If you were starting RCIA knowing what you know now, what would you go back and tell yourself?

[Waiting]

Should you not survive until Baptism, you would receive the Baptism of desire, since you have already made clear your intention to be Baptized. I wouldn’t worry about it. God is good. If He’s called you, He must have some plan in mind for you to fulfill.

 

[floresco]

Honestly… with my RCIA group my advice to me would have been: See if there’s another way. Don’t take RCIA it’s just going to frustrate you.

That is just what I want to tell my past self. You can tell both of us.

Also I did RCIA at a very liberal parish and knowing what I do now I would seek more orthodoxy.

 

[jpm309]

The church teaches that catechumens who die are saved. It’s directly from the catechism,

1259 For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.

Studying the Bible is essential but remember that only the Church has the authority to interpret it. Therefore you should study church teachings too. Particularly in cases such as this where a teaching is making you worried you should talk to your priest to check whether you have understood it correctly.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

I’m a cradle Catholic who left the Church in my teens, only to come back to the faith in my 30’s. When I began my search for the truth, there is one thing I did wrong. I didn’t pray. So, I recommend you pray every day. In fact, I recommend you pray morning, noon, and night everyday. I began going to daily Mass and praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and it helped me more than any thing else.

So, if you are serious about not only being Catholic, but living a devout life in imitation of Christ, I recommend in addition to going to Mass, praying the Liturgy of the Hours.

You can find the texts online here (the hymns may vary): divineoffice.org/
You can also listen to Liturgy of the Hours on mp3 here: psp.libsyn.com/

To assist in your prayer, I also recommend an outstanding book by Dr. Tim Gray called *Praying Scripture for a Change - An Introduction to Lectio Divina. *Lectio Divina will change the world.

 

[JReducation]

As a cradle Catholic, I was baptized in the '50’s, attended Catholic schools and received the Sacraments of Penance, Holy Communion and Confirmation in the '60’s and '70’s. I was married in the Church in the '80’s.

My experience here at Catholic Answers forums motivated me to audit an RCIA program in my diocese. I have attended weekly sessions for several months. My classmates will graduate later this year.

I think those considering starting RCIA would benefit from a bit of preparation. They would do well to read the Bible (again) beginning with the Gospels and progressing through Acts, the Epistles and the balance of the New Testament before starting the OT. Writings (and biographies) of the first- and second-century Church Fathers would likewise be beneficial. A review of the first seven Ecumenical Councils will help students understand some of the challenges that were faced by the early Church.

It is essential that those who wish to call themselves “Catholic” understand who we are and where we came from. Naturally, it would be good if some if this material was incorporated into the RCIA program.

Dang! You’re suggesting years one and two of seminary training. Excepting Canon Law I and Canon Law II.

I’m not trying to be rude. It just struck me as a lot of studying, unless the person has a lot of time. There are good summaries on these subjects. Pope Benedict wrote an excellent summary on the Fathers. It’s less than 200 pages.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[ConstantineTG]

My question is this. If you could go back and tell yourself something, give yourself a piece of advice when you first started RCIA what would it be? Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself to pay attention to and/or ask about?

I was born into a Roman Catholic family and thus were baptized and confirmed as an infant. I went to Catholic school all throughout, from pre-school to graduate school.

Looking back I don’t know how I can better catechize myself. I had good catechism teachers at school and we go to Mass and say the Rosary frequently. My mom also did a good job with our prayer life, although I must admit my follow through is lacking.

My advise is just be glad for what you have now. What you are now, where you are now, is the product of everything that has happened in the past. If you trust God’s will, then you believe that the course you took was the necessary course you needed to get to this point right now. Had he made you Catholic from the beginning, you could have become lukewarm by your teen years and have fallen away shortly afterwards. Instead, he lead you around to form you and prepare you for the time you will receive Him fully.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Dang! You’re suggesting years one and two of seminary training. Excepting Canon Law I and Canon Law II.

I’m not trying to be rude. It just struck me as a lot of studying, unless the person has a lot of time. There are good summaries on these subjects. Pope Benedict wrote an excellent summary on the Fathers. It’s less than 200 pages.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Perhaps they can use the time they commit to watching their favorite reality show or sports game. That ought to give them plenty more time.

 

[jmcrae]

Recently God spoke to me. I’m sure being Catholic you believe in miracles. I heard a very distinctive voice say to me “You need to get to know me, get to know my people.”

HEY, I know that guy, too!

Ever since then, I have been studying Catholisism non-stop like an obsession. Spending hours in the Catholic Encyclopidia, EWTN constantly, joined this site etc. I got to the point where the only thing left is to join RCIA which I have now joind my local Parish and signed up. I will be starting soon. I am very excited, I started looking at monastaries and my mom told me “why don’t you just go to mass for a while and see how you like it.”

This is good advice. I took it slow, and I’m really glad I took it slow. I had time to thoroughly learn nearly everything I needed to know, and time to break my bad habits and to replace them with good habits, before I came to the Sacraments.

I went to daily Mass as often as possible, as well as to Sunday Mass, and I made lots of Catholic friends, so when it came time for me to choose a sponsor, I had lots of people to choose from.

I also found out about Patron Saints for Confirmation (they didn’t mention very much about it in RCIA - they just asked at the end, who do you want for your Patron Saint, and most of the people in the class - the ones who were rushing through RCIA for marriage - had never heard of that idea, before) - so I had studied the life of my Patron Saint, and I knew that I wanted her.

The only thing I would change is that I should have learned more about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, before going to First Confession. I also should have gone to a priest whose first language is English.

