Christian Initiation, Then and Now
by Sylvia DeVillers
In 1930, my mother “became a Catholic” so that she could marry my father, of staunch German-Catholic stock. Mother had been baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran tradition, and was certainly a good Christian woman. Her formal entry into Catholicism consisted of several short talks with the pastor, after which he told her she could begin “going to Communion” at Mass whenever she wished
My mother’s entry into Catholicism was not unusual for those days. However, she never quite bought the Catholic faith. In her heart she remained a Lutheran, saying often that “God doesn’t care what church you go to.” She was indifferent, though dutiful. It was my father who spoke of his church with love and affection, and who taught me and my siblings about God and prayer and faith.
Today, my mother would participate in the process of initiation quite differently. Today, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults provides guidance and inspiration for those who wish to be received into the Catholic Church. They are warmly welcomed and, at their own pace, are given the opportunity to investigate what Catholics believe and do. They grow in their understanding of Catholicism by being a part of a community that supports them and models the Catholic way of life for them. They deepen their understanding of the Gospel message to love and serve others. They have sponsors who accompany them throughout the entire process. They have plenty of time to discern when or if they can accept the Catholic faith. Along the way, they celebrate various liturgical rites that mark their ongoing conversion process. In time, they are received into the Church, making a profession of faith that expresses what they truly believe. And finally they receive Eucharist for the first time as part of the faith community that they can now call their own.
I wish my mother could have experienced the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. If she had, I think she would have been convinced that to be a Catholic is more than a duty or obligation: it is participation in the sacramental life of a community that surrounds us with God’s love and sustains us as we confront the many challenges of daily living. And I think she would have bought that!
