Can I go to Confession?

[jmcrae]

Dear Holden,

Since you are a baptized Catholic above the age of reason, as long as you are properly catechized about sin, the necessity to confess in kind and number all mortal sins committed after baptism, and are prepared to make a good confession by making a thorough examination of conscience and are contrite for all of your sins, you have a right to the sacrament. In fact, I would argue that you are bound by the precept of the Church to confess one’s sins at least once a year, so make the necessary preparations and by all means, go!

God bless,

Fr. Boyd

Does it make a difference that he has not yet been accepted into the Catholic Church, and most likely will not be until next Easter?

(From what I read of his other postings, he was baptized in a Protestant church and is currently not practicing any religion outwardly, although inwardly, as you already know, he considers himself a Catholic - he hopes to begin studying the Catholic faith beginning in September. He does not yet have a parish, nor has he yet acquired the habit of attending Sunday Mass - he attended his very first Mass a few weeks ago, but hasn’t been back again yet, for various reasons.)

 

[FrRJBoyd]

Does it make a difference that he has not yet been accepted into the Catholic Church, and most likely will not be until next Easter?

(From what I read of his other postings, he was baptized in a Protestant church and is currently not practicing any religion outwardly, although inwardly, as you already know, he considers himself a Catholic - he hopes to begin studying the Catholic faith beginning in September. He does not yet have a parish, nor has he yet acquired the habit of attending Sunday Mass - he attended his very first Mass a few weeks ago, but hasn’t been back again yet, for various reasons.)

He stated at the beginning post that he is already a Baptized Catholic, so I am presuming he is Baptized but uncatechized. If he was Baptized Protestant, he will need to go to Confession before being received into Full Communion next year, at which time he will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion, for which he should be in the state of grace. If he is converting from Protestantism, even next year, he would be permitted to go to Confession even now, provided he has the right disposition and manifests Catholic faith in the sacrament.

 

[jmcrae]

He stated at the beginning post that he is already a Baptized Catholic, so I am presuming he is Baptized but uncatechized. If he was Baptized Protestant, he will need to go to Confession before being received into Full Communion next year, at which time he will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion, for which he should be in the state of grace. If he is converting from Protestantism, even next year, he would be permitted to go to Confession even now, provided he has the right disposition and manifests Catholic faith in the sacrament.

So why can’t he receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion on the same day that he goes for First Confession? If he can go to Confession right now, before he starts Catechism classes (and before he has begun to attend Mass), then why does he have to wait a whole year for the Initiation Sacraments?

Isn’t the requirement of the Church that we go for First Confession on the morning of the day that we are being received into the Church, or else during the previous week, if the morning of that day is inconvenient for the priest?

I’m not trying to be disrespectful; I just want to be able to understand this correctly.

 

[FrRJBoyd]

So why can’t he receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion on the same day that he goes for First Confession? If he can go to Confession right now, before he starts Catechism classes (and before he has begun to attend Mass), then why does he have to wait a whole year for the Initiation Sacraments? .

In fact, he doesn’t. Since he is a Baptized Christian, he could be brought into Full Communion much, much sooner. Most parishes try to put everyone in the same track: unbaptized catechumens, Baptized non-Catholics seeking Full Communion, and Baptized but un-catechized Catholics needing First Holy Communion and Confirmation. However, the Church does not desire this. Catechumens are quite distinct from the two other groups, and the RCIA books make it clear that they should not be lumped together with the other groups. For those who are already well prepared, they should not be required to go through all the classes with the catechumens.

Isn’t the requirement of the Church that we go for First Confession on the morning of the day that we are being received into the Church, or else during the previous week, if the morning of that day is inconvenient for the priest?

I’m not trying to be disrespectful; I just want to be able to understand this correctly.

The requirement of the Church is that First Penance be received before First Holy Communion, at least for those not receiving First Holy Communion on the same day as Baptism. However, there is nothing to deny someone who is well desposed from receiving the sacrament sooner. As a general principle, someone who is well desposed and not impeded by law to receiving a sacrament shoud be given the sacarment.

 

[holdencaulfield]

(From what I read of his other postings, he was baptized in a Protestant church and is currently not practicing any religion outwardly, although inwardly, as you already know, he considers himself a Catholic - he hopes to begin studying the Catholic faith beginning in September. He does not yet have a parish, nor has he yet acquired the habit of attending Sunday Mass - he attended his very first Mass a few weeks ago, but hasn’t been back again yet, for various reasons.)

Yes, thank you that is a good sum of what is going on right now. I am now searching for a parish that I will like to be Confirmed at and is orthodox enough. I am going to attend a TLM parish in a day or so and am also wondering what I need to know about that. I know I can’t receive the Eucharist, however I don’t want to just sit there twiddling my thumbs having no idea what to do. A link would be nice.

 

[holdencaulfield]

He stated at the beginning post that he is already a Baptized Catholic, so I am presuming he is Baptized but uncatechized. If he was Baptized Protestant, he will need to go to Confession before being received into Full Communion next year, at which time he will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion, for which he should be in the state of grace. If he is converting from Protestantism, even next year, he would be permitted to go to Confession even now, provided he has the right disposition and manifests Catholic faith in the sacrament.

