Can we try this again?

[jmcrae]

The sacrament of Reconciliation is not required prior to baptism.

Yes, I know.

There are people who come into the Church having been baptized validly in their non-Catholic Church - it is these people who go to Confession during the Lenten season (period 3 of the RCIA process) prior to receiving Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil or at some point during the Easter season.

Those not previously baptized receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil, and don’t make their First Confession until period 4 of the RCIA, some time around Pentecost.

 

[Julia1996]

Yes, I know.

There are people who come into the Church having been baptized validly in their non-Catholic Church - it is these people who go to Confession during the Lenten season (period 3 of the RCIA process) prior to receiving Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil or at some point during the Easter season.

Those not previously baptized receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil, and don’t make their First Confession until period 4 of the RCIA, some time around Pentecost.

When is Pentecost? What is the Easter Vigil? Is the point of having Baptism and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil part of the symbolism of a new life through Christ’s sacrifice?

 

[Julia1996]

Whats the Tiber Swim Team? Are there classes every year?

 

[jmcrae]

When is Pentecost?

Pentecost is fifty days after Easter. (On the Jewish calendar it was fifty days after Passover.) Each year we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and the birth of the Church, which we read about in Acts 2, on Pentecost.

What is the Easter Vigil?

This is the greatest Mass of the whole Church year. It takes place after sunset on the Saturday before Easter. There are seven readings from the Old Testament and seven Psalms which recount the highlights of Salvation history, followed by an exhortation taking from an Epistle of St. Paul, and then a recounting of the Gospel story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Christ. The priest then gives a short homily.

Following this is when those who have been going through the RCIA process make their Profession of Faith and receive their Sacraments of Initiation.

Is the point of having Baptism and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil part of the symbolism of a new life through Christ’s sacrifice?

Precisely!

 

[Julia1996]

Pentecost is fifty days after Easter. (On the Jewish calendar it was fifty days after Passover.) Each year we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and the birth of the Church, which we read about in Acts 2, on Pentecost.

The Jews commemorate Pentecost? I thought that they didn’t believe in Christ.

This is the greatest Mass of the whole Church year. It takes place after sunset on the Saturday before Easter. There are seven readings from the Old Testament and seven Psalms which recount the highlights of Salvation history, followed by an exhortation taking from an Epistle of St. Paul, and then a recounting of the Gospel story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Christ. The priest then gives a short homily.

Following this is when those who have been going through the RCIA process make their Profession of Faith and receive their Sacraments of Initiation.

What is the Profession of Faith? Is it really complicated?

Precisely!
**Thanks.

Julia**

 

[jmcrae]

The Jews commemorate Pentecost? I thought that they didn’t believe in Christ.

They don’t. Pentecost was originally a harvest festival celebrating the wheat and grape harvest, that also commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments.

It was during the celebration of this festival that the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles, and brought the Church into being.

What is the Profession of Faith? Is it really complicated?

Not really, no. It’s the question and answer form of the Apostles’ Creed with a few other lines added in (such as “Do you reject Satan and all his pomps?”), and the participants simply respond “I do” to each of the questions.

 

[Julia1996]

They don’t. Pentecost was originally a harvest festival celebrating the wheat and grape harvest, that also commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments.

It was during the celebration of this festival that the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles, and brought the Church into being.

When Christians\Catholics celebrate Pentecost, is it to commemorate the giving of the Ten Commandments as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit?

Not really, no. It’s the question and answer form of the Apostles’ Creed with a few other lines added in (such as “Do you reject Satan and all his pomps?”), and the participants simply respond “I do” to each of the questions.

Thanks. Your answers are straightforward and informative.

Julia

 

[jmcrae]

When Christians\Catholics celebrate Pentecost, is it to commemorate the giving of the Ten Commandments as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit?

No, it’s just to commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit. Most Catholics are totally unaware of the Jewish connection at all.

Thanks. Your answers are straightforward and informative.

Julia

I’m glad to be of help!

You asked before, and I don’t think you got an answer -

What’s the Tiber Swim Team?

