"Christian initiation is a journey marked with the teachings, rituals, actions and songs of faith -- a Hallelujah Highway, one might say. The history of how the church has initiated adults and children over the centuries is itself a journey -- from a vibrant process adapted in many ways according to local need, through dormancy, and back to a vibrancy just beginning to be understood and appreciated. Paul Turner relates the history of the catechumenate through the stories of the people and documents that played significant roles in developing the rites, and recording its development from the earliest days of the church to the present. Quotations from the documents, maps and photographs of significant places and artifacts enrich and enliven the story. A bibliography and indices make this book useful for pastoral ministers, Christian initiation teams, adult education classes, students and scholars. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.