Can I go to confession

[CompSciGuy]

Hello,

You know from the title obviously what my question is going to be, but I need to give a little background first. A year ago I started RCIA because I was interested in becoming Catholic. Towards the end of the second semester, I stopped going to RCIA because my family was very concerned about me becoming Catholic and I was beginning to have doubts about my decision. I eventually started looking into it again, and became sure that I wanted to be Catholic. I asked my RCIA minister (Adam) if I could/should do RCIA again. He said that because I had been talking with him regularly, he knew from our conversations that I didn’t need any further catechesis and that I could enter the Church whenever I wanted. But the new RCIA minister (after Adam left) strongly recommended that I wait until the next Easter Vigil, so that I could have more time to think about it and also to discuss it more with my family. So I agreed to this, and I’m now attending RCIA classes and Catholic Bible studies with other students in order to get into fellowship with other Catholics.

Here’s the thing. Towards the end of the spring semester of RCIA, they told us that we could now go to confession. Obviously those who planned to receive the sacraments on Easter Vigil were obligated to go. As of yet I haven’t made my first confession. I wanted to know, since I stopped going to RCIA and chose not to enter into the Church, does that mean I have to wait again until right before the Easter Vigil to go to confession? Or can I make my first confession now? I have been dealing a lot with personal sin over the past 2-3 years, and the Lord has greatly helped me to overcome temptations through prayer and fasting but I feel like this isn’t enough. I hate knowing that I am in a state of sin. I really want to make my first confession so that I can be rid of my guilt once and for all. Is this possible?

 

[jtodisco]

I’m a little confused about your situation CompSciGuy. When you were told by your RCIA director that you and the others in the program could go to Confession was this during the first time you went through RCIA or have you been given permission to do this now during your second time in the RCIA program?

If you’ve been given this permission now, then I would think it’s pretty clear that the director thinks you’re ready for your first Confession. If not, I still personally think you’d be safe going since you are becoming a member of the Catholic Church and seem to have faith in the Sacraments.

However, a simple way to resolve this problem would be for you to either ask the leader of your RCIA group or the parish priest directly. They would know your spiritual state and sincerity of belief much better than strangers on an internet forum would.

Either way, good luck and welcome home!

 

[HCC]

Ask the parish priest. Schedule an appointment and explain the situation and just say you agree with “Adam” and you feel you are ready to go.

 

[Totterman]

May the Lord be whit You.
Leaning on my knowing You both should and must go to Your first confession before You recieve the Holy Sacrament of Eucharist before becomming a catholic. When You will do so You can make up whit Your priest,or any priest in Your parrish. God bless You.
Totterman

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I’m not sure if you have been baptized or not. I’m guessing that you are already baptized.

If you are seeking baptism then you need to go through RCIA and participate in the various rites. You will be baptized at the Easter Vigil and all of your sins will be forgiven. Until you are baptized you can’t participate in other sacraments since baptism opens the gate to the others.

If you are already baptized then things change a bit. Normally you will go through a rite called the Call to Continuing Conversion. This rite is often done on the same day as the Rite of Election for catechumens (First Sunday of Lent). In my archdiocese the Call to Continuing Conversion is done in individual parishes and can be done at any time. We schedule the Call to Continuing Conversion 4-6 weeks before the full reception into the Church. The Call leads to your final preparation for the sacraments, including First Reconciliation.

I would suggest speaking with your RCIA director or pastor to determine when you will participate in the rites since that will determine when you will receive the sacraments.

 

[catherine126]

If you’ve been given this permission now, then I would think it’s pretty clear that the director thinks you’re ready for your first Confession. If not, I still personally think you’d be safe going since you are becoming a member of the Catholic Church and seem to have faith in the Sacraments.

However, a simple way to resolve this problem would be for you to either ask the leader of your RCIA group or the parish priest directly. They would know your spiritual state and sincerity of belief much better than strangers on an internet forum would.

This is excellent advice. No need to add anything more.

Congratulations on making the tremendous decision to enter the Church. You are in our thoughts and prayers.