First Confession

[melissab1]

Hi,
I’m being received into the Catholic Church on Saturday and I have a question about confession. We didn’t really cover it in RCIA (our classes were quite short)
Do I have to go to confession before accepting the Eucharist for the first time? The priest didn’t mention it, but taking a look around the internet I’m now not sure

I wouldn’t even know what to do/say at confession?? Also, I have been baptized in a protestant Church and at the time I accepted Christ as my saviour I confessed my sins then, do I need to re-confess those sins?

I don’t even know what constitutes mortal or venial sins, so some help here would also be greatly appreciated

Thank you all
Mel x

 

[St_Pancake]

Hi,
I’m being received into the Catholic Church on Saturday and I have a question about confession. We didn’t really cover it in RCIA (our classes were quite short)
Do I have to go to confession before accepting the Eucharist for the first time? The priest didn’t mention it, but taking a look around the internet I’m now not sure

I wouldn’t even know what to do/say at confession?? Also, I have been baptized in a protestant Church and at the time I accepted Christ as my saviour I confessed my sins then, do I need to re-confess those sins?

I don’t even know what constitutes mortal or venial sins, so some help here would also be greatly appreciated

Thank you all
Mel x

You absolutely need reconciliation prior to receiving the Eucharist. Your confession will be for the mortal sins since the time of your baptism. You need to call the church this AM and make an appointment with a priest for your first confession. You need instruction prior to that.

 

[Chatter163]

Wow, that was a serious oversight by the RCIA team, as this is critical matter. I agree that an appointment is typically the best way to do it, but that is not an absolute must, and it will be extremely difficult to get an appointment with a priest this week, anyway.

I would recommend this website, which includes many great resources to get yourself ready: catholicnewbie.com/tag/first-confession/ You want to get to confession ASAP, so I would check the websites or call the churches in your area as to remaining slots this week. Best wishes to you and congrats on your entering the Church. May your journey be a blessed one.

 

[Neofight]

Did I miss something. Are you entering the church from another faith, or are you being baptized? If you are being baptized, Reconciliation is not necessary. If you have been baptized and it is in the Trinitarian form, you do not need confession.

 

[St_Pancake]

Did I miss something. Are you entering the church from another faith, or are you being baptized? If you are being baptized, Reconciliation is not necessary. If you have been baptized and it is in the Trinitarian form, you do not need confession.

She has been baptized in a protestant church. Unless she hasn’t sinned since her Baptism, she needs reconciliation.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Yes, that is a serious oversight on the part of your RCIA team. If you were previously baptized, you should make a general confession of any mortal sins since your baptism.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Hi,
I’m being received into the Catholic Church on Saturday and I have a question about confession. We didn’t really cover it in RCIA (our classes were quite short)
Do I have to go to confession before accepting the Eucharist for the first time? The priest didn’t mention it, but taking a look around the internet I’m now not sure

I wouldn’t even know what to do/say at confession?? Also, I have been baptized in a protestant Church and at the time I accepted Christ as my saviour I confessed my sins then, do I need to re-confess those sins?

I don’t even know what constitutes mortal or venial sins, so some help here would also be greatly appreciated

Thank you all
Mel x

So I am sorry but it sounds like your RCIA program has completely failed you! Yes you need to go to confession!!

Catholics MUST confess all mortal sins to remain/return to the state of grace. This is a regular practice you should plan on at least once a year but more frequent is encouraged. You can also confess venial sins but aren’t required too.

I tend to think we “know” our mortal sins…those ones that hang on to you and you regret.

But by definition a mortal sin is Grave matter and something you chose to do anyway. You need to confess all you remember since your baptism.

Again so sorry you have not been prepared, Shame on your RCIA TEAM!

Give this a read: ewtn.com/expert/answers/mortal_versus_venial.htm

beginningcatholic.com/catholic-examination-of-conscience.html

 

[Neofight]

She has been baptized in a protestant church. Unless she hasn’t sinned since her Baptism, she needs reconciliation.

Yep…I missed that.

 

[Neofight]

So I am sorry but it sounds like your RCIA program has completely failed you! QUOTE]

Wow…I think your characterization of the OPs RCIA program is a bit rash.

They erred (and seriously, as another poster noted), but they have not completely failed the OP!

As an RCIA Program Coordinator, maybe I’m a little defensive, but its a juggling act sometimes, and sometimes the ball is dropped.

I’m sure your parish RCIA program would welcome your involvement so they are less likely to not commit some oversights, if you aren’t already. I can only speak for our program, but we could use all the help we can get.

