The Three Scrutinies: Penitential Rites of the Catechumenate
The scrutinies of the catechumens take place after the final call on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent. For catechumens, these penitential rites constitute the final stage before receiving the sacraments of Christian initiation (baptism, the Eucharist, and confirmation) during the Easter Vigil. These three rites of the catechumenate are incorporated into the Sunday Mass in the catechumens’ respective communities. In this Hozana article, discover everything you need to know about the scrutinies. At the end of this article, we invite you to explore our otherarticles on baptism and the sacraments.
First Scrutiny of the Catechumens
The first scrutiny of the catechumens is celebrated on the third Sunday of Lent. Let’s explore below how this scrutiny is conducted, based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
Silent Prayer
After the homily, the elect stand with their godparents before the celebrant. The celebrant invites the assembly to pray for the catechumens, then turns to the catechumens and invites them to pray as well, saying, for example: “You who are called by God, bow (or kneel) before him, and let us pray.”
Litany
The celebrant says: “Let us pray for those in whom the Church places her trust and whom she calls at the end of a long journey: that at the conclusion of their preparation, during the coming Easter celebrations, they may encounter Christ in the sacraments.”
The RICA then provides for a prayer, choosing from two possible options. Below is one of them:
A baptized person:
For those to be baptized.
Like the Samaritan woman,
may they allow themselves to be touched by Christ’s gaze
and may they recognize their sins,
let us pray to the Lord.
R/ Lord, hear us.
That they may be freed from the spirit of mistrust
that causes them to stray from the path of Christ,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That, as they long for God’s gift,
they may long with all their hearts
for the living water that springs forth into eternal life,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That, by receiving the Son of God as their Master,
they may become true worshippers of the Father,
in spirit and in truth,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That after their joyful encounter with Christ,
they may bring the good news to their friends and to the world,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That all the poor of the earth
and those who hunger for the word of God
may have access to the Gospel of Christ,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That we may all be taught by Christ,
that we may love the Father’s will
and may we carry out his work with love,
Let us pray to the Lord. R/
Exorcism
After the prayer, the celebrant may say this prayer:
“Let us pray.”
“God, who sent your Son
to be our Savior,
We entrust these catechumens to you:
They are like the woman of Samaria who sought living water;
May they be converted by the word of Christ,
May they recognize the chains
of their weakness and their sin.
Do not allow them, by relying solely on their own strength,
they be led astray by the power of the Evil One.
But deliver them from the spirit of falsehood,
so that, by acknowledging their faults,
they may be purified from within
and progress along the path to salvation.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
All: Amen
Next, if possible, the celebrant lays his hands on each of the elect. Then, with his hands outstretched over the elect, he says:
Lord Jesus,
you are for the catechumens
the source they thirst for
and the Teacher they seek.
Before you, who alone are holy,
they dare not claim to be without sin.
With confidence they open their hearts,
they confess their wretchedness,
they reveal their hidden wounds.
In your love, deliver them from their infirmities,
restore their strength,
quench their thirst,
grant them peace.
Through the power of Your name,
which we invoke with faith,
assist them now and save them.
Command the spirit of evil,
whom you have conquered through your Resurrection.
Show your catechumens
the path to follow in the Holy Spirit,
so that as they journey toward the Father,
they may worship Him in truth.
You who reign forever and ever.
All: Amen
Dismissal of the Catechumens
The celebrant then invites the catechumens to return for the next scrutiny, saying:
“Dear friends, return for the next scrutiny.
May the Lord be with you always.
Go in the peace of Christ.”
The Elect: We give thanks to God.
After the catechumens have left, the general intercessions follow, then the celebration of the Eucharist.
Second Scrutiny of the Catechumens
The second scrutiny of the catechumens is celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Below, we explore the celebration of this rite based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
Silent Prayer
This is the same ritual as during the first scrutiny.
Prayer for the Elect
The celebrant says: “Let us pray for the catechumens whom God has called: that they may remain holy in his presence and be authentic witnesses to the words of eternal life.”
The catechumens stand; then the godparents place their right hand on the shoulder of their godchild.
A baptized person then says:
“That they may entrust themselves to the truth of Christ, obtain freedom of spirit and heart, and
may they always keep it—let us pray together.
