Protestant attending RCIA??

[jmcrae]

Much thanks. What takes place during these various stages?

Inquiry is a period of welcoming and conversation. Many converts come into the Inquiry phase and complain of “not enough meat” because they aren’t aware that this is just the Inquiry phase. During this period, the Inquirer gets answers to his initial questions, finds a sponsor, deals with any issues such as getting a Declaration of Nullity for any invalid marriages in his life, and starts to get the “feel” of Catholic living - going to Mass, participating in the life of the community, praying, reading the Bible, and so on.

Catechesis is the end of the conversational style of meeting: it is characterized by lectures and homework. This is where the ones who were complaining of “not enough meat” in the Inquiry period come into their own - they love this phase of the journey because it is a time of studying, memorizing, and learning the basic facts of the faith.

Enlightenment is a period of prayer in which the participants make the faith their own - they have learned the facts, and now they begin to live them and work them out in their own lives. For those who have previously been baptized, this is the period of time when they prepare for First Confession and make arrangements with a priest to do this. For those not yet baptized, this is a period of intense reflection on what it will mean to become a baptized Christian. The unbaptized are also invited to receive the Apostles’ Creed and the Our Father during this period, and also they receive three “Scrutinies” which consist of Scripture readings and prayers that are meant to give them spiritual strength as they come closer and closer to the moment of baptism. The Devil is intensifying his attacks on them during this period, and so the Church provides the Scrutinies as a means of giving them power against the Devil.

Mystagogia is the deepening of the mysteries; after receiving the Sacraments of Initiation, the participants come together for a period of time (anywhere from seven weeks to a full year) to fill in the gaps and to ask the new questions that are now arising in their minds regarding the Sacraments - the issues now become less theoretical and much more practical.

 

[Parysa]

Inquiry is a period of welcoming and conversation. Many converts come into the Inquiry phase and complain of “not enough meat” because they aren’t aware that this is just the Inquiry phase. During this period, the Inquirer gets answers to his initial questions, finds a sponsor, deals with any issues such as getting a Declaration of Nullity for any invalid marriages in his life, and starts to get the “feel” of Catholic living - going to Mass, participating in the life of the community, praying, reading the Bible, and so on.

Catechesis is the end of the conversational style of meeting: it is characterized by lectures and homework. This is where the ones who were complaining of “not enough meat” in the Inquiry period come into their own - they love this phase of the journey because it is a time of studying, memorizing, and learning the basic facts of the faith.

Enlightenment is a period of prayer in which the participants make the faith their own - they have learned the facts, and now they begin to live them and work them out in their own lives. For those who have previously been baptized, this is the period of time when they prepare for First Confession and make arrangements with a priest to do this. For those not yet baptized, this is a period of intense reflection on what it will mean to become a baptized Christian. The unbaptized are also invited to receive the Apostles’ Creed and the Our Father during this period, and also they receive three “Scrutinies” which consist of Scripture readings and prayers that are meant to give them spiritual strength as they come closer and closer to the moment of baptism. The Devil is intensifying his attacks on them during this period, and so the Church provides the Scrutinies as a means of giving them power against the Devil.

Mystagogia is the deepening of the mysteries; after receiving the Sacraments of Initiation, the participants come together for a period of time (anywhere from seven weeks to a full year) to fill in the gaps and to ask the new questions that are now arising in their minds regarding the Sacraments - the issues now become less theoretical and much more practical.

Thank you so much for that!!!

 

[puzzleannie]

I am a Hence, I am interested in perhaps attending RCIA. However, I don’t know that I would ever necessarily “cross the tiber” because of my issues with Mary and praying through/to saints.

Would I be welcome in an RCIA under these circumstances?

felt a need to worship the Lord Hence, I’m not

absolutely, the purpose of the initial period of RCIA, inquiry, is exactly that to ask questions and get answers, and the purpose of further instruction and formation is to go deeper and learn more, and resolve doubts. you won’t be allowed, and won’t want to, move through each successive stage in the journey until you identify and deal with problematic issues, which is why we say “it takes as long as it takes”. for some people it does take years until they can work through a particular doctrine or law and come to accept, if not the entire teaching, that the Church is right in teaching it and teaches through the authority of Christ.

 

[rr1213]

Inquiry is a period of welcoming and conversation. Many converts come into the Inquiry phase and complain of “not enough meat” because they aren’t aware that this is just the Inquiry phase. During this period, the Inquirer gets answers to his initial questions, finds a sponsor, deals with any issues such as getting a Declaration of Nullity for any invalid marriages in his life, and starts to get the “feel” of Catholic living - going to Mass, participating in the life of the community, praying, reading the Bible, and so on.

Catechesis is the end of the conversational style of meeting: it is characterized by lectures and homework. This is where the ones who were complaining of “not enough meat” in the Inquiry period come into their own - they love this phase of the journey because it is a time of studying, memorizing, and learning the basic facts of the faith.

Enlightenment is a period of prayer in which the participants make the faith their own - they have learned the facts, and now they begin to live them and work them out in their own lives. For those who have previously been baptized, this is the period of time when they prepare for First Confession and make arrangements with a priest to do this. For those not yet baptized, this is a period of intense reflection on what it will mean to become a baptized Christian. The unbaptized are also invited to receive the Apostles’ Creed and the Our Father during this period, and also they receive three “Scrutinies” which consist of Scripture readings and prayers that are meant to give them spiritual strength as they come closer and closer to the moment of baptism. The Devil is intensifying his attacks on them during this period, and so the Church provides the Scrutinies as a means of giving them power against the Devil.