Peace and all good!

 

[melissab1]

Thank you all.

I’m now a bit panicky as I’ve checked my parish and their last confession was this morning, although the next parish over have one tomorrow night so I should be able to get to that.

I have tried to lead a good Christian life since I was baptized but that was 2010 and I must have sins to confess, although my mind has now gone blank

The lady who is acting as my sponser is coming over for coffee tomorrow, so she at least knows me a little before Saturday (she was appointed to me by the priest.) From our brief meeting before, she seemed very nice, so I’m hoping she will be able to walk me through reconciliation, as to what to say/do as I have no idea.

Our RCIA was brief, comprising of just five 1hr meetings. I obviously have nothing to compare it to, but I was hoping for a little more information from it. I have been a Christian for nearly 10yrs (baptized 5yrs ago) so my spiritual grounding is good. I know from 18mths of personal study that the Catholic Church is the Church of Christ but I need help with actually living a Catholic life (as opposed to a protestant life) and I feel that maybe this has been lacking, but that may be just a personal thing for me and I do not wish to criticize.

I really want to begin this with everything done right, so I don’t want to not do something, if you catch my meaning

mel x

 

[St_Pancake]

Thank you all.

I’m now a bit panicky as I’ve checked my parish and their last confession was this morning, although the next parish over have one tomorrow night so I should be able to get to that.

I have tried to lead a good Christian life since I was baptized but that was 2010 and I must have sins to confess, although my mind has now gone blank

The lady who is acting as my sponser is coming over for coffee tomorrow, so she at least knows me a little before Saturday (she was appointed to me by the priest.) From our brief meeting before, she seemed very nice, so I’m hoping she will be able to walk me through reconciliation, as to what to say/do as I have no idea.

Our RCIA was brief, comprising of just five 1hr meetings. I obviously have nothing to compare it to, but I was hoping for a little more information from it. I have been a Christian for nearly 10yrs (baptized 5yrs ago) so my spiritual grounding is good. I know from 18mths of personal study that the Catholic Church is the Church of Christ but I need help with actually living a Catholic life (as opposed to a protestant life) and I feel that maybe this has been lacking, but that may be just a personal thing for me and I do not wish to criticize.

I really want to begin this with everything done right, so I don’t want to not do something, if you catch my meaning

mel x

I’m not sure you shouldn’t find a nearby parish with a more encompassing curriculum. Our RCIA from September to Easter is 60 hours and then another 8 hours after Easter.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Jon S;12862829:

So I am sorry but it sounds like your RCIA program has completely failed you! QUOTE]

Wow…I think your characterization of the OPs RCIA program is a bit rash.

They erred (and seriously, as another poster noted), but they have not completely failed the OP!

As an RCIA Program Coordinator, maybe I’m a little defensive, but its a juggling act sometimes, and sometimes the ball is dropped.

I’m sure your parish RCIA program would welcome your involvement so they are less likely to not commit some oversights, if you aren’t already. I can only speak for our program, but we could use all the help we can get.

Peace and all good!

I too am on our RCIA team and am very involved. We prepared our candidates months ago with catechesis, an examination of conscience, and then a 3 day retreat where we had more catechesis and examination of conscience and their first confessions with two priests who came to hear the confessions just for them.

Perhaps we go above and beyond, but leaving a candidate the Monday of Holy Week not knowing if they need to go to confession and not knowing what a mortal sin is, is an absolute failure of the RCIA program. We need to call it what it is so things change for the better.

No candidate should have to go searching the Internet for something of such vital importance.

 

[PJM]

=melissab1;12862196]Hi,
I’m being received into the Catholic Church on Saturday and I have a question about confession. We didn’t really cover it in RCIA (our classes were quite short)
Do I have to go to confession before accepting the Eucharist for the first time? The priest didn’t mention it, but taking a look around the internet I’m now not sure

I wouldn’t even know what to do/say at confession?? Also, I have been baptized in a protestant Church and at the time I accepted Christ as my saviour I confessed my sins then, do I need to re-confess those sins?

I don’t even know what constitutes mortal or venial sins, so some help here would also be greatly appreciated

Thank you all
Mel x

As a FORMER RCIA teacher, my experience has been that the parish priest will hold a “Personal- GENERAL” Confession for all those who HAVE been already Baptized.

