The Foreward begins "This edition of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" contains the approved English translation of the 1974 emended second printing of the "Ordo initaitionis christianae adultorum" prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and a number of other rites and liturgical texts approved for use in the dioceses of the United States of America."
So I think you get the picture -- this is probably a good book for pastors, deacons, and lay people who are running an RCIA program. It may also be useful for those catechumenates (like myself) who are very detail-oriented and want to know the exact text of each rite, and what we are going to have to say when it comes time for our part.
Unless you like reading liturgy, this book is not for the average catechumenate. To that person, it will seem extremely dry.
The rites are as follows: (1) acceptance into the order of catechumens with optional rites (2) period of the catechumenate with liturgy of the word, blessings, anointings etc (3) rite of election (4) the scrutinies with special rites for Holy Saturday (5) sacraments of initiation.
The modifications to the above cycle are given for children who have reached catechetical age, adults in exceptional circumstances, for those in danger of death, for those already baptized seeking full communion, and for uncatechized adults (Catholics baptized but not raised in the faith).
An appendix gives the forms for the various rites when combined with other rites. A variety of songs and hymns are included as are the national statutes regarding the catechumenate i.e. the national implementation of the material provided as a forward.