It signifies people who have converted to the Catholic faith as adults - it’s kind of an inside joke, based on the title of Stephen Ray’s testimony, which was called “Crossing the Tiber.” Most people at your local parish won’t know what you’re referring to if you use that term.

Are there classes every year?

In theory, every parish in the world has an RCIA process in place. Some are better than others, and the start times, as well as the length, vary from place to place.

Your best bet is to contact the main office at your nearest Catholic Church and ask what they have available for RCIA and/or “convert classes.” If they seem unable to help you, try a different parish, or else try again and see if you can talk to someone else. Most parishes should have someone who’s in charge of the RCIA.

 

[Aramis]

In theory, every parish in the world has an RCIA process in place. Some are better than others, and the start times, as well as the length, vary from place to place.

Actually, most Eastern Rite Catholic parishes won’t. The tradition there is individual meetings with one of the clerics. The term RCIA and the related program is pretty much just the Roman Rite.

 

[jmcrae]

Actually, most Eastern Rite Catholic parishes won’t. The tradition there is individual meetings with one of the clerics. The term RCIA and the related program is pretty much just the Roman Rite.

Thanks for clarifying - I wasn’t aware of that.

 

[diggerdomer]

They don’t. .

Just to clarify: Jews don’t believe Christ is God, but they do celebrate Pentecost (the feast of weeks).

 

[Julia1996]

Actually, most Eastern Rite Catholic parishes won’t. The tradition there is individual meetings with one of the clerics. The term RCIA and the related program is pretty much just the Roman Rite.

Are there many differences between Eastern Rite and Roman Rite? Are Eastern Rite Catholics the same as Eastern Catholics? Is Roman Rite related to Roman Catholics?

 

[jmcrae]

Are there many differences between Eastern Rite and Roman Rite?

There are differences in the architecture and decoration of the different Church buildings, as well as differences in the Liturgy (Order of Service) for each. They also have different disciplines for fasting, and even different days of the year for various different Feast Days (Eastern Catholics typically celebrate Christmas on January 6th, rather than December 25th, for example, and their calculation of Easter is also a bit different, which means that most years, Easter is also on a different Sunday than that of the Roman Rite.

Are Eastern Rite Catholics the same as Eastern Catholics?

Yes.

Is Roman Rite related to Roman Catholics?

The proper term is “Latin Rite” - but yes.

In the Latin Rite we also have two different Liturgies for Mass, one of which is typically said in the Latin language (the other is normally said in the local language of the people), so sometimes you’ll see the term “Latin Rite” mistakenly used to refer to the Liturgy that is taking place in the Latin language.

 

[Aramis]

Are there many differences between Eastern Rite and Roman Rite?

Are Eastern Rite Catholics the same as Eastern Catholics?

It’s a sloppy use of old terminology by myself… The “current” terminology is properly “Catholics of the Eastern Churches in Union with Rome”…

There are 22 Eastern Churches in Union, of 6 rites… The Rites each have several traditions, and many traditions have several recensions.
There are 14 churches using the Constantinopolitan Rite, also known as the Byzantine Rite.
There is one church using the Armenian Rite.
There are 2 Chaldean Rite AKA East Syrian aka Syro-Oriental aka Syro-Chaldean Rite (Chaldean Church and Syro-Malabar Church), and 3 Antiochene AKA West Syrian. (Syrian, Maronite, and Syro-Malankar).
There are two Alexandrian Rite Churches, the Coptic and Ethiopian.

Each Rite is distinctive in theology and in praxis. Each tradition has some distinct differences in praxis. Each Church issues its own liturgical texts, usually in accord with the tradition of that church (tho’ some variation may occur…). A few churches have multiple liturgical recensions in common use; the Ge’ez Tradition includes two distinct recensions both in use (Ethiopian and Eritrean).

Is Roman Rite related to Roman Catholics?

The Roman Rite can be understood correctly in two ways: all those traditions descended from St. Peter’s throne in Rome, or as the Tradition used in Rome; almost always it refers to the latter. The Roman Church, however, includes a number of distinct traditions, most of which are customarily referred to as Rites. The above Eastern Churches are 22 of the 23 churches which comprise the Catholic Church; the Roman Church is the 23rd, and the largest.

