You’ve seen the ritual, I’m sure. The infant baptism parallel happens after the parents are quizzed on the child’s name and what they ask of the Church. RCIA 54 has the rubric:
54. Next the cross is traced on the forehead of the candidates (or, at the discretion of ther diocesan bishop, in front of the forehead for candidates in whose culture the act of touching may not seem proper (see RCIA no. 33.3)); at the discretion of the celebrant the signing of one, several, or all of the senses may follow. The celebrant alone says the formularies accompanying each signing.
More often you will see the signing of several senses. We’ll get to that in the next post.
Ever practical, Roman sensibility gives options for few candidates in RCIA 55:
With their sponsors, the candidates come one by one to the celebrant; with his thumb he traces a cross on the forehead; then, if there is to be no signing of the senses, the sponsor does the same.
… and an option when there are “a great many candidates.”
Then the celebrant makes the sign of the cross over all together, as a cross is traced by a sponsor or catechist on the forehead of each candidate.
Common to both situations is the formula that accompanies this signing:
Receive the cross on your forehead.
It is Christ who now strengthens you
with this sign of his love.
Learn to know and follow him.All sing or say the following or other suitable acclamation:
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Commentary:
This ritual involves the main thing the candidates “get” at the rite of acceptance. It should be done with solemnity.
The given acclamation keeps the focus on Christ and his grace. The most commonly used acclamation is David Haas’ “Christ will be your strength; learn to know and follow him.” I’ve used it, too. I’m not completely convinced it’s the best text, even if it derives directly from the rite. I like having an acclamation sung to Christ in this situation. I’m less enthusiastic about what is essentially a mini-catechesis on what is happening.
Singing the acclamation, no matter what the text may be, is really essential in the rite. The rubric gives a second option for “saying” the acclamation, but I can’t imagine that even the simplest chant isn’t a better option for communities with a poverty of music ministry.
15 May 2009 at 3:16 am
At St Paul’s, the wonderful chant Lenten Gospel acclamation response setting by Ted Marier is used for this purpose.
15 May 2009 at 3:42 pm
Don’t you think these signings justify giving a cross at the rite of welcome, as mentioned earlier? There would need to be some discussion to distinguish the wooden corss from the one received through the signing, but connecting symbols with what they signify is the point of catechesis.
My parish gives bibles, which I think is better, but a cross seems like a good idea.
26 May 2009 at 1:20 pm
[...] for the delay in continuing this series. We left off with the signing of the forehead of the candidates with the cross. Unlike at infant baptism, other senses may be signed. First the rubrics: 56. The signing is [...]
10 September 2009 at 5:42 pm
I am hoping you have a copy of the Liturgy for the Rite of acceptance, If you do will be kindly send me a copy. i would like to dee the format that is used during the Rites.
Pax et Bonum
12 January 2010 at 8:43 pm
[...] These next three sections parallel the adult rites we looked at in RCIA 54 through 56, blogged here (54,55) and here (56). RCIA 266 instruct the presider as follows: 266. Next the cross is traced on the [...]