These were the last of the classes into which the catechumens were distributed, and were so called because they were now so far advanced as to "seek for baptism." See Serm. 216. 1 (Ad competentes, quid enim aliud sunt competentes, quam simul petentes) and Serm. 228. 1 (Competentes dicebantur quoniam materna viscera, ut nascerentur, petendo pulsabant). Bingham, Antiqu. B. x. ch. ii. sects. 5-12. See Conf. B. ix. 6 (14). ↩