Transcript Discernment with the Baptized

Discernment with the Baptized
Elements in Christian Initiation
From Prayer to Presentation
Overview
Framework
 Review and Definitions
 Discernment areas specific to the
Baptized
 Lenses for discernment with the Baptized
 Modeling initial discernment
 LUNCH

The FRAME
Part One of the Ritual Text
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
WHAT: Conversion
OUTCOME: Discipleship
HIGH POINT: Eucharist
WHO: The work of the entire
community
WITH THE HELP OF: Sponsors and
Godparents
The FRAME
Continuing…Part One tells us
HOW WE DO THIS:
1. Liturgically/ritually
2. With no calendar
3. By individualizing the catechesis
4. By attending to the ritual text because it
has the ecclesial authority of Canon Law
Just to Review
From the Latin: discernere
“Sifting through, separating apart”
Always remember
Discernment is a continuous interaction with
God…
A PRAYER
Facets of the Diamond called
Discernment
Listening to God
Learning how to remain in Christ
Recognizing God’s voice here
and now
Perceiving
Outward
something concealed
signs of inner
conversion
Signs of Conversion from Part 1

Paragraph 42 (these are brought to
maturity throughout the catechumenate)
◦ A spiritual life
◦ Fundamentals of Christian teaching
◦ A relationship with God in Christ
◦ Conversion to Christ’s ways
◦ Spirit of repentance
Signs of Conversion

Paragraph 42
◦ Prayer
◦ A relationship with the Roman
Catholic Church
◦ A connection to the local parish
and a relationship with other
parishioners
◦ Understand rituals
WHO Discerns

Paragraphs 121 and 122
◦ Bishops, priest and deacons
◦ Catechists (those involved in their
formation)
◦ Godparents (and sponsors)
◦ Local community as it matches the
amount of contact they have had with
the catechumens
◦ Catechumens themselves
Within the framework of Part One, which concerns
discernment for readiness to move through the process,
there are other areas of discernment in…
WORKING WITH THE
ALREADY BAPTIZED
There are two kinds of baptized:
Uncatechized
Catechized
Parallel the process of a
catechumen
Has individualized process based
on:
1. Extent of evangelization
2. Extent of Christian catechesis
1. Need to unlearn
3. Extent already appropriated
Catholic way of life
1. Need to correct or
unlearn
Areas Needing Discernment

EVANGELIZATION

CHRISTIAN CATECHESIS

CATHOLIC CATECHESIS

FREEDOM

INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
The first Lens through which discernment with a candidate
takes place is what Catholics understand baptism does.
Baptism changes us, permanently…
THEOLOGY OF BAPTISM
Baptism Changes Our Identity

Into God’s beloved holy, chosen people,
free from sin

Into members of a covenant, never to be
broken
Baptism Changes our Social Identity

So that it now includes:
 A new relationship with God as Father,
Almighty Creator
 A new relationship with Christ, as
Redeemer, Savior, friend and brother
 A new relationship with the Spirit as
giver of life, as power over evil, as
speaking even now
Baptism Changes Social Identity

Into a social order that now includes:
 A new relationship with the
Church. We are kin, ONE body,
obliged to create and support
 A new relationship with the world,
as co-creators with God
3 Identity Changes Baptism Makes
1.
2.
3.
Into God’s Holy and Chosen people,
free from sin
Into members of a covenant that cannot
be broken
Into a new social order that establishes
new relationships with God, Christ, the
Spirit, the Church and the World
Ritual Text and the Baptized

Paragraph 400: “their status differs from
that of catechumens, since by baptism
they have already become members of
the Church and children of God. Hence
their conversion is based on the baptism
they have already received, the effects of
which they must develop.” (Emphasis mine)
Ritual Text and the Baptized

Paragraph 402 “…these adults have a
special status because they are already
baptized.”

Paragraph 412 Regarding the Rite of
Welcome “…The prayers and ritual
gestures acknowledge that they are
already part of the community because they
have been marked by baptism.”
Baptism Changes our Orientation

We are oriented toward Jesus’ life,
passion, death and resurrection. The
Paschal Mystery is our locus for making
meaning.
The Ritual Text says it this way:
Paragraph 75: Those preparing for baptism
receive a catechesis that “ also [leads to] to
a profound sense of the mystery of salvation
in which they desire to participate.”
Remember, this is our orientation! The
Paschal Mystery is the mystery of
salvation.
Baptism Establishes our Mission



Priest
Prophet
King/Ruler
Discernment with the Baptized

Paragraph 400:…Hence their conversion
is based on the baptism they have already
received, the effects of which they must
develop.
Effect of a new identity
Effect of new orientation
Effect of a new mission
Holy listening….discernment… begins as the relationship
begins.
THE INITIAL
CONVERSATION(S)
The National Statutes

#30 Those who have already been baptized in
another Church or ecclesial community should
not be treated as catechumens or so
designated. Their doctrinal and spiritual
preparation for reception into full Catholic
communion should be determined according to
the individual case, that is, it should depend on
the extent to which the baptized person has led
a Christian life within a community of faith and
been appropriately catechized to deepen his or her
inner adherence to the Church. (Emphasis added.)
The National Statutes

