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sunnyfl
Guest
I’m in rcia class . Before im done will I have to go to confession? A friend of mine said I have to . We have not talked about it in class…
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FidesSpesCarita
Guest
Yes. You must make a good confession prior to receiving first communion. Although, I suppose technically if you are receiving baptism at the same time you would not be required to go to confession, but it would be highly recommended.
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ChadS
Guest
If they are being baptized at the Easter Vigil then they are not permitted to go to confession. Confession is only for those who have been baptized. When they are baptized all of their prior sins will be forgiven, but I suppose if there are things you want to discuss with your priest they would be happy to meet with you after all the excitement of the Easter Vigil – that couldn’t hurt at all.
ChadS
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
It depends on whether or not you are already baptized.
If you are not already baptized then baptism will wipe away all of your sins. You will start going to confession afterward, but there is no need (and no ability) to confess beforehand.
If you are already baptized then you will have the opportunity to go to confession before you are received into the Church and receive your remaining sacraments of initiation.
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MorganON
Guest
Hi, I am in RCIA myself. We were told that we would have a retreat weekend a couple of weeks before Easter when we will be taken into full communion in the Church. At that retreat, we will given the opportunity to sit with one of our priests and have confession. I know at least one of us has not been baptized if not more.
Someone asked if they could take confession sooner than that and our RCIA committee took that question to the priests and the answer that came back was that we could. There was no caviat that we must be baptized. They only suggested that if we went that we let the priest know that we were not fully catechized (sp) so the priest could help us through with the proper way to do it.
Maybe someone got it wrong, but that’s what we’ve been told.
Melissa
Someone asked if they could take confession sooner than that and our RCIA committee took that question to the priests and the answer that came back was that we could. There was no caviat that we must be baptized. They only suggested that if we went that we let the priest know that we were not fully catechized (sp) so the priest could help us through with the proper way to do it.
Maybe someone got it wrong, but that’s what we’ve been told.
Melissa
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FidesSpesCarita
Guest
Thank you for clarifying. I always think of my own circumstances when RCIA comes up and forget that many people arent baptized before entry into the Church.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
Someone definitely got it wrong.
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mswood
Guest
When I went through RCIA they required those that had already been baptized to go to confession the week prior to the Easter Vigil so they would be in a state of grace for their upcoming confirmation (the church had a penance service), those of us that were not baptized where not required to attend the penance service and where told to NOT go to confession even if we attended the penance service. Since baptism washed away all previously committed sins there was no need for the unbaptized to confess before the Easter Vigil, we were baptized and then immediately confirmed so we were in a state of grace for our confirmation.
We where also taught that baptism is the first sacrament and you must receive the sacrament of baptism before you could receive any other sacraments, which includes confession (penance).
We where also taught that baptism is the first sacrament and you must receive the sacrament of baptism before you could receive any other sacraments, which includes confession (penance).
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Prairie_Rose
Guest
As one that was previously un-baptized and went thru the RCIA process at age 41, I can’t describe what an AWESOME feeling it was when at the point of baptism, my Priest said - “You have been forgiven of ALL your sins” - or whatever the proper verbiage was at the time - LOL - It was just this tremendous weight lifted off of me. Confession gives a similar feeling, but for that very first time - it was very memorable!!!
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jmcrae
Guest
They will give you instructions on how to go to Confession during Lent. (If they don’t mention it at the start of Lent, ask about it!)
If you were baptized already before, then arrangements will be made for you to make your First Confession, after you’ve been instructed and prepared for it, at some point just prior to your Confirmation and First Holy Communion.
Welcome!
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sojo
Guest
Neither my husband nor I were baptized before we attended RCIA and we were both required to have confession first. We were told that yes, our baptism would wash away all our sins anyway, but that attending a First Confession would be a good learning thing, and that is was part of the whole RCIA educational thing.
My son is disabled with speech delays (pretty severe), and our new parish Priest gave him First Communion without confession. i guess he just didn’t know how to approach that whole thing with a child who was non-verbal (I did mention that a short question and answer format would work).