Mystagogia is the deepening of the mysteries; after receiving the Sacraments of Initiation, the participants come together for a period of time (anywhere from seven weeks to a full year) to fill in the gaps and to ask the new questions that are now arising in their minds regarding the Sacraments - the issues now become less theoretical and much more practical.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. At what stage do you actually join the Church if that is your ultimate aim?

 

[jmcrae]

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. At what stage do you actually join the Church if that is your ultimate aim?

When you receive the Sacraments of Initiation, after the Enlightenment period.

I highly, highly recommend attending the Period of Mystagogia, though, even if you are firmly convinced that you “don’t need it.” Too many converts skip that portion of the journey, thinking they “know it all” - while chewing gum at Mass, or not knowing how to sign themselves at the Gospel, etc. - Mystagogia is the fastest remedy for the “I’m new here” sign that seems to be invisibly plastered on people’s foreheads when they first come into the Church.

 

[RC_Matt]

As has already been said here, you will be very welcome and nobody will try to convert you. The purpose of RCIA is to educate, Catholics sometimes take it themselves as a “refresher” and many non-Catholics, with no intention of converting, attend to just learn what Catholicism is all about. In the case of potential converts, the Church wants to ensure that people understand everything the Church teaches BEFORE they make a firm decision to become Catholic.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that all the baloney about Catholics worshipping Mary, the Saints, statues etc., is just that – a bunch of baloney. I’ve heard it said that lots of people disagree with what they THINK the Catholic Church teaches, but very few disagree with what the Catholic Church really teaches.

 

[fabricdragon]

I am a protestant attending a non-denominational church. I have become interested in catholicism recently and am interested in attending RCIA. However, I do have, several significant doctrinal objections to catholicism as I understand it. (I think the catholic position on works/grace is scripturally sound however I’m leery of abandoning sola scriptura, and I’m extremely uncomfortable with the position Mary seems to play in the Catholic Church).

On the other hand, on Christmas Eve I actually felt compelled to attend a midnight Mass and felt a connection with a body of believers and with the Lord there that I don’t always feel at my home church. The Mass beautiful. (Although when I got home, I looked up the Church on line and found that the Bishop who presided at the Mass doesn’t believe that the Gospels are necessarily historical accounts–that’s problematic).

Hence, I am interested in perhaps attending RCIA. However, I don’t know that I would ever necessarily “cross the tiber” because of my issues with Mary and praying through/to saints.

Would I be welcome in an RCIA under these circumstances?

felt a need to worship the Lord Hence, I’m not

first of all… as a convert from the Episcopalian church… you would be welcome at most RCIA classes… just be careful to remember that the RCIA class is not a forum for debate, and many of your questions would be better held until after class … (i … umm. had some trouble with that one… being both a history nut and a bit of a religious scholar… i was taking valuable time from the other students until i learned to write my more… advanced… questions down for later)

as to Mary…i suggest you may do well to read the books by Scott Hahn, he was a Protestant minister who converted, and his books on his conversion and about the Church are excellent.

many times i will find that the Priests have some … views that are NOT in keeping with the Catechism. as long as they dont preach them in the pulpit… i dont worry about it. however, i suggest strongly that you get a copy of the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) or at least the abridged version… you may be surprised by what the Church teaches…

i will state, the most famous sticking point regarding Mary is the Rosary and the “Hail Mary” if you read that prayer carefully… the first half is all scripture quotes, the second half (starting with Holy Mary) is an appeal for Mary to pray FOR us… not a prayer TO her, as so many believe.

 

[mercygate]

absolutely, the purpose of the initial period of RCIA, inquiry, is exactly that to ask questions and get answers, and the purpose of further instruction and formation is to go deeper and learn more, and resolve doubts. you won’t be allowed, and won’t want to, move through each successive stage in the journey until you identify and deal with problematic issues, which is why we say “it takes as long as it takes”. for some people it does take years until they can work through a particular doctrine or law and come to accept, if not the entire teaching, that the Church is right in teaching it and teaches through the authority of Christ.

It took me 30 years to come into the Church. From what I saw of the RCIA program in my parish, if I had gone through that early in my conversion process, it would have taken me 40 years. There is a LOT of latitude in RCIA programs. The thing I find most awkward (when outright dissidence in the presenters is not present) is the one-size-fits-all mentality.

 

[fabricdragon]

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. At what stage do you actually join the Church if that is your ultimate aim?

there are two “steps” during the process… step one is when you go to the Cathedral to be blessed, as a candidate
(you, technically are not a catechumen, you are a candidate, because you have a valid Christian baptism) this is a statement of your intent to join the church.

that happens when you are most of the way through the RCIA classes…
the second step, is when you JOIN the church, the Catechumens are baptized, and all of you are confirmed. that happens at Easter Vigil (Saturday evening)

no amount of going to class makes you a Catholic without those steps… and many born and raised Catholics who didnt get a good education will turn up at RCIA classes to “brush up” on things…

let me know if i can help.
kirsten at fabricdragon dot com or fabricdragon.livejournal.com

(another former Episcopalian)

 

[hosemonkey]

i will state, the most famous sticking point regarding Mary is the Rosary and the “Hail Mary” if you read that prayer carefully… the first half is all scripture quotes, the second half (starting with Holy Mary) is an appeal for Mary to pray FOR us… not a prayer TO her, as so many believe.

Oh, so true. I came to the Church from atheism and when I came into the Church, RCIA was not generally mandatory. I had studied catholicism intensively, with of course, the intention of disproving it. But, the Holy Spirit siezed me and in a huge flash, I went from disbelief, to total surrender. To this day, I cannot explain it in any other way. In the course of this, Blessed Mary became my mother, my birth mother died at my birth and I never knew her. Our Blessed Mother filled the place in my heart that longed for the mother who had died. You will come to love her dearly also, she is the Mother of all humanity, certainly not just Catholics.