When I said I was Catholic, I merely meant that those are my religious beliefs. I am not part of the Church yet.

 

[Judewang]

I think you should be able to go for confession even before recieving Holy Communion since you are baptised. I think the key point here is…"to have reached the age of discretion (I think about 7 years old.) By the way, the Church has given several guidelines regarding this matter which I wish to share to you:-

IV. Code of Canon Law
Pope John Paul II (1983)

Canon 914. It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed.

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V. Catechism of the Catholic Church
Pope John Paul II (1994)

1457 According to the Church’s command, “after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.” Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession. Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.

Based on these references, I think you should be able to go for confession. But …do consult your priest for details.

 

[panoikei]

The best thing to do is talk to your parish priest. If you work at it you may be allowed to show what you know and even sit through a small class and receive communion and/or maybe even confirmed. Your current standing as Episcopalian may help you because you’re not tha far off. But you must demonstrate you sincerity to the pastor first. However, he may still require you to go through the normal means, RCIA. However, you still could be allowed to go through confession now if you choose. I’d set up an appointment with this in mind and tell him your deepest desires, assuming sincerity, to be in communion with the Bishop of Rome. He may allow you and even absolve you. But you really need to contact the priest in spite of all the good information here. My wife went early, before it was time.

 

[puzzleannie]

you will certainly be prepared for your first confession as part of your confirmation class. shame on your parish for making you wait. you can, if you feel the need, visit the priest before that and tell him why you want to confess, and where you are in the process and he will guide you. you don’t have to wait for the class if you feel a real need, but take the priest’s guidance.

 

[twopekinguys]

Unfortunately, due to shortages in priests, many rely heavily on the RCIA process for the catechesis of people wanting to join the church. I am the RCIA coordinator for a large parish, and while we have 3 priests, they are constantly on the run. They will, in rare cases provide private instruction, but they strongly try to get the person(s) into the parish program. Going through the RCIA process helps foster the sense of “community”, provides a structured learning process, and can keep the inquirer on track a little better than one on one with a priest. We have had many “cradle” Catholics and long time converts come through our process, as a form of renewal, and remark at how much more they learned. Some of the long term converts have told us how they met with a priest maybe 3 or 4 times, and were brought into the church. Our schedule is set up in a way that people can join somewhat late, if classes have already started, but we do have a cut off point. There is also more to the RCIA process than just the classes. There are Rites and Scrutinies that need to be observed during the process as well. As far as people joining the church outside of the Easter Vigil, it does happen. In our parish, it is usually those that have gone through the process while waiting on annullments to come through. Even with those, confession prior to acceptance into the church is required for those who have already received a valid baptism. But it doesn’t take place until the paperwork from the Tribunal is complete.

 

[holdencaulfield]

The best thing to do is talk to your parish priest. If you work at it you may be allowed to show what you know and even sit through a small class and receive communion and/or maybe even confirmed. Your current standing as Episcopalian may help you because you’re not tha far off. But you must demonstrate you sincerity to the pastor first. However, he may still require you to go through the normal means, RCIA. However, you still could be allowed to go through confession now if you choose. I’d set up an appointment with this in mind and tell him your deepest desires, assuming sincerity, to be in communion with the Bishop of Rome. He may allow you and even absolve you. But you really need to contact the priest in spite of all the good information here. My wife went early, before it was time.

Thank You.

 

[holdencaulfield]

Unfortunately, due to shortages in priests, many rely heavily on the RCIA process for the catechesis of people wanting to join the church. I am the RCIA coordinator for a large parish, and while we have 3 priests, they are constantly on the run. They will, in rare cases provide private instruction, but they strongly try to get the person(s) into the parish program. Going through the RCIA process helps foster the sense of “community”, provides a structured learning process, and can keep the inquirer on track a little better than one on one with a priest. We have had many “cradle” Catholics and long time converts come through our process, as a form of renewal, and remark at how much more they learned. Some of the long term converts have told us how they met with a priest maybe 3 or 4 times, and were brought into the church. Our schedule is set up in a way that people can join somewhat late, if classes have already started, but we do have a cut off point. There is also more to the RCIA process than just the classes. There are Rites and Scrutinies that need to be observed during the process as well. As far as people joining the church outside of the Easter Vigil, it does happen. In our parish, it is usually those that have gone through the process while waiting on annullments to come through. Even with those, confession prior to acceptance into the church is required for those who have already received a valid baptism. But it doesn’t take place until the paperwork from the Tribunal is complete.

Whats the Tribunal?

 

[jmcrae]

Whats the Tribunal?

If you or your spouse have ever been divorced, you have to go through a Tribunal process before you can be received into the Church or participate in any of the Sacraments.

If you were baptized before, the Church has to receive a copy of your Baptismal record before you can start to receive the Sacraments.

You will be interviewed when you join the RCIA or when you start Confirmation classes to see what paperwork you need to turn in, for this to be able to happen.

 

[holdencaulfield]

If you or your spouse have ever been divorced, you have to go through a Tribunal process before you can be received into the Church or participate in any of the Sacraments.

If you were baptized before, the Church has to receive a copy of your Baptismal record before you can start to receive the Sacraments.

You will be interviewed when you join the RCIA or when you start Confirmation classes to see what paperwork you need to turn in, for this to be able to happen.

Oh ok fun.