Rite of Election

24 February 2008

More than 500 people gathered in the Cathedral to celebrate the Rite of Election which is traditionally held on the first Saturday in Lent. The congregation included 135 Candidates and Catechumens with their sponsors, godparents, families and friends, and in many cases their parish priest and the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) group as well. Catechumens are those who are asking to be baptised, while Candidates are people who have already been baptised in the Christian faith.  The Rite of Election is a call to continuing conversion for those who will be received into the Church at Easter. 

The Rite of Election is a serious step for those preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist during the Easter Vigil liturgy on Holy Saturday night.  Having completed their formation and expressed a desire to answer the call of God, Candidates and Catechumens present themselves to the Bishop, who, acting in the name of God, names, elects and calls them to conversion.  After signing their names in the Book of Elect on the sanctuary, the Candidates and their sponsors are greeted by the Bishop.  This signifies that they have heard God call their name and wish to respond to his call. 

This year in his homily, Bishop Declan reflected on two readings from the First Sunday of Lent, Genesis (2:7-9, 3:1-7) and Gospel from Matthew (4: 1-11).  He began by welcoming everyone to the Cathedral and reminded them that this Rite was happening in every Cathedral throughout this country and most parts of the world.  The Rite dates from the fourth century when sponsors gave in the names to the Bishop, of those whom they considered ready for baptism.  The Bishop went on to say that just as God breathed life into Adam and Eve, so does God also breathe new live to all who open themselves to God’s word.  Thus we become what God wants us to be. We can only be truly ourselves when we are one with God. By breathing life into Adam and Eve God made them one with his creation as He makes us one with God, with each other and with the whole of creation.

Lent is a time of renewing ourselves as a community, a time when we are called to be faithful to the Gospel. We do not know where this will lead us but we know and believe it will make us alive. He went on to say that by coming to the Cathedral, the Candidates and Catechumens were promised the support and prayers of the community. They may still have questions, but questioning leads to a growth in faith. 

The Bishop called the Catechumens and they went with their sponsors to sign the Book of Elect and to be greeted by the Bishop.  In the Prayers of Intercession the community asked to be living examples of the Gospel and that the Candidates and Catechumens be renewed as they come to share the joys of Easter.

The Rite concluded with the rousing hymn: Church of God, elect and glorious which truly reflected the joyous mood of the gathered community.

Ronnie Mitchinson  

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