Is it possible to have (due to severe anxiety) a private baptism/confirmation/first communion (RCIA)?

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I will preface this by saying that I dealt with mental health consumers for 31 years as an emergency first responder. I have dealt with the anxious for the past 8 years as a moderator on an international cancer forum.

Why not control the anxiety first? Anxiety is 100% treatable, normally without drugs. Popular Catholic counselor Dr. Gregory Popcak offers the gold standard in anxiety therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Stressing over entering the Church is only fueling your existing anxiety - this can potentially affect your judgment and decision-making ability. Potentially, I said.

“I” would jump all over the anxiety first.
 
po18guy said:
Stressing over entering the Church is only fueling your existing anxiety - this can potentially affect your judgment and decision-making ability. Potentially , I said.

“I” would jump all over the anxiety first.
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I’ve been dealing with it for four years. I’m on three medications. I’ve seen many therapists but none never really helped. I have triggers for panic attacks, and a huge baptism and confirmation in front of everyone would be one. Now, I do have a medication I can take whilst having a panic attack, but it doesn’t always work and when it does, I get very sleepy.

There’s no cure for anxiety, it can only (hopefully) be lessened through treatment. I’ve been receiving treatment since it started four years ago, and this is where I am now. I know for 100% sure though that I want to enter the church.
 
Update: I talked to my priest yesterday and he was a little hesitant, but once I explained why, he agreed to do it. He’s not sure about my first communion, it may happen that day or it may happen during a less-crowded weekday mass. I’m going to invite some people whom I’ve became friends with at the church and the RCIA team. Thanks for all your help! 🙏
 
KateKate22 said:
I have severe anxiety disorder.
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I have suffered these things myself since 1984. I have things under control now but know exactly how you feel. I avoided many activities and rushed out the door at others, even leaving a full shopping basket behind on one occasion. Blessings to you, my friend. If I can be of help please don’t hesitate to ask. 🙂
 
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otjm said:
If baptism were all that was being considered, it would not be a particular problem.

However, adults who have never been baptized and are entering the Church receive the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, then Confirmation, then Eucharist.

The priest only has permission to Confirm on Holy Saturday Night, as Confirmation is administered by the bishop, and the priest only by limited delegation.
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Canon Law gives the priest the faulty to confirm any adult he baptizes or receives into full communion. It doesn’t say that can only happen at the Easter Vigil.
 
What I have been told by more than one priest is that (he/thy) can only confirm with permission, and the permission given is for Holy Saturday Night. And since I have attended only parishes which use the RCIA process and everyone joining the Church who is not baptized goes through the process, that is what I know. As to Canon law, perhaps you could cite the relevant law; I am not questioning that the priest can do so; but it is my understanding that it still takes the permission of the bishop specific to doing so.

An additional note/thought: we have a number of adults who have been baptized and received Communion, but missed their Confirmation for whatever reasons. The go through class and then are confirmed in a ceremony at the Cathedral, by the bishop. It has been a multi-parish celebration of Confirmation done once a year.
 
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otjm said:
What I have been told by more than one priest is that (he/thy) can only confirm with permission, and the permission given is for Holy Saturday Night. And since I have attended only parishes which use the RCIA process and everyone joining the Church who is not baptized goes through the process, that is what I know. As to Canon law, perhaps you could cite the relevant law; I am not questioning that the priest can do so; but it is my understanding that it still takes the permission of the bishop specific to doing so.
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Once the Bishop gives the OK for an adult to be baptized, canon law says
Can. 883 The following possess the faculty of administering confirmation by the law itself:

1/ within the boundaries of their jurisdiction, those who are equivalent in law to a diocesan bishop;

2/ as regards the person in question, the presbyter who by virtue of office or mandate of the diocesan bishop baptizes one who is no longer an infant or admits one already baptized into the full communion of the Catholic Church;
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Thanks for posting. As I read it, it can be done and requires permission; so the issue is with the priest agreeing and seeking permission. As the OP noted, the matter appears to be resolved.
 
The permission needed is to baptize or receive into full communion. Permission to confirm is included with those.

That still leaves Catholics who were baptized as infants but not confirmed. Permission from the bishop is needed to confirm them.

The Easter Vigil is the recommended time for baptisms. The others might be done then, but it is not required. Adaptations can usually be made for whatever problems come up.

Of course, anything like this needs permission from the bishop informally even if not canonically. The bishop should be overseeing all sacramental initiation in his diocese.
 
Glad it worked out for you!

The only sacrament that requires witnesses is marriage by Canon law. However, that can be done secretly pursuant to Canon 1130.
 
AHapka said:
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DisorientingSneeze:
No sacraments are private.
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What about confession?
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You got me.

I’ve listened to the same woman lecture us all about “private baptisms” so many times that I began to believe her. Being confident doesn’t make her right. My parish is fairly large (9 thousand families) and she seemed to know how to have individual baptisms for her kids. Any time someone asked her, they’d get the same lecture.
 
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