Rite of
Election
During the Rite of Election, the church formally
announces the names of those who will soon celebrate the sacraments of
initiation. This rite takes place at the cathedral with the
bishop, usually on the First Sunday of Lent. “Election” refers
to the idea of “the chosen people.” Those who are named will
celebrate baptism, confirmation and first communion in their parish
church at the Easter Vigil. They enter the cathedral as
“catechumens” and leave as “elect.” The key moments of the
rite are the affirmation, in which the godparents testify that the
catechumens are worthy for initiation, and the act of admission or
election. After the signing or presentation of the book of the
elect, the bishop declares the catechumens members of the elect, to be
initiated at the next Easter Vigil.
Although
many people refer to the ceremony as the time when catechumens "go
to meet the bishop,” its meaning is very different. It is not
about meeting an important person. It is about being named among
God’s chosen people.
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