American Society of Church History

A Study of the Catechumenate

Author(s): Lawrence D. Folkemer
Source: Church History, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Dec., 1946), pp. 286-307
Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the American Society of Church
History
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 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE
LAWRENCE D. FOLKEMER
Lansdozve, Md.
A fresh study of early catechetical procedures, and an ex-
planation of the instructions and techniques used in adult bap-
tism in the early Church, are always welcome. Comparatively
speaking, little has been done on the subject.' This article
makes no pretension of being a detailed study of the subject,
but is only a partial treatment of it, with special emphasis upon
the contributions of St. Augustine. Occasionally, references
are drawn from Church canons and other early Church writ-
ings on the catechetical practice of the time.
THE STAGES OF THE CATECHUMENATE
In the earliest days of the Church the preparation for
baptism was comparatively simple in method. However,
as early as the end of the second century the increasing number of
Christian candidates rendered it necessary to systematize this preparation,
to lay down definite rules for its performance, and to determine the period
of probation. Hence arose the discipline of the catechumenate.2
The third and fourth centuries were the age in which the
catechumenate flourished in its full form. It was only when
Christianity finally triumphed over paganism, when the Church
gained its footing in the Empire, and when the majority of
children were born into Christian homes and brought into the
Church through infant baptism, that the reasons for retaining
the catechumenatebecame less urgent.
At first, i. e., in the second century, the instruction of the
catechumens was more practical than doctrinal. The Didache,
for example, devotes the first six chapters to Christian conduct
and life. The Apostolic Constitutions dwells on the character and
practices of the believers.3 Justin Martyr enjoins the cate-
chumen to enter into a life of prayer and fasting in order that
1 Some study has been made both of the Western and Eastern Church. Cf. Duchesne,
Louis, Christian Worship, Its Origin and Evolution (London, 1912), particularly
292-341; Catholic Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Encyclo-
poedia of Religion and Ethics, etc.
2 Duchesne, Christian Worship, 292.
3 Ante-Nicene Christian Library (Edinburgh, 1868-1871), VII, 20-27.

286
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 287

he may receive the remission of sins.4 The inference is not that

the matters of doctrine were ignored but rather that the fullest
development of dogmatic instruction came later.
As the Church became organized, there evolved three
orders of members; the clergy, the believers, and the cate-
chumens. Some divided the clergy into bishops, presbyters,
and deacons. The believers were strictly the laity who had
been baptized.5
In addition to the clergy and believers was the group of
catechumens. Though they were not strictly members, they
were in some measure considered within the pale of the Church
and reckoned as one of the orders. They were part of the
Christian community and were regarded as Christians. With
the insufflation, exorcism, the signing of the cross, and the
administering of salt, they became catechumens.6 The Council
of Elvira gives them expressly the name of Christians.7
Augustine thinks of the catechumens as members of the house-
hold of faith but as yet only servants:
Et quodsignumcrucishabentin frontecatechumeni, iam de domo
magnasunt; sed fiantex servis filii. Non enimnihil sunt qui iam ad domum
magnam pertinent.8
In another place he indicates that the catechumen is entitled to
be called a Christian though he is not looked upon as one of the
"faithful";
Interroga hominem, Christianus es? Respondet tibi, non sum, si Pa-
ganus est aut Iudaeus.Si autem dixerit, Sum; adhucquaerisab eo, Cate-
chumenus,an fidelis?Si responderit,Catechumenus;inunctusest, nondum
lotus. Sed unde inunctus? Quaere et respondet; quaere ab illo in quem
credat:eo ipso quo Catechumenus est, dicit,in Christum.Ecce modoloquor
et fidelibuset catechumenis.9
There has been much discussion concerning the number
of stages in the catechumenate, but modern scholarship both
Roman and Protestant has accepted only two classifications.
4 Ibid., " First Apology," LXI.
5 Bingham, J., Antiquities of the Christian Church (London, 1843), I, 34f, gives a
list of the names common to the believers: "Photidsomenoi, or "Illuminati,"
"The Initiati," "The Teleoi," "Cari Dei," "Filii Dei," "Hagioi,"
Fideles,' etc.
6 Duchesne, Christian Worship, 292-297; cf. also Augustine, De Catechizandis
Rudibus, XXVI.
7 Mansi, Johannes D., Sacrorum Conciliorum Nova, et Amplissima Collectio (Paris
and Leipzig, 1901), Concilium Eliberitanum, can. XXXIX.
8 Migne, J. P., Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina: Opera Omnia Sancti
Aurelii Augustini (Parisiis, 1887), "Tractatus XI in Joannis Evangelium,"
cap. 4.
9 Ibid., Tractatus XLIV, cap. 2.
 288 CHURCH HISTORY

Church canons, East and West, have used various names to

describe the catechumens but seem to agree on the number.
For example, one Greek canon divides them into "hearers" and
"illuminate";10another into "hearers" and "kneelers." So reads
the Council of Neocaesarea:
Catechumenussi in dominicumingrediens,in catechumenorum ordine
steterit,is autempeccat: si genu quidemflectens,audiat,non ampliuspec-
cans. Sin autemetiamaudiensadhucpeccet,extrudatur.1
Some Greek expositors of the canons, according to Bingham,
term them "imperfect" and "perfect."12
Bingham himself, however, is of the opinion that there
were at least four classes of catechumens. He lists them as:
1. Those privatelyinstructedoutside the Church
2. Hearers
3. Kneelers
4. Competentesor immediatecandidatesfor baptism.13
He bases his first group on the canon of Neocaesarea, quoted
above, and declares that when the canon states that they were
to be cast out of the Church, that means only that they were to
be reduced to the state of instruction outside the Church or
private instruction. For the group of "hearers" he finds his
support in the Apostolic Constitutions and the Council of Nicaea
(can. XIV). Scholars generally agree to this classification.
His third class, "kneelers," he finds in the same canon of
Neocaesarea (can. V) and in others. To substantiate his fourth
group, he quotes Cyril of Jerusalem, Augustine, and others.
It may very well be that in some parts of the Church and
during certain periods these distinctions may have been under-
stood even though they were not officially recognized. Bing-
ham's references, however, do not really support his views.
According to the canons of Hippolytus,'1 the Apostolic
Constitutions,15 various church canons, Augustine, and secon-
dary authorities,'1 catechumens were divided into two main
classifications; namely, (1) a lower class of catechumens, "pure
10 Concilium Nicaeum, can. XIV. The reference is found in Bright, W., The Canons
of the First Four General Councils (Oxford, 1892), 55, notes.
11 Mansi, Concilium Neocaesarense, can. V.
12 Bingham, Antiquities, III, 269f., "atelesteroi" and "teleioteroi."
13 Ibid., 270-274.
14 Canones S. Hippolyti, Arbice e Codicibus Ronzanis, XIX, XXX, De Haneberg,
ed., (Monachii, 1870).
15 Book VII, 30-45.
16 Catholic Encyclopedia, "Catechumenate."
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 289

