Do unbaptized adults that were raised 'Catholic' necessarily have to attend RCIA to get baptized?

[cause8191]

I am in my twenties and I was raised in and disciplined by a Catholic family, but I was never baptized. Thus, I never officially became a Catholic. Still, I know a lot about the Church and pray the rosary routinely and I have always considered myself Catholic. I was wondering if I am still required to go through months of RCIA just to be baptized. I know I will still have to attend RCIA to be confirmed, but I want to be baptized privately and confirmed as a candidate. Is this possible?

 

[Catholic1954]

You should make an appointment and speak to a priest; he will be in the best position to advise you on the next step of your faith journey.

 

[TrueLight]

You should make an appointment and speak to a priest; he will be in the best position to advise you on the next step of your faith journey.

Most likely you will need do RCIA, because that’s how most parishes handle catechumens, which is what you would be.

However, a lot of Traditional parishes or smaller parishes do individual instruction, so it all depends.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I am in my twenties and I was raised in and disciplined by a Catholic family, but I was never baptized. Thus, I never officially became a Catholic. Still, I know a lot about the Church and pray the rosary routinely and I have always considered myself Catholic. I was wondering if I am still required to go through months of RCIA just to be baptized. I know I will still have to attend RCIA to be confirmed, but I want to be baptized privately and confirmed as a candidate. Is this possible?

Can. 851 The celebration of baptism must be prepared properly; consequently:
1/ an adult who intends to receive baptism is to be admitted to the catechumenate and is to be led insofar as possible through the various stages to sacramental initiation, according to the order of initiation adapted by the conference of bishops and the special norms issued by it;

Can. 866 Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, an adult who is baptized is to be confirmed immediately after baptism and is to participate in the eucharistic celebration also by receiving communion

 

[maryjk]

I am in my twenties and I was raised in and disciplined by a Catholic family, but I was never baptized. Thus, I never officially became a Catholic. Still, I know a lot about the Church and pray the rosary routinely and I have always considered myself Catholic. I was wondering if I am still required to go through months of RCIA just to be baptized. I know I will still have to attend RCIA to be confirmed, but I want to be baptized privately and confirmed as a candidate. Is this possible?

Would I have to be rebaptized by a priest?

Which is it?

You have been Baptized, but by a Baptist Preacher or you have never been Baptized? You have different threads started stating both.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am in my twenties and I was raised in and disciplined by a Catholic family, but I was never baptized. Thus, I never officially became a Catholic. Still, I know a lot about the Church and pray the rosary routinely and I have always considered myself Catholic. I was wondering if I am still required to go through months of RCIA just to be baptized. I know I will still have to attend RCIA to be confirmed, but I want to be baptized privately and confirmed as a candidate. Is this possible?

you need to speak to your priest. The ordinary way an adult prepares for baptism and the other sacraments is the RCIA process. It either has to be conducted properly as the rites intend, or the priest has to make another arrangements. It is certainly possible for a priest to instruct a catechumen privately but it is still the norm that he confirms the candidate he baptizes at the same time, and the Church strongly discourages private baptisms. Sacraments of initiation are public worship of the Church.

welcome home, and congratulations for taking the last steps to come all the way.

if you are the same person who started another thread asking about your Baptist baptism, you definitely need more instruction to make sure you understand the difference and to help you discern why you want to become Catholic, and to overcome any mistaken instruction you may have received from that Church. If you were validly baptized–with water and the Trinitarian formula–you may NOT be rebaptized but will be prepared for Confirmation, profession of faith, and first reception of the Eucharist, preceded by sacramental confession. That may or may not be done through the RCIA process, depending on practice in your parish and diocese.

In answer to both your posts, you need to visit your Catholic priest. The fact that as an adult you accepted baptism in a non-Catholic church indicates your understanding of Catholic faith and practice has some gaps and requires further instruction and discernment.

 

[Thomas_Casey]

Please do not duplicate threads. This thread already exists in Liturgy and Sacraments.

CLOSED