Preaching and the Rites of Initiation

This eSingle was originally published in To All the World: Preaching and the New Evangelization, edited by Michael Connors, CSC.

The rites of initiation are many and complex, and preaching at them can be just as complex. Paul Turner encourages preachers to take the time to reflect upon the individuals preparing for initiation, their life stories, the Scriptures, prayers, and ceremonies of the day. They reveal the power of the paschal mystery in the sacraments of the church and draw the faithful to a realization of the demands and joys of faith.

Paul Turner is a liturgical theologian and pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of many books, including Whose Mass Is It? Why People Care So Much about the Catholic Liturgy (Liturgical Press 2015).