R.C.I.A.
Glossary of Terms
- Advent
- A period of four weeks prior to Christmas.
It has a twofold theme: preparing for the Second Coming of Christ
and preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
- Candidate
- One who is already baptized in another
Christian faith and who now is preparing to be received into
the full communion of the Catholic Church. At the time of full
reception, he or she will make a profession of faith, be confirmed,
and receive Eucharist.
- Catechumen
- One who is not baptized and is preparing
for full initiation at the Easter Vigil through baptism, confirmation,
and Eucharist.
- Catechumenate
- Second period of the order of Christian
initiation of adults which involves intense preparation in word,
worship, community life, and apostolic works.
- Cycle A, B, C
- The three year cycle of liturgical readings:
A Cycle - Matthew; B Cycle - Mark; C Cycle - Luke. All three
cycles incorporate John.
- Easter Season
- A period of seven weeks beginning with
Easter Sunday and ending with the feast of Pentecost.
- Elect
- The name given to catechumens who celebrate
the Rite of Election on the first Sunday of Lent signifying their
being chosen for the initiation sacraments.
- Evangelization
- The task of the Church during the pre-catechumenate
which involves the inviting, the welcoming, the witness, the
sharing of faith, and the proclamation of the gospel to inquirers/candidates.
- Inquirers
- Those who participate in the pre-catechumenate
of a parish. . They are "inquiring" into the Christianity
in the Catholic Tradition.
- Lectionary
- The book used in liturgical celebrations
that contains all the scripture readings of the liturgical year.
- Lent
- A six week period extending from Ash Wednesday
to sundown on Holy Thursday. It is a retreat time in preparation
for the Easter Triduum.
- Liturgical Year
- The seasons and cycles of the Christian
year. It is the instrument and means for leading God's people
along the way to the Lord. The readings introduce and invite
us into the Paschal Mystery. It includes: Christmas Cycle (the
first Sunday of Advent through the Baptism of the Lord), Easter
Cycle ( Ash Wednesday through Pentecost), and Ordinary Time.
- Minor Rites
- Rites during he period of the catechumenate
which include exorcisms, blessings, and anointings.
- Mystagogy
- The final period of the order of Christian
initiation of adults which is from Easter to Pentecost. The National
Statutes for implementation in the USA also recommend and extended
mystagogy for one year.
- National Statutes
- Particular law for the implementation
of the order of Christian initiation of adults in the United
States presented by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
(NCCB).
- Neophyte
- One who is initiated at the Easter Vigil.
The term comes from the Greek word meaning new plant, as in a
new sprout on a limb/branch.
- Ninety Days
- Occasionally used to mean the combination
of the Period of Purification and Enlightenment, and the Period
of Mystagogy which corresponds with Lent (40 days) and the Easter
Season (50 days).
- Order of Christian Initiation
of Adults
- This is the official collection of rites
of the Roman Catholic Church for initiation of adults (including
children of catechetical age), and the reception of baptized
candidates.
- Ordinary Time
- The cycle within the liturgical year that
is outside the liturgical seasons (Advent, Lent, Easter). This
time provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the meaning
of God's gift to us in Christ, our attitudes, our prayer life,
and our service to others.
- Pre-Catechumenate
- The first period of the order of Christian
initiation of adults which is the initial introduction of an
inquirer into the Christian way of life in the Catholic Tradition.
It is also the period of evangelization on the part of the Church.
- Presentations
- During the period of purification and
enlightenment, the elect are presented with the Creed and the
Lord's Prayer through special rites. Both presentations can be
anticipated during the period of the catechumenate when it is
more convenient.
- Purification and Enlightenment
- This the third period of the order of
Christian initiation of adults which usually coincides with the
Lenten season. It is the final period of preparation for initiation
at the Easter Vigil.
- RCIA
- Acronym for Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults for use in scholarly reference to identify the
paragraph. The term RCIA is discouraged for popular usage.
- Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults
- English title of Ordo intiationis christianae
adultorum. The latest English translation edition was published
in 1985.
- Rite of Acceptance into
the Order of Catechumens
- The bridge between the pre-catechumenate
and the catechumenate for the unbaptized.
- Rite of Welcome
- The bridge between the inquiry period
and the period of pastoral formation that coincides with the
catechumenate. It is for those already baptized.
- Rite of Election
- Presided over by the Bishop, the rite
inaugurates the final period of preparation before initiation.
It is the bridge between the catechumenate, and purification
and enlightenment.
- Rite of Call to Continuing
Conversion
- Coincides with rite of Election, but is
the rite for candidates, the already baptized.
- Rite of Scrutiny
- Three rites of exorcism for the Elect
during Lent.
- Rite, Penitential
- Celebration for candidates, similar to
the rite of scrutiny.
- Rite of the Sacraments
of Initiation
- Rites usually celebrated at the Easter
Vigil which are Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
- Sunday
- The first day in the Christian liturgical
week, the original feast day, the heart of the calendar, the
basis and nucleus of the liturgical year.
- The Triduum
- The three days of the celebration of Easter
which begins with sundown on Holy Thursday evening and ends with
evening prayer on Easter Sunday evening. It includes the liturgies
of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday.
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