Baptism, years later confirmation

[Rae8]

I was baptized a protestant, about 20 years ago. I have since converted to Catholicism and will be confirmed this summer.

My question is this: If the baptism washed away my sins - as of that time - then when I give my first confession in the Catholic church, do I only need confess my sins since that baptism took place or my sins over my entire life?

Thank u!

 

[marty1818]

Your sins since baptism.

 

[Rae8]

And what if the priest wants me to be re-baptized “conditionally” because of no record of that baptism other than my word and those I told about it at the time?

 

[marty1818]

Your priest can give you the best advice in regard to that.

 

[Rae8]

Thank you for your help.

 

[guanophore]

I was baptized a protestant, about 20 years ago. I have since converted to Catholicism and will be confirmed this summer.

My question is this: If the baptism washed away my sins - as of that time - then when I give my first confession in the Catholic church, do I only need confess my sins since that baptism took place or my sins over my entire life?

Thank u!

REmember that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is healing. Through it, we find healing for guilt, shame, and the consequences of our sins, as well as absolution from them. There are many good guides for examination of conscience that will help you to make a good confession.

 

[Filioque]

Well technically a conditional baptism is not a “re” baptism. If you are validly baptized, the second rite has no effect aside from any anointings etc to strengthen you in your new faith. It is conditional, to assure that if the first rite was not a valid baptism that you are really baptized. The formula will be something like, IF you are not baptized, I (now) baptize you…

Based on the possiblity that the first baptism was valid, You will have a confession in which the priest will absolve you conditionally, that is if the conditional baptism was the first valid baptism you don’t need absolution, but if the first baptism was valid you will need absolution.

Basically the Church does not want to leave any doubt, and in the interest of making sure your reception into the Church gives you access to all the graces you need to live a holy life provides access to the sacramental graces you need. If priests could see the condition of your soul, well then you would not have do go through such conditional rites.

 

[Rae8]

Well technically a conditional baptism is not a “re” baptism. If you are validly baptized, the second rite has no effect aside from any anointings etc to strengthen you in your new faith. It is conditional, to assure that if the first rite was not a valid baptism that you are really baptized. The formula will be something like, IF you are not baptized, I (now) baptize you…

Based on the possiblity that the first baptism was valid, You will have a confession in which the priest will absolve you conditionally, that is if the conditional baptism was the first valid baptism you don’t need absolution, but if the first baptism was valid you will need absolution.
.

So would I confess things from before my 1st baptism too then? (Which I know was valid tho I may not be able to get a record) My mortal sins were before that 1st protestant baptism. Since that baptism, I think there are only venial sins.

 

[Filioque]

Your priest will advise you, but normally only any mortal sins since your first baptism.

If you are sure your first baptism was valid, ie it was with water and done in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Not with rose petals or rose water, or anything else, and you have credible wittnesses who were there, like a parent, aunt or someone else, that could certify the event, it may be enough. If that is the case, let the priest know you can get that form of a record.

 

[Rae8]

Your priest will advise you, but normally only any mortal sins since your first baptism.

If you are sure your first baptism was valid, ie it was with water and done in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Not with rose petals or rose water, or anything else, and you have credible wittnesses who were there, like a parent, aunt or someone else, that could certify the event, it may be enough. If that is the case, let the priest know you can get that form of a record.

I’m sorry if I’m not understand this exactly but let me just get it straight once more:

It was by immersion - & in name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But no witnesses except me. I understand that technically speaking, they may want that evidence and to do a cond. baptism. But substantively speaking, it was a valid baptism. So if they require a conditional baptism, does that mean

1. I confess all sins including those before the 1st undocumented baptism?

and does it change if at the time I was bapized and cleaned of all sins, that there were mortal sins that I did NOT know at that time, were mortal sins because of my prior beliefs? In other words when I was baptized, there were things that had happened before my baptism as a protestant that I had not thought to be terrible sins.

Now that I have been reading more of the Catholic readings including sins of those in purgatory, etc., I realize that some things I didn’t know were that bad really were terribly bad. Does state of mind matter when you receive your 1st baptism?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

So if they require a conditional baptism, does that mean

1. I confess all sins including those before the 1st undocumented baptism?

No.

Look at it this way.

Option 1: The first baptism was valid. Any sins you committed prior to that were washed away with baptism. You would confess mortal sins (plus any venial sins you wish to confess) from the time of your baptism until now.

Option 2: The first baptism was not valid. You are baptized now and your sins to this point in life are forgiven.

So assuming you are conditionally baptized (“just in case”) you would confess the sins since your first baptism (just in case that was the valid one) but if that first one wasn’t valid, you would be covered by the conditional baptism.

and does it change if at the time I was bapized and cleaned of all sins, that there were mortal sins that I did NOT know at that time, were mortal sins because of my prior beliefs? In other words when I was baptized, there were things that had happened before my baptism as a protestant that I had not thought to be terrible sins.

There are three conditions for a sin to be mortal: grave matter, knowledge, and consent. So first it needs to be something serious, not trivial. But the second thing is that you have to know that it’s wrong, and finally, knowing that it’s wrong you have to choose to do it anyway. If you didn’t know at the time that the actions were wrong, you haven’t committed a mortal sin. In other words, God doesn’t play “gotcha” with us.

That doesn’t mean you can’t be sorry in retrospect over what you’ve done. You may even want to confess it to show your contrition and know for sure that it has been forgiven. But it wasn’t mortal.

 

[Filioque]

goes to Suscipe Me Domine

First time I’ve used an Emodicon in my life. Others have always jumped in before I had the chance.

 

[Rae8]

This is a great relief to me. I have never given a confession so was worried about it.
I am very very sorry for some things and will continue to be. But I am glad I don’t have to talk about it.

Thank you everyone.

 

[guanophore]

I’m sorry if I’m not understand this exactly but let me just get it straight once more:

It was by immersion - & in name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But no witnesses except me. I understand that technically speaking, they may want that evidence and to do a cond. baptism. But substantively speaking, it was a valid baptism. So if they require a conditional baptism, does that mean

Are you saying you baptized yourself?

1. I confess all sins including those before the 1st undocumented baptism?

It will do no harm to confess any sin, whether they were before, or after.

and does it change if at the time I was bapized and cleaned of all sins, that there were mortal sins that I did NOT know at that time, were mortal sins because of my prior beliefs?

There is no such thing. In order for a sin to be mortal, you have to know that what you are doing is grave matter and willfully assent to it.

In other words when I was baptized, there were things that had happened before my baptism as a protestant that I had not thought to be terrible sins.

Now that you know, you can confess them and obtain absolution. Guaranteed, it will help you become holy.

Now that I have been reading more of the Catholic readings including sins of those in purgatory, etc., I realize that some things I didn’t know were that bad really were terribly bad. Does state of mind matter when you receive your 1st baptism?

No, but it does when evaluating the nature of the sin. Ignorance makes one less culpable.

Luke 12:47-48
7 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

 

[Rae8]

Are you saying you baptized yourself?.

It was by a Protestant pastor. So that would be two witnesses not one as I implied there but he is not around. So I am my only witness now. I don’t know where he is and I have no record.