The images are many but the reality is one. Three weeks ago in this series on the ancient mystagogy, Rhoda led us into the multivalence of the baptismal images. Baptism is both tomb and womb in the mystagogy of Ambrose and Theodore. It also adoption and cleansing and the pouring out of the Spirit (more […]
Several decades ago, one Wednesday evening after a particularly difficult session with a singularly unruly class, the devout lay woman and long-time teacher for fifth- and sixth-grade confirmation instruction at our church had had enough; she quit. Feeling called (reluctantly, like Jonah) to step into the role and finish the school year, I took up […]
It is not too late to register for the Institute of Liturgical Studies (ILS) held at Valparaiso University, April 9 – 11. Kent and Rhoda will be leading a pre-meeting seminar on adult faith formation on Tuesday afternoon, April 9, 2024. Here is the description of the three-hour seminar: Adult Faith Formation: A Prophetic Challenge […]
Kent ended last week’s post by describing baptism as a “dramatic joining to the Lord Jesus Christ, by renouncing the Evil One, adhering to Jesus, and being washed to new life by drowning and dying in the baptismal tomb and womb.” He quoted extensively from Cyril of Jerusalem and John Chrysostom. Yarnold’s book, The Awe-Inspiring […]
Last week Rhoda provided insights from the ancient mystagogy regarding the giving (tradition) and return (redditio) of the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer by the catechumens while on the doorstep of their baptisms. This week we turn to ceremonies that are a part of the baptismal rite itself: the Renunciation of Satan, Adhesion to Christ, […]
Two weeks ago Kent introduced this current series, Awe-Inspiring Rites, during which we are gleaning treasures from early church writers about the rituals associated with the adult catechumenate. Kent wrote about the exorcisms, important rituals during Lent, the period of Enlightenment. Today we’ll examine the traditio, handing over of the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer […]
Join us at Valparaiso University, April 9 – 11, 2024 for “Creation, Not Commodity: the Church’s Liturgy in a Consumer Culture.” Early registration (before February 29) is $275.00 and increases to $325.00 after that date. For first-time attendees and retired people, registration is only $200.00. Kent and Rhoda’s seminar (Tuesday afternoon, April 9) costs an […]
Today we start a new series reflecting on the catechumenate of the 4th-5th century church. In 1971 Edward Yarnold published a collected edition of all the ancient mystagogical catecheses of the church fathers (The Awe-Inspiring Rites of Initiation: The Origins of the R.C.I.A, Second Edition, Collegeveille, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1994; unfortunately no longer in […]
Kent and Rhoda will be leading a seminar on adult faith formation at the Institute of Liturgical Studies (ILS), Valparaiso University, on Tuesday afternoon, April 9, 2024. Here is the description of our three-hour seminar: Adult Faith Formation: A Prophetic Challenge to Religious Consumerism A consumer culture challenges the church on two fronts. From within, […]
Last November the Rev. Dr. Peter H. Nafzger was the speaker for the annual Vern Gundermann Reformation Heritage Lecture sponsored by Concordia University – St. Paul, Minnesota. Much of what Dr. Nafzger said resonated with aspects of our research on the adult catechumenate and its role in congregational life. With his permission, I’m sharing some […]