Am I a Catholic?

[St.Curious]

I was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church. I’m practice the Catholic faith and am about to start RCIA. Am I Catholic because I practice it? Or am I not a Catholic until I am confirmed? I know that a person baptized in a Catholic Church is Catholic, but I wasn’t.

 

[Michael_Welter]

No one os a full member of the Catholic Church until being confirmed. Your baptism in the Lutheran Church makes you currently a member of that Church, even though you practice the Catholic faith. I’m very pleased that you have decided to start RCIA and enter the Catholic Church. Welcome! Of course, as you go through the program, you will be able to receive the sacraments at the appropriate time. Until then, it’s great to have you praying with us. :yup:

 

[stbruno]

You are not a Catholic until you make a profession of faith, and that is usually done after you have completed your Rite of Christian Initiation for adults. It is usually completed during the Easter Vigil and at that time you also will be able to receive the Holy Eucharist, and make your Confirmation. Keep coming to Church. Welcome Home and we will pray that you will experience wonderful season of study which will increase the burning already in your heart to become fully initiated into the Catholic faith. Thanks be to God!

 

[Verbum]

Hi St.Curious,

If you have been baptized, you are by rights a Catholic. But the Church does not wish you to receive the sacraments until you have been formally accepted into the Catholic Church, after due instruction.

Verbum

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Verbum:

Hi St.Curious,

If you have been baptized, you are by rights a Catholic. But the Church does not wish you to receive the sacraments until you have been formally accepted into the Catholic Church, after due instruction.

Verbum

This is the best answer, and what I would have said- except to say, WELCOME HOME.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Verbum:

Hi St.Curious,

If you have been baptized, you are by rights a Catholic. But the Church does not wish you to receive the sacraments until you have been formally accepted into the Catholic Church, after due instruction.

Verbum

There is some kind of fundamental communion already, albeit imperfect, and as the Church prepares to welcome you as a candidate for reception into full communion with us, St. Curious, we share your joy, and look forward to the day when you will share fully with us at the altar of the Lord’s Eucharist.

Baptism as a Lutheran does incorporate someone into Christ and makes that person a member of the people of God, but not in a way that establishes full communion with the Catholic Church. (Canon 204 “§1. The Christian faithful are those who, inasmuch as they have been incorporated in Christ through baptism, have been constituted as the people of God.”)

Full communion requires something additional according to canon 205, “Those baptized are fully in communion with the Catholic Church on this earth who are joined with Christ in its visible structure by the bonds of profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance.”

So as others have noted, a profession of faith is required to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Confirmation does not effect full communion with the Church, but it is part of full initiation. It’s a small but important though confusing distinction (Canon 842: “§1. A person who has not received baptism cannot be validly admitted to the other sacraments. §2. The sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Most Holy Eucharist are interrelated in such a way that they are required for full Christian initiation.”)

Only in that sense, could we say that" no one is a full member of the Catholic Church until being confirmed" and Eucharistized. Hence, for example, a child who is baptized Catholic but not yet confirmed is still in full communion with the Church, although the child is not yet fully initiated into it until those sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation are received.

 

[Orionthehunter]

cameron_lansing:

There is some kind of fundamental communion already, albeit imperfect, and as the Church prepares to welcome you as a candidate for reception into full communion with us, St. Curious, we share your joy, and look forward to the day when you will share fully with us at the altar of the Lord’s Eucharist.

Baptism as a Lutheran does incorporate someone into Christ and makes that person a member of the people of God, but not in a way that establishes full communion with the Catholic Church. (Canon 204 “§1. The Christian faithful are those who, inasmuch as they have been incorporated in Christ through baptism, have been constituted as the people of God.”)

Full communion requires something additional according to canon 205, “Those baptized are fully in communion with the Catholic Church on this earth who are joined with Christ in its visible structure by the bonds of profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance.”

So as others have noted, a profession of faith is required to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Confirmation does not effect full communion with the Church, but it is part of full initiation. It’s a small but important though confusing distinction (Canon 842: “§1. A person who has not received baptism cannot be validly admitted to the other sacraments. §2. The sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Most Holy Eucharist are interrelated in such a way that they are required for full Christian initiation.”)

Only in that sense, could we say that" no one is a full member of the Catholic Church until being confirmed" and Eucharistized. Hence, for example, a child who is baptized Catholic but not yet confirmed is still in full communion with the Church, although the child is not yet fully initiated into it until those sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation are received.

As someone who is involved in our Parish RCIA program, I tell the Candidates that:

“They are Catholic as long as they make a verbal declaration they are Catholic (a Catholic version of “Born Again”? LOL). And by being Catholic, they can now dip their hand in Holy Water, Cross themselves, kneel, pray the rosary and do everything else a Catholic does (helps them begin the practice of doing “Catholic things” and over a fear that maybe they have to wait until Confirmation at the Easter Vigil) except recieve the sacraments. Now get ready for an Initiation that lasts for all Eternity!”

