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TrueLight
Guest
This never even occurred to me. I might be able to go to confession AND receive communion. The thought is too wonderful to entertain. I don’t want to be disappointed.
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Skeptic92
Guest
Your in Communion with Rome by virtue of your Baptism, just not full Communon (or in a state of grace) because of the stain of sin, which will be wiped away once you attend Confession, speak to the Priest in the Parish which you normally attend Sunday Mass at, I am sure all you need to do is attend confession and you’ll be free to receive Communion, as far as I remember, there is no Canon Law prohibiting lapsed Catholics from receiving Communion once they’ve reconciled and receive Absolution.
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Phemie
Guest
But the priest is usually the one who decides what’s grave inconvenience and that varies from priest to priest. Per the canon, the marriage is licitly celebrated without Confirmation having been confirmed. In the case of the person asking the question, reconciling the couple to the Church was more important than having her confirmed prior to the ceremony. She was going to be confirmed in due course since she was already in R.C.I.A.
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TrueLight
Guest
Well, I hope the document is enough. All it has is the date of my baptism by a Reverend so and so. My mom says he was a Catholic Priest. I’m pretty sure she won’t sign any affidavits either, lol.
But let’s say it is and I go to confession. Do I have to confess everything since infancy or since my second baptism as a teen?
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heathernoel
Guest
That’s awesome, awesome news!!! I’m thrilled for you!!
OMgosh
you might be able to go to confession already?!! Oh, I’m jealous! I am anticipating my first…
OMgosh
you might be able to go to confession already?!! Oh, I’m jealous! I am anticipating my first…
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TrueLight
Guest
My heart is actually beating fast right now, but I won’t know until I present my document. I have to really pray about this.That’s awesome, awesome news!!! I’m thrilled for you!!
OMgosh
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baltobetsy
Guest
If this document proves to be evidence of a valid baptism, you would need to confess for your entire life. The teenage attempt at baptism would have had no effect, since you were already baptized.
I would strongly caution you against assuming, on the basis of what folks here have told you, that you cannot now be refused Confession and Holy Communion. Wait to see what the priest says before you get totally giddy.
I would strongly caution you against assuming, on the basis of what folks here have told you, that you cannot now be refused Confession and Holy Communion. Wait to see what the priest says before you get totally giddy.
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ephesians2
Guest
**Thankyou to those who realize that “OMG” is TAKING THE LORDS NAME IN VAIN!!! WHY do people find that okay?! God specifically says NOT TO DO THAT! What ever happened to “Wow” or some other non-commandment breaking exclamation? Respect the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, use His name for praise and glory! To God be the Glory. **
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mary_bobo
Guest
This is what happens when we assume what another means. There is a lot of this on the forum.
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powerlinemom
Guest
I was baptized Catholic as a baby, but was raised in a Methodist Church. I always knew I’d been baptized in the Catholic church, but since my parents stopped going to a Catholic church when I was a baby I never would have considered myself Catholic. My husband was born and raised Catholic, but he had fallen away when we met, so we were married in the Methodist church I grew up in and had our first two children baptized in the Methodist church.
In the early part of 2010, we decided to come back to the Catholic church and the first thing we had to do was have our marriage convalidated. We met with our priest a couple of times and he agreed to schedule the date for it. My husband went to confession, we had our marriage convalidated, and then he was able to start receiving communion again.
Since I did not receive any real instruction in the Catholic faith as a child I still had to go through RCIA. The classes start in September each year, so I had to wait 9 months for the classes to begin, then go through 8 months of weekly classes leading up to the Easter Vigil. There were three of us in the class who were already Catholic - two had received their First Communion as children and just needed to be Confirmed, and then me. We did not participate in any of the scrutinies or the Rite of Sending, etc, since we were already Catholic, but I did not receive the Eucharist until Easter Vigil. I had my first Confession with the rest of the group a couple of weeks before the Easter Vigil after we had a class on how to go to Confession.
As much as it would have been nice to be able to start receiving Communion right away, in the end I am actually kind of grateful for having to go through the lengthy preparation process. It felt even more meaningful and special since I felt completely prepared and had been waiting for it for so long.
In the early part of 2010, we decided to come back to the Catholic church and the first thing we had to do was have our marriage convalidated. We met with our priest a couple of times and he agreed to schedule the date for it. My husband went to confession, we had our marriage convalidated, and then he was able to start receiving communion again.
Since I did not receive any real instruction in the Catholic faith as a child I still had to go through RCIA. The classes start in September each year, so I had to wait 9 months for the classes to begin, then go through 8 months of weekly classes leading up to the Easter Vigil. There were three of us in the class who were already Catholic - two had received their First Communion as children and just needed to be Confirmed, and then me. We did not participate in any of the scrutinies or the Rite of Sending, etc, since we were already Catholic, but I did not receive the Eucharist until Easter Vigil. I had my first Confession with the rest of the group a couple of weeks before the Easter Vigil after we had a class on how to go to Confession.
