In a previous article, we said that the scrutinies are not moments of “interrogation” but rather rituals of “encounter” and of light. And in another article, we looked at how the exorcisms are acclamations of God’s victory and love.
In this article, we are going to look at why we do the scrutiny rites three times and why all three are required of the elect. It is not unusual for one or more of the elect to have some reason for missing one or more of the scrutinies. The question for pastoral leaders is, what constitutes a good reason for not celebrating all three?
Do we really have to celebrate all three scrutinies?
Before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the church had a somewhat minimalistic understanding of the sacraments. As long as the minimum requirements were met, that was good enough. Still today, some of that residual minimalism infects our sense of sacramentality. Do we really need to go through all of these rites in order to baptize someone?
The answer from the highest authorities in the church is “yes.” We are not adding additional burdens to the seekers and the parish just for the sake of show. The catechumenal rites — especially the scrutinies — are vital for the fullest possible conversion of the elect to the Person of Jesus Christ.
Tradition
To understand why the church insists on three scrutinies, we look to two resources. The first is the tradition of the church. From very early in our history, the church required a three-Sunday series of gospels that were linked to the scrutinies. Those gospels are the stories of the Samaritan woman at the well, the healing of the blind man, and the raising of Lazarus.
This cycle was repeated every Lent, year after year, century after century. Eventually, for some historical reasons, the adult catechumenate went into hibernation and with it, the three-Sunday-cycle of conversion gospels. When the Second Vatican Council restored the catechumenate, it also restored the ancient Lenten gospel cycle.
Tradition is very important in our Catholic faith, but “Tradition” with a capital-T means more than just being old. We don’t hang on to traditions that no longer have meaning. So when the Second Vatican Council restored the three-gospel-cycle, they were saying this means something important.
We are not adding additional burdens to the seekers and the parish just for the sake of show. The catechumenal rites — especially the scrutinies — are vital for the fullest possible conversion of the elect to the Person of Jesus Christ.
The stories — a progressive journey of conversion
And so the second resource we turn to is the content of the gospels themselves. What do they mean?
Each of these three gospels — the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus — is a story of conversion to Jesus Christ. And they work together to show a progressive journey that leads to deeper and deeper conversion.
- The Samaritan woman at the well: This gospel focuses on the thirst we all have for the transcendent. We are all born with a desire for love. We thirst for it, just as the woman at the well did. What she, and our elect, needed to discover is that all the ways she had sought to quench her thirst in the past were ineffective. Only Christ, the Living Water, can truly satisfy.
- Healing the man born blind: It is one thing to have our own thirst quenched. But once we have encountered the living Christ, we start to see things as they really are. When everyone around us tells us we are blind to the truth, and yet we know we see truly, how do we respond? Can we remain clear-sighted and still call others (who think they see clearly already) to the Living Light of Christ?
- The raising of Lazarus: The final step in our conversion journey is to face the cosmic power of death. Death is the ultimate victory of evil. All sin, all hate, all ignorance, all oppression is oriented toward death. When we come to know and believe in Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life, death has no more victory. When the elect come to this ultimate level of faith and conversion, they are ready to enter to font, die to themselves, and rise to new life.
We hear this conversion cycle only every third Lent, in Year A, if there are no elect to celebrate the scrutinies with. However, when we celebrate the scrutinies in Years B or C, we forego the assigned readings for those years and proclaim the three conversion gospels from Year A instead. The stories of the woman at the well, the blind man, and Lazarus no equal in their ability to transform the human heart and complete the conversion of those preparing for initiation.
When we celebrate these three rites fully and consistently, they become a spiritual event that parishioners look forward to annually.
A mandate of joy, not just a rule
It is important for teams and pastoral leaders to know that the three scrutinies are not optional. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults tells us that only a bishop can dispense someone from the obligation of celebrating a scrutiny, and then only for “serious impediments” (see OCIA 20) This isn’t arbitrary legalism. It is an act of care from the church to help the elect and their pastoral leaders to understand how deeply important these rites are.
The impact on your parish
When we celebrate these three rites fully and consistently, they become a spiritual event that parishioners look forward to annually. Over the years, the assembly comes to realize they have a crucial role to play as intercessors who provide the example of their own renewal. As the elect are strengthened, the whole community is inspired to seek God’s love and grace anew.
We have explored the vision, the importance, and the meaning of the three scrutinies. But how do we actually execute these rites in a way that transforms both the elect and the parish? How do we involve the community in a way that feels powerful and not just “long”? In a future article, we will look at how to celebrate these rites with power and grace.
Review all the articles in this series
- Why “scrutiny” is actually about light
- Reclaiming the victory of the exorcism
- The scrutinies are a three-part story of conversion
- Empowering godparents for the scrutinies
- What happens to the elect because of the scrutinies?
Are you ready to stop “surviving” the lenten rites and start thriving in your ministry?
Knowing the meaning of the three conversion gospels is essential. But it’s not enough. There is so much more to understand about these powerful rites. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 26, 2026, at 11:00a PST / 2:00p EST for our exclusive webinar, “Use the Hidden Power of the Scrutinies to Renew Your Parish.”
We will guide you through a step-by-step process to master the liturgical basics and preparation strategies to transform these misunderstood rites into awe-inspiring moments of conversion for the entire community. Join us to discover why these rites are essential for making disciples and how to ignite a new passion for faith in your parish this Lent.
