OCIA
How to Participate in the Scrutinies
Becoming Catholic (OCIA) · 7 steps
The three Lenten scrutinies for the elect on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, with the Gospels of the Samaritan woman, the man born blind and Lazarus; the exorcism prayers and laying on of hands; the presentations of the Creed and the Our Father; and the final preparation for the Vigil.
7 steps · About 15 minutes
The scrutinies are the heart of the elect's Lent. On three Sundays the Church gathers around those who will be baptized at Easter and prays over them, that whatever is weak or sinful in them may be healed and whatever is good may be strengthened. Each scrutiny is built on one of the three great baptismal Gospels of Saint John, read at these Masses in every year: the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus. They are not examinations and no one fails them; they are rites of self-searching and repentance, and the whole community shares in them, because the whole community is being readied for Easter too.
What you need
- The dates of the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, and which Mass the parish uses for the scrutinies
- The three Gospels: John 4, John 9 and John 11, read at home in the week before each scrutiny
- The Apostles' Creed and the Our Father, which are presented to the elect in these weeks
- For godparents: a hand free for your candidate's shoulder
When to pray it
The third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, at a Sunday Mass of the parish, after the homily; the presentations of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer are usually at weekday Masses of the third and fifth weeks.
Steps
Step 1: Understand what a scrutiny is
A scrutiny is a rite celebrated within Sunday Mass after the homily, in which the elect come forward with their godparents; the community prays for them in silence and then in intercessions; the priest prays an exorcism, first to the Father and then, after laying hands in silence on each of the elect, to Christ; and the elect are then dismissed to reflect on the Word. Its purpose, in the Order's words, is to uncover and heal all that is weak, defective or sinful in the hearts of the elect, and to bring out and strengthen all that is upright, strong and good. It presumes that the elect have already come to know Christ and are being freed for him.
Tips
- The elect kneel or bow their heads while the community prays for them in silence; the silence is part of the rite, not a pause.
- Godparents stand behind the elect with a right hand on the shoulder throughout the intercessions and exorcism.
- The rest of the assembly is not a spectator. Search your own conscience during the scrutiny; the Church intends it for you too.
- Elect and parishioners alike should read the Sunday's Gospel beforehand; the scrutiny makes little sense without it.