Candidate/Catechumen With Mortal Sins Not Yet Eligible for Confession

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I know that I have committed mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, full assent), since my baptism and but I am not yet eligible for the sacrament of penance & reconciliation.

Would a perfect act of contrition suffice at this point?

Is it possible to fast track confession?

Has anyone been in this situation?

What is a candidate or catechumen to do?

Any advice aside from “Speak to Your Priest”?

Thanks.
 
Speak to your priest. 😉

It’s the only correct answer. Only a priest can offer the sacrement of confession so you’ll have to speak to one eventually, so might as well take the plunge!
 
Speak to your priest!

😉

If you’re going through RCIA, my understanding is that it doesn’t have to be a hard and fast rule that you wait until the Easter Vigil for the rest of the Sacraments. I was under the impression that you go to a parish that exclusively offered the EF, what I rather imagined was under the auspices of the FSSP. If you talk to one of their priests, you might be able to receive reconciliation. I don’t know for sure.
 
Talk to the priest while in he’s in the confessional. Be upfront that you are in RCIA and have not yet been received in the Church. The priest will either let you down gently and not give you absolution or he might briefly interview you to make your have proper understanding of the sacrament.

If the priest is satisfied with your understanding, he may allow you to confess right then and there and absolve you, or ask permission of the bishop (totally anonymously) and then allow you to confess.

Even if he doesn’t allow you to confess, he may at least be willing to here your sins and advise you without performing the sacrament. There is nothing to fear, the priest knows how to handle those who are not yet eligible for the sacrament of reconciliation.
 
JKirkLVNV said:
Speak to your priest!

😉

If you’re going through RCIA, my understanding is that it doesn’t have to be a hard and fast rule that you wait until the Easter Vigil for the rest of the Sacraments. I was under the impression that you go to a parish that exclusively offered the EF, what I rather imagined was under the auspices of the FSSP. If you talk to one of their priests, you might be able to receive reconciliation. I don’t know for sure.
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I agree with the above poster. The CCC also mentions…

1401 When, in the Ordinary’s judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions.241
 
Until you are able to get to confession, ask God for the grace to make an act of perfect contrition. God isn’t going to send someone to hell, or even force them to live in a state of sin for a time, through no current fault of their own. Reflect on the goodness of God and the sacrifice He has made for you, and offer Him sincere repentance for your sins, for His sake primarily. You will still need to confess your sins at the proper time, but there is nothing preventing you from gaining forgiveness right now.
 
Aelred_Minor said:
Until you are able to get to confession, ask God for the grace to make an act of perfect contrition. God isn’t going to send someone to hell, or even force them to live in a state of sin for a time, through no current fault of their own. Reflect on the goodness of God and the sacrifice He has made for you, and offer Him sincere repentance for your sins, for His sake primarily. You will still need to confess your sins at the proper time, but there is nothing preventing you from gaining forgiveness right now.
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I just spoke to my priest people!

He told me to do the act of perfect contrition until I am able to confess, which I don’t think will be long anyway. He just has to get through some topics with me to be sure I understand Catholicism.
 
TrueLight said:
I know that I have committed mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, full assent), since my baptism and but I am not yet eligible for the sacrament of penance & reconciliation.

Would a perfect act of contrition suffice at this point?

Is it possible to fast track confession?

Has anyone been in this situation?
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Every adult who ever converted? 😃

You suffer. You wait. You long. You learn and pray and in the fullness of time, you will be Reconciled. God knows what’s going on, trust Him.

Look around you. All the others in RCIA are having the same problem.
 
I’ll be saying a Rosary for you, Truelight. Judging from your comments here on the forum, I’d say that your priest will be getting you ready sooner rather than later.

God Bless
 
corsair said:
I’ll be saying a Rosary for you, Truelight. Judging from your comments here on the forum, I’d say that your priest will be getting you ready sooner rather than later.

God Bless
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Thanks for the encouragement. Corsair. Please pray for me whenever you can and I will do the same for you. 🙂
 
the baptized candidate may confess as soon as he is ready, being sure to tell the priest he is currently preparing for confirmation

the catechumen will have all sins remitted and baptism so does not need to confess, although he can certainly speak to the priest. If someone who dies in those circumstances before baptism it is presumed he would have asked for absolution if he could.
 
