Nick Wagner is the cofounder and codirector of Team Initiation.
As we approach Lent, it might be helpful to review some information about fasting and abstinence. There are many kinds of fasts, and several reasons to fast. As Catholics, we tend to think of fasting as either reducing our food intake or giving up a treasured treat. The New Dictionary of Sacramental Worship lists four […]
An RCIA guide to fasting in Lent
The Year of Saint Paul Reading II 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 Brothers and sisters: If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!… The way of faith The church has received a missionary
Catechesis for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B
I recently read this line in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: The sacrament of baptism cannot be repeated and therefore it is not permitted to confer it again conditionally, unless there is a reasonable doubt about the fact or validity of the baptism already conferred. If serious investigation raises such prudent doubt and
Conditional baptism? Three interesting thoughts
The Year of Saint Paul Reading II 1 Cor 7:32-35 Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord…. The way of faith The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with
Catechesis for 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Year of Saint Paul If you are celebrating Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul today, the second reading is the same as for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary time. Reading II 1 Cor 7:29-31 I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out…. For the world in its present form is
Catechesis for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, B
Reading II 1 Jn 5:1-9 Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him…. The way of faith By love, God has revealed himself and given himself to us. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 68) Baptism imprints on
Catechesis for Baptism of the Lord
This editor’s note appeared in the January 2009 issue of Religion Teacher’s Journal. I recently met a couple who have been married 51 years. As I was expressing my admiration at the duration of their marriage, the husband smiled and said, “We’re still hoping it’s going to work out.” He was joking, but, if you’re
Do sacraments make a difference?
Last week, I was rushing to get out the door for Midnight Mass (which for some inexplicable reason was being celebrated at 9:00 p.m.). As I looking for my car keys, I heard an NPR reporter reading a snippet of Pope Benedict’s homily from the Midnight Mass at the Vatican. Later, I wished I’d chosen
A homily catechumens should hear
The Year of Saint Paul Reading II Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation…. The way of faith God has revealed God’s self fully by sending his own
Becky added a comment to a previous post I wrote on the various types of baptized candidates we might encounter in an RCIA process. She suggested we might also encounter folks who were unbaptized and yet catechized. That got me thinking about what we mean by “catechized.” Obviously, most of our unbaptized catechumens will reach
Can you be be unbaptized and catechized in the RCIA?
