A History of the Catechumenate

A History of the Catechumenate
Some Norms from the Initial Period

Part 1 The Major Options of the New Testament Era
Without attempting to locate an institutional catechumenate in the New Testament—in fact there was none—it is still useful to see how the Church, from its very beginning, placed certain requirements on the reception of the sacraments and of baptism in particular. ¹ Even though the Acts of the Apostles is primarily concerned with the life of the Spirit, the manifestations of the Spirit in the first communities, and the charisms that led people to Jesus, it also contains solid references to pastoral practice, which was also moved by the Spirit.

Some Norms from the Initial Period
An attentive reading of the Acts and the epistles shows us that the Church has always acted with circumspection when it admitted someone to an ecclesial office or to a consecrated state. It demanded certain qualities of the candidate and even a time of probation so that the candidate's attitude could be judged effectively.

These demands, which existed from the very beginning, would soon be given a rather detailed codification, as can be seen when one compares the Pauline Epistle to Acts. And before a decision was made to admit someone, those responsible often appealed to the witness of the community.

From the Beginning of the Church, ministers were chosen with care.
The account of the election of the first deacons outlines the qualities required of the candidates and specifies the intervention of the Christian community. In fact, it was the brothers who chose them and who witnessed to their aptitude. Then they were presented to the responsible authorities who ordained them.

And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "...pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty..." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them (Acts 6:2-6).

The choice of preachers was equally meticulous. Even Paul, who began to preach after his conversion (Acts 9:20-22), had to be admitted by the authorities after having been presented by Barnabas, a member of the community who was able to guarantee his conversion, his baptism, and even the orthodoxy of his teaching (Acts 9:26-28). In the same way, Paul took Timothy with him only upon the recommendation of the brothers (Acts 16:2-3).

Thirty years later, there is the same degree of seriousness with regard to more precise requirements. The Church, which had organized itself, established specific regulations. ²

A bishop had to satisfy a set of clearly defined requirements (I Tim 3:2-7). Deacons, too, were chosen on the basis of detailed criteria and were subject to a period of probation during which they showed that they did in fact possess the required virtues.

Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain; they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons (I Tim 3:8-10).

Widows at the time also constituted a group that was recognized by the Church. But only those women were admitted who could furnish the witness of good behavior in accordance with the established criteria (I Tim 5:9-11).

Are not the same basic requirements of probation and aptitude also present in the baptismal discipline?

Ever since the Spirit of Pentecost has erupted into the world, the new People of God has been living in an eschatological time. Everything is grace and it does seem that, in the time of the Holy Spirit, there is no longer a place for long novitiates. However real this affirmation may be, it ought not to cause us to forget that, even at the beginning, the Church did not confer baptism lightly.

Footnotes, Part 1

A Perennial Objection, the next chapter of A History of the Catechumenate, will be posted next Thursday. For information about ordering this book, please see Sadlier's Religion Catalog.

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