When people wanted to become Christians they had to prepare for the occasion. As time went by in the Church the process of Initiation became a strong tradition and an established pattern. This was known as the Catechumenate, and a person who went through this Christian preparation was called a Catechumen. They spent up to three years learning about Christian beliefs and changing their behaviour gradually with the Christian way of life. They did this by having Sunday worship, prayer and performing works of charity. There was usually a Christian sponsor who guided them and helped them prepare for the coming Baptism.
When catechumens were prepared and ready, they were welcomed into the Church and received as full members during the Easter celebration. After a night vigil, they were baptised (usually being immersed in water). They were then confirmed and they also received the Eucharist for the very first time. This was a very important ceremony because it celebrated the resurrection of Christ. Christians usually prepared for this celebration by fasting – this was a way of penance and praising God. For Christians, an important day of the week for them was Sunday, the day when Christ rose from the dead. They would gather early in the day to celebrate Mass, and the deacons would take the host to those took sick to receive attend Eucharist with the congregation. Early Christians also believed in God’s forgiveness. Through Baptism a person’s previous sins were forgiven, and once received into the Church, forgiveness that Christians needed for their sins would come through prayer, acts of kindness and the Eucharist. Those guilty of serious sins, like murder or betraying other Christians during persecution were expelled from the Christian community for some time. This was to show that their actions had separated themselves from others and God. The custom of making sinners do tough penances (wearing sack cloths or ashes) before being allowed to enter the Christian community again was not introduced until the start of the first century. The possibility of repentance was always open to even the most serious of sinners though, and once forgiven, Christians were able to share in Christ’s body once again. Confession of sins with a priest was also a later development.
