Obsessive question for you

[BrownR]

2 questions:

Ok, if I was a baptized candidate joining the Catholic Church during Easter Vigil, when exactly did I become “eligible” to take part in the Eucharist and technically become “Catholic”? Was it during the part where we were introduced to the Bishop in front of the Church and had to state “I believe and profess…” etc… or was it during the confirmation when we were “sealed” with the chrism oil?

Here’s the obsessive question. I think during the confirmation part, after the Father signed me with the chrism oil, I was supposed to say “and also with you” after he wishes me peace. I forgot that part and think I simply said “Thanks Father”. Does that matter at all? I’m assuming you are “confirmed” when you are signed with the chrism, or are you confirmed after you return peace? Obsessive minds want to know! Thanks.

 

[LilyM]

Definitely not during the confirmation - cradle Catholics usually receive First Communion several years prior to confirmation. Would have been the ‘believe and profess’ part.

And for confirmation’s effectiveness, what you say doesn’t really matter. The core of it is the words and gestures of the priest or bishop. I’d imagine there are plenty like you who didn’t get it ‘word perfect’

 

[puzzleannie]

you formally became Catholic when you professed the faith, if there had been a tornado immediately afterward and the Confirmation couldn’t happen, you still could receive communion at the next opportunity. The laying on of hands, invocation of the Holy Spirit and the Anointing are the signs, symbols and rituals of Confirmation, which completes your Baptism. In any case you are fully initiated and good to go. Stand back, the graces of these sacraments and the power of the Holy Spirit are at work within you and it is a real white tornado.

 

[BrownR]

Great, that’s what I thought. Thanks.

I know it’s a crazy question, but I just wanted to make sure I didn’t mess up my own confirmation by not saying “and also with you”!

 

[puzzleannie]

Great, that’s what I thought. Thanks.

I know it’s a crazy question, but I just wanted to make sure I didn’t mess up my own confirmation by not saying “and also with you”!

the sacraments are conferred by the action of the minister, acting in the person of Christ, not the recipient (with the exception of marriage, where the spouses are both ministers and recipients). I am sure Father thinks we don’t prepare the candidates because they all just stood there and did not respond, I practically had to shout “and also with you” before they got it. Bishop must be fed up with this, because he has instructed us to tell the youth to respond loud and clear. I will work on it, but it seems people just draw a blank, I guess it must be all that wonder and awe and fear of the Lord.

 

[John_Lilburne]

I think the person becomes Catholic when the priest accepts their profession of faith, with the words:
“N., the Lord receives you into the Catholic Church.
His loving kindness has led you here,
so that in the unity of the Holy Spirit
you may have full communion with us
in the faith you have professed in the presence of his family.”
(From the book “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”, USA n. 492, The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 280).

The baptised Christian can become Catholic in a ceremony without receiving any sacraments:
“390 If the rite of reception is celebrated outside Mass, the Mass in which for the first time the newly received will take part with the Catholic community should be celebrated as soon as possible, in order to make clear the connection between the reception and eucharistic communion.” (RCIA, Australian and English number 390, USA n. 476).

 

[deanarrca]

New in RCIA and looking forward Could someone write verbatim what the “believe and profess part” is. Or what we new in RCIA will in the future becoming new Catholics be professing to. Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Deana

 

[BrownR]

New in RCIA and looking forward Could someone write verbatim what the “believe and profess part” is. Or what we new in RCIA will in the future becoming new Catholics be professing to. Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Deana

“I, , believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.”

 

[stbruno]

Congratulations and welcome home!

 

[deanarrca]

**<< “I, , believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.” >>
**

Thanks for letting me know in advance
I was afraid it was something like that. I have no problem with that- I am there spiritually already, but glad it will be a little ways off- I have to warm up Evangelical hubby to the idea. He’s not ready to become Catholic by any means but we have been attending as a family and he is open to that. He is also open to many of the things taught in the Catholic Church (Especially if you can show him it is Scriptural). He knows I firmly believe it and that I have been lead to the Catholic Church. (However I was raised Episcopal which is much closer and similar to Catholic than his Church upbringing. We were married in the Episcopal Church with a Mass but have attended several Evangelical Churches throughout our marriage.- Also don’t think I’ll be inviting the inlaws who are a bit anti-Catholic. They are already not to happy with us attending a Catholic Church. I was already told by my mother-in-law at Easter in Quiet Please don’t become Catholic

PS: I am sorry for hijacking this thread so I apologize to the original poster. If someone wishes to reply to me personally maybe we should start a new thread.
Sincerely Deana

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the book “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”, in the description of the ceremony of reception within Mass:

“PROFESSION OF FAITH
491. The one to be received then joins the community in reciting the Nicene Creed, which is always said at this Mass.
The celebrant then asks the one to be received to add the following profession of faith. The candidate says:
I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.”
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 280. In the edition for Australia and England this is n. 404).

