Choreographing the Catechumenate

This month we want to look at the acceptance of the cross (74) on the feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany comes in the new year and New Year’s resolutions are fresh. The mystagogy of our experience teaches us to capitalize on ripeness for transformation whenever we can.

Epiphany is the story of gift. On this Sunday we acknowledge hospitality and generosity as the givens of Christian life. When we go to people’s homes, we bring gifts. When we meet new people or welcome new people into our home, we are hospitable. Christ forever changed our understanding of hospitality and generosity. The cross is his sign to us of ultimate hospitality for he shares everything with us and with the world; he is the generous center of the universe.

The rite says the cross can be presented “either before or after the invitation to the celebration of the word of God” (74); I recommend presenting it after the invitation. The rite speaks: 

“N. and N., come into the church, to share with us at the table of God’s word” (60). 

On Epiphany, doing the gathering rites in the vestibule or entrance area could be to your advantage. Three huge, gift-wrapped boxes can be the focal point of this gathering space. After the Gloria and opening prayer, the above invitation is offered to the inquirers and the whole assembly. “We welcome those who join us today again in the rites of acceptance. We welcome the assembly gathered today. We come as a people on a journey of faith; we come like wise people looking for clues to the mystery. We bring our gifts. (Acolytes or parishioners or inquirers are invited to pick up the three huge, gift-wrapped boxes.) We continue this pilgrimage to find our truth in God today, to follow Christ today, to be lured by the Spirit today. Inquirers and parishioners of _____, come into the church, to share with us at the table of God’s word.”  “We Three Kings” or “O Come All Ye Faithful” could be the processional into the church space (with the three gifts leading). The inquirers and sponsors are led to the ambo (now surrounded by the three gifts). The community is encouraged to follow suit, filling in the whole front sanctuary area around the ambo. The presider can then give a brief instruction and conclude, saying: “We come to tell a story of faith. We come to tell the story of Christ. We choose today to become part of that story.” (As he speaks, the inquirers and sponsors open the three gifts and hundreds of crosses are in each box. They begin to pass the crosses back, from ring to ring of people, until all have received their crosses. The sponsors hand the inquirers their crosses last.) “Song of the Body of Christ” could be played instrumentally during this ritual action of acceptance. The song continues as an underlay during the following actions as well. 

Once the crosses have been received, the presider asks all to lift their crosses high, saying: “The Lord be with you.” “And also with you.” The presider then says, “You have been marked with the cross of Christ. Receive now the sign of his love. [Receive now the sign of his word. Receive now the sign of his community.]” Everyone responds: “Amen” (74).

The assembly and inquirers process back into the assembly area and are seated to share at “the table of God’s word.” The underlay song could now be sung as people travel. Next the Scriptures are lavishly proclaimed. The homily is pointedly about the gift of the cross. The ultimate surprise gift of faith is to accept the cross. On the feast of the Epiphany the church remembers that everyone brings unique gifts to a particular personal moment of entry into the salvation story of the cross. The cross is really difficult to accept, which is the point of the rite of acceptance. The inquirers and the parish are prepared to return home and make resolutions and new beginnings, crosses in hands. The parish is getting off to the right start for the year. 

Next month, the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord (and the naming of the inquirers and the parish) will bring us into full acceptance.