Is RCIA Necessary?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayrondini
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

rayrondini

Guest
I am a Christian. I have been a part of the Protestant community for several years now and am converting to Catholicism. I have been validly baptized (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in a good Christian church, I have received a lot of Christian teaching. In fact, my first two years of college were at a Christian University. I just read somewhere briefly that Christians are not to be confused with catachumens (spelling?) and, unless they’ve had no Christian training, they shouldn’t go through a full-RCIA like the catechumens. I’m just wondering…

Thanks!
 
Rayrondini;

As a validly baptised Christian (from what you state) then you must be accepted into the ‘second period’ of the RCIA.

There is the Rite of Acceptance into the order of catechumens (and this period varies from 2 to 3 years for some catechumens) and involves catechesis and those rites connected with catechesis.

It ends on the day of election (a Mass at the Cathedral).

Each parish should have (the diocesan office must have) an RCIA book. It is quite explicit and easy to understand.

God speed and good luck to you

Robert
 
I would say go through RCIA so you can learn more. I was raised Christian, but I didn’t know much about being Catholic, the sacraments, etc. A good RCIA program will be quite beneficial to you.

Even though I was confirmed a few years ago I’ve started going to RCIA classes at my parish just to grow deeper in my faith.

Of course, if you want, you can speak to your priest and tell him your background and see if it’s necessary. BUT, if it was me, I would go regardless.
 
RCIA is an outgrowth of Vatican II, and not really as recent as you might think. In your case, it might not be a requirement that you go through the entire regimen. This is taking your previous education into account. I’d suggest you check with a Priest or Deacon, or perhaps the Director of Religious Education in the parish where you’ll attend RCIA. RCIA is a good idea for almost anyone, and that includes long time or “cradle Catholics”.Blessings and best of luck to you as you journey into the Faith.
 
Our parish had two groups–catechumens and candidates and we had separate classes. The classes for the candidates were mainly focused on details of Catholicism and the sacraments while the catechumens also had some more basic scripture and baptismal prep. The main difference is really the depth with which topics could be discussed.
 
rayrondini said:
I am a Christian. I have been a part of the Protestant community for several years now and am converting to Catholicism. I have been validly baptized (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in a good Christian church, I have received a lot of Christian teaching. In fact, my first two years of college were at a Christian University. I just read somewhere briefly that Christians are not to be confused with catachumens (spelling?) and, unless they’ve had no Christian training, they shouldn’t go through a full-RCIA like the catechumens. I’m just wondering…

Thanks!
Click to expand...
That is correct. IF you are already Baptized. The parish should be working towards separate processes for Catechumens and Candidates.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
That is correct. IF you are already Baptized. The parish should be working towards separate processes for Catechumens and Candidates.
Click to expand...
While this is a laudable ideal it is not always practical.

Due to the time involved and what actually needs to be taught (especially given the horrible state of catechesis today as well as general bias and misunderstandings held by protestants on what Catholicism actually is and teaches) a parish is not always able to run to course at the same time that, for the most part, teach the same thing.
 
RCIA is not required. If you have sufficient understanding of the Catholic faith as determined by the pastor at your local parish, you may be “provisionally” baptized and admitted to full communion with the Catholic church. Only discussion between you and the pastor can determine your level of understanding of the Catholic faith.
Welcome home.

Matthew
 
drafdog said:
RCIA is not required. If you have sufficient understanding of the Catholic faith as determined by the pastor at your local parish, you may be “provisionally” baptized and admitted to full communion with the Catholic church. Only discussion between you and the pastor can determine your level of understanding of the Catholic faith.
Welcome home.

Matthew
Click to expand...
If one is not baptize then I believe RCIA is the way to go.
 
A lot of the liturgical book entitled “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” is available at catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA . This has the introductions for the book used in England and Wales. The USA edition has different paragraph numbers.

On page 41 of the PDF file there is chapter 5: “RECEPTION OF BAPTISED CHRISTIANS INTO THE FULL COMMUNION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH”.

This section includes:
“391 The baptised Christian is to receive both doctrinal and spiritual preparation, adapted to individual pastoral requirements, for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. The candidate should learn to deepen an inner adherence to the Church, where he or she will find the fulness of his or her baptism. During the period of preparation the candidate may share in worship in conformity witli the provisions of the Ecumenical Directory.
Anything that would equate candidates for reception with those who are catechumens is to be absolutely avoided.”

