36 The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults 22. On Holy Saturday, while the elect, free from work, devote themselves to meditation, various Rites of Immediate Preparation can take place: the Recitation of the Creed, the “Ephphatha” Rite, and the Choosing of a Christian Name (cf. nos. 185-205). 23. The Sacraments of Initiation of adults (nos. 206-243) should be celebrated during the Easter Vigil itself (cf. nos. 8 and 17). But if there is a very large number of catechumens, most of them receive the Sacraments on this very night, but others can be delayed to days within the Octave of Easter and be made new by the Sacraments either in the principal churches or even in secondary ones. In this case either the Mass proper to the day is used or the Ritual Mass for the Conferral of Baptism, with readings taken from the Easter Vigil. 24. In some cases, the conferring of Confirmation can be delayed until around the end of the Period of Mystagogy, for example on Pentecost Sunday (cf. no. 249). 25. On each and every Sunday of Easter following the First there should take place the so-called “Masses for the neophytes” which both the community and the newly baptized with their godparents are urged to attend (cf. no. 247). B. At Other Times 26. Although the Order of Initiation should normally be arranged so that the Sacraments are celebrated during the Easter Vigil, it is nonetheless permitted, because of unusual circumstances and pastoral needs, that the rites of Election and of the Period of Purification and Enlightenment be celebrated outside Lent and the Sacraments themselves outside the Easter Vigil or Easter Day. Even in ordinary circumstances, but only for serious pastoral needs, for example when the number to be baptized is very large, it is permitted to choose another time, especially Easter Time, for celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation in addition to the course of Initiation normally held during Lent. In such cases, the structure of the entire Order should remain the same, with appropriate intervals, although the times of its insertion into the liturgical year are changed. Moreover, adaptations should be made as follows. 54 55 56 57 58
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