How do you know when you're Catholic?

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Hello I am going through RCIA and was wondering how do you know when you’re “Catholic enough” to be Confirmed? I think the Cathechism of the Catholic Church is the greatest book I’ve ever read, I believe Jesus is God, the problem is I spent most of my life completely Godless and in sin and it’s only been maybe 5 years since I started to realize the truth of what the Church is trying to achieve. Can you be Catholic when you stop committing mortal sin? What is the bar? I’m afraid the sins that are still with me will prevent me from ever considering myself truly catholic though I know that I’m in error I just haven’t fully accepted the error of my ways. Please pray that I’ll see the light.
 
jredden92 said:
Hello I am going through RCIA and was wondering how do you know when you’re “Catholic enough” to be Confirmed?
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You are ready to be received into the Church when through preparation and discussion with your pastor you both determine you are ready.
 
I’m assuming you are in some type of formal RCIA with either your Priest or Catechists/RCIA instructors. If so, they generally have a timeline and you would come into the Church at the Easter Vigil (pre-Covid). Your catechists will make sure you are ready and recommend you to your Priest. There are several rites along the way and they will lead you. Discuss this with your catechists.
 
1ke said:
You are ready to be received into the Church when through preparation and discussion with your pastor you both determine you are ready.
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My list of sins was really long at my first confession. I fear I’m too damned to be received. At the same time if the priest refused to confirm me it would be like breaking the seal of the confessional because others would know how Godless my life used to be. Maybe I’m being scrupulous.
 
Dlee said:
I’m assuming you are in some type of formal RCIA with either your Priest or Catechists/RCIA instructors. If so, they generally have a timeline and you would come into the Church at the Easter Vigil (pre-Covid). Your catechists will make sure you are ready and recommend you to your Priest. There are several rites along the way and they will lead you. Discuss this with your catechists.
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Yes I’m in a formal RCIA class with the director of religious education at my parish. This does seem like something I should discuss with her thanks. I just need to remember that Christ came to call sinners.
 
I do remember asking “when can I say I’m Catholic?” I had to settle for almost Catholic until the Easter Vigil - hehehe
 
jredden92 said:
My list of sins was really long at my first confession. I fear I’m too damned to be received. At the same time if the priest refused to confirm me it would be like breaking the seal of the confessional because others would know how Godless my life used to be. Maybe I’m being scrupulous.
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I think you torture yourself for nothing.

If you have been forgiven in confession, your past sins stay in the past.

I think you are afraid that bad habits had been taken and that you are worrying to comit the same things again. It is possible, as habits are difficult to break. but again, the sacrament of reconciliation would be there for you. I am sure that you will grow spiritually and morally.

I don’t see why your priest would prevent you to be confirmed on the basis of what you say in confession! It is forgiven. Catholics people are not exempt of sins, and will sin even after their conformation.

If he don’t want to you to be’ confirmed now (and i would not see why) it is more likely that he don’t think you are ready to take that comitment, or need to grow more. But as you believe the Catholic faith and want to live a Catholic life he would not prevent you to received that grace.
 
Dlee said:
I do remember asking “when can I say I’m Catholic?” I had to settle for almost Catholic until the Easter Vigil - hehehe
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I understand that you aren’t officially Catholic until the Easter vigil and you have gone through the Sacraments of Initiation. I should have worded my question as how do you know you have a Catholic mindset? I accept the authority of the Pope and he seems like a great guy, I read the CCC and didn’t deny it’s truth. I used to be very liberal but I get the sense that Catholics are very conservative. I’m trying to learn what it means to think like a Catholic. I live in Canada and all of our politicians are left of center compared to the US so what is a Catholic to do or think.
 
jredden92 said:
My list of sins was really long at my first confession.
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If you’ve already had first confession you are pretty far along and should be received very soon.

Your sins have been forgiven. Be at peace.
jredden92 said:
I fear I’m too damned to be received.
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First of all: your sins are forgiven

Second of all: no sin is too great to be forgiven

Third of all: reception into the Church isn’t predicated on being “worthy”. Grace is a free gift from God.

Fourth of all: see #1.
jredden92 said:
Maybe I’m being scrupulous.
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It seems that way. You need to speak to your pastor about this.
 
I raised these concerns with a franciscan sister once I asked “Is the reason I haven’t been trying to join because I don’t feel worthy?” and she replied that “You’re never worthy”
 
Just going to put in my two cents:

Its a journey, not a checkoff list. You should be confirmed when you can receive it! So that you will have the Sacrament of confirmation under your belt for the rest of your life!
jredden92 said:
I think the Cathechism of the Catholic Church is the greatest book I’ve ever read
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Your enthusiasm tells me you should go for it. Confirmation is only going to help you. What I will say is do some diggin’ on your confirmation name. There are a lot of cool stories.
 
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
 
Even the most devout Catholics still sin. Having sins doesn’t prevent you from being Catholic. Go to confession and get them absolved, try to do better, and don’t worry about it.
 
If we waited until we were never again committing mortal sin or the like, the Church would never have a single convert. None of us would be allowed in.
 
ColoradoCatholic said:
Its a journey, not a checkoff list.
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Brilliantly stated. It is a journey and will always be. Immerse yourself in your faith and there will be a mind shift. I enjoy listening to Catholic radio, television programs (EWTN), and Bible studies. If you’re a reader, Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins’ Bible studies. With the internet, there is so much available. Just don’t get down on yourself and failing - we all fail when we least expect it. Make sure you take the time to enjoy your journey.
 
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