and simple," sometimes known specifically as catechumens, and

(2) the higher class or those who have submitted their names
for baptism and were ready to enter upon a definite course of
instruction. These latter were known by various names, such
as illuminati,17 electi, conpetentes,' etc.
One gathers from Roman authority that there was a dis-
tinction between "inquirers"and "catechumens,"much as is the
practice in some mission fields today, and that an inquirer did
not become a catechumen until he had indicated his intention
and showed that he was in earnest by thought and conduct.
He was then signed on the forehead and received the imposition
of hands with suitable prayers. It was only then that he was
considered among the body of Christians.19 Augustine testifies
to that practice when he writes, "solemniter signandus est et
ecclesiae more tractandus."'0 Eusebius, in his life of Constan-
tine, mentions that the Emperor, at the close of his life, knelt
on the pavement of the Church and received the imposition of
hands with prayer.2'
Having received the imposition of hands, the inquirer
joined the first group of catechumens. He was given general
instruction in the Christian faith and life and when he had
proved himself worthy of advancement, he was given special-
ized, intensified training preparatory to the baptismal rite. So
Augustine indicates:
Quid autem aliud agit totum tempus quo catechumenorum locum et
nomen tenent, nisi ut audiant, quae fides et qualis vita debeat esse Chris-
tiani, ut, cum se ipsos probaverint, tunc de mensa domini manducent et de
calice bibant? Quoniam 'qui manducat et bibit indigne, iudicium sibi man-
ducat et bibit'. Quod autem fit per omne tempus, quo in ecclesia salubriter
constitutum est, ut ad nomen Christi accedentes catechumenorum gradus
excipiat, hoc fit multo diligentius et instantius his diebus, quibus competen-
tes vocantur, cum ad percipiendum baptismum sua nomina iam dederunt.22
There was no fixed period of time for the first stage of
the catechumen. Generally, it lasted long enough to test
thoroughly the sincerity and character of the candidate. The
17 Signified both those already baptized and those about to be baptized.
18 "Competentes" refers to the handing in of their names; "electi" to their ac-
ceptance by the bishop for baptismal instruction. Augustine also uses "bap-
tizandus," "one about to be baptized"-De Fide et Operibus, passim.
19 Catholic Encyclopedia, "Catechumenate. "
20 De Cat. Rud., XXVI, XIV; cf. also Confessions, I, 11.
21 Thus becoming a catechumen. Eusebius, The Life of the Blessed Emperor Con-
stantine (London, 1845), Bk. IV.
22 Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum-S. Aurelii Augustini (Vindo-
bonae, Lipsiae, etc., 1900). De Fide et Operibus, VI, 9.
290 CHURCH HISTORY

Council of Elvira, in the instance of a pagan priest who

desires to become a catechumen, prescribes a period of three
years23and in the case of a worthy candidate coming to the
faith for the first time suggests the practice of two years.24
Civil laws for a time fixed it at this.25 The Apostolic Constitu-
tions reads, "Let him who is to be a catechumenbe a catechumen
for three years"; but then qualifies the statement by adding,
"but if any one be diligent, and has a good will to his business,
let him be admitted: for it is not the length of time, but the
course of life that is judged."26 Later canons and practices
of the Church shortened the period. The duration depended
entirely on the wish and the moral progress of the catechumen
in question. He might either be reduced by ecclesiastical cen-
sure to the ranks of the inquirers for his misbehavior27or he
might choose to put off his baptism for a long time,28even
to his deathbed.29
The policy of the early Church was somewhat similar to
that followed in certain congregations of the Lutheran Church
today in regard to confirmation. Children of the first year are
given general instruction in the Christian faith and life and
then, if they merit advancement, are promoted to the second
group where they are taught the Catechism and the practices
of the Church. The period of time may or may not be fixed
depending on the individual child.
When the catechumen had completed his first stage of
preparation and testing, he was admitted to the group of ad-
vanced catechumens, or Competentes."3 As one of the Com-
petentes, his name was handed in for the bishop's examination
and approval. It he was accepted, he began his specialized
training, usually at the beginning of Lent, and was baptized at
Easter or Pentecost.31
23. Can. IV.
24 Can. XLII.
25 Cath. Encycl., "Justinian Novel," CXLIV.
26 Bk. VIII, 32.
27 Concilium Neocaesarense, can. V; Concilium Nicaeum, can. XIV; Migne, Apost.
Const., VIII, 8.
28 e.g. Augustine, Ambrose, Basil, Chrysostom, etc.
29 Constantine the Great. There was an intense fear of post-baptismal sin among
many of the ancients.
30 cf. other names, Greek and Latin, used to designate this group of catechumens-
footnote 5.
31 If at Easter the competent had not had sufficient time for probation, his baptism
was postponed, sometimes to Pentecost. That was the latest time in the Western
Church. It came later to be regarded as a second baptismal festival. In the East,
Epiphany was often the season of baptism. Duchesne, Christian Worship, 293.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 291

