Certain critical events in our humble existence are so monumental, so life-changing that we refer to them as "Rites of Passage". These critical moments shape and define who ....or "what" we are to become. These events are so important that we ritualize the individual milestone and do our best to sacramentalize (i.e. "make holy") these significant turning points in our lives. A few of these life-defining moments might be; Baptism (or Christening / Naming ceremony), for some... maybe a Circumcision or Bris ritual (Ooooo ...Ouch!), First Holy Communion, Confirmation (or Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah), Sweet Sixteen (or Quinceañera), a Wedding, a Religious Profession, or maybe even an Ordination.
Another set of these "rites of passage" are centered around the advancement from one significant level of educational accomplishment to another. These are known as Graduations. Oftentimes, we sacramentalize (i.e. "make holy") these graduations by invoking God's blessing on those who are ending one phase of their lives and beginning another. One ritual used to invoke the divine blessing on the graduates is called a baccalaureate service (... or Baccalaureate Mass). Last night, several hundred of us gathered at a local church to celebrate a Baccalaureate Mass asking God to share graces on one hundred and seventeen matriculating seniors from a local Catholic High School. We are proud of the accomplishments of these young adults in arriving to this point in their life but we realize that they dearly need Strength from the Almighty for the journey that lies ahead of them. God bless each and every one of our graduates.
Another set of these "rites of passage" are centered around the advancement from one significant level of educational accomplishment to another. These are known as Graduations. Oftentimes, we sacramentalize (i.e. "make holy") these graduations by invoking God's blessing on those who are ending one phase of their lives and beginning another. One ritual used to invoke the divine blessing on the graduates is called a baccalaureate service (... or Baccalaureate Mass). Last night, several hundred of us gathered at a local church to celebrate a Baccalaureate Mass asking God to share graces on one hundred and seventeen matriculating seniors from a local Catholic High School. We are proud of the accomplishments of these young adults in arriving to this point in their life but we realize that they dearly need Strength from the Almighty for the journey that lies ahead of them. God bless each and every one of our graduates.
