Encore Post: Very early in the Church’s history, new Christians studied the faith intensively in preparation for baptism. It soon became the custom to baptize them during the Easter Vigil and to spend the forty days prior to Easter fasting and completing their instruction in the faith. These students (also known as catechumens, from the Greek meaning “to instruct”) were joined in the fast by their catechists (instructors). Both groups valued this discipline highly, and the entire church joined them in their study.
For this reason, the readings in the season of Lent are keyed to the basic doctrines of the faith. They serve as a kind of spring training for the Church as it prepares to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter. Often, Bible classes turn to a study of Luther’s Small Catechism (from the German word meaning “instruction book” or “handbook”).
Originally posted at What does this Mean? Blog: https://whatdoesthismean.blog
The posts in the blog What does this Mean? are now available at What does this Mean? | Rev. Robert E. Smith | Substack
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Pastor Emeritus
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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