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 Guide to "Pass It On", which includes references, prayers, and reflections: Download

On Tuesday night we talked with people who are interested in knowing more about Catholicism. They were oriented to what happens during the Catechumenate. This podcast corresponds with that Orientation Session of the Catechumenate for this liturgical year at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, in Holladay, Utah. We discuss why we need the Church to initiate faith “how the Church needs the Catechumenate and the Catechumenate needs the Church, to pass it on. As we renew our faith, we pass it on to the catechumens. Their witness to faith renews us. They pass it on, back to church, to us, the faithful.

It is the good news that our heart’s desire for bliss is fulfilled with our free acceptance of God’s love. Who is Jesus. The Church must preach “it” to everyone as the source of all saving truth. During the Catechumenate, we enjoy the gift of God’s love — who is Jesus, and share it with others. Thus, there is a connection between Jesus and the Church.

The Catechumenate leads us through death to life by providing an example of people who embrace, with their all, Jesus’ way. The opportunity to do this in memory of Jesus on the behalf of others, renews and revitalizes the faith of Jesus followers, the Church — the mystical body of Christ. This example leads others to initiation in the faith — in the mystical body, and this initiation is seen in their reception of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, and culminates with the Eucharist.

The sharing of this gift of unity happens in a special way during the Catechumenate. We pass it on during this journey together toward salvation. It renews and revitalizes the Church even as it initiates new members of the Body of Christ, the People of God, the Church. These three different names “the Church”, the “People of God” and the “Mystical Body of Christ”, each has a unique emphasis in passing on God’s Word, especially the fullness of divine revelation who is Jesus. God’s Word as Christ’s real presence, passed on in the Church throughout the centuries, is what we call Scripture and Tradition.

God’s gift of love, who is Jesus, who is God’s forgiveness and self donation — in a word “death”, and so too, God’s generosity and joy, in another word, resurrection, is God’s self-communication made through his Word in the Holy Spirit and remains present and active in the Church! This active and real presence is one way to understand Catechumenate. This is our faith!

Musical Interlude was “With Jesus There’s a Way” by Roland Gervais.

Recommended Reading:

Catholic customs & traditions: A popular guide