SALT LAKE CITY — At the Easter Vigil, 267 people will be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church in Utah. As one of the final steps in their preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation that they will receive, they recently participated in the Rite of Election of Catechumens and of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Baptized Candidates.
At the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided over the rite for the catechumens and candidates in the Salt Lake, Northern, Eastern and Southwestern deaneries on Feb. 29; the rite for those in the Wasatch Deanery was March 7.
Beginning his remarks at each celebration, the bishop asked for the patience of those gathered as he spoke in both English and Spanish “so that everybody will learn the significance of this liturgical celebration.”
“Today is a special moment in the life of our Church as you take further steps to complete the process of Christian initiation of adults in order to become good members of the Catholic Church,” he said as he welcomed the catechumens, candidates, sponsors, catechists, family and friends and their pastors to the cathedral, the Mother Church of the diocese.
The rite being celebrated “reminds you how God has called and chosen you. Your election is a free and generous gift from God as well as your own personal response to God’s invitation,” he said, adding that he hoped their response was expressed not only in words but also in the conversion of their hearts to the essence of the Christian life so they would be true disciples of Christ.
The bishop then expounded on the Scripture passages that had been read that day. The readings were about the temptation of Adam and Eve, who gave in to the devil’s coaxing and disobeyed God. By contrast, the Gospel reading told of Christ, after 40 days of praying and fasting in the desert, resisting the devil’s temptation.
The Scripture story was a reminder of important lessons about the faith journey, and relationships with God and with the material things of this world, Bishop Solis said.
“As you continue your spiritual journey to become full members of our Catholic Church, I encourage you to avoid temptation to disobey God, but instead to become faithful to Our Lord,” he said.
Continuous temptation is a reality of existence in this world, he added, but “Jesus showed us the way to the light and the power of the word of God, to fully trust him always, and not to worship other gods, especially money and other riches. Christ found strength and inspiration in prayer and sacrifice to carry out his mission.”
The Lenten season “is a wonderful time to strengthen our faith in God and our love for him so we will be able to overcome the temptations that come into our lives,” he added, “so I pray that the grace of God will help you in your faith journey to become faithful members of the Catholic Church and to become true and active disciples of Christ. As you prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, we pray for you, and we look forward to Easter, when you will join us around the altar of the Lord in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist as brothers and sisters, united in the whole Church in one faith, one baptism, one Lord – Jesus Christ.”
Linda Petersen contributed to this story.
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