As much as it would have been nice to be able to start receiving Communion right away, in the end I am actually kind of grateful for having to go through the lengthy preparation process. It felt even more meaningful and special since I felt completely prepared and had been waiting for it for so long.
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PbloPicasso
Guest
Each pastor has the right to choose what he wants for you. However, for a baptized catholic its not necessary that he follow that order. That’s all I meant. But it is always good to follow the wishes of your pastor because many times they choose to walk everyone through at the same time. The problem I have with this is that as a Baptized Catholic you are required to attend weekly mass, not just part of it. That will fall on the responsibility of your pastor if he chooses something different. Many priests do not follow the laws prescribed by the Church mainly because they are not really that familiar with them. There is a reason we call them “clerics”. Be patient. But you can go to confession just as soon as you understand and learn how to properly do it. Ask if you can begin receiving at another mas at another time away from your classmates if he won’t allow you to begin receiving. There is no hurry though. The experience of anticipating is really a wonderful experience.If this document proves to be evidence of a valid baptism, you would need to confess for your entire life. The teenage attempt at baptism would have had no effect, since you were already baptized.
I would strongly caution you against assuming, on the basis of what folks here have told you, that you cannot now be refused Confession and Holy Communion. Wait to see what the priest says before you get totally giddy.
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Annabelle_Marie
Guest
I would say talk to your priest…and follow what he says…not what people say here.
My husband was baptized Catholic…but had no real instruction. Therefore he could NOT receive the sacrament of reconciliation until later on in the RCIA process. He did go in early and the priest prayed with him but it wasn’t a sacrament and he did not get the words of absolution. He had to wait to receive first communion with the rest of the people. It is going to depend on your parish.
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TrueLight
Guest
So I received an answer. The answer is I have to go be confirmed before I can take communion, based on the fact that I don’t have the baptismal certificate (and it will be responsible to get it), and because my religious history is complex (which I assumes means because I was also baptized as a protestant).
I am obviously upset. Talk about emotional roller coaster.
Although one Parish has an RCIA program that starts in Sept and one has one on one lessons with the Priest. I would probably be confirmed sooner with the one on one program.
I am obviously upset. Talk about emotional roller coaster.
Although one Parish has an RCIA program that starts in Sept and one has one on one lessons with the Priest. I would probably be confirmed sooner with the one on one program.
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TrueLight
Guest
It also makes me wonder what was the purpose in the Lord revealing the fact of the Baptism to me, when it will make no difference.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Now that I think about it. I forgot my sister was married when her husband wasn’t confirmed yet. But the priest refused to do a full Mass, just a Rite or Marriage. My wife and I did a full Mass.
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Skeptic92
Guest
Find out the Diocese and Parish if you can that you was baptized as a Child, you can get the baptismal certificate (which will be the proof you are indeed Catholic), if you can’t find the Parish, the diocese and the priest name ( a year will help as well) could be enough if you can enquire to that Diocese, that may be able to retrieve the certificate, if they can’t you’ll have to be received into the Church as there is some doubt about your Baptism in a Catholic Church.
God Bless You
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Annabelle_Marie
Guest
Maybe to give you the full experience of coming home?
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TrueLight
Guest
I could have done without that.
Update: It is being discussed further since I have been actively studying Catholicism and that counts for something.
I just feel emotionally drained and resigned.
I’ll abide by whatever is decided.
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PbloPicasso
Guest
It actually does make a difference. You are not allowed to obtain your baptismall record on your own. I, on the other hand, have an original copy. But the real original is still located at the parish I was baptized in San Antonio while my dad was stationed at Lackland Airbase. Your parish is responsible for obtaining your records if you know where they’re located. You can simply send in a request form. You home parish will always be the same parish for the rest of your life. That includes confirmation, marriage. It is the rule and how nations have so many detailed records that go way back into history.
Your protestant baptism means nothing, like mine. It will always be your Catholic baptism that took place before the dunking in water - not a baptism. Just for cleaning up records I’d contact the parish you were originally baptized in and have them send over a copy of your baptismal records. I’m sad to say that many parish lay ministers and some priests are simply too lazy to follow through. Lazy may not be the right word, but rather they are overloaded. In my book, that is not an excuse. That’s like saying I was too busy in the army to follow regulations.
Don’t give up.
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PbloPicasso
Guest
Get a copy of the old baptismal document your mother showed you. At least write down the parish and location and then send them an inquiry letter. That will produce answers. Anyone can produce a fake document. That is why parishes protect these documents. It’s really a pain to work through the system and takes time. But if you do some of the leg work yourself you might actually get quicker results.
I apologize for using the word “lazy”. That’s not what I really mean.
I apologize for using the word “lazy”. That’s not what I really mean.
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