INSTRUCTIONS PREPARATORY TO BAPTISM

It appears that a longer period of time was spent in the
first class of catechumens than in the second. By that means
the Church could more effectively safeguard itself against the
admission into its fellowship of undesirable and insincere mem-
bers. During the first period, the catechumen was constantly
under the observation and instruction of the Church and had
virtually proved himself when he was admitted to the Com-
petentes. One may safely say, then, that the preliminary stage
was one of testing the motives and directing the course of
personal development of the catechumen.
When, however, the catechumen became a competent, he
was carefully scrutinized, indoctrinated, and disciplined. The
period of time was shorter but the preparation was more in-
tense and specialized. It was necessary that he learn the
specific doctriles of the Church, measure up to rigid moral and
ascetic requirements, and undergo a series of liturgical puri-
fications. A brief explanation is here given of each of these
three types of instruction.
1. Doctrinal and Moral
The preparation for baptism consisted of a series of in-
structions and exercises during the season of Lent, called
"scrutinies." They were designed as periodic tests of the
progress of the candidates to be baptized. Usually at the first
scrutiny their names were registered and they were examined
on what they had learned or assimilated during the first stage
of their catechumenate. By the seventh century the number of
those scrutinies amounted to seven.32Every morning during
Lent the Competentes were summoned to the Church and
listened to expositions on the Scriptures either by the bishop
or someone appointed by him.
Actually, the only formal collection of catechetical instruc-
tions in existence is that of Cyril of Jerusalem. No western or
Roman collection is extant.33 In his lectures, Cyril gives us
some idea of the nature and form of the teaching preparatory
to baptism. At the beginning of the Lenten season, the candi-
32 Duchesne, Christian Worship, 298.
33 "The Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem," translated
in the Oxford Library of the Fathers (London, 1845). The sermons of Augus-
tine "ad competentes" (56-59, 112-116) are considered as representative of
Western practice. These sermons will be dealt with under "Augustine's Con-
tribution. "
292 CHURCH HISTORY

dates are instructed in the glory of their baptism and the joy
with which they should anticipate it.
Great indeed is the Baptism which is offered you. It is a ransom to
captives; the remission of offences; the death of sin; the regeneration of
the soul; the garment of light; the holy seal indissoluble; the chariot to
heaven; the luxury of paradise; a procuring of the kingdom; the gift of
adoption.34
Such a gift as baptism calls for a new heart and new spirit on
the part of the recipient, a mind filled with humility, repentance,
and confession and a life committed to righteousness and
ascetic exercises.35 Having been taught proper attitudes for
baptism, the Conmpetentes receive instruction in Christian doc-
trine along with the daily expositions of choice passages in the
Old and New Testaments.36 Various articles of faith are ex-
pounded and the Apostles' Creed is presented to them for
the first time with complete explanation. Such subjects as
Faith, the Unity of God, the Sovereignty of Gbd, the Incar-
nation, the Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension and Exalta-
tion of Christ, the Second Coming, the Last Judgment, the
Holy Ghost, the Catholic Church, and Life Everlasting, are
taught to the candidates.
The third of the scrutinies during Lent possessed a special
importance. It was on this day that the competents received
the formal "traditio Evangelii, traditio Symnboli,traditio of the
Pater Noster."37 On this day they remained after the gradual
and heard the reading of a chapter with an exposition of each
of the Gospels after which the Creed was read and expounded
by the priest. The candidates were taught the words of the
Creed which they were obliged to learn by heart in order to
repeat it before the bishop at the last scrutiny before baptism.
In some churches this was done twenty days before the in-
itiation.38 The Council of Agde in France, however, appoints
it for Palm Sunday.
Symbolum etiam placuit ab omnibus ecclesiis una die, id est ante octo
dies dominicae resurrectionis, publice in ecclesia competentibus tradi.39
34 Ibid., Introductory Lecture, 16.
35 Ibid., I, II.
66 Usually the historical and moral books. Cf. Augustine, De Cat. Bud.
37 Duchesne, Christian Worship, 300-303. Augustine reserves the traditio of the
Pater Noster until eight days after that of the Symboli-Sermones ad Com-
petentes, LVIII, LIX. He does not include the traditio Evangelii at all. Some
feel that each traditio may have been delivered on a separate occasion.
38 Bingham, Antiquities, III, 283.
39 Mansi, Concilium Agathense, can. XIII.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 293

At any rate there was a certain day appointed for the candi-
dates to give an account of the Creed.
When they had learned the Creed, they were also taught
the Lord's Prayer and the significance of each of the petitions.
This was not usually allowed the Competentesuntil immediately
before their baptism, for it was known as the "oratio fidel-
ium."40 No one could pray "Our Father" until he had beern
made a son of God by regeneration in baptism. To address
God as Father without receiving the gift of adoption was pre-
sumptuous. Consequently, the teaching of the Lord's Prayer
to the candidates was reserved until the very last, when by
anticipation they were permitted to say the Pater Noster. This
occurred eight days before their baptism as Augustine in-
dicates.41
Doctrinal instruction also had its moral implications. The
acceptance of Christ in the Creed meant also the rejection of
the devil. That rejection was not merely liturgical in the act
of renunciation at baptism. During the entire period of their
catechetical instruction they were carefully examined and
scrutinized concerning their moral life, and particularly during
the period when they were candidates. So reads the Apostolic
Constitutions in the directions given to the priests:
And when it remains that the catechumen is to be baptized, let him
learn what concerns the renunciation of the devil, and the joining of him-
self with Christ.... He must beforehand purify his heart from all wick-
edness of disposition, from all spot and wrinkle, and then partake of the
holy things; for as the skilfullest husbandman does first purge his ground
of the thorns which are grown up therein, and does then sow his wheat, so
ought you also to take away all impiety from them, and then to sow the
seeds of piety in them, and vouchsafe them baptism.42
Such things as honest repentance, self-denial, examina-
tion of motives, self-renunciation, are necessary to one who
would be a member of the community of the faithful. Cyril
says:
For the course of godlinessis made up of these two; pious doctrines
and good works: neither are the doctrines without good works acceptable
to God; nor are works allowable works done apart from pious doctrines.
For what boots it, to know excellently the doctrines concerning God, and
40 i.e., Augustine's phrase. Sermones ad Competentes, passim.
41 Sermo ad Competentes, LVTII, 1.
42 Ante-Nic. Chr. Lib., Apostolic Constitutions, VII, 40 et passim. Throughout the
entire eight books there is constant emphasis upon moral life.
294 CHURCH HISTORY

