The Penitential Rite and the Season of Lent

This weekend at the 9 o’clock Mass our RCIA candidate Brittany Medeiros, will participate in a Penitential Rite, also referred to as a Scrutiny. Just like last week’s Rite of Sending the Penitential Rite will begin after the homily.  At that time Brittany will be called forward, along with her sponsor and invited to kneel at the steps of the sanctuary.  As a community of faith we will be invited to pray for Brittany in a special way.  At the same time she will also be asked to pray for forgiveness and thus a deeper relationship with Christ.

Just as with the Rite of Sending last Sunday the Penitential Rite continues via the Prayers of Intercession.  They prayers for our candidate are very much the prayers of any of us who are on the Lenten Journey.   The intercessory prayers ask for the Lord to hear and answer our request for a desire to approach the sacrament of reconciliation, that we seek lives of virtue and holiness, that we put others first, renouncing ourselves, that we welcome the Holy Spirit to search our hearts,  and with changed hearts that we give ourselves to prayer and good works. Are these Lenten intentions not our own as well?

I encourage you to continue to keep in mind that Brittany is a sign to each member of our parish family that we are all on the Lenten journey together.  We are blessed to have her with us.  Let us keep each other in prayer this Lent and always.

Paula Raposo, Adult Faith Formation