While the Catholic Church is likely to accept a Protestant’s baptism and Eucharist, it is unlikely to accept their confirmation. I think this is due to its understanding of authority of Protestant bishops. So there is also likely to be preparation for one of the three sacraments of initiation, confirmation.
 
ByzCath said:
While this is a laudable ideal it is not always practical.

Due to the time involved and what actually needs to be taught (especially given the horrible state of catechesis today as well as general bias and misunderstandings held by protestants on what Catholicism actually is and teaches) a parish is not always able to run to course at the same time that, for the most part, teach the same thing.
Click to expand...
AGREED!!

We had a diocesan director who was always urging this. I was reminded of the two Irish ladies coming from mass on Mother’s Day. One commented, “Wasn’t that a lovely sermon he gave on motherhood.” To which her friend replied, “Yes, and would I knew as little about it as he does.” 😃

Reality is always rough on theoreticians.
 
John_Lilburne said:
A lot of the liturgical book entitled “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” is available at catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA . This has the introductions for the book used in England and Wales. The USA edition has different paragraph numbers.

On page 41 of the PDF file there is chapter 5: “RECEPTION OF BAPTISED CHRISTIANS INTO THE FULL COMMUNION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH”.

This section includes:
“391 The baptised Christian is to receive both doctrinal and spiritual preparation, adapted to individual pastoral requirements, for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. The candidate should learn to deepen an inner adherence to the Church, where he or she will find the fulness of his or her baptism. During the period of preparation the candidate may share in worship in conformity witli the provisions of the Ecumenical Directory.
Anything that would equate candidates for reception with those who are catechumens is to be absolutely avoided.”

While the Catholic Church is likely to accept a Protestant’s baptism and Eucharist, it is unlikely to accept their confirmation. I think this is due to its understanding of authority of Protestant bishops. So there is also likely to be preparation for one of the three sacraments of initiation, confirmation.
Click to expand...
Ummm, the Catholic Church only accepts baptism, provided that it is done in the way the Church recognizes. It has never accepted Eucharist from any Protestant denomination.

While a candidate attends RCIA classes they are not called catechumens and do not undergo the rites that a catechumen undergoes.
 
While the Catholic Church is likely to accept a Protestant’s baptism and Eucharist, it is unlikely to accept their confirmation. I think this is due to its understanding of authority of Protestant bishops. So there is also likely to be preparation for one of the three sacraments of initiation, confirmation.
Click to expand...
The Catholic church does NOT recognize a Protestant Eucharist. Right matter and Right intention aside, protestant ministers DO NOT have valid orders which enables preists to truly and substantially change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. It is simply not sacramentally possible.

The baptism by protestant ministers is recognized because the Catholic Church officially recognizes all baptisms in the trinitarian formula, even those performed (if you’ll check your catechism) by nonChristains!
 
rayrondini said:
I am a Christian. I have been a part of the Protestant community for several years now and am converting to Catholicism. I have been validly baptized (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in a good Christian church, I have received a lot of Christian teaching. In fact, my first two years of college were at a Christian University. I just read somewhere briefly that Christians are not to be confused with catachumens (spelling?) and, unless they’ve had no Christian training, they shouldn’t go through a full-RCIA like the catechumens. I’m just wondering…

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Once again, the “definition” of RCIA comes into play.

Overall ‘RCIA’ consists of periods of time devoted to study and formation and actual liturgical rites. Some of those periods of study are appropriate only for Catechumens. But some of the necessary topics of study are shared between catechumens and candidates.

In order to facilitate the study necessary for those who wish to enter the Catholic Church, most parishes offer instruction classes which tend to be labeled ‘RCIA’ when they probably ought to be called “Adult formation classes” or “inquiry classes”. Most people tend to focus more on the instruction classes rather than on actual rites, hence the idea that candidates need “to go through RCIA”.

It’s common in most parishes for any adult who wishes/needs to receive one or more of the sacraments of initiation to sit in the same class as others who need to receive more or less sacraments than himself.

This is sort of like how certain university classes serve the needs of both undergraduate and graduate students. But while both are called ‘university students’ they are following very different degree tracks since one has a bachelor’s degree and one doesn’t. (Yes, this analogy, like most, can break down if examined too closely.)

If you look through the .pdf file provided by John Lilburne you see that the liturgical rites for candidates are different from those of catechumens.

So no, candidates neither need to nor ought to go through a “full-RCIA”, but they both may need or could benefit from some of the same instruction and formation.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top