to commitvile fornication?or what again avails it to possess an excellent

self-command, andto blaspheme impiously.43
Tertullian, earlier, had stressed the importance of prayer
and moral vigilance in the preparation for the reception of bap-
tism. Personal conduct and habits both before and after
baptism had to be of the highest quality.44
Augustine is very emphatic in his insistence on the good
life in preparation for baptism. The crux of his De Fide et
Operibus is about that very matter. There were those who
were willing to make a profession of faith in Christ through
the Creed and yet unwilling to renounce pagan practices and
immoral life. They impudently pretended to demand baptism
of the Church-even pleading Scripture for their support-
notwithstanding their incorrigible behavior. They felt that
adulterers, harlots, stage-players, frequenters of the games,
etc., should indiscriminately be admitted to baptism, regardless
of their practices. Their word of acceptance of Christ was
alone necessary.45 Augustine, however, condemns that pro-
fession of faith that ignores the moral demands of the Chris-
tian life. It is a dead faith. Neither by logic nor Scripture
can that incongruous position of theirs be supported. The
Bible as well as the tradition of the Church speak against it.
Augustine is in line with the teachings of the Fathers and the
canons and practices of the Church when he insists on the
moral implications of doctrinal instruction.46
2. Ascetical
The ascetical preparation for baptism during Lent was
especially severe. As far as was possible, the Competentes
were exhorted to keep silence:
Be still, and know that I am God, saith the Scripture.Give over talk-
ing many idle words, neither backbite, nor lend a willing ear to backbiters,
rather be prompt to prayer.47
If they were married, they were asked to observe continence.
So Augustine writes:
. . .quo sine dubio non admitterentur, si per ipsos dies, quibus eandem
gratiam percepturi suis nominibus datis abstinentia, ieiuniis exorcismisque
purgantur, cum suis legitimis et veris uxoribus se concubituros profiteren-
43 Cat. Lect., IV, 2.
44 Ante-Nic. Chr. Lib., On Baptism, XX.
45 De Fide et Operibus, XV, XVII, XVIII et passim.
46 Ibid., VI, 9.
47 Cyril, Cat. Lect., I.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 295

tur atque huius rei, quamvisalio temporelicitae, paucis ipsis sollemnibus

diebus nullam continentiamservaturos.48

Fasting and daily prayers were encouraged. Justin Martyr

says:
As many as are persuadedand believe that what we teach and say is
true, and undertaketo be able to live accordingly,are instructedto pray
and to entreat God with fasting, for the remissionof their sins that are
past, we prayingand fasting with them.49
Tertullian writes:
They who are about to enter baptism ought to pray with repeated
prayers,fasts and bendingsof the knee and vigils all the night through.50
Cyril pauses in his exposition of Ten Points of Faith to speak
concerning fasting:
For we fast, abstainingfrom wine and flesh, not because we abhor
them as abominations,but becausewe look for the reward;that scorning
things sensible [used in the literal sense] we may enjoy the spiritualand
invisible table.... For thy soul's sake, at no time eat ought of the things
offered to idols.51
The Constitutions give some specific directions concerning
fasting:
But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites;for they fast on the sec-
ond and fifth days of the week. But do you eitherfast the entire five days,
or on the fourth day of the week and on the day of the preparation[i.e.
for baptism,Good Friday], becauseon the fourth day the condemnation
went out againstthe Lord,Judasthen promisingto betrayHim for money;
and you must fast on the day of preparation,becauseon that day the Lord
sufferedthe deathof the cross underPontiusPilate.52

They also prescribe certain prayers for the Competentes and

enjoin them to pray three times a day.53 The Fourth Council
of Carthage has a canon dealing with the immediate prepara-
tion of the candidates. They are to be exercised for a long
time with abstinence from wine and flesh, with imposition of
hands and frequent examination.54 In like manner Augustine
puts abstinence, fastings, and exorcism together.55
48 De Fide et Operibus, VI, 7.
49 Ante-Nicene Christian Library, "The First Apology," LXI.
50 Ibid., "On Baptism," XX.
51 Cyril, Cat. Lect., IV, 27, 28.
52 Apost. Const., VII, 23.
53 Ibid., 24, 25.
54 Concilium Carthagense, IV, can. LXXV.
55 De Fide et Operibus, VI, 7.
296 CHURCH HISTORY

Frequent confession was also required during Lent. So

Tertullian writes:
They were baptized,saith [the Scripture] confessingtheir own sins.
To us it is matterfor thankfulnessif we do now publiclyconfess our in-
iquitiesor our own turpitudes:for we do at the same time both make sat-
isfaction for our former sins, by mortificationof our flesh and spirit, and
lay beforehandthe foundationof defences against the temptationswhich
will closely follow.56

Cyril enjoins his candidates to confess their sins:

The present [i.e. Lent] is the seasonof confession: confess therefore
what thou hast done, whetherin word, or in deed; whetherin the day, or
in the night; confess in a time accepted,and in the day of salvationreceive
the heavenlytreasure.57
The doctrinal ascetical preparation of the Competentes
was intense and somewhat severe. It was the purpose of the
Church to elevate the standards for baptism in order to pre-
serve itself from various abuses. Now a word about the
third form of preparation.

