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Jean_Anthony
Guest
Please don’t take the discussion off topic. If yow wish to discuss side issues, please start a new thread or join an existing one. Thank you all.
Can i make my First Confession while being bound to be Protestant by parents?
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Ohiomom
Guest
I agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that the commandment to honor your father and mother has to be understood in the context that first of all we must love and honor God. My guess is they are hoping you “grow out of this Catholic thing” and I have an almost 18 year old so I understand the interesting dynamic of parenting someone on the verge of adulthood.
Your soul is of utmost importance as is your duty to God. If parents are trying to get you to do something (or not do something) that is a clear call from God then you have to follow God’s call and that is not dis-honoring your parents or not obeying them. Read scripture- Jesus says openly he did not come to bring harmony among family members.
I am not a scholar, but I believe that it used to be common for children and young teens to go to confession for several years before they received first communion and confirmation. This was when the age for first communion was higher.
The parish’s I have attended all have first confession in early December the year and first communion is the next late April or early May for children.
If the issue is your parish will not let you receive first communion and be confirmed without parental consent, I would advise you to speak with priest about going to confession and focusing on that sacrament, mass attendance and your prayer life until you are 18 then receiving your first communion and confirmation then.
If your parents are holding college and support over you, I have no doubt that the good solid Catholic Colleges (Christendom, Franciscan, St Thomas etc) would have some means of helping you go to college so that would not be an issue.
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RobBahoura
Guest
Sorry to hear about this. You can still honor your mother and father and still come to the catholic church you just need to explain that with the help of god you founded him and his Church so just cause your parents say dont go to a Catholic church dosent mean you cant your 18 man. Half my family is prodestant and i go to a Catholic church every day.
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Bookcat
Guest
I was asked to wait til I was 18 by my parents…and at the time it was decided that it would be good for me to wait to “show” respect for my parents wishes etc…not so certain though that I would have had to wait…per se…but it seemed at the time the thing to do…
Anyhow…three days after my 18th Birthday I was received into full communion with the Catholic Church.
I was not yet out of High School…and still lived at home…
In any case … when you are received…(and always) be very respectful and loving of course to your parents…(which will not always mean doing what they say…particularly after 18) …living thus the Gospel…following Christ in joy.
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rungood4u
Guest
Hi Amigo!
First off…CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are indeed blessed to have found “true faith” at such an age.
I was about your age when I started my own journey to the Church. My parents were not exactly thrilled (…OK not even close) that I was becoming a Catholic. It was a funny thing, while I was under their roof, God gave me a sense that I needed to respect their wishes for my life. Once I moved out and went to college, I took the RCIA course and became Catholic that year.
Your desire to “honor them” is a sign of true conversion and a genuine heart for God.
You may indeed end up waiting to actually receive the Sacraments, but know that no matter what happens, you are already Catholic in your heart. You may not be able to receive Jesus yet, but you can make spiritual communions and ask Him into your heart spiritually till that Blessed day of your first Holy Communion.
As for the “confession” I would say that “yes” you could make it and wait to receive communion. In fact you could make several confessions before that day comes. The graces from this sacrament will help to strengthen you on this journey of yours. It will help to root out your smaller faults and help to lead you on the road to perfection.
You, my friend, as well as all of us are called to be Saints, to be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect. Confession, REALLY helps along this journey.
As for being “bound” to be protestant. You are already not bound to that. You may be obliged for a short time to attend services with them, but you are already Catholic in your heart. You are no longer in “PROTEST” with the fullness of truth - so in at least that respect - BE AT PEACE!
Several posts have advised speaking with the priest there. They are wise to do so. Ask his advice and heed his counsel.
When Catholics receive communion, we are instructed to fast, at least, one hour before hand. This is to show respect to the one WHOM we are about to receive. It is to acknowledge the holiness of the event about to take place. We are about to receive the King of Kings into our weak mortal bodies.
In your case, yo may be fasting for a year. This will most likely be a painful wait and your yearning for his presence in you will most like increase. This is a good thing. Far too many of us Catholics, even us converts, have times when going to mass becomes merely a routine. A dangerous one (the routine is good, but the apathy is not) that we need to snap ourselves out of and come back to what is REALLY happening here.
Spend your time praying, reading scriptures, pray the rosary, pray the consecration to Jesus through Mary, Attend mass, if you can, and make many spiritual communions. Get to know the lives of the Saints. You got some serious friends up in Heaven that want to help you on your journey. Find some that you are drawn to and ask them to intercede for your situation. They really helped me along my journey.
And KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS. This forum is one of many great ways that you can get answers to your questions. I assure you that the answers are here, in the Church, you just need to ask the right people some times.
I would also recommend journalling. In it tell the Lord about the heaviness in your heart and your joys. He wants you to speak with Him. When you ask him questions, be open to Him answering you.
“I am the Good shepherd, my sheep know me and hear my voice”
Listen for it! He speaks in the space in your mind where you can hear yourself think. that space has 3 contributors. Yourself, obviously, God and the devil. God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but he also uses His “team” the angels, the Saints and His mother, Mary. The devil has his cohort. Then there is yourself.
The devil always brings confusion, selfish thoughts or fear
God, calls you higher and even though what he may ask may bring challenges there will always be peace.
Yourself, not so easy to discern. Sometimes we swing between the two camps.
Spend this time, whoever long it is, getting to KNOW, you shepherd. I good place to start in the journalling is to ask each member of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and Mary “What do you see in me?” Spend some quiet time and just listen. Write what you hear then discern it later.
God bless you!
First off…CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are indeed blessed to have found “true faith” at such an age.
I was about your age when I started my own journey to the Church. My parents were not exactly thrilled (…OK not even close) that I was becoming a Catholic. It was a funny thing, while I was under their roof, God gave me a sense that I needed to respect their wishes for my life. Once I moved out and went to college, I took the RCIA course and became Catholic that year.
Your desire to “honor them” is a sign of true conversion and a genuine heart for God.
You may indeed end up waiting to actually receive the Sacraments, but know that no matter what happens, you are already Catholic in your heart. You may not be able to receive Jesus yet, but you can make spiritual communions and ask Him into your heart spiritually till that Blessed day of your first Holy Communion.
As for the “confession” I would say that “yes” you could make it and wait to receive communion. In fact you could make several confessions before that day comes. The graces from this sacrament will help to strengthen you on this journey of yours. It will help to root out your smaller faults and help to lead you on the road to perfection.
You, my friend, as well as all of us are called to be Saints, to be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect. Confession, REALLY helps along this journey.
As for being “bound” to be protestant. You are already not bound to that. You may be obliged for a short time to attend services with them, but you are already Catholic in your heart. You are no longer in “PROTEST” with the fullness of truth - so in at least that respect - BE AT PEACE!
Several posts have advised speaking with the priest there. They are wise to do so. Ask his advice and heed his counsel.
When Catholics receive communion, we are instructed to fast, at least, one hour before hand. This is to show respect to the one WHOM we are about to receive. It is to acknowledge the holiness of the event about to take place. We are about to receive the King of Kings into our weak mortal bodies.
In your case, yo may be fasting for a year. This will most likely be a painful wait and your yearning for his presence in you will most like increase. This is a good thing. Far too many of us Catholics, even us converts, have times when going to mass becomes merely a routine. A dangerous one (the routine is good, but the apathy is not) that we need to snap ourselves out of and come back to what is REALLY happening here.
Spend your time praying, reading scriptures, pray the rosary, pray the consecration to Jesus through Mary, Attend mass, if you can, and make many spiritual communions. Get to know the lives of the Saints. You got some serious friends up in Heaven that want to help you on your journey. Find some that you are drawn to and ask them to intercede for your situation. They really helped me along my journey.
And KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS. This forum is one of many great ways that you can get answers to your questions. I assure you that the answers are here, in the Church, you just need to ask the right people some times.
I would also recommend journalling. In it tell the Lord about the heaviness in your heart and your joys. He wants you to speak with Him. When you ask him questions, be open to Him answering you.
“I am the Good shepherd, my sheep know me and hear my voice”
Listen for it! He speaks in the space in your mind where you can hear yourself think. that space has 3 contributors. Yourself, obviously, God and the devil. God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but he also uses His “team” the angels, the Saints and His mother, Mary. The devil has his cohort. Then there is yourself.
The devil always brings confusion, selfish thoughts or fear
God, calls you higher and even though what he may ask may bring challenges there will always be peace.
Yourself, not so easy to discern. Sometimes we swing between the two camps.
Spend this time, whoever long it is, getting to KNOW, you shepherd. I good place to start in the journalling is to ask each member of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and Mary “What do you see in me?” Spend some quiet time and just listen. Write what you hear then discern it later.
God bless you!
- Status