Protestant who has been baptized 2x looking to convert

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoshuaLinfoot
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JoshuaLinfoot

Guest
Hello,
I’ve been listening to an RCIA podcast, and I have a question about baptism.

I was born into the Seventh Day Adventist Church. My first baptism was when I was little, maybe 7 or 8. I don’t remember the experience at all, except being told, by my mom, that I was baptized at a summer camp in a lake. I was then baptized a second time when I was in my mid 20s, out of my own decision to follow Christ. The second time was also in a lake and the pastor said the needed words of in the name of father, son and Holy Spirit. I’m assuming my first baptism was also like this.

In the RCIA podcast, the speaker mentioned confession and baptism and that those never baptized don’t do a first confession since they never had a previous baptism. Clearly that’s not me, as I’ve had 2, at least I think since I’m not sure how Catholics view SDA baptisms. The speaker then said those who have been baptized must do confession.

This is my dilemma. If I convert, I will need to confess my sins, however I don’t know which baptism I’ve had is valid, meaning I don’t know how far back in my past I need to dig.
 
If there’s doubt just go all the way back. You only have to do it once. And ask a priest for guidance.

I believe the validity of SDA baptisms are considered “doubtful” and their form varies by community.
 
As long as you had a Trinitarian Baptism, you should be good, but you would need to confirm with a priest for final confirmation. Most baptisms are valid.
 
This is awesome! Thank you, I’ve been googling random stuff trying to find something like this.
 
Realistically, I don’t think the priest taking your first confession expects you to be able to itemize every sin you committed over the past 20 years or so. Equally, I don’t think the priest would mind if you were to mention something that may have taken place before your first valid baptism. I’m not saying that you are supposed to leave out sins that occurred after your baptism and I’m also not saying that it is necessary to include sins that occurred before your baptism, but what I am saying is that priests tend not to be as legalistic as some people expect.

This is relevant to you because you cannot remember whether you were baptized aged 7 or 8. Suppose that when you were 7 you stole a candy bar and then you were baptized when you were 8. You would not have to mention stealing the candy bar in your confession. But perhaps you can’t remember whether stealing the candy bar took place before or after your baptism. Just say, “Father, when I was about 7 or so I stole a candy bar and I always felt really bad about it.” If it happens to you were baptized afterwards, nothing terrible is going to happen to you because you mentioned it in your confession. Equally, suppose some friends were passing around a joint at a party 10 years ago and you took one inhalation. Nothing terrible is going to happen if, in good faith, you forget to mention this.

In general, I think people often make confession sound more complicated than it really is.
 
do_justly_love_mercy said:
In general, I think people often make confession sound more complicated than it really is.
Click to expand...
This.

@JoshuaLinfoot you’re hardly the first person with 20+ years of sins to confess and so, while it may be your’e first time, it almost certainly won’t be the priest’s! Priests are taught how to approach situations like your and trust me when I say it doesn’t involve trawling through every misdeed for the last two decades or more!
 
This is really helpful. I was freaking out a little thinking I have to think back over 20+ years of my life looking for sins I’ve committed. Most I don’t remember.
 
JoshuaLinfoot said:
I was freaking out a little thinking I have to think back over 20+ years of my life looking for sins I’ve committed
Click to expand...
Mine is a similar case, except I am looking at ~50 years. I think I need to get started in earnest by this weekend if I am going to be ready by the time the Parish Lenten Penance Service comes around, even just to accurately get the list of different kinds and use things like “often”, “almost daily”, “a few times” and so on for number. It’s the ones that are “more than I can count” that bug me the most I think.
 
whatistrue said:
40.png
JoshuaLinfoot:
I was freaking out a little thinking I have to think back over 20+ years of my life looking for sins I’ve committed
Click to expand...
Mine is a similar case, except I am looking at ~50 years. I think I need to get started in earnest by this weekend if I am going to be ready by the time the Parish Lenten Penance Service comes around, even just to accurately get the list of different kinds and use things like “often”, “almost daily”, “a few times” and so on for number. It’s the ones that are “more than I can count” that bug me the most I think.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t recommend the Lenten Penance Service as your first Confession in a long time. I understand it may be easier to get a priest that doesn’t know you, but, in my experience, there will be a crowd and I’d imagine you’ll need some time and that would be easier to get at a regular slot or by appointment.
 
Last edited:
Valid points and I may not do it there - I defaulted to that for the moment because that is the recommendation of the DRE and RCIA staff (and I think the Pastor). They were very careful to say that it is not required to be done then, but the timing (the Tuesday before the Easter Vigil) gives you less time to mess up before the Vigil, and when they say “many priests”, they typically bring in 10+ additional priests over the 4-5 that would normally be doing Confessions on the regular schedule. Of course that is for a Parish of 20,000+ registered parishioners, so crowds are to be expected no matter how many priests there are. But the fact that I need to get busy on my Examination does not change.
 
JoshuaLinfoot said:
This is really helpful. I was freaking out a little thinking I have to think back over 20+ years of my life looking for sins I’ve committed. Most I don’t remember.
Click to expand...
So, let’s review “how to confess” in the context of the Sacrament of Reconciliation:
  • confession of grave sins, in kind and number
    • this could be as simple as looking at the Ten Commandments and reflecting on them
      • you could confess “Father, I committed adultery one time”
      • you could confess “Father, I failed to honor my parents more times than I could possibly count”
    • so, it doesn’t have to be detailed (“Father, I talked back to Mom on 1/5/02, 1/6/02, 1/8/02…”), but rather, just cover the sins and your best characterization on the number of times
  • We’re also encouraged to confess venial sins, although it’s not technically necessary
    • It would be reasonable to confess “Father, I engage in gossip frequently” or “I lack charity in my heart almost every day I go into the office for work.”
Don’t fret overly much about it! This is about honestly admitting that you’re a sinner ('cause, after all, we all are!) and committing to try to avoid sin, and receiving divine forgiveness through the absolution of the priest!
 
The attached leaflet may help. I have always understood the SDA baptisms are doubtful/invalid. The leaflet I attach says they are doubtful. You don’t say in which ecclesial community your second baptism took place so one can’t comment on that.

Edit: I can’t attach the leaflet because it seems PDF files are not allowed. So, here’s a link to the leaflet online.
 
I think I just need to talk to a Priest when I do RCIA. Either way I do believe it will be more beneficial if I confess regardless of if either SDA baptism I’ve had was valid or not.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top