3. Liturgical
Because exorcism properly comes under liturgical exer-
cises, it is given attention here. It is not within the scope of this
work to give a detailed account of exorcism and its vagaries in
ethnic religions and even in sections of Christendom, but rath-
er to present an explanation of its place in the sacrament of
Christian baptism in the early Church.
In the early centuries, as in later times, the usual form of
exorcism was a simple and authoritative adjuration addressed
to the demon within the person in the name of God and particu-
larly in the name of Christ crucified. It was given by some of
the Fathers as a strong argument for the supremacy and di-
vinity of the Christian faith. So Minucius Felix writes:
Since they themselves[i.e. the demons]are the witnessesthat they are
demons,believethem when they confess the truth of themselves;for when
adjuredby the only and true God, unwillinglythe wretchedbeingsshudder
in their bodies, and either at once leap forth, or vanishby degrees,as the
faith of the suffererassists or the grace of the healerinspires.58
56 "On Baptism," XX.
57 Cyril, Cat. Lect., I, 5.
58 Ante-Nicene Christian Library, "The Octavius," XXVII.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 297

Justin Martyr, speaking of the power of the name of Christ,

says:
For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world, and in your
city, many of our Christian men exorcising them in the Name of Jesus
Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal,
rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the men, though
they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and those who used in-
cantations and drugs.59
Now it is not implied that the candidates were considered
to be obsessed, like demoniacs, but only that in consequence of
original sin and of personal sins, they were subject more or less
to the power of the devil. It was for that reason that in the
service of renunciation, the candidate was asked to "renounce
Satan, and his works, and his pomps, and his worship, and his
angels, and his inventions, and all things that are under him."60
The form was not always that long. In the Arabic Canons of
Hippolytus it reads, "Abrenunlcio tibi o Satana cur omni pom-
pa tua."'6
Exorcism in this connection symbolically anticipated the
principal effect of baptism. It was looked upon as a cleansing
formula, and with the use of water, salt, and oil the Competen-
tes were thus cleansed every day during Lent. This may be
inferred from the Fourth Council of Carthage when it pre-
scribes the daily imposition of hands by the exorcist.62 Duch-
esne, in writing of the seventh or last scrutiny immediately be-
fore baptism [i.e., on Saturday before Easter], quotes the
form of exorcism used, which was pronounced by the priest
himself instead of one of the inferior clergy.63 The symbolical
meaning at this last exorcism was that the crucial battle with
Satan had arrived.64 The candidates were now prepared to
throw off the power of the devil in their final renunciation and
be bound to Christ. Other symbolic acts of exorcism were the
"exsufflatio," the out-breathing of the devil, the "insufflatio,"
the in-breathing of the Holy Spirit by the priest, the purifying
anointment with oil, the imposition of hands, and the signing
of the Cross.
59 Ibid., "The Second Apology," VI; cf. also Tertullian, Apologeticus, 22, 23.
60 Apost. Const., VII, 41.
61 Hippolytus, Canones, XIX, 9. The Service of Adult Baptism in the Lutheran
Church today reads; "Dost thou renounce the devil, and all his works and all
his ways " The answer, "Yes, I renounce."
62 Cone. Carth., IV, can. XC.
63 Christian Worship, 303.
64 Ibid., 304.
298 CHURCH HISTORY

REQUIREMENTS AND PRIVILEGES OF BAPTISM

For the Competentes, now about to receive baptism, three
things were indispensably required. First, they must make
their sincere, formal, and solemn renunciation of the devil.
That was, in a measure, required of them before, but now they
were to make a solenn profession of it before the congregation.
The form and content of that renunciation is gathered from
Cyril's post-baptismal lectures.65
They were to stand facing the West, the region of dark-
ness, and renounce the dark and gloomy potentate.66They
were to renounce everything that pertained to the devil, name-
ly, "all deeds and thoughts which are against better judg-
ment."67
In addition to the devil "and his works," they were com-
manded to renounce "all his pomp." By pomp was understood
the affairs at the circus, the games, the theatre, dancing, the
hunts, intemperance, pagan festivals, etc.68 In the directions
given to the bishops, presbyters, and deacons, the Constitutions
draws up a specific list of all those who are to be refused bap-
tism unless they abandon their practices.69 When, therefore,
Augustine launches out in his De Fide et Operibus against
those who would ignore at baptism disgraceful conduct and
habits, he is in step with the sentiment of the Church.
Having made their renunciation of the devil, the Com-
petentes promisedto live in obedienceto Christ and the laws and
rules of the Christian faith. The Greeks referred to this act of
obedience as "giving themselves up to the government and con-
duct of Christ."70Bingham refers to passages in several of the
Greek Fathers that substantiate the fact.71 The Latins refer to
this step as "promissum, pacturm, et votum."72 Augustine calls
it "A profession made in the court of angels; and the names
65 It was the feeling among the Fathers that the mysteries of the Christian faith
should be presented only in a covert way before baptism. Consequently, more
thorough and elucidative lectures were given on the sacraments after baptism.
They were considered more fit, then, to receive them.
66 Cyril, Cat. Lect., XIX, 4.
67 Ibid., 5.
68 Ibid., 6, 7.
69 Apost. Const., VIII, 32.
70 Bingham, Antiq., III, 538. The Greek form is "suntassomai soi, Christe".
71 Ibid., 540f.
72 Ibid., 541.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 299

of the professors are written in the Book of life, not by any man,
but by the heavenly powers."73
The third requirement was to face the East, the region
of light, and make profession of their faith in the Creed that
had been taught to them by the catechist a little before the day
of baptism. The Creed was never written because some who
were not Comnpetentes might be able to read it. The candidates
were directed to let their "memory be their record-roll."74They
were encouraged to recite the Creed every day and have it firmly
planted in their minds.
Some in Augustine's day were of the opinion that the Creed
should be reduced to a single article, "I believe Jesus Christ to
be the Son of God." They used as their argument the example
of Philip baptizing the eunuch. Augustine's reply was to the
effect that for brevity's sake the other points of doctrine, e.g.,
the Holy Ghost, the Church, the Incarnation, Resurrection, etc.,
were omitted from the Scripture text but understood in the con-
versation.75 The Church never omitted any of the Articles of
the Creed,not even in clinical baptism. If the candidateswere not
able to memorize the Creed, they were still questioned in every
particular.76By one means or another the whole Creed was re-
peated and assented to.77
A word has yet to be said concerning the rewards or priv-
ileges of the baptized. That there were special privileges beyond
those granted to them as Coimpetentesis clear in Augustine and
elsewhere. It was the very anticipation of those good things
and the psychology of withholding them from those to be bap-
tized that was a cause for increase in membership.
A fuller explanation of the meaning of baptism itself was
one of the special privileges. Though the candidates were pre-
pared for baptism, it was not until after their initiation that they
were instructed in the deeper meaning of the mystery. So Cyril
in his post-baptismal lectures explains to the neophytes the
significance of the various acts of the baptismal liturgy; the
meaning of 'putting off the garment', the anointing with exor-
cised oil over the entire body, entering the pool of baptism and
73 Quoted from Bingham, III, 542.
74 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church
(Buffalo, 1886), Augustine, "On the Creed," I.
75 De Fide et Operibus, IX.
76 Bingham, Antiquities, 544.
77 The formal liturgy of baptism has been thoroughly treated by Duchesne and
others and will not be treated here.
300 CHURCH HISTORY

