The Scrutinies take place during the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Elizabeth, each thematically linked to the Gospel reading, on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent. Each of these proclamations from the John’s Gospel emphasizes repentance and conversion as the Light of Christ comes to pierce the darkness of sin and to bring life where there is death. The Elect along with their sponsors, kneel before the celebrant and the assembly, who pray for them silently with a series of intercessions. It culminates in a prayer of cleansing and protection (exorcism) with the laying-on-of-hands. 

The Scrutinies are God’s way of taking a close, loving look at the Elect. God does not scrutinize in order to find what’s wrong with them but to celebrate all that’s beautiful, good, and true in them. Jesus “scrutinizes” us with Divine Light, revealing all that is valuable within each of us. He also reveals to us the ways in which we are hurting, or sick, or sinful. This is not to reject us, but to call us to new life and to healing. 

May these Scrutinies call both our Elect and us into the living waters of baptism, to the light of holiness, to a new life in Christ, through His Resurrection.