I’ve asked a few priests since, but nobody seems to want to give my child confession, so we leave it in God’s hands. When its time, I trust the Holy Spirit to make it all happen. Despite what these lovely men of the cloth think, my child is every bit as capable of sinning as the next 14 year old. But since nobody wants to “hear” his confession, I can only assume that God forgives the situation.
My son is disabled with speech delays (pretty severe), and our new parish Priest gave him First Communion without confession. i guess he just didn’t know how to approach that whole thing with a child who was non-verbal (I did mention that a short question and answer format would work).
I’ve asked a few priests since, but nobody seems to want to give my child confession, so we leave it in God’s hands. When its time, I trust the Holy Spirit to make it all happen. Despite what these lovely men of the cloth think, my child is every bit as capable of sinning as the next 14 year old. But since nobody wants to “hear” his confession, I can only assume that God forgives the situation.
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beth40n2
Guest
Does your son use sign language? If the question/answer type conversations works it is worth suggesting. Also can your son write any words or draw pictures of his sin. I used to work in a group home for adults with disabilities, there are many ways to communicate. If your son does his best to communicate his sins to a priest, it would be a good confession, then he could be absolved of all of his sin. I would talk to your parish priest about your son’s rights for confession, and he should be given that opportunity especially if he takes communion. I will be praying for you.
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sojo
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Thank you for your ideas and prayer! To answer your questions, my son only knows a few baby signs from his early years. His fine motor is worse than his speech, so he can’t really draw and can only barely write a bit doing copy work. I know it sounds like he is profoundly disabled, but actually, he is quite bright. It is just the speech processing and fine motor that holds him back. He is 14 and reads at a 7th grade level, for example.
One of the problems, as you know from working with the DD’d, is that the anxiety of performing in a “normal” world works against my son’s ability to process a question. He is smart enough and functional enough to know and appreciate his disability and it mortifies him. The anxiety surrounding that makes it harder for him to relax and communicate. Up until a few years ago, he would ONLY answer questions with a “yes.” Now, he will answer, “yes”, “no” and “don’t know” for us, his parents with whom he is entirely comfortable, and a few close friends, but sitting across from the Priest, I’m sure he would just nod “yes” to anything he was asked. I think the Priest understands this, too. He does speak in short sentences, more each day! But unfortunately, only a few close people can understand him. He has become used to only speaking in sentences when he knows we will be there to translate.
I’m thinking maybe an answer board might work - he is getting more used to pointing to correct answers. But our Priest is a solo guy with 4 different parishes and dealing with his own stress and health issues, so I don’t want to stress him further with my son’s issues. Most Priests we’ve run into (and being in a rural area, that’s very few in any case) are just very uncomfortable in dealing with the developmentally delayed. They are loving but uncomfortable.
I approached a monk from a Carmellite order where I used to do annual retreats (can’t really afford that anymore). I thought he would be perfect - easy going and very gentle. But He just brushed it off as unnecessary for my son. So much of the Catholic world still thinks the DD’d are just incapable of sin.
I will keep praying that the right Priest comes along to help out my son. I’d like him to be able to have this sacrament. Yes, his sins are very tiny, I’m sure - being disobedient, lying, thinking angry thoughts. That’s about the sum of it. But it isn’t the level of sins thats important, is it? Who is to judge the weight of any one sin and the relief to the soul to have that weight lifted?
Pretty soon, I’m going to have to arrange to have my son confirmed. We’ll be preparing through our home school (no real local classes for this anyway), and then arrange for the Priest to be able to do this at Easter Vigil. I’d really like for him to have First Confession before he is confirmed!
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jmcrae
Guest
It’s not that he’s incapable of sin, but as you’ve pointed out, he’d have a very difficult time making a standard Confession, especially if he only answers “yes” to questions asked of him by people he doesn’t know very well. Maybe wait until he has stronger communication skills, before he makes his First Confession - and meanwhile, be assured - God, his Creator, understands his situation.
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puzzleannie
Guest
no way to answer without out knowing your status
those who will be baptized at EAster will make their first confession sometime after Easter, since baptism remits all sin.
Those baptized candidates preparing for confirmation and full communion with the Catholic Church will be prepared for confession in the course of their formation and make first confession sometime before their reception.
ask the catechist or the pastor who will receive you.
that is what RCIA is for, asking questions, so ask, ask, ask
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