Conversion and first confession

[AngelaBarbara]

Hi Everyone,
(Edited) I’m converting to Catholicism, and will join the church later this year. I will be undergoing a conditional baptism, as I was previously baptized, but there are some questions about its validity. So when do I make my first confession, before or after I am conditionally baptized?? Can I do this anonymously, or do I have to do it face-to-face? Can I make my first confession in front of a different priest, if I am not comfortable with my parish priest?

(Edited)

 

[CV81]

Your parish may be different, but when my wife joined the church recently, she did so at the Easter Vigil. Her confession was heard before hand. Your first confession will likely be face to face so that the priest can verify you’ve made a good confession and validate your having received the sacrament.

Welcome Home!

 

[Schluns]

Angela,

This is not a silly question at all.
If you are going through RCIA, they should start covering confession during Lent. Prior to your conditional Baptism you will need to confess. If is was a Baptism you would wait until after your baptism. My RCIA leader asked those of us who were baptized, to make confession within 30 days of entering the Church.

As far as making confession, you can choose to do it face to face by making an appointment, in a confessional or with a priest of your choosing.

For more information speak to your RCIA/formation of the faith leader and/or priest.

 

[CentralFLJames]

I don’t personally know the policies that the bishop in your home area has established. Theologically speaking it is not necessary to confess one’s sins if being baptised since baptism wipes out every sin (both original sins and personal sins). But since you are receiving a conditional baptism, that is, leaving it to God to ascertain if your prior baptism has merit or not, then it makes perfect theological sense that a first confession should be made prior to conditional baptism. This is because if the prior baptism was valid in God’s eyes then, since its impossible to receive more than one sacramental baptism (in fact its a sacrilege to attempt it - hence why its made “conditional” to God’s discernment) post baptismal personal sins would still need to be confessed and sacramentally absolved. This is in fact an ironic condition that is like the proverbial “catch-22” since in most cases priests will also not permit a sacramental confession unless a person is a baptised catholic. But the ecclesial authority of the priesthood is very real and thus The Church bishops can establish what their criteria are for loosing and binding sin and granting absolution.

Most, if not all priests, are very happy to grant a new convert in circumstances such as yours (who has been formally indoctrinated into the faith through RCIA) a full absolution for “all sins” of your past life. This is “just in case” you have forgotten to confess any prior grave ones so that you will have peace of mind and be able to start your new walk in faith with a completly clean slate. But still do everything you can to prepare and make a good first confession and if later you recollect grave sins your forgot to mention (which is not uncommon as The Spirit works in you) confess these the next time you go to confession and explain that you are a new convert and had forgotten these. Confess even the small venial sins that are habitual and recurring. Even though all venial sins are forgiven automatically in confession you receive special graces to overcome repeating the habitual ones by mentioning these too.

God Bless and welcome home!!

James

 

[06convert]

newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm#VII

 

[Snowy]

Hi Everyone,
(Edited) I’m converting to Catholicism, and will join the church later this year. I will be undergoing a conditional baptism, as I was previously baptized, but there are some questions about its validity. So when do I make my first confession, before or after I am conditionally baptized?? Can I do this anonymously, or do I have to do it face-to-face? Can I make my first confession in front of a different priest, if I am not comfortable with my parish priest?

(Edited)

(Edited)

I recommend that you go confess someplace other than your parish, and do it face to face. If you have a Cathedral or a place run by friars at hand, they have the best confessors.

 

[AngelaBarbara]

(You started and ended your message with uncharitable jabs at the folks in the AAA forum.)

I recommend that you go confess someplace other than your parish, and do it face to face. If you have a Cathedral or a place run by friars at hand, they have the best confessors.

Thanks for your kind advice, Snowy. The rest of your comment does not merit a reply to the public forum.

 

[AngelaBarbara]

Angela,

This is not a silly question at all.
If you are going through RCIA, they should start covering confession during Lent. Prior to your conditional Baptism you will need to confess. If is was a Baptism you would wait until after your baptism. My RCIA leader asked those of us who were baptized, to make confession within 30 days of entering the Church.

For more information speak to your RCIA/formation of the faith leader and/or priest.

Thanks for your answer. I’m thankful you took the time to respond.

So you didn’t make your first confession before your entrance acceptance into the church? Or did you get baptized (since you weren’t baptized before) and then make your first confession. I’m a bit confused by your answer…

 

[Schluns]

Thanks for your answer. I’m thankful you took the time to respond.

So you didn’t make your first confession before your entrance acceptance into the church? Or did you get baptized (since you weren’t baptized before) and then make your first confession. I’m a bit confused by your answer…

Angela,

Please read my post again, I was asking you questions…

I was previously baptized, but did not know what church, and could not track down my baptism record, so was conditionally baptized in the Catholic church.

Being previously baptized, I made my confession (sacrament of reconciliation) prior to the Easter Vigil.

I hope this answers your question.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi Everyone,
(Edited) I’m converting to Catholicism, and will join the church later this year. I will be undergoing a conditional baptism, as I was previously baptized, but there are some questions about its validity. So when do I make my first confession, before or after I am conditionally baptized?? Can I do this anonymously, or do I have to do it face-to-face? Can I make my first confession in front of a different priest, if I am not comfortable with my parish priest?

(Edited)

If done properly you will be conditionally Baptized in private with just the minister, your Sponsor(Godparent), and you. this should happen within a few weeks of the pastor determining that Conditional Baptism is required. Conditional Baptism is never celebrated in public, to avoid confusion.

You would NOT go to First Confession prior to the Conditional Baptism. You will then proceed through RCIA as a Baptized Candidate with the other Candidates and will be given the opportunity to make your first Confession during or near the end of Lent. Sometimes they are heard on Holy Saturday afternoon.

You may choose either way and can choose another priest at another parish if you wish.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Your parish may be different, but when my wife joined the church recently, she did so at the Easter Vigil. Her confession was heard before hand. Your first confession will likely be face to face so that the priest can verify you’ve made a good confession and validate your having received the sacrament.

Welcome Home!

No “validation” of the reception of the Sacrament is required or is there NOT ANY record of it. A properly catechized Candidate understands the need to be in a State of Grace before receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.