ORDER of Christian Initiation for Adults

• Why are the Scrutinies celebrated during Lent?

During Lent our Elect and Candidates in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) are preparing to be baptized or received into the Church as Catholics at Easter Vigil.  The Elect and Candidates will celebrate three Scrutinies on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent. This year the Scrutinies will be celebrated on March 23, 30 and April 6^th  at 11am Masses.  St. Stephen’s has 20 adults and youth being received into the Church at Easter Vigil on April 19^th.
Scrutinies are Rites of self-searching and repentance.  Three times during Lent the Church prays the Scrutinies to encourage a spirit of repentance especially among the Elect and Candidates preparing for Easter Vigil.

The Scrutinies are celebrated as communal prayers during the Mass to strengthen both the Elect and the Candidates to overcome the power of sin in their lives and to grow in virtue.  The community does not scrutinize their lives; they scrutinize their own lives and allow God to scrutinize them and to heal them through the prayers of Scrutinies.   The Scrutiny prayers also offer the Elect and the Candidates the support they need to be baptized or become a Catholic at Easter Vigil.  For the three Scrutiny Masses the Cycle A readings are read and preached.

• What do the Scrutinies have to do with ME?

All of us are called to continuing conversion throughout our lives and especially during Lent.  We are each called during Lent to embrace the same spirit of self-searching and repentance that the Elect and Candidates are called to.  During Lent we renew our own repentance as we see the Elect and Candidates scrutinized.   The Scrutinies are meant to remind us of the seriousness of our Christian life and inspire us to turn from evil and pursue good.  The Scrutinies can help remind all of us to seek repentance and seek God’s healing through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.