When is the best time to receive Christians validly baptized into the full communion of the Catholic Church? We might often think that the Easter Vigil is the perfect time for the Rite of Reception since that’s the premier time we make new Catholics through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. But our recent liturgical and ecumenical history that led to the development of the Rite of Reception gives us a different understanding—one that helps us honor more fully the dignity of baptism and the unity of all Christians.
In this video post, Nick and Diana explore the history and look at the ritual itself to help us understand that receiving Christians into the Catholic church is something we can and should be doing any time of the year.
What are your thoughts?
What has been your practice in your parish when it comes to receiving Christians? Have you celebrated a Rite of Reception at an ordinary Sunday Mass? What was the reaction of your parishioners? How did it deepen your community’s recognition of the dignity of baptism? Share your thoughts below!
Are you ready for a simpler approach to receiving candidates into full communion?
While the initiation rites can seem complicated, the process for making other Christians Catholic is actually very simple. Sometimes the way we approach the process, however, overcomplicates things and makes our job harder.
Join us for our next online training webinar to learn how to welcome baptized Christians into full communion.
