Each year at the beginning of Lent, I think it is helpful to review some of our Catholic terminology as we hear words and phrases during this season that may still be new for some people.
 

Fast – doing with less…less food, fewer material things; to eliminate something from my daily routine in order to make more room for God in my life. Traditionally, to fast means having only one simple meal a day. But also try fasting from a negative attitude or gossiping. (Officially required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday only but encouraged to do more often.)

Abstinence – to do without meat for the day; for some this may mean abstaining from something else as a sacrifice. (Required every Friday of Lent; some choose year-round)

Elect – those who have been studying the Scriptures and Church Teachings for a year in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and are ‘elected’ by the parish and bishop on the first Sunday of Lent to begin the final part (“Period of Purification”) of preparation for their sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

Candidate – a person who is already baptized as a Christian in another denomination and is now seeking full communion with the Catholic faith through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

Scrutiny – a rite celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, with the Elect asking the parish to pray for them in their conversion to Jesus Christ. Special scriptures and prayers help them name any weaknesses and sin from which they want to be set free at their upcoming baptism. Our prayers for them help them resist any temptations from the devil and thus we also use the word ‘exorcism’ for the prayers we use for the three Scrutinies. (This will take place at the 10:30 Mass on those three Sundays)

You may want to keep this short vocabulary list handy during Lent, using it as a discussion guide for dinner conversations with a friend, spouse, and/or your children. Maybe have the children create ‘flash cards’ for a family game with these and other Catholic words.

Blessings for a Spirit-filled Lent,
Fr. Jim Deiters