TrueLight said:
I know that I have committed mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, full assent), since my baptism and but I am not yet eligible for the sacrament of penance & reconciliation.

Would a perfect act of contrition suffice at this point?

Is it possible to fast track confession?

Has anyone been in this situation?

What is a candidate or catechumen to do?

Any advice aside from “Speak to Your Priest”?

Thanks.
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But, was it you or someone else who said that they were baptized Catholic? If that is the case, then, maybe you should avail yourself of the sacrament of Confession. In any case, you do need to speak to the priest.
 
TrueLight said:
I just spoke to my priest people!

He told me to do the act of perfect contrition until I am able to confess, which I don’t think will be long anyway. He just has to get through some topics with me to be sure I understand Catholicism.
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Awesome! 👍
 
puzzleannie said:
the baptized candidate may confess as soon as he is ready, being sure to tell the priest he is currently preparing for confirmation

the catechumen will have all sins remitted and baptism so does not need to confess, although he can certainly speak to the priest. If someone who dies in those circumstances before baptism it is presumed he would have asked for absolution if he could.
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This.

When I went through RCIA, I had been baptized (not in the Catholic church), and was therefore a candidate. All the candidates were expected to go to reconciliation prior to confirmation at the Easter Vigil. Catechumens who were to be baptized at Easter were not required to go to reconciliation beforehand because baptism by its nature confers remission of sins.

I am wondering why the OP, if actually in RCIA, was told he was not able to go to reconciliation prior to reception into the Church through confirmation.
 
abcdxyz said:
I am wondering why the OP, if actually in RCIA, was told he was not able to go to reconciliation prior to reception into the Church through confirmation.
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That might not be the issue. When I went through RCIA, the night we all made our first confession was scheduled around Ash Wednesday. They want to be sure everyone is up to speed on what it means to be Reconciled.
 
benedictgal said:
But, was it you or someone else who said that they were baptized Catholic? If that is the case, then, maybe you should avail yourself of the sacrament of Confession. In any case, you do need to speak to the priest.
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I may have been baptized Catholic, I may have not been. (You have a good memory!). I can’t find the original certificate. Either way, I was baptized again as a Protestant. God will work it all out.
 
A person who has the desire but not the opportunity to be baptised or to make a confession is not culpable for failing to be baptised or failing to confess before death.

An act of contrition and a firm purpose of amendment suffices until the opportunity to be baptised or make a confession arises.

This is why a catechumen or candidate who dies before joining the Church is given a Catholic funeral just as if they had succeeded in fulfilling their desire prior to death.

I think it would be a comfort to talk to one’s pastor about this in person, though. That way, you can *feel *certain that you did not neglect an opportunity to confess when you needed to do so. That’s important, too.
 
abcdxyz said:
This.

When I went through RCIA, I had been baptized (not in the Catholic church), and was therefore a candidate. All the candidates were expected to go to reconciliation prior to confirmation at the Easter Vigil. Catechumens who were to be baptized at Easter were not required to go to reconciliation beforehand because baptism by its nature confers remission of sins.

I am wondering why the OP, if actually in RCIA, was told he was not able to go to reconciliation prior to reception into the Church through confirmation.
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My impression is that she has not yet received either the Rite of Welcome or the Rite of Calling to Full Communion, yet. Normally, RCIA Candidates don’t receive First Reconciliation until some point after the Rite of Calling to Full Communion - and if the Rite of Welcoming has not yet been completed, then the expectation is that she has not yet begun to be catechized.

Full Catechesis has to be completed, in the case of adult converts, prior to reception of the Sacraments. (And yes, I realize it’s different for children born into Catholic families.)
 
=TrueLight;8197348]I know that I have committed mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, full assent), since my baptism and but I am not yet eligible for the sacrament of penance & reconciliation.
Click to expand...
Would a perfect act of contrition suffice at this point?
Click to expand...
Is it possible to fast track confession?
Click to expand...
Has anyone been in this situation?
Click to expand...
What is a candidate or catechumen to do?
Click to expand...
Any advice aside from “Speak to Your Priest”?
Click to expand...
Thanks.
Click to expand...
YES and YES…
TALK to your priest ASAP!

God Bless you,

Welcome Home,
Pat
 
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