The 4 Roman Rite uses are the majority, and two of those are well known… The Ordinary Form (aka Pauline Missal) and the Extraordinary form (aka TLM) are the most common and are universally approved for priests of the Roman Church. The Anglican Use is approved for former Anglicans and (recently) for those who are raised in the Anglican tradition. The Dalmatian “Rite” is actually just the EF in Church Slavonic, and is approved for a small area of Eastern Europe.

The Mozarabic, Bragan, and Ambrosian are older forms related more distantly to the Roman Missal, dating back about 800-1200 years. Each is approved for use in their native provinces and by priests trained in those provinces.

The Dominican, Carmelite, Carthusian: these are rites used by their respective orders; each derives from the Roman Missal, but have been separate for many centuries. They have almost died out, but the Dominicans are having a serious revival of theirs…

Several other rites have been suppressed… the Celtic Rite (of Ireland) differed slightly from the Roman; the Sarum Rite (still used by the CoE as an extraordinary form), the Gallican Rite (of Gaul, now france; replaced by the Roman, but related to the Mozarabic and Bragan)…

 

[diggerdomer]

Are there many differences between Eastern Rite and Roman Rite? Are Eastern Rite Catholics the same as Eastern Catholics? Is Roman Rite related to Roman Catholics?

Catholics are Catholics, regardless of Rite.

 

[diggerdomer]

Yes, I know.

There are people who come into the Church having been baptized validly in their non-Catholic Church - it is these people who go to Confession during the Lenten season (period 3 of the RCIA process) prior to receiving Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil or at some point during the Easter season.

Those not previously baptized receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil, and don’t make their First Confession until period 4 of the RCIA, some time around Pentecost.

Still, the sacrament of Reconciliation is not required. Encouraged, yes. But not required.

 

[Julia1996]

There are differences in the architecture and decoration of the different Church buildings, as well as differences in the Liturgy (Order of Service) for each. They also have different disciplines for fasting, and even different days of the year for various different Feast Days (Eastern Catholics typically celebrate Christmas on January 6th, rather than December 25th, for example, and their calculation of Easter is also a bit different, which means that most years, Easter is also on a different Sunday than that of the Roman Rite.

But there aren’t any major differences in terms of teachings?

The proper term is “Latin Rite” - but yes.

In the Latin Rite we also have two different Liturgies for Mass, one of which is typically said in the Latin language (the other is normally said in the local language of the people), so sometimes you’ll see the term “Latin Rite” mistakenly used to refer to the Liturgy that is taking place in the Latin language.

To the best of my knowledge, the local Catholic Church doesn’t seem to have a Latin Liturgy. They have Chinese and English.

 

[clmowry]

To the best of my knowledge, the local Catholic Church doesn’t seem to have a Latin Liturgy. They have Chinese and English.

I’m not sure if you got the point of the previous post.

A Latin Rite Liturgy could be said in any language and still be the Latin Rite Litugy.

Chuck

 

[jmcrae]

Still, the sacrament of Reconciliation is not required. Encouraged, yes. But not required.

It should not simply be fluffed over as if it didn’t matter, though.

They should be taught in more than a cursory “oh, by the way” fashion, how to make a good Examination of Conscience, and what to expect when they go in for Confession. Since First Confessions can’t be recorded, there is no way to know whether they actually take advantage of the information, but despite that fact, the information should still be presented in a coherent and thorough manner, as well as opportunities provided (or at least pointed out) for them to go.

Especially if it has been several years since the person was baptized, there should be encouragement given.

 

[Julia1996]

I’m not sure if you got the point of the previous post.
I think I missed it. I do have a tendency to miss the point.
A Latin Rite Liturgy could be said in any language and still be the Latin Rite Litugy.
Okay. I understand that part. I thought the previous post meant that a Latin Rite Liturgy should have at least one part in Latin. Evidently, it is not necessary.
Chuck