R/ Lord, hear us.
That, by choosing the folly of the Cross over the wisdom of the world, they may share in the glory of God, let us pray together. R/
That they may be set free by the power of the Holy Spirit and move from fear to
trust, let us pray together. R/
That they may become spiritual men and women and strive to discern what is just and holy, let us pray together. R/
That all who suffer persecution for Christ’s sake may find their strength in him,
let us pray together. R/
That families and peoples who are prevented from embracing the faith may obtain the freedom
to believe in the Gospel, let us pray together. R/
That as we live in the world, we may remain faithful to the spirit of the Gospel,
let us pray together. R/
That the whole world, so beloved by the Father, may attain the fullness of
spiritual freedom through the Church, let us pray together. R/”
Exorcism
After the prayer, the celebrant says, “Let us pray.”
God, flawless radiance and Father of light,
through the death and resurrection of your Christ,
You have driven out the darkness of hatred and falsehood
And you have poured out upon the human family
the radiance of love and truth.
We pray for those whom you have called
to become your adopted children:
Grant them the grace to pass from darkness into light,
And, when they are free from all dominion
of the prince of darkness,
grant that they may remain forever as children of light.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
All: Amen
Dismissal of the Catechumens
As with the first scrutiny, the celebrant then invites the catechumens to return for the final scrutiny, saying:
Dear friends, please return for the next scrutiny.
May the Lord be with you always.
Go in the peace of Christ.
The Elect: We give thanks to God.
Third Scrutiny of the Catechumens
The third and final scrutiny of the catechumens is celebrated on the 5th Sunday of Lent. Let us once again review the order of this scrutiny based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
Silent prayer
This stage is identical to the first two scrutinies.
Litany
The celebrant: “Let us pray for these catechumens whom God has chosen; that, made like Christ in his death and Resurrection, they may choose life over all the forces of death, through the grace of the sacraments.”
The catechumens stand; the godparents place their right hand on the shoulder of their godchild.
A baptized person:
“That these catechumens, through the gift of faith, may recognize that
Christ is the Resurrection and the Life, let us pray to the Lord.
R/ Lord, hear us.
That they may be freed from their sins and bear fruits
of holiness for eternal life, let us pray to the Lord. R/
That they may be freed from the bonds of sin through penance, and
may be conformed to Christ through baptism, let us pray to the Lord.
That they may die to sin and always live for God,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That, by placing their hope in the Spirit who gives life,
they may eagerly prepare themselves for their new life, let us pray to the Lord. R/
That, as they soon share in the meal of the Eucharist,
they may be united with the One who is the author of life and the Resurrection,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That we, too, may walk the path of new life,
and may we show the world the power of Christ’s Resurrection,
let us pray to the Lord. R/
That all the inhabitants of the earth may encounter
Christ and recognize in him the author of the promises of eternal life,
let us pray to the Lord. R/”
Exorcism
After the prayer, the celebrant says: “Let us pray.”
“Father of eternal life,
you who are not the God of the dead, but the God of the living,
you sent your Son as a messenger of life
to free your children from the dominion of death and lead them to the resurrection.
We pray that you may deliver these catechumens from the deadly power of the evil one,
so that they may receive the new life of the risen Christ and be witnesses to it.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
All: Amen
Then, laying his hands on each of the elect the celebrant adds:
“Lord Jesus,
you who raised Lazarus from the dead,
you came
so that people may have life
and have it in abundance;
deliver also from death
those who seek your life in the sacraments:
free them from every evil spirit
and grant them, through your life-giving Spirit,
faith, hope, and love,
so that, living always with you,
they may share in the glory of your Resurrection.
You who reign forever and ever.
All: “Amen.”
Dismissal of the Catechumens
As in the first two scrutines, the celebrant dismisses the catechumens, saying:
“May the Lord be with you always.
Go in the peace of Christ.”
The Elect: We give thanks to God.
Let us pray for the catechumens with Hozana
With Hozana, let us pray for the catechumens, as well as for all those involved in the catechumenate. Let us also pray that there may be more and more conversions. Hozana offers you many prayer suggestions, such as:
- These .
