The sanctuary is prepared for the Easter Vigil and shows signs of subdued joy: the carpet, gold antependium (altar frontal), and flowers are covered with violet. The rope that rings the sanctuary bell is still wrapped up and the statues are still veiled.
Prior to the Profession of Faith, the catechumens formally renounced former errors as needed. There are formal renouncements for Judaism, Islam, Protestantism, and paganism. This was done before the ceremonies on Holy Saturday morning.
With their hands on the Bible, the catechumens make a profession of faith. It is effectively a profession of faith in all that has been questioned or denied by heresies throughout the history of the Church, and it begins with the Apostles Creed.
They profess belief in the seven Sacraments of the Church, the authority of the Church to judge the sense of and interpret Sacred Scripture, the teachings on justification as laid out in the Council of Trent, and the doctrine of Transubstantiation.
They profess their belief in Purgatory, veneration and the intercession of the saints, the virginity of the Mother of God, and the authority that Christ gave the Church to grant indulgences. The profession concludes with a promise of obedience to the Pope and to all the Church has declared in her canons and councils.
"I shall strive, as far as possible, that this same faith shall be held, taught, and publicly professed by all who depend on me and over whom I shall have charge.
So help me God and these holy Gospels."
The priest gives absolution from excommunication:
"I release you from the bond of excommunication which you have (perhaps) incurred and I restore you to communion and union with the faithful, as well as to the holy sacraments of the Church."
After this, everyone leaves the nave, going either to the narthex or outside.
After the priests questions them and they express their desire for the faith which will offer them everlasting life, they are asked to renounce Satan and profess belief in the tenets of the Apostles Creed.
The priest breathes on them three times and says, "Depart from them, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Ghost, the Advocate."
Breathing on them again, this time in the shape of a cross, he says, "Receive, by this breath, the good Spirit and the blessing of God."
He makes the Sign of the Cross on the forehead and heart of each candidate.
"Receive the Sign of the Cross on your brow and on your heart. Put your whole trust in the heavenly teachings and lead a life that will fit you to be a temple of God. On entering God's Church, acknowledge with joy that you have escaped the clutches of death.
Worship God the Father almighty, and Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, our Lord, Who is coming to judge both the living and the dead, and the world by fire."
He then signs each candidate seven times, beginning with the forehead. "I sign you on the brow, that you may take up the cross of the Lord."
"I sign you on the ears, that you may hear the precepts of heaven."
"I sign you on the eyes, that you may see the grandeur of God."
"I sign you on the nostrils, that you may smell the sweet odor of Christ."
"I sign you on the mouth, that you may speak the word of life."
"I sign you on the heart, that you may believe in God."
"I sign you on the shoulders, that you may take up the yoke of His service."
He makes the Sign of the Cross over the elect saying, "I sign all of you...that you may have eternal life and live forever and ever."
Placing his hand over them, he prays, "...look with favor on Your servants whom it has pleased You to call to this first step in the Faith. Rid them of all inward blindness. Sever all the snares of Satan which bound them. Open wide the door to Your fatherly love...
"...May the seal of Your wisdom so penetrate them, and let in the fragrance of Your lofty teachings. Thus shall they serve You gladly in Your Church and grow daily more perfect.
And once they have tasted the medicinal property of salt, may they be fit to approach the grace of Your baptism."
If it was not done before the ceremony, the salt is exorcised. This had been done already.
A pinch of the salt is placed in the mouth of each catechumen. "Accept the salt of wisdom. May it be for you a sign of everlasting life."
The priest calls each candidate one by one and says, "Kneel, chosen one, and say the Our Father."
The catechumen recites the Our Father up to the word "evil." The priest says, "Rise and say, 'Amen.'"
He instructs the candidate's sponsor, "Sign him." He then does the same before blessing the candidate.
This process is repeated three times for each candidate. This represents the triple confession of St. Peter (Jn. 21:15-18) which undid his triple denial on the night of Holy Thursday.9
It is, for the candidates, a triple profession of faith that undoes the "triple denial" of their previous life, during which they have - perhaps even explicitly - denied Christ.
The exorcism is then made over the candidates.
"Foul fiend, recall the curse that decided your fate for eternity. Pay homage to the living and true God, pay homage to Jesus Christ, His Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Keep far from these servants of God, for Jesus Christ...has freely called them...to the waters of baptism."
The priest places the end of the stole in the hand of one of the candidates.
The other catechumens place a hand on the shoulder of the one in front of them and proceed into the church.
"Enter into the holy Church of God to receive a heavenly blessing from Our Lord Jesus Christ and have a share with Him and His saints."
As the group enters the nave, all present recite the Apostles Creed. Another exorcism is performed (not pictured).
The priest signs the ears and nostrils of each catechumen, saying, "Ephpheta, which means: be opened."
Mark 7:33-35
Mark 7:33-35
The candidates are each signed with the oil of catechumens on the chest and between the shoulders. "I anoint you with the oil that sanctifies in Christ Jesus Our Lord that you may have everlasting life."
With a piece of cotton, he cleans his thumb and the places anointed with oil and says, "Be gone, unclean spirit, and pay homage to the living and true God...and give place to Jesus Christ His Son. Stay far away, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Ghost, the Advocate."
On any other day, the group would proceed to the baptismal font and the baptisms would take place. On Holy Saturday, in what the priest called "a holy cliffhanger," the baptismal ceremonies pause here, to be continued in 5 hours during the Easter Vigil.