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
The scrutinies are a three-part story of conversion
In a previous article, we explored how the scrutinies are essentially an exercise in vision—letting the light of Christ in so the elect can see their lives and the world clearly. Once that light has revealed what needs healing, we naturally move from “seeing” to the primary “action” of the church: the exorcism. If the
Reclaiming the victory of the exorcism
The Third Sunday of Lent is coming up soon, and if you feel uneasy about it, you aren’t alone. As you know, that Sunday begins the first of a series of three scrutinies that we celebrate with the elect. However, the word “scrutiny” has a negative connotation in most people’s imagination. And when you tell
Why “scrutiny” is actually about light
Sometimes ministry can feel more like a chore than a charism. We can easily find ourselves trapped in the “chokehold” of the school-model paradigm, where faith formation is treated as a series of classes with a fixed syllabus and a predetermined graduation date. We feel boxed-in, exhausted, and stressed. We wonder when we started managing
Six core principles that will lead your catechumens to Christ
In this video, Nick and Diana cover one of the most common questions in catechumenate ministry: “How long is the catechumenate supposed to be?” Instead of locking initiation into a calendar or doctrinal checklist, the initiation process focuses on conversion to Jesus Christ. Using examples from their recent travels, they show how the catechumenate mirrors the
How long is the catechumenate supposed to take?
In this thought-provoking video, Nick Wagner and Diana Macalintal explore what medieval churches get both right and wrong about baptism and why their message still matters today. It is easy to walk into some of these massive structures and misunderstand that baptism is just a promise about the future, that holiness is something we have to earn,
What medieval cathedrals can (and can’t) teach your catechumens about baptism
Your catechumens are having epiphanies every day, but they may not know it. Or they may not know how to talk about it. In this video, Nick and Diana discuss how you can help your catechumens find and share their personal epiphanies. “Epiphany” is about more than just the three kings showing up to bring
Help your catechumens find their epiphany
What does it mean when we say, “The Word became flesh”? In this video, Nick and Diana talk about a unique nativity scene they saw at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris that caused them to reflect more deeply on the meaning of “word.” The word of God includes scripture but cannot be confined
What “Word became flesh” means
Diana and I are continuing our pilgrimage. This week, we are in Rome, waiting for a papal audience with Pope Leo. Why did we choose to come here? And why did thousands of other people from about the world make the same choice? Watch this video to discover what makes a place meaningful. Learn how
Nick and I are on a trip to Europe, currently in Paris. And all along the way, we’ve been noticing how traveling in a different country relates closely to the journey seekers make in the catechumenate process. In this video post, Nick and Diana explore three practical ways that you can help make the catechumens’
What traveling teaches us about the journey of faith