Bishop Robert Vasa has an interesting commentary on this profession of faith: “It is a moment of great freedom; a moment of abandonment of oneself into the hands of God and into the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is an unconditional “yes” to Jesus while at the same time recognizing that we may never completely know all that this “yes” entails.” (From sentinel.org/articles/2007-9/15257.html ).

Despite the rubric “reciting the Nicene Creed, which is always said at this Mass” the editions of the RCIA book approved for many countries, including USA, Australia and England include an appendix describing how the Reception can happen at the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil has an renewal of baptismal promises instead of the Nicene Creed.

 

[Elzee]

Bishop Robert Vasa has an interesting commentary on this profession of faith: “It is a moment of great freedom; a moment of abandonment of oneself into the hands of God and into the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is an unconditional “yes” to Jesus while at the same time recognizing that we may never completely know all that this “yes” entails.” (From sentinel.org/articles/2007-9/15257.html ).

This is beautiful.

 

[BrownR]

**<< “I, , believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.” >>
**

Thanks for letting me know in advance
I was afraid it was something like that. I have no problem with that- I am there spiritually already, but glad it will be a little ways off- I have to warm up Evangelical hubby to the idea. He’s not ready to become Catholic by any means but we have been attending as a family and he is open to that. He is also open to many of the things taught in the Catholic Church (Especially if you can show him it is Scriptural). He knows I firmly believe it and that I have been lead to the Catholic Church. (However I was raised Episcopal which is much closer and similar to Catholic than his Church upbringing. We were married in the Episcopal Church with a Mass but have attended several Evangelical Churches throughout our marriage.- Also don’t think I’ll be inviting the inlaws who are a bit anti-Catholic. They are already not to happy with us attending a Catholic Church. I was already told by my mother-in-law at Easter in Quiet Please don’t become Catholic

PS: I am sorry for hijacking this thread so I apologize to the original poster. If someone wishes to reply to me personally maybe we should start a new thread.
Sincerely Deana

Deanarrca, thanks for sharing that. I’ll pray for you and your family tonight. I converted from Protestantism also. I would highly recommend “Rome Sweet Home” by Scott Hahn for your husband to read. I’m sure you have probably heard of it, but in case you haven’t, it’s a powerful conversion story that most Protestants will be able to intimately relate to. It’s not a deeply theological book, but it might help your husband to have a deeper appreciation for Catholicism by observing the sacrifices that Scott Hahn gave up in the Presbyterian ministry in order to join the Catholic Church and what Protestant theological quandary’s catalyzed the process. It’s a short but great read.

 

[mercygate]

“I, , believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.”

Me? Personally? Notwithstanding all puzzleannie’s correct explanations (and don’t you doubt for one second ANYTHING annie sez, cuz she KNOWS her stuff!), I felt that I became Catholic when I received the first sacrament one is permitted to receive AS a Catholic: Confession.

Because of my Anglican roots, I felt compelled to preface that exercise with an act of submission to the Church: "Father I ask you to receive my confession and me with it as I profess my faith in Christ: conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Crucified, dead, buried, risen and ascended into heaven: and my faith in his One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Bless me Father . . .

Of course, he thought I was from Mars. Still, I definitely felt that when I walked into that room, I was still technically ‘protestant’ but that two hours later, when I walked out, I was, at last, truly CATHOLIC!

 

[stbruno]

As a cradle Catholic, I am energized by responses given by converts to our faith. You are truly a blessing, mercygate and a good example to others by the life you lead.

Thank you God for bringing more people home to you!
We are truly a Resurrection people!

 

[rwoehmke]

From the book “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”, in the description of the ceremony of reception within Mass:

“PROFESSION OF FAITH
The candidate says:
I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.”

Bishop Robert Vasa has an interesting commentary on this profession of faith: “It is a moment of great freedom; a moment of abandonment of oneself into the hands of God and into the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is an unconditional “yes” to Jesus while at the same time recognizing that we may never completely know all that this “yes” entails.” (From sentinel.org/articles/2007-9/15257.html ).

I handed out copies of this quote from Bishop Vasa to all of our candidates this year, because almost always there is someone in the class who feels that they can’t say it in good faith because they do not know “ALL” that is taught by the Church. I doubt there is any inmdividual in all the world who knows it “ALL”. It really is a leap of Faith and Trust.

 

[otjm]

Just an interesting observation: Those who have been baptized are to go through the Sacrament of Reconcilliation prior to the Easter Vigil.

I would agree that they become Catholic upon the profession of Faith, but they have already received 2 (or if married, 3) of the sacraments of the Church by the time they make that profession.