The Catechumenate
The long road of formation that prepares a convert for the font
The catechumenate is the structured period of instruction, examination, and spiritual formation that converts underwent before baptism, attested in early church orders and in Cyril of Jerusalem's Catechetical Lectures. Historically it was widespread in the Church. It was revived in modern Catholicism as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, while many Protestant bodies prepare converts in less formal ways.
How it traveled
- Appendix to the Works of Hippolytus. Containing Dubious and Spurious Pieces.Rome · 235applies
- The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of NiceNicaea · 325explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods— · 360explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- On the MysteriesMilan · 397explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Instructions to CatechumensConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- On the Catechising of the UninstructedHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430applies
- The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext CouncilConstantinople (Istanbul) · 692applies
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Inquiry Concerning Qualification for CommunionNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
Homilies on Second Corinthians · John Chrysostom
The whole Prayer for the Catechumens, as gathered from the Homily, will stand thus. “Let us pray earnestly for the Catechumens, That the all-pitying and merciful God would listen to their prayers, tha
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On the Catechising of the Uninstructed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 16.—A Specimen of a Catechetical Address; And First, the Case of a Catechumen with Worthy Views. 24. Nevertheless, however that may be, let us here suppose that some one has come to us who de
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On the Catechising of the Uninstructed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 1.—How Augustin Writes in Answer to a Favor Asked by a Deacon of Carthage. 1. You have requested me, brother Deogratias, to send you in writing something which might be of service to you in t
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On the Catechising of the Uninstructed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 10.—Of the Attainment of Cheerfulness in the Duty of Catechising, and of Various Causes Producing Weariness in the Catechumen. 14. At this point you perhaps desiderate some example of the kin
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On the Catechising of the Uninstructed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 26.—Of the Formal Admission of the Catechumen, and of the Signs Therein Made Use of. 50. At the conclusion of this address the person is to be asked whether he believes these things and earne
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On the Catechising of the Uninstructed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 3.—Of the Full Narration to Be Employed in Catechising. 5. The narration is full when each person is catechised in the first instance from what is written in the text, “In the beginning God c
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On the Catechising of the Uninstructed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 8.—Of the Method to Be Pursued in Catechising Those Who Have Had a Liberal Education. 12. But there is another case which evidently must not be overlooked. I mean the case of one coming to yo
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On the Catechising of the Uninstructed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 17.—The Specimen of Catechetical Discourse Continued, in Reference Specially to the Reproval of False Aims on the Catechumen’s Part. 26. “For there are some whose reason for desiring to becom
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The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
Canon XCV. Those who from the heretics come over to orthodoxy, and to the number of those who should be saved, we receive according to the following order and custom. Arians, Macedonians, Novatians,
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The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
6. See, I pray thee, how great a dignity Jesus bestows on thee. Thou wert called a Catechumen, while the word echoedthe indwelling Spirit henceforth makes thy mind a house of God. When thou shalt have
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The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and Ephesians · John Chrysostom
As then it is not meet that any one of the uninitiated be present, so neither is it that one of them that are initiated, and yet at the same time defiled. Tell me, suppose any one were invited to a fe
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The Confessions · Augustine of Hippo
That is, he became a catechumen. In addition to the information on this subject, already given in the note to book vi. sec. 2, above, the following references to it may prove instructive. (1) Justin M
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The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils
Canon II. Forasmuch as, either from necessity, or through the urgency of individuals, many things have been done contrary to the Ecclesiastical canon, so that men just converted from heathenism to th
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The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils
Canon XIV. Concerning catechumens who have lapsed, the holy and great Synod has decreed that, after they have passed three years only as hearers, they shall pray with the catechumens. Notes. Ancien
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
We have now to consider the preparations that accompany Baptism: concerning which there are four points of inquiry: (1) Whether catechism should precede Baptism? (2) Whether exorcism should precede
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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 1: It seems that it does not belong to a priest to catechize and exorcize the person to be baptized. For it belongs to the office of ministers to operate on the unclean, as Dionysius says (E
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Instructions to Catechumens · John Chrysostom
instructions to catechumens. ———————————— first instruction. To those about to be illuminated; I.e., to be baptized. A common name for Baptism was “illumination,” partly with reference to the inst
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The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
31. And the ways of finding eternal life are many, though I have passed over them by reason of their number. For the Lord in His loving-kindness has opened, not one or two only, but many doors, by whi
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
Now God forbid that it should happen to us to fall into so great straits as to sin after baptism. However, even if aught such should happen, God is merciful, and has given us many ways of obtaining re
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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 42.—Sanctification Manifold; Sacrament of Catechumens. Our opinions on this point are strictly in unison with the apostle’s himself, who said, “From one all to condemnation,” and “from one al
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