Absolution

[Agnus_Dei]

Okay so I’m preparing myself to come into communion with the Catholic Church, but seeing as that may be a little while off I was wondering if I could recieve Reconciliation even though Im not a…uhm…“legal” Catholic (lacking a better term)
Im also unbaptized but Im kind of scared of dying in Mortal Sin.
So absolution would be a big time stress reliever.
Any answers?

 

[thistle]

Agnus_Dei:

Okay so I’m preparing myself to come into communion with the Catholic Church, but seeing as that may be a little while off I was wondering if I could recieve Reconciliation even though Im not a…uhm…“legal” Catholic (lacking a better term)
Im also unbaptized but Im kind of scared of dying in Mortal Sin.
So absolution would be a big time stress reliever.
Any answers?

The short answer is you cannot receive absolution. In exceptional circumstances a non-Catholic Christian could make a Confession and receive absolution (another thread is running on this) but not an un-baptised person.
How far off is it until you are baptised in the Catholic Church. Baptism would instantly take away original sin and your personal sin.

 

[Agnus_Dei]

thistle:

The short answer is you cannot receive absolution. In exceptional circumstances a non-Catholic Christian could make a Confession and receive absolution (another thread is running on this) but not an un-baptised person.
How far off is it until you are baptised in the Catholic Church. Baptism would instantly take away original sin and your personal sin.

Wait so Baptism takes away Mortal Sins?

And im really at ground zero…i have no idea how to arrange for a Baptism
i asked once and they told me to call the RCIA (they gave me a number)
but that seems intimidating…any advice?

 

[thistle]

Agnus_Dei:

Wait so Baptism takes away Mortal Sins?

And im really at ground zero…i have no idea how to arrange for a Baptism
i asked once and they told me to call the RCIA (they gave me a number)
but that seems intimidating…any advice?

If you want to become a Catholic you will have to go through the RCIA program. This program will teach you about the Faith and allow you to decide if you are comfortable in going all the way (which I hope you would be). The conclusion would be at an Easter at which time you would be baptised.
As soon as you are baptised both original sin and any mortal/venial sins you had committed would be taken away. If you sinned thereafter then the Scarament of Reconciliation would be necessary for you to confess and receive absolution.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Agnus Dei wrote: “Im also unbaptized but Im kind of scared of dying in Mortal Sin.”

Baptism can be done more quickly for someone in danger of death: “An adult in danger of death may be baptized if, with some knowledge of the principal truths of the faith, he or she has in some manner manifested the intention to receive baptism and promises to observe the requirements of the Christian religion.” (Code of Canon Law, canon 865).

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1259: “For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.”

So it would make sense to begin the process of preparing for baptism by contacting the local parish priest.

 

[Scholastic17]

I’d like to add something here. If you desire to recieve absolution, intend to recieve absolution when you are able, and are sorry for your sins not because of the fear of hell or loss of heaven, then your sins are already forgiven, including mortal sins, and if you die, you won’t go to hell. I’ll explain this in a moment.

If you desire to recieve baptism, intend to recieve baptism, and are actively seeking to obtain and prepare yourself for baptism, then a baptism of desire occurs if you do die. Ie, you’ll recieve full effects of baptism because you desired it, even though you weren’t able to recieve the sacrament.

That’s how it works for absolution too. The desire for the sacrament is almost, if not equally, strong as the sacrament itself.

 

[LeahInancsi]

Agnus_Dei:

Wait so Baptism takes away Mortal Sins?

And im really at ground zero…i have no idea how to arrange for a Baptism
i asked once and they told me to call the RCIA (they gave me a number)
but that seems intimidating…any advice?

Go to the church’s website and get the e-mail address for the Director of Religious Education, if one isn’t list, go for the priest. E-mail him/her. It’s painless.

Classes will start again in August or September. Don’t be afraid to go to the first class. You will be welcomed like never before.

If you want absolution, pray to God directly. He will hear you. You may not get immediate feedback, but He WILL hear you.

Welcome Home!