NS #31 …Those baptized persons who
have lived as Christians and need only
instruction in the Catholic tradition and a
degree of probation within the Catholic
community should not be asked to
undergo a full program parallel to the
catechumenate.
Summarizing so far…
Discern using two lenses: what baptism
does and what the Rite calls for
 Discernment with the already baptized:

◦ Levels of evangelization
◦ Levels of Christian catechesis
 The related need for “unlearning”
◦ Levels of Catholic catechesis
 The related need for “unlearning”
◦ Readiness for movement through the process
Summary
Two lenses: baptism’s effects and the Rite
 A third lens: what constitutes a catechized
adult
 More than just readiness for movement
through the Rite:

◦ Evangelization
◦ Christian catechesis
◦ Catholic catechesis
The Afternoon’s Work
Mystagogy as the approach for postbaptismal catechesis
 Model mystagogical catechetical session
 Connecting to the Rite
And if there’s time:
1. Issues in working with the baptized
 Resources
 Conclusions and Sending Forth

Understanding Mystagogical Catechesis
“Mystagogy is a Christian life skill
learned throughout the Catechumenate
but especially in the light of Easter
sacraments. All Christian living is into or
out of Baptism.”
Jim Schellman
http://www.catechumenate.org/docs/Schellman%20Presentation.pdf
Understanding Mystagogical Catechesis
“Mystagogical catechesis is the invitation into
deeper meaning, a sacramental adventure. It
is a reminder that sacraments are not
graduations but inductions into a communion. ”
Sr. Sandra DiMasi
http://www.fdlc.org/Liturgy_Resources/LITURGICAL_TIME_Easter-Mystagogy.htm
MYSTAGOGICAL
REFLECTION
Discerning God’s movement in a candidate’s life
How is God moving and acting?
 What is the candidate now needing to hear
more about from the Catholic tradition?
 To what is God leading?
 How does the community respond to God’s
call to this candidate? Where in the
community can her catechetical needs be
met?

Weeks
Achieves
One: Gathers with initiation
community for catechesis
 Two and Three: Sponsor
accompanies to baptismal
preparation
 Four: Sponsor acquires
information from MOMs
group and from DRE
regarding partnering with
parents and gives to Susan




Spiritual formation and
discernment (Mystery)
Doctrinal catechesis and
connection to the
community (Identity,
Mystery)
Expectation of life in Christ
in the Catholic community
and how that can happen
(Social relationships)
Susan’s Catechetical Plan
Weeks


Five: Susan and her sponsor
meet to discuss baptism
and materials. Sponsor
either answers questions,
forwards to team or other
source.
Six: Initiating community
gathers with Susan for
baby’s baptism
Achieves

Identity as member of Body
of Christ responsible for
one another’s formation
(Social relationships)

Identity as member of Body
of Christ, communal
support for her to raise her
child in the ways of faith
(Identity, mystery, and mission)
Susan’s Catechetical Plan
Weeks

Seven: Gathered
catechetical session with
mystagogical catechesis on
baby’s baptism
Achieves


Doctrinal and spiritual
formation with
discernment of God’s
action (Identity, mystery
and mission)
Susan’s Catechetical Plan
What the Rite says:
Doctrinal and spiritual formation #477
 With no greater burden than necessary
#473
 That fosters a deeper adherence to the
Church #477
 Responsibility of the entire community
#9
 Adapted to individual pastoral
requirements #477

Signs of a catechized adult
Can speak of Christ alive and moving--evangelized and capable of telling those
stories
 Understands cross, resurrection and
discipleship from lived experience. Can
name evil and how grace overcomes it.
 Knows the Scriptures and can articulate
experience in light of them

Signs of a catechized adult

Is connected to the Christian community,
understands how it serves internally and
externally, has relationships of support,
learning and challenge

Has liturgical formation that leads to
mission
Adult Catechesis in the Christian Community #25-27
Discerning with the Baptized
Know effects of baptism to be developed
 Know how to do an initial set of
conversations
 Know how to use mystagogical catechesis
which is a method for discernment
 Can design custom pathways
 Trust the Rite’s wisdom and direction
 All the community discerns in their own
encounters with the candidate

Considerations
Figuring out their pathway to the table
“Sorting Fish”
 Determining validity of baptism

◦ What are the parameters for conditional
baptism?
Ecumenical Sensitivity
 Are there impediments?

◦ Marriage issues
◦ Freedom issues
Considerations continue:
 Disposition
of the candidates
 How to handle dismissal
catechesis
 When should they be received?
 How to deal with confession?
WORKING WITH THE
BAPTIZED
Leads t o their profession of the Nicene Creed
and this added profession of faith:
“I believe and profess all that the holy Roman
Catholic Church believes, teaches, and
proclaims to be revealed by God.” #491
Resources
The Rite book and Morris book
Transforming the Church
 Bibliography in your packet
 Office of Worship website
 Handouts in this packet
 The NA Forum Institute “Concerning the
Baptized” July 10-11 in Richmond