the symbolism of the service there and the administration of the

holy chrism to parts of the body.78These explanations were re-
served for the octave of Easter and could not be imparted soon-
er. So reads the Pilgrimage of Etheria:
But the teachings of the deeper mystery,that is, of Baptism itself,
you cannothear,being as yet catechumens[i.e. competentes].But, lest you
should think that anythingis done without good reason,these, when you
have been baptizedin the Name of God, you shall hear in the Anastasis,
during the eight Paschal days, after the Dismissal from the Churchhas
beenmade. You, beingas yet catechumens,cannotbe told the more secret
mysteriesof God.79
Of course, the greatest privilege was that of receiving the
sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ for the remission
of sins and the strengthening of faith. It must be remembered,
of course, that the unbaptizedas long as they remained so were
living in mortal sin. They received no forgiveness. As long
as they were catechumens so long did they carry the guilt of all
their sins. Consequently, their baptism brought them the
greatest of all blessings, the complete remission of their sins.
Sins committed after baptism were venial and remediable by
prayer, or penance in serious cases. Immediately upon their
baptism, at the Easter service, they participated in the com-
munion and every day during the Octave they received the sac-
rament. When the faithful were about to receive the elements,
the deacon would proclaim "hagia hagiois," "holy things for
holy men."80Yet the deeper mystery of the Eucharist was not
explained until after the baptismal service. The neophytes were
instructed more carefully concerning the meaning of the bread
and wine and the various parts of the liturgy in the communion
service, e.g., the spiritual kiss, the sursum corde, the thanksgiv-
ing, the sanctus, etc.81
The use of the Lord's Prayer also was a privilege of the
neophytes even though in anticipation they were taught the
words and meaning of the prayer immediately preceding their
baptism. Still it was consideredthe prayer of the faithful, oratio
fidelium, and not to be used except by those who had become
"sons of God" by regeneration. There were other prayers also
that were denied the catechumens because they spoke of the
78 Cyril, Cat. Lect., XX-XXI.
79 Quoted from Duchesne, Christian Worship, Appendix, 575.
80 Bingham, Antiquities, I, 36.
81 Cyril, Cat. Lect., XXII-XXIII; cf. also Augustine, Sermo ad Competentes,
LVII, 7.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 301

divine mysteries but which were entered into by the neophytes

and the faithful.82
In addition to the above, it must be assumed that the nor-
mal privileges of Church membershipwere open to the baptized,
such as the administration of Church matters and full participa-
tion in all the affairs of the Church.
AUGUSTINE'S CONTRIBUTION
No one in the early eastern or western Church has contri-
buted more to the developmentof the catechetical system or has
kept more clearly in mind the great group of inquirers and cat-
echumens than Augustine. The difficulties involved in his own
personal pilgrimage to Christianity and his varied experience,
intellectual and moral, provided an excellent background for an'
understanding of the catechumens'problemsand needs. He was
also in a position to advise intelligently the catechists regarding
the proper psychological approaches, the content and method of
instruction. Catholic and Protestant catechetics alike through
the centuries have been indebted to him. For that reason we
give attention to his contribution now.
Chief among his catechetical writings and specifically for
the use of catechists is the De Catechizandis Rudibus. It is ad-
dressed to one Deogratias, a deacon of Carthage, who apparent-
ly had been known as a popular catechist but who had repeated
difficulties in finding satisfactory techniques or vehicles for the
presentation of his material. His discourses often became lan-
guid and profitless to the teacher and learners alike.83With those
facts in mind, Augustine wrote his treatise.
This work, like most of his other writings, is intensely prac-
tical and indicates that he himself devoted careful attention to
the business of instructing those who wished to learn the rudi-
ments of the Faith. It indicates that he also had experienced
the tediousness and even monotony of the task and had given
careful consideration to the best methods of dealing with the
various classes of converts.
It is a model on the art of catechising and an actual demon-
stration of instructing the unlearnedand the learned. The work
is neatly arranged into the following outline:
1. Practical methods of instruction (I-VII)
82 e.g., the communion prayers were not used in the presence of the unbaptized.
83 Corp. Script. Eccl. Lat., De Cat. Rud., 1. Because of its distinctive and exem-
plary character, this work will be treated at some length.
302 CHURCH HISTORY

