Does this make sense?

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indiecath

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Our priest is hearing the confessions of our catechumens before the Easter Vigil.

First they arent Catholic yet… Can he hear their confession?
Second… If their being baptized that night whats the point of hearing their confession when the baptism fears them of their sins?
 
After looking up a few old threads on this topic, I learned that catechumens do not have to confess because they cannot participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation without having received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation). Our RCIA class did this and didn’t really make a distinction until the night of the service. I chose not to participate based on my research into it.
 
Some catechumens may be entering the church from Protestant denominations which used the technically proper form in baptizing their initiates. Thus they are in fact already baptized and would certainly benefit from Reconciliation before receiving first Eucharist. Bear in mind that converts are often baptized with the formula “If you are not already baptized, I baptize you…”
Ask your pastor about this. That would be far better than the usually indifferent information one finds on web sites like this one.

Reb Levi
 
anybody can confess and you don’t have to be Roman Catholic to confess to a Roman Catholic Priest. Its that simple.
 
drafdog said:
Some catechumens may be entering the church from Protestant denominations which used the technically proper form in baptizing their initiates. Thus they are in fact already baptized and would certainly benefit from Reconciliation before receiving first Eucharist. Bear in mind that converts are often baptized with the formula “If you are not already baptized, I baptize you…”
Ask your pastor about this. That would be far better than the usually indifferent information one finds on web sites like this one.

Reb Levi
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No, ‘catechumen’ by definition means someone who is not baptized.

Those being received into full communion are ‘candidates’ and they should be confessing before the Vigil.

Those who are ‘uncertains’ would be conditionally baptized in private, and then join the ‘candidates’.
 
englishredrose said:
anybody can confess and you don’t have to be Roman Catholic to confess to a Roman Catholic Priest. Its that simple.
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You have to be baptized to receive any of the other sacraments. Catechumens, by definition, are not baptized. All their sins will be washed away tonight when they are baptized, confession in their case is both unnecessary and a non-sacrament.
 
Are you sure they are catechumens( not baptized) or are they candidates ( someone already baptized in another faith)?
 
indiecath said:
Our priest is hearing the confessions of our catechumens before the Easter Vigil.

First they arent Catholic yet… Can he hear their confession?
Second… If their being baptized that night whats the point of hearing their confession when the baptism fears them of their sins?
Click to expand...
First off, I second those who are asking if these are really catechumens. They might be candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church in which case they do have to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before making their profession of Faith.

But I suppose it is also the case that this “confession” is not intended to refer to the sacrament which forgives sins. (And it can’t be if these are catechumens.)

Maybe this “confession” is meant to be a non-sacramental expression of sorrow prior to these catechumens being baptized. Or it may be that the word “confession” does not refer to a confession of sins but rather is used in the sense of a “profession”. One sometimes hears of a confession of faith.
 
I was baptised at the easter vigil after going through RCIA at my catholic church. Our confessions were scheduled for the week before. Candidates whom were previously baptised did confession. Those whom were not baptised and I were told since we were not baptised we would not actually be having a “confession” but instead sat individually with the father and discussed how confession would go and what to expect. The difference between moral sins and other sins etc.
 
Finely got the facts on Holy Saturday. We thought all 5 of them were being baptized but only two and the rest were to be confirmed into the faith. So thats why they were going to confession.

Happy Easter all!
 
  1. If someone is not already baptized then they cannot receive the sacrament of confession. Simulation of a sacrament is a serious thing and thus nothing similar to confession should be done. Not only is it confusing and possible simulation but it would appear, on the surface, to deny the theological reality that all sins are forgiven through baptism.
  2. Conditional baptism should not take place unless there is true doubt as to the validity of the original baptism. It should never be used as a “just in case.”
 
NewEnglandPriest said:
  1. If someone is not already baptized then they cannot receive the sacrament of confession. Simulation of a sacrament is a serious thing and thus nothing similar to confession should be done. Not only is it confusing and possible simulation but it would appear, on the surface, to deny the theological reality that all sins are forgiven through baptism.
  2. Conditional baptism should not take place unless there is true doubt as to the validity of the original baptism. It should never be used as a “just in case.”
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Read what I said above.
 
**Forgive me if this isn’t the right thread to ask this question, but I couldn’t find any that were fairly new on the subject and I didn’t want to sit here for hours searching and scrolling.

Okay I was baptized Catholic as a baby, did my 1st Communion at the age of 7, got Confirmed at 14. Left the Church at 16.
Got saved / born again / gave my life to Christ at 20.

Forgive me if this sounds like fundamentalist Christianity… I have not been baptized since I’ve been a Believer at 20. I do not and would not consider myself a Believer in Christ in my early Catholic days because I never accepted Him into my life. I never made a public profession, I never believed on Him, didn’t even live for Him.

I am coming back home to Catholicism after being away for 15 years (it feels good too!). I would love nothing more than to get baptized / rebaptized in the Catholic church now considering I am indeed a professed Believer. Would they do that or no? Or is my infant baptism ‘it’?

Also…for one to completely come back into the Church, would I have to show proof of my baptism, confirmation, 1st communion when I decide on a parish? Would I have to go to confession for my waywardness so I may partake of the Eucharist?**
 
VeiledCatholic said:
I would love nothing more than to get baptized / rebaptized in the Catholic church now considering I am indeed a professed Believer. Would they do that or no? Or is my infant baptism ‘it’?
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Your were validly baptized so you cannot be baptized again, so no, the Church would not do that again.
VeiledCatholic said:
Also…for one to completely come back into the Church, would I have to show proof of my baptism, confirmation, 1st communion when I decide on a parish? Would I have to go to confession for my waywardness so I may partake of the Eucharist?
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Due to the length of time you have been away, call your parish and make an appointment to schedule confession with a Priest as it will probably take a little longer than a “routine” confession. Your sacramental records are on-file in the parish where you made them but generally no, you don’t have to show proof when you register in a parish (at least, we did not have to show proof to register, only to get the kids in PREP). The parish Priest will guide you here.

Welcome Home!!
 
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