but they haven’t quite yet stepped into their future. They are “betwixt and between.”
This describes catechumens perfectly. They are no longer who they were, but they are not yet who they will become. Catechumens are “betwixt and between.” This liminal phase creates a fertile ground for cathartic experiences to occur. The rites of the catechumenate, with their symbolic actions and heightened emotional engagement, have the power to deeply touch the catechumens’ hearts, allowing them to experience a transcendent connection with the divine.
How to facilitate catharsis in the catechumenate rites
In a previous article, we looked at how to make the catechumenate rituals more effective. Based on Fr. Rivers foundations, we said that effective worship is dependent on two dynamics: dramatic structure and artistic performance. Further, we said these dynamics are what make our worship “soulful.”
These dynamics are particularly important for the catechumenate and are necessary for facilitating catharsis.
Any drama or story has a dramatic arc. There is a beginning, during which we discover things are about to change. Then there is the middle, during which things happen to cause change. Then there is an “end” or a climax, during which we discover the dramatic result of the change.
So, for example, in the story of Humpty Dumpty:
- Beginning: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
- Middle: Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
- Climax: All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again
In the Rite for Entrance, this is the story:
- Beginning: Inquirer states their desire to follow the Cross
- Middle: Inquirer is welcomed into the community of the Cross
- Climax: Inquirer is consecrated as a catechumen by being marked with the Cross
The climactic moment of consecration is, ideally, the moment of catharsis. But for the liturgy to foster actual catharsis — a true emotional release that leads to transcendence — all of the ministers of the liturgy need to perform their roles with artistry and grace. A flat, rote performance will not lead to catharsis.
For the liturgy to foster actual catharsis — a true emotional release that leads to transcendence — all of the ministers of the liturgy need to perform their roles with artistry and grace.
Mystagogical catechesis after the rite
After a cathartic ritual experience, it is important to provide mystagogical catechesis that helps the catechumens reflect on their experience. Victor Turner describes a three-part process to ritual catharsis: separation, liminality, and reintegration.
If the newly consecrated catechumen has had a truly cathartic experience — one that touched on transcendence — they will need the help of the community to integrate themselves into the new fellowship of believers. Mystagogical catechesis is the process we use to accomplish that. Through mystagogy, we help the new catechumen uncover the deeper meaning of their transcendent communication with the divine. Through this reflection and integration process, we show the catechumen how to connect their lived experience to the truths of the gospel.
Following a cathartic ritual, begin by simply giving the catechumen space to share their experience. What did they feel? What did they notice? How did the ritual affect them? Then, guide them in reflecting on the deeper meaning of the ritual.
Help them connect what they experienced to the truths about God, themselves, and the Christian life. For example, after the Rite for Entrance, you might ask the catechumen:
- What do you remember most?
- How did it feel to be welcomed into the Church?
- What did the sign of the Cross mean to you?
- How did the prayers and readings speak to your heart?
- What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?
- How do you hope your life will change as you continue on this journey of faith?
The goal of mystagogical catechesis is to help the catechumen integrate their emotional and spiritual experience with their intellectual understanding of the faith. This integration is essential for fostering genuine conversion and discipleship.
Conclusion
Fr. Rivers’ insights into the power of catharsis offer us a valuable tool for making the catechumenate process more effective. By attending to the dramatic structure and artistic performance of the rites, and by providing mystagogical catechesis that helps catechumens reflect on their experience, we can create a space where the Spirit can move powerfully and bring about lasting transformation.
Can you help me out?
I’d love to know how this is landing. Can you share a word or a phrase about how this article resonates with you? Does it speak to your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments box below. Thanks for being part of the conversion!