2. Dealing with the learned (VIII, IX)

3. Causes of weariness and remedies (X-XV)
4. A typical demonstration lesson (XVI-XXVII)
To the teacher who is dissatisfied with his discourses and
fears that the hearers are receiving very little that is worth-
while, Augustine remarks that the teacher must not judge the
value of his lessons by the effect upon himself but by the effect
upon the hearers. The lecture may not be so frigid as it seems.
The very fact that the catechumens come with regularity is one
indication that it is not displeasing to them.84 Above all the
catechist himself must have a deep interest in his work:
And in reality we are listened to with much greater satisfaction, in-
deed, when we ourselves also have pleasure in the same work; for the
thread of our address is affected by the very joy of which we ourselves are
sensible, and it proceeds from us with greater ease and with more accept-
ance.85
The successful instructor is one who has learned the art of
putting himself constantly in the position of the hearer and act-
ing as if he were telling something always new. A bright and
cheerful86manner is one of the qualifications of the teacher.
Another is the contagiousness of his whole personality in teach-
ing.
. . .Whatever you narrate, narrate it in such a manner that he to whom
you are discoursing on hearing may believe, on believing may hope, on
hoping may love.87
Augustine displays a certain wisdom of pedagogical meth-
od in his directions regarding the examination into the motives
of inquirers. Recognizing that some will come out of faulty
motives, desiring only personal advantages, he indicates how
the instructor may use the false motive as a point of departure
in his teaching of the unlearned:
Nevertheless, the very untruth which he utters should be made the
point from which we start. This should not be done, however, with the
(open) intention of confuting his falsehood, as if that were a settled matter
with you; but taking it for granted that he has professed to have come with
a purpose which is really worthy of approbation ... it should rather be our
aim to commend and praise such a purpose as that with which, in his re-
ply, he has declared himself to have come; so that we may make him feel
it is a pleasure to be the kind of man actually that he wishes to seem to be.88
84 Ibid., 3, 4.
85 Ibid., 4.
86 ' hilaritas.
87 Ibid., 8.
88 Ibid., 9.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 303

In every instance it is important to ascertain their frame of

mind and motives. More than usual kindness, gentleness, and
patience should be exercised lest the ignorant inquirer be con-
fused and disturbed from the start. Augustine then proceeds
to outline the content and manner of relating Christian truth to
this class of the ignorant, beginning with the story of creation
and continuing on to the present period of the Church, not in
the greatest detail but in a somewhat cursory manner.89It is of
utmost importance to indicate the relationship between the Old
and New Testaments showing that "in the Old Testament there
is a veiling of the New, and in the New Testament there is a re-
vealing of the Old."
Dealing with the well-educatedand those already acquaint-
ed with the Scriptures and other Christian writings requires a
briefer period of instruction. Very little time should be spent
on the things they already learned previously. Recognition
should be given of their knowledge of the Faith and enquiries
ought to be made into the causes which have led them to Chris-
tianity, particularly, what books have influenced them. The
major emphasis will be placed, therefore, not on the body of doc-
trine, but on the mysteries.90
Regarding the method to be used with grammarians and
rhetoricians, Augustine is especially skillfull and is obviously
speaking out of his own experience. Having been one of the
learned himself, and a rhetorician, he could well understand the
approachto be used. They must be taught to "clothe themselves
with Christian humility" and not be so presumptuousas to com-
pare purity of heart with a practiced tongue.91
The section on the causes of weariness and its remedies
from the standpoint of catechetics, is the most practical and val-
uable part of the work. For those who grow weary from con-
stantly having to come down to the level of the hearers and sac-
rificing the joys of superior knowledge, Augustine draws the
example of Christ who humbled himself, taking the form of a
servant and suffering the death of the cross. When the con-
stant repetition of the same material causes weariness, the in-
structor must vary the presentation of the subjects and increase
in earnestness of mind. He must rememberthat though the in-
struction is not up to his ideal and to his delight, it may be exact-
89 Ibid., 6, 7.
90 Ibid., 8.
91 Ibid., 9.
304 CHURCH HISTORY

ly suited to the listener and completely fresh and new to him.

When the hearer makes little progress and seems to be un-
moved so that it causes weariness to the instructor, he should
be questioned concerning the material, personally examined and
kindly exhorted and if his sluggishness is the result of practical
difficulties or inconveniences92they should be remedied. If
weariness is the result of having to give up some preferred em-
ployment to train catechumens, the catechist must ever remem-
ber that it is a matter of duty and of performing the will of God
regardless of one's own wishes.93
Having given a somewhat detailed, theoretical, and psycho-
logical bit of advice, Augustine turns to the very practical, and
gives a demonstrationlesson to be taught to a group of ordinary
inquirers, neither grossly ignorant nor highly intelligent. In
his discourse he dwells upon the importanceof right motives for
baptism, introduces gradually key passages in Old and New
Testament literature, a sketchy summary of Christ's life, death
and resurrection with their meanings, the cardinal doctrines of
the Church, the sanctity of the sacraments, and a subtle intro-
duction of the significance of the Creed. From first to last,
Augustine is careful to weave the doctrinal and moral together
in the thread of his discourse. The hearer is not left in doubt
about what kind of life is expected of him and at the concluding
lecture is asked whether he is willing to renounce pagan prac-
tices before he is signed as a catechumen.94
It was said above that no one in the early eastern or western
Church kept more clearly in mind the group of inquirers and
catechumens than Augustine. One needs only to select at ran-
dom sermons of Augustine to discover that he had them con-
stantly in view. He looked upon the sermon as a means pri-
marily of teaching, and never tired-though sometimes he tired
his hearers-of presenting to them Christian doctrine and its
inevitable moral implications. Even in an obviously doctrinal
presentation of the Creed to the Competentes, Augustine con-
cludes with the words:
When ye have been baptized, hold fast a good life in the command-
ments of God, that ye may guard your Baptism even unto the end.... Do
92 The reference here is to the practice of making the hearers stand during the
instruction. When the period of teaching was lengthy, it became a great in-
convenience and made instructing difficult. Augustine urged the abolition of
that practice wherever possible and advocated sitting during the lessons.
93 Ibid., 10-15.
94 Ibid., 16-27.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 305

not committhosethings for whichye mustneedsbe separatedfrom Christ's

body: which be far from you !5
Often in a sermon primarily addressed to the faithful, he would
leave off to address himself to catechumens regarding their per-
sonal preparationfor baptism, which at the same time served as
an injunction to the believers.
There are extant a few sermons preached specifically to
the Competentes on the Lord's Prayer and the Creed, probably
delivered within the last two weeks before baptism.96 In those
discourses on the Prayer, Augustine takes each petition sep-
arately, analyses it simply, that all may understand, and then
makes the application. The following passage will illustrate his
method:
Quae et dicitis, in cordibusvestris dicite. Sit orantisaffectus, et erit ex-
audientis effectus. 'Sanctificetur nomen tuum.' Quid rogas ut sanctificetur
nomen Dei? Sanctum est. Quid rogas, quod iam sanctum est? Deinde cum
rogas ut sanctificetur nomen ipsis, nonne quasi pro illo illum rogas, et non
pro te? Intellige, et pro te rogas. Hoc enim rogas, ut quod semper sanctum
est in se sanctificetur in te. Quid est, sanctificetur? Sanctum habeatur, non
contemnatur. Ergo vides quia cum optas, tibi bonum optas. Tibi enim ma-
lum est si contempseris nomen Dei, non Deo.97

