The scrutinies are intense prayers for those preparing for baptism or renewal of baptismal promises, celebrated during Lent to encourage repentance. During the scrutinies, prayers are said for candidates to be freed from evil and filled with God's light and love. The scrutinies uncover weaknesses to strengthen goodness in the candidates. There are three scrutinies, usually on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, where candidates are called forward for prayers and reflection on passages from John's Gospel about Jesus healing and raising people.

1. Purification and Enlightenment

2.  Scrutinies are intense prayers of the Church
for those preparing to enter into the Church.
 Scrutinies encourage a spirit of repentance so
that Christ may fill us with His light and love
as we prepare for Baptism, or the renewal of
Baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil.
 During the prayers, we pray that the spirit of
evil in our hearts and lives be replaced with a
spirit of good.

3. “The scrutinies, which are solemnly
celebrated on Sundays [of Lent], are rites for
self-searching and repentance and have
above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies
are meant to uncover, then heal all that is
weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the
elect to bring out, then strengthen all that is
upright, strong, and good” (RCIA, No. 141).

4.  Thereare three Scrutinies, ordinarily
celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth
Sundays of Lent.
 We will celebrate the Scrutinies:
• Sunday, March 3:30 at the 8:30 a.m. Mass
• Sunday, March 10 at the 8:30 a.m. Mass
• Saturday, March 16 at the 4:30 p.m. Mass

5. At these celebrations, we will sit with our sponsors
and families in the section near the St. Ann statue
(in front of the cry room and confessional.) We will
have reserved seating. Please make sure you are
at Mass 10 minutes early.
Following the homily, candidates and catechumens
will be called forward with sponsors. You will
stand in front of the first step (on the floor) at
the front of the church, facing the assembly,
with your sponsor behind you.

6. There will be a series of prayers, during which the
priest will first invite you to bow your head. There
will be a short period of silence, then prayers of
intercession with the response: “Lord, hear our
prayer.”
Next the priest will raise his hands in prayer over
you, and recite a series of prayers. These prayers
are included in your Scrutiny Preparation packets.

7. With each of the three Scrutinies, a particular
selection of John’s Gospel is assigned. In
preparation for each Scrutiny, in class we will
watch a dramatization of the story;
in the week before, please read and reflect on the
Gospel.
• First Scrutiny: The Samaritan Woman at the Well
• Second Scrutiny: The Man Born Blind
• Third Scrutiny: The Raising of Lazarus

8. Following the First Scrutiny, you
will be presented with a copy of
the Nicene Creed so that you
can study it in preparation for the
Easter Vigil. You don’t need to
memorize it, just study it.
We will study it in class, also.
The Creed is the statement of
belief that unites us as Church.

9. Following the Second Scrutiny, you will be
presented with a copy of the Our
Father, again to study in preparing for
Easter. The Our Father (also called the
Lord’s Prayer) is recited at Mass following
the Eucharistic Prayer. It is the prayer Jesus
taught the apostles to pray.