RCIA process: Confession then confirmation?

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cpat1990

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Greetings,

I am a former Episcopalian currently enrolled in RCIA. My instructor (not a Priest) told me that I cannot go to confession until I am in full communion with the Church. Is this correct? I was under the impression that I must confess prior to receiving the Holy Eucharist. Could anyone refer me to some authoritative sources? I find my instructors proposed course of action deeply discomfiting but perhaps I have been misinformed. I know that the Catechism (1310) states that in order “To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace.” Thus “One should receive the sacrament of Penance.” This is true for converts as well, correct?

Thank you all.
 
If you are a Candidate (already baptized) then you DO go to confession in advance of the Easter Vigil. I help with our RCIA course and all our candidates will be going just before holy week. Your instructor is in error if they said otherwise.

Welcome home! 🙂
 
Canadian Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults says the following. I think it’s written this way because if the reception is to be within a liturgy of the Word there would be no Communion. It may be another article number in other countries’ Rite.
  1. If the profession of faith and reception take place within Mass, the candidate, according to his or her own conscience, should make a confession of sins beforehand, first informing the confessor that he or she is about to be received into full communion. Any confessor who is lawfully approved may hear the candidate’s confession.
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cpat1990 said:
Greetings,

I am a former Episcopalian currently enrolled in RCIA. My instructor (not a Priest) told me that I cannot go to confession until I am in full communion with the Church. Is this correct? I was under the impression that I must confess prior to receiving the Holy Eucharist. Could anyone refer me to some authoritative sources? I find my instructors proposed course of action deeply discomfiting but perhaps I have been misinformed. I know that the Catechism (1310) states that in order “To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace.” Thus “One should receive the sacrament of Penance.” This is true for converts as well, correct?

Thank you all.
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I am a baptized (Protestant) Christian and I have been to confession several times during my RCIA instruction. It was advised we wait until after we covered confession in class, which was in January, and then I started going when needed. I’ve been to confession probably 4 times since January and plan to go any time I need/want to.
 
If you are a validly baptized person, you go to Confession as soon as you and your priest feel you are ready.
 
Thanks so much. Yea, that is what I thought. Not sure how I am going to handle this with the instructor. I suppose I will talk to Fr. next and see what his thoughts are.
 
cpat1990 said:
Not sure how I am going to handle this with the instructor. I suppose I will talk to Fr. next and see what his thoughts are.
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This is a common thing that happens every year in almost every RCIA class held. I’m sure your RCIA director knows all about going to confession before the Easter Vigil.
 
It’s possible the instructor assumed you were unbaptised…
 
Yea, we have discussed it. The problem is he is telling me that I should not/ cannot go prior to the Easter Vigil.
 
No, