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celebrated wherever this seems 
              beneficial 
presider is a priest or a deacon
celebrant anoints on the breast  or on both hands or even on other parts of the body
symbolizes the need for God’s help and strength to 
overcome evil
profess their faith 
and hold fast to it throughout their lives. 
in accord with the liturgical seasons
contribute to the instruction of the catechumens
contribute to the needs of the community
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Three types:
  1. Specific for the catechumens
  2. Sunday liturgy
  3. During catechesis
Their main purpose: 
 1.  to implant in their hearts the teachings they are receiving
 2.  to give an experience in the different ways of prayer; 
 3.  to explain the signs, celebrations, and seasons of the liturgy; 
 4.  to prepare them gradually to enter the worship assembly 
Blessings are a sign of God’s love and of the Church’s tender care.
They bestow:
courage
joy
peace
for the difficult journey
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97 Celebrant stretches hands over the catechumens
           then lays hands on each, individually
[OPTIONAL]
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The presentations normally take place during Lent
But for pastoral advantage and because the period of purification and 
enlightenment is rather short, the presentations may be held during the 
period of the catechumenate, 
rather than at the regular times. 
But the presentations are not to take place until the catechumens are judged ready for these celebrations.
Catechumens bow or kneel.
The prayers are progressive.
    Read:    B, E, I, K
B

Lord our God, 
you make known the true life; 
you cut away corruption and strengthen faith, 
you build up hope and foster love. 
In the name of your beloved Son, 
our Lord Jesus Christ, 
and in the power of the Holy Spirit, 
we ask you to remove from these your servants 
all unbelief and hesitation in faith, 
[the worship of false gods and magic,  
witchcraft and dealings with the dead],  
the love of money and lawless passions,  
enmity and quarreling, 
and every manner of evil.  
And because you have called them 
to be holy and sinless in your sight, 
create in them a spirit of faith and reverence, 
of patience and hope, 
of temperance and purity, 
and of charity and peace. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord. 
E

O God, 
Creator and Savior of all, 
in your love you have formed these your servants; 
in your mercy you have called them and received them. 
Probe their hearts today 
and watch over them as they look forward to the coming of your Son. 
Keep them in your providence 
and complete in them the plan of your love. 
Through their loyalty to Christ 
may they be counted among his disciples on earth  
and be acknowledged by him in heaven. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord. 
I

Lord Jesus Christ, 
 after calming the storms and freeing the possessed, 
 you gave us a sign of your mercy 
by calling Matthew, the tax collector, to follow you. 
You chose him to record for all time 
your command to teach all nations. 
We pray for these your servants 
who confess that they are sinners. 
Hold in check the power of the evil one, 
and show them your mercy; 
heal in them the wounds of sin 
and fill their hearts with your peace. 
May they delight in their discovery of the Gospel 
and generously follow your call, 
for you live and reign for ever and ever. 
K 

Lord, 
Creator and Redeemer of your holy people, 
your great love has drawn these catechumens to seek and find you. 
Look upon them today, 
purify their hearts, 
and bring to fulfillment in them 
the plan of your grace, 
so that, faithfully following Christ, they may come to drink 
the waters of salvation. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
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Purpose: To draw attention to:
  1. the real nature of Christian life
  2. the struggle between flesh and spirit
  3. the importance of self-denial 
  4. the unending need for God’s help 
For more information, visit

TeamRCIA.com