Rite of Election is just the beginning of one’s story with Christ, archbishop tells catechumens and candidates

DETROIT — The stories of so many faithful who are on their journey to full communion with the Catholic Church are in their final chapters. 

But the stories won’t end at the Easter Vigil — they don’t even end with death, as Christ proved with the Resurrection. Still, every person who celebrated the Rite of Election this past weekend took another step on their journey with Christ — a journey that makes their story, his story. 

“This day is a consummation of a life that has brought you on a path that led to the cathedral, to the people of God,” Archbishop Vigneron said in his homily Feb. 21 during one of four Rite of Election ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. “I don’t know the particular steps or moments of grace that led you to this decision, but I will know — as we all will — when the Book of Judgment is opened. For now, I’ll say, ‘Deo Gratias.’” 

With COVID-19 still lingering, this year’s Rite of Election had a different feel to it. Just 145 catechumens (those who will be baptized at Easter) and 217 candidates (those already baptized who will receive other sacraments) attended the celebrations, a product of limited seating in the cathedral, but “those who came were happy to be there,” said Sr. Esther Mary Nickel, RSM, director of worship for the archdiocese.

Catechumens were called by parish to sign their name in the Book of the Elect and then return to their pew with their sponsors, as opposed to standing together in the sanctuary, for the archbishop’s blessing. 

“My task is to help you pray,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “When a couple becomes engaged, it’s a betrothal, a promise of the sacrament you are about to enter. For you, you are making a promise of what you wish to express seven weeks from now.” 

Archbishop Vigneron told the candidates and catechumens that, like Jesus preaches in the Gospel, they are finding a “pearl of great price,” one so precious it’s worth mortgaging one’s entire life in order to acquire. 

“In our culture, when you have a set of facts, you need to put together a narrative to put those facts into a story so you understand what those facts mean,” Archbishop Vigneron. “You are taking on a narrative, the narrative that the worst thing going on in the world is sin, and the solution is Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. And it’s the greatest story, and you know it’s true. So you want it to be your story: the narrative that he died and rose, and in baptism, you died and rise with him.” 

Archbishop Vigneron said like Jesus, Christians must encounter the temptations of the world. And like Christ, they are called to renounce the ways of the world to accept the way of the cross. 

“Being Christian is hazardous to your health; it should come with a Surgeon General’s warning,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “I can’t tell you I always live in the faith, but it’s what I believe in and what I aspire to. I’m here to say, ‘I’m here with you, Jesus. Father, do your will.’ That is the meaning of being here today. It’s about life and death, and you are choosing life, a life that continues beyond the grave.” 

Lydia House, a candidate for confirmation and first Communion from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Lake Orion, said she was inspired to become Catholic after witnessing the faith and devotion of a family of Catholics with whom she’s friends. 

A member of a Protestant church, she was amazed with the richness of the Catholic faith rooted in Scripture, and wanted to learn more. 

“It definitely feels more real after today,” House told Detroit Catholic. “I’m really excited for the Easter Vigil. In my time studying, I feel Catholics went a lot deeper in Scripture and feel they expressed their faith more deeply than Protestants, and I really enjoyed that. I’m looking most forward to my first Communion. It’s so incredibly cool that you can receive God, have Him in your body; that’s just amazing to me.” 

Beyond taking the next step in their story, those coming into the Church have the task of continuing to write the story of God’s Church on earth, helping lead others to the faith, Archbishop Vigneron said.

“You are given a mission; how could you keep this a secret?” Archbishop Vigneron asked. “To share in the life of Christ is to share in the mission of Christ.”

“That’s why I give thanks to God,” the archbishop added. “Because today you have found that pearl of great price, and for that reason I shall sing, ‘Deo Gratias,’” the Archbishop chanted, finishing his homily with a deep, spine-tingling chant.