But yes - I would recommend that you take it slow, learn as much as you can from other people in your parish, keep your eyes and ears wide open to learn as much as possible, not only in the RCIA class, but also from your fellow parishioners, go to Mass as often as you can, and be thoroughly prepared for your First Confession, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion - as well as fully prepared to live out the Catholic lifestyle at home, at Church, and in your community.

 

[Marie5890]

Recently God spoke to me. I’m sure being Catholic you believe in miracles. I heard a very distinctive voice say to me “You need to get to know me, get to know my people.” Ever since then, I have been studying Catholisism non-stop like an obsession. Spending hours in the Catholic Encyclopidia, EWTN constantly, joined this site etc. I got to the point where the only thing left is to join RCIS which I have now joind my local Parish and signed up. I will be starting soon. I am very exited, I started looking at monastaries and my mom told me “why don’t you just go to mass for a while and see how you like it.”

My question is this. If you could go back and tell yourself something, give yourself a piece of advice when you first started RCIA what would it be? Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself to pay attention to and/or ask about?

If anyone has any stories about their conversion or if you were born it it, the time when you realized the miracle of your faith, I would ask that you please share. [BIBLEDRB][/BIBLEDRB]

Your story sounds a lot like mine. I did a TON of my own study and research prior to RCIA. So much so, and considering how basic my parish’s RCIA program is, I found RCIA to be hoop jumping and sometimes very boring. Sorta like taking a class in basic math when one knows Calculas.

For me it was a time to exercise patience and at the same time using the time to continue to grow my own relationship w/ Christ on my own and not looking to a program. I dont regret RCIA, but I didnt really get anything out of it

God Bless

 

[KarenElissa]

Wow, people have brought up excellent points. The RCIA course at mt local parish will be concluding this Easter. I am waiting to see if I can still be let in with individual study of course.

There is a small possibility since I’m assuming you are already baptized, but I wouldn’t count on it. One of the parts of RCIA is formation and growing in faith and community. Learning can be rushed along, but these things can’t. So like many have already said, be patient.

What I wonder is, the Church says if we die not in the Catholic faith, we go to hell but the Chhurch makes it less than easy to come into the fold as a full member to be confessed etc. It would seem to be somwhat contradictory to say you must study all this BEFORE we ALLOW you to become Catholic, however if God forbid some kind of accident happend and you pass unconfirmed and unconfessed, the hellfire awaits you.

I think you may be misunderstanding this teaching a bit. We say there is “no salvation outside the church,” but this does not necessarily mean that everyone who will be saved is visibly a member of the Church. We accept that God, in his love and mercy, may very well save those who, though not visibly part of the Church, are doing their best to to love God and others.

Along these lines, being Catholic comes with many responsibilities. We would do people a disfavor to allow them to become Catholic without teaching them what these responsibilities are.

I believe I need to learn patience as a part of my faith walk also submission.

Yup, patience and submission is a very important lesson, and one that we, in this modern age, don’t take to well.

 

[nickybr38]

That is just what I want to tell my past self. You can tell both of us.

Also I did RCIA at a very liberal parish and knowing what I do now I would seek more orthodoxy.

Liberal Parish here too, I think that’s the greatest source of my frustration. It’s hard when you’re on fire for the faith to hear people continually dismissing and or undermining certain Truths.

Oh well, at least it’s teaching me to be an independant learner!

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Liberal Parish here too, I think that’s the greatest source of my frustration. It’s hard when you’re on fire for the faith to hear people continually dismissing and or undermining certain Truths.

Oh well, at least it’s teaching me to be an independant learner!

Once you become Catholic, consider joining the RCIA team. Our RCIA process greatly improved only after several Catholics loyal to the teaching of the magisterium joined and eventually led the RCIA team. If the catechesis is poor, roll up your sleeves and become the catechist you wish you had.

 

[mick321]

Dang! You’re suggesting years one and two of seminary training. Excepting Canon Law I and Canon Law II.

I’m not trying to be rude. It just struck me as a lot of studying, unless the person has a lot of time. There are good summaries on these subjects. Pope Benedict wrote an excellent summary on the Fathers. It’s less than 200 pages.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

There is no need to bring the average catechumen up to the level of a third year seminarian. Enough knowledge to participate in a group discussion in class would be sufficient.

If my RCIA class is typical, many candidates are converting from bible-Christian denominations. These folks are already familiar with Scripture. Through directed NT & OT readings and carefully selected works by early Church fathers, the foundation of a catholic worldview can be established and enhanced thru in-class discussion.

You have already recommended several books in your posts to this thread. Is it possible to put together a 10-12 title reading list which would provide the motivated RCIA student with a useful entry-level understanding of these subjects over the course of say, 12 months?

 

[HAnne]

I’ll be graduating this year on Easter. I’d go back and tell myself a few things.

Trust your instincts. Ask LOTS of questions before you start so you know that you’re getting into a great program. I made the mistake of assuming that because my son’s 1st Communion catechist is amazing that our RCIA program would be wonderful. Instead I was literally told “Shhh…don’t tell the Bishop”. Our classes for this year still have not started and Lent is a mere 2 weeks away. Uh - not a good sign…and it’s too late to go to the local Church that follows tradition unless we want to wait until next year.

If you don’t have access to a good program in your area, MAKE ONE for yourself. Talk to people here, study up, look deeply into yourself and your faith and ask yourself the hard questions. Don’t be afraid to go further than is “required”. You’ll be better prepared.

Last, but certainly not least, go into it prepared to not see it through to the Vigil. There’s no point in forcing yourself to go through with it “because you took all that time” if you truly aren’t ready to make this lifetime commitment to the Church.