Again, let it be said that Augustine's emphasis is always simul-

taneously doctrinal and moral, faith and the good life. For ex-
ample, in the somewhat lengthy passage on the petition, "for-
give us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against
us," he says:
Et hoc orare, sentinare est. Non tantum autem debemus orare, sed et
eleemosynam facere; quia quando sentinatur ne navis mergatur, et vocibus
agitur et manibus98. . . Nihil mali faciat manus; non currat pes ad aliquid
mali; non dirigatur oculus in lasciviam; non auris libenter pateat turpitu-
dine; non moveatur lingua ad id quod non decet.99
The candidate for baptism may learn to pray "Thy Kingdom
come," but if he shall remain a moral reprobate, that Kingdom
will come to others but not to him.100To qualify for baptism he
must establish a right relationship with his fellowmen, put away
all sin and lust and avarice and learn to conquer himself.'10 The
95 "On the Creed," 15.
96 Migne, Pat. Lat., Sermones, LVI-LIX, CCXII-CCXVI.
97 Sermo LVI, 5. There is a startling similarity between Augustine's words and
approach and Luther's in his Small Catechism.
98 Ibid., 11.
99 Ibid., 12.
100 Sermo LVII, 5.
101 Ibid., 8-13.
306 CHURCH HISTORY

Christian must always abound in the doing of good works, in

the forgiving of wrong-doers, in the giving of alms, both from
the heart and out of his substance, in the control of his tongue
and conduct.102A person who has found that he has a Father in
heaven ought to live that he may be worthy of the inheritance.'?0
In a remarkablepassage on the Creed, Augustine encourages the
Competentesto repeat the symbol daily until it becomes part of
them:
. . . quotdie dicit; quando surgitis, quando vos ad somnum collocatis, red-
dite Symbolumvestrum,repetere.Bona est enim repetitio,ne subrepatob-
livio.
Commemorafidemtuam, inspice te: sit tanquamspeculumtibi Sym-
bolum tuum. Ibi te vide, si credis omnia quae te credere confiteris, et gaude
quotidie in fide tua. Sint divitae tuae, sint quotadiana ista quodam modo in-
dumenta mentis tuae. Numquid non quando surgis vestis te? Sic et com-
memorando Symbolum tuum vesti animam tuam, ne forte eam nudet ob-
livio, et remaneasnudus.104
In his sermons specifically on the delivery of the Creed to
the Competentes, though Augustine speaks considerably more
in theological terms as may be expected in any treatment of the
unity of the Godhead,the mystery of the Trinity, and the signi-
ficance of the Cross and Resurrection, still he endeavors to make
clear to the Competentes what is expected of one who makes
such a declaration of faith. This is most clearly brought out in,
a sermon on the "Redditio Symboli"'05and a separate discourse
on the significanceof the renunciationof the world and the devil
and the meaning and implications of regeneration.'06
A decade before his death, Augustine wrote a book on De
Fide, Spe, Charitate in which he summarized for a certain Lau-
rentius'07the various articles of the Christian faith under the
headings of the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and Christian love.
This work was not meant to be specificallya catecheticaltreatise,
but a kind of handbook or Enchiridion. Yet by the very fact
that it was written simply and for the laymen indicates that
Augustine meant it for instructive purposes. As a handbook, it
could easily be carried and perused by the individual and serve
as a facile source of reference for the believer's own benefit as
well as for the catechist in his teaching. One notes immediately
102 Sermo LVII, 10, 11.
103 Ibid., 2.
104 Ibid., 13.
105 Sermo CCXV.
106 Sermo CCXVI.
107 Nothing other is known of the man; probably a layman. P. Schaff.
 A STUDY OF THE CATECHUMENATE 307

upon reading it that its style and language is fitted for popular
instruction and by its developmentis intended to present brief-
ly and compactly the whole scope of Christian teaching and its
moral demands on the believer. A disproportionate space is
given to an explanation of the matters of faith (I-CXIII) and
virtually nothing to the Prayer (CXIV-CXVI) and the dis-
course on Christian love (CXVII-CXXII). What a person
should believe and how he should live are thoroughly discussed.
Little is said of the hidden meanings of the sacraments disclosed
only to the faithful.'08
Just a few words must be said concerning the De Fide et
Operibus as it relates to Augustine's contribution to catechetical
literature and practice. It has been customary to consider this
work as one of the moral treatises in that it arose out of social
perversions prevalent in parts of the Church whereby some were
admitted to baptism who were living profligately. In that sense
it is a moral treatise and Augustine condemns the practices with
the ardor of a social reformer. Bardenhewer, on the other hand,
includes the work among the dogmatic writings of Augustine
in that he develops the truth, which is soundly biblical, that faith
and works are inseparable and must be united through love.109
In that sense it is a dogmatic treatise and Augustine speaks as
a sound theologian. Yet in a still larger sense, the De Fide et
Operibus takes into view the whole system of catechetical in-
struction and is written for the direct benefit of catechists to
guide them in their selection of catechumens and their course of
teaching, and for the benefit of catechumens who desire baptism
and are uninformed or misinformed about the requirements.
From first to last, Augustine is concerned with baptism and the
worthiness of the candidates to receive it. This work is part of;
the unique contribution of Augustine to catechetical literature
and is a complementto his De Catechizandis Rudibus, his Ser-
mones, particularly to the Competentes,and his Enchiridion.
108 This would seem to be in keeping with the practice of the catechumenate.
109 Bardenhewer, O., Patrology-The Lives and Works of the Fathers of the
Church (St. Louis, Mo., 1908).
1908).