Can unbaptised people do this?

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I am unbaptised and start the conversion process in August. I go to church whenever I can, however.

I know that unbaptised people can’t take communion, but can we cross ourselves with the holy water by the door like some of the other people? I wanted to do that today, but I didn’t just in case I can’t.

Sorry if that sounds like a dumb question…religion was never pushed on me, I was given the freedom to find it my own way, so there’s a lot I don’t know.

Thanks! 🙂
 
You can use holy water and sign yourself. Don’t worry about it. I’ll bet the first time you do it will be special. 😉

You can genuflect too, and do most of the other things Catholics do.

You just can’t participate in the sacraments yet. That has to wait.

I don’t think you can be an altar server or reader yet either, but you can use holy water and sign yourself.

And welcome home. We’ve left a light on for ya. 😃

-Tim-
 
I agree that signing yourself with the Holy water would be great for you! BUT…I could be wrong about this but isn’t signing yourself with Holy water a reminder of your baptisim?
 
WokeUp said:
I am unbaptised and start the conversion process in August. I go to church whenever I can, however.

I know that unbaptised people can’t take communion, but can we cross ourselves with the holy water by the door like some of the other people? I wanted to do that today, but I didn’t just in case I can’t.

Sorry if that sounds like a dumb question…religion was never pushed on me, I was given the freedom to find it my own way, so there’s a lot I don’t know.

Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...
Holy Water is a sacramental. Here is something that I hope you will find good news:

CIC

Canon 206
§1 Catechumens are linked with the Church in a special way since, moved by the Holy Spirit, they are expressing an explicit desire to be incorporated in the Church. By this very desire, as well as by the life of faith, hope and charity which they lead, they are joined to the Church which already cherishes them as its own.
§2 The Church has a special care for catechumens. While it invites them to lead an evangelical life, and introduces them to the celebration of the sacred rites, it already accords them various prerogatives which are proper to christians.

Canon 788
§1 Those who have expressed the wish to embrace faith in Christ, and who have completed the period of their preliminary catechumenate, are to be admitted to the catechumenate proper in a liturgical ceremony; and their names are to be inscribed in the book which is kept for this purpose.
§2 By formation and their first steps in christian living, catechumens are to be initiated into the mysteries of salvation, and introduced into the life of faith, liturgy and charity of the people of God, as well as into the apostolate.
§3 It is the responsibility of the Episcopal Conference to establish norms concerning the arrangement of the catechumenate, determining what should be done by catechumens and what should be their prerogatives.

Canon 1166
Sacramentals are sacred signs which in a sense imitate the sacraments. They signify certain effects, especially spiritual ones, and they achieve these effects through the intercession of the Church.

Canon 1170
While blessings are to be imparted primarily to catholics, they may be given also to catechumens and, unless there is a prohibition by the Church, even to non-catholics.
 
CATHOLIC_BIKER said:
I agree that signing yourself with the Holy water would be great for you! BUT…I could be wrong about this but isn’t signing yourself with Holy water a reminder of your baptisim?
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In that case, the OP may use holy water in anticipation of baptism. :cool:
 
Keep your freedom - remember the Catholic Church is wide wide wide, we want freedom. Use holy water, love Christ and recieve Him spiritually in mass; that is the way to go for the rest of your life! The Kingdom Jesus talks of is not limited to sacraments.
 
janpeterotto said:
Keep your freedom - remember the Catholic Church is wide wide wide, we want freedom. Use holy water, love Christ and recieve Him spiritually in mass; that is the way to go for the rest of your life! The Kingdom Jesus talks of is not limited to sacraments.
Click to expand...
Wow, this is great advice from a “catholic” to a future Catholic…:rolleyes:
 
janpeterotto said:
Keep your freedom - remember the Catholic Church is wide wide wide, we want freedom. Use holy water, love Christ and recieve Him spiritually in mass; that is the way to go for the rest of your life! The Kingdom Jesus talks of is not limited to sacraments.
Click to expand...
er, whuuut???
I read this a few of times and still don’t ‘get it’ (scratchin head)

anyway…
To the OP,
Feel free to use the holy water, don’t worry …and welcome home! 🙂
 
I found that it was comfort to be able to participate by crossing myself with holy water, genuflecting, and following along as much as I could in other parts of the Mass, while I was a catechumen.

My RCIA also taught that holy water was in anticipation of baptism. Congrats on your decision to join the church!
 
Dear Ones,

I was taught that we cross ourselves with the Holy Water on entering the church in order to cleanse ourselves. We receive God during the mass, therefore, there is no need to repeat it as we leave the church, although many do.

Is this not accurate?

Blessings - Chochy
 
figs said:
er, whuuut???
I read this a few of times and still don’t ‘get it’ (scratchin head)

anyway…
To the OP,
Feel free to use the holy water, don’t worry …and welcome home! 🙂
Click to expand...
Ask for grace and it will come to you 👍
 
Chochy said:
Dear Ones,

I was taught that we cross ourselves with the Holy Water on entering the church in order to cleanse ourselves. We receive God during the mass, therefore, there is no need to repeat it as we leave the church, although many do.

Is this not accurate?

Blessings - Chochy
Click to expand...
It doesn’t seem correct to me. The only “cleansing” we need before receiving the Sacraments is found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
 
Chochy said:
Dear Ones,

I was taught that we cross ourselves with the Holy Water on entering the church in order to cleanse ourselves. We receive God during the mass, therefore, there is no need to repeat it as we leave the church, although many do.

Is this not accurate?

Blessings - Chochy
Click to expand...
I have heard that taught. I don’t think that there is any rule on it for either entering or leaving.
 
WokeUp said:
I am unbaptised and start the conversion process in August. I go to church whenever I can, however.

I know that unbaptised people can’t take communion, but can we cross ourselves with the holy water by the door like some of the other people? I wanted to do that today, but I didn’t just in case I can’t.

Sorry if that sounds like a dumb question…religion was never pushed on me, I was given the freedom to find it my own way, so there’s a lot I don’t know.

Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...
Hi, I’m presently going through RCIA and will be baptized at the Easter vigil. I asked this same question at my very first RCIA class! 😛 I was encouraged to use the holy water to cross myself and to even get some at the church to place in my home. So, to answer your question, yes it is allowed, and it is even encouraged, even if you are not yet baptized 🙂
 
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