Those being BAPTIZED at Easter need NOT go to Confession because the Sacrament of BAPTISM among many other great things removed bot ALL prior sin as well as thr latent Temporal punishment those sins accrue,

FYI: A General Confession is very likely the easiest Confession most of us will ever make. It covers the HISTORY of one’s lifelong past sins and not the specifics as a norm.

As a FYI:

I offer a totally FREE of ALL cost home study course that is FAR more extensive than the time restraints of RCIA, so that you can REALLY know what we believe and practice and WHY we do as I provide the evidence you need.

If interested just sent me a private message

God Bless you and WELCOME HOME!

Patrick

 

[eightydeuce82]

As a FORMER RCIA teacher, my experience has been that the parish priest will hold a “Personal- GENERAL” Confession for all those who HAVE been already Baptized.

Those being BAPTIZED at Easter need NOT go to Confession because the Sacrament of BAPTISM among many other great things removed bot ALL prior sin as well as thr latent Temporal punishment those sins accrue,

FYI: A General Confession is very likely the easiest Confession most of us will ever make. It covers the HISTORY of one’s lifelong past sins and not the specifics as a norm.

As a FYI:

I offer a totally FREE of ALL cost home study course that is FAR more extensive than the time restraints of RCIA, so that you can REALLY know what we believe and practice and WHY we do as I provide the evidence you need.

If interested just sent me a private message

God Bless you and WELCOME HOME!

Patrick

General Confessions are not Authorized in this situation!

1483 In case of grave necessity recourse may be had to a communal celebration of reconciliation with general confession and general absolution. Grave necessity of this sort can arise when there is imminent danger of death without sufficient time for the priest or priests to hear each penitent’s confession. Grave necessity can also exist when, given the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors to hear individual confessions properly in a reasonable time, so that the penitents through no fault of their own would be deprived of sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time. In this case, for the absolution to be valid the faithful must have the intention of individually confessing their grave sins in the time required.92 The diocesan bishop is the judge of whether or not the conditions required for general absolution exist.93 A large gathering of the faithful on the occasion of major feasts or pilgrimages does not constitute a case of grave necessity.94

 

[Mike_Dye]

As others have said, you do need to go to confession. Call your priest and let him know what has happened so he can also contact others in your RCIA group that have been previously baptized so they can go to confession too. It is a shame that some RCIA teams are so negligent at their job.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Jon S;12862829:

So I am sorry but it sounds like your RCIA program has completely failed you! QUOTE]

Wow…I think your characterization of the OPs RCIA program is a bit rash.

They erred (and seriously, as another poster noted), but they have not completely failed the OP!

As an RCIA Program Coordinator, maybe I’m a little defensive, but its a juggling act sometimes, and sometimes the ball is dropped.

I’m sure your parish RCIA program would welcome your involvement so they are less likely to not commit some oversights, if you aren’t already. I can only speak for our program, but we could use all the help we can get.

Peace and all good!

I think you are being a little defensive. There is no excuse. If the OP is to be believed then there were some MAJOR oversights.

1. The OP said the classes were quite short.
2. Confession was not addressed.
3. The idea that sins confessed in a protestant “accept Jesus” situation may or may not be covered is not a question this poster should have. With just days to go this poster feels ill equipped to enter the faith. This indeed was a failure. And a shame.

None of that takes away the sheer joy that the OP should feel in joining the Church. But the OP has some supplementing to do that they should not have to do. And I guess that is a good thing that this website exists.

The other good news is that I’ll bet the farm the confession line at said parish is not very long at all…

 

[eightydeuce82]

Neofight;12862857:

I think you are being a little defensive. There is no excuse. If the OP is to be believed then there were some MAJOR oversights.

1. The OP said the classes were quite short.
2. Confession was not addressed.
3. The idea that sins confessed in a protestant “accept Jesus” situation may or may not be covered is not a question this poster should have. With just days to go this poster feels ill equipped to enter the faith. This indeed was a failure. And a shame.

None of that takes away the sheer joy that the OP should feel in joining the Church. But the OP has some supplementing to do that they should not have to do. And I guess that is a good thing that this website exists.

The other good news is that I’ll bet the farm the confession line at said parish is not very long at all…

Agreed RCIA I’m sure in some places has been great but unfortunately something has to be said about the staggering statistics of people not formed in the faith properly over the last 60 years or more. I wouldn’t be the first lay person to say that most RCIA programs are not good. This has been reiterated at the highest levels of the church so im not surprised at all that this has happened.!

 

[DakiniArtist]

Mel,

I’m coming in too.

Definitely go to confession at that other parish. Keep us posted!

:hug1:

Catie