You’d be surprised how much they love just the invitation that they can do immediately act Catholic and also dispels the perception that the Church is exclusionary (hold-over from their Protestant roots).

 

[mgy100]

I’d say you’re Catholic! In your heart you are, and that is what counts. You’re just waiting to experience receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
If anyone asks you, be proud and exclaim, I am Catholic.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Orionthehunter:

As someone who is involved in our Parish RCIA program, I tell the Candidates that:

“They are Catholic as long as they make a verbal declaration they are Catholic (a Catholic version of “Born Again”? LOL). And by being Catholic, they can now dip their hand in Holy Water, Cross themselves, kneel, pray the rosary and do everything else a Catholic does (helps them begin the practice of doing “Catholic things” and over a fear that maybe they have to wait until Confirmation at the Easter Vigil) except recieve the sacraments. Now get ready for an Initiation that lasts for all Eternity!”

You’d be surprised how much they love just the invitation that they can do immediately act Catholic and also dispels the perception that the Church is exclusionary (hold-over from their Protestant roots).

First of all, appreciation for your involvement in RCIA. It is a wonderful thing you do for the Church, and you express the welcoming attitude we should always have. It is a good model for everyone.

True, legal or liturgical reality does not always correspond precisely to a the reality of life. I think a good example of this might be the baptism of desire.

Now what you say, though, is certainly true enough. However, it is through the giving of a verbal declaration, which is then publicly acknowledged (more precisely, received) by the priest in the rite of reception at the Vigil (though it could be at another time) that they enter the Church.

So while I appreciate the enthusiasm and faith and dedication behind the sentiment you express, please do keep in the back of your mind that the Church provides a formal means for reception into full communion with the Church. In that regard, I have merely stated the law of the Church on the matter.

Certainly even non Catholic Christians may use the sacramentals, pray the rosary, etc. We especially want to encourage such devotions for our candidates and catechumens and properly catechize them about them. But until they are received, they are not bound by Church law, and are technically candidates rather than Catholics. Frankly, I’m with you on emphasizing and supporting their intention and welcoming them as they prepare to enter full communion.

But keep the technical point tucked away for your own reference.
Otherwise, of course, there would be no need for the Church to provide a rite for their reception into full communion.

Thanks again and God bless.

 

[Orionthehunter]

But keep the technical point tucked away for your own reference.
Otherwise, of course, there would be no need for the Church to provide a rite for their reception into full communion.

I couldn’t agree more than as a RCIA teacher aiding our Priest, we need to keep the technical point in our mind so we don’t inadvertently misrepresent Church Teaching. Good teaching is as much about understanding the perspective of the student as it is giving good information.

We all know that there is a difference between someone who calls themselves Catholic but is removed from the sacraments because of sin and one who is full communion with the Church (both sacramentally and lifestyle). We also know that there is a difference between the budding convert who is living a good Christian life deisring to be sacramentally Catholic and a confirmed Catholic (both of whom are attending Mass every week).

However, we have an obligation to spread the Good News and do so as Jesus did with the woman at the well (meet them at their level). For the average Protestant exploring a conversion thru RCIA, telling them that we acknowledge their intent to become Catholic opens them up to coming to Mass, practicing our devotions, and doing other Catholic practices (kneeling, blessing themselves by making the Sign of the Cross, etc.) is of enormous spiritual, emotional and intellectual benefits. I don’t think any of us disagree that there is spiritual benefts of saying coming to Mass or practicing devotions prior to the Easter Vigil when the convert recieves Confirmation.

By allowing them to begin calling themself Catholic if even in their own mind, it emotionally helps them make the process of RCIA (including the Rite of Welcome where they publicly declare before the entire parish their intent to become sacramentally Catholic) more than learning some history and “best practices” or going thru some ritual process of symbolic value. As the class goes on they will come to grasp that to be truly Christian in the fullest sense is a life journey requiring constant conversion (as opposed to the one-time “Born Again” conversion) aided by the gifts of the Sacraments.

It also aids them intellectually as many Protestants think that Catholics believe that it is more important to ritually follow certain rules than to have a personal relationship with God/Jesus. From their perspective, there is a disconnect between them who are living the best Christian life they know (albiet short-changed until they are sacramentally unified with the Church) and those confirmed Catholics who live a wanton life yet call themselves Catholic. The approach that I articulated lets them come to intellectually understand that truly being Catholic requires both being unified sacramentally and by their comprehensive lifestyle.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Orionthehunter:

I couldn’t agree more than as a RCIA teacher aiding our Priest, we need to keep the technical point in our mind so we don’t inadvertently misrepresent Church Teaching. Good teaching is as much about understanding the perspective of the student as it is giving good information. … The approach that I articulated lets them come to intellectually understand that truly being Catholic requires both being unified sacramentally and by their comprehensive lifestyle.

And with your excellent elaboration in mind, I agree with your positive way of “emphasizing and supporting their intention and welcoming them as they prepare to enter full communion.”