Choreographing the Catechumenate

Last month we explored the symbols of baptism. This month, we will touch the symbols of confirmation and Eucharist.

Celebration of confirmation

The rites suggest a song for confirmation. The last antiphon of “Christ Be Our Light” is sung and then punctuated by applause for the newly baptized and the welcomed (who have just received their candles around the font) as they face the assembly. The Taizé “Veni Sancte Spiritus” begins instrumentally. Sponsors and godparents stand behind the newly baptized and the welcomed, facing out toward the community, too. Everyone is still around the font (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 231).

The instrumental continues. In the rites, the presider speaks to the newly baptized and the welcomed, then to the assembly (233). I suggest combining these prayers so that everyone feels included in the renewal and strengthening that is about to take place. For instance, “Tonight all of us have become more deeply a priestly people, members of Christ, washed in the waters of God’s family. The Holy Spirit longs to mark this moment, sending strength and faith and love to all persons gathered here. Let us pray that each of us, especially those whom we welcome and baptize tonight, will be filled with the Spirit’s gifts, anointed with the oil of Christ. May we all become more like Christ, true sons and daughters of God.”

The presider holds out his arms over those confirming their faith. All the members of the assembly, including those confirming their faith, extend their hands and touch the shoulders of those nearby. Everyone is linked in this Spirit blessing; the laying on of hands is everywhere. The presider speaks a line of the prayer (234), and then the community repeats it. Plan to change the word “them” to “us” each time in the prayer. The instrumental continues in the background.

The chrism, in a beautiful jar, comes forward with a dancer or procession leader. This person walks around the font, holding the jar over the heads of the community, toward the baptized and the welcomed. As the jar passes, the people may touch it and bless it. It should have a strong and powerful aroma, perhaps the ribbons on the jar saturated in the oil. As people touch the jar, they are blessed and oiled. The instrumental now becomes the sung communal response to the oiling and sealing of the commitment. The oil is poured over the heads of the newly baptized and welcomed. As it runs down their faces, the presider rubs the oil into their faces until they shine.

The presider booms out “Peace be with you” and the assembly booms back “And also with you.” The sign of peace breaks out like wildfire — greetings and kisses of peace, hugs and handshakes of peace, the oil spreading throughout the assembly, from person to person. The song concludes as the energy of the sign of peace concludes. A sung version of the prayers of the faithful begins.

Celebration of Eucharist

The music changes instrumentally to “We Come to Your Feast” by Michael Joncas (GIA). Then, from amidst the rear of the community gathered around the font come the bread and wine. The homemade, warm and aromatic bread and carefully selected fragrant wine for the Vigil are in special decorated baskets and decanters. These gifts are processed by a dancer or an acolyte through the human circle around the font and approach the newly baptized and welcomed and confirmed. As the bread and wine pass among the assembly, all touch and bless it. The bread and wine are handed to the neophytes. With urgency the presider calls everyone to the table to complete initiation into mystery. The verses to “We Come to Your Feast” begin.

The neophytes lead the assembly toward the table in procession, carrying the gifts of bread and wine high above their heads. They arrive at the table, lift high the gifts and place them firmly on the table. The community presses in around the table, creating a circle again around this “table-font” of life. The song ends as everyone has arrived and the presider sings the first line of the preface: “The Lord be with you.” The assembly responds: “And also with you.” The third sacrament is ready for its fullest expression and reception by the whole community. The sacraments of the Triduum have been touched again by the whole Body of Christ. ML Michael Mansfield teaches dance, theater, ritual, justice-making, and spirituality at the University of Creation Spirituality, in Oakland, Calif. He is a member of the ML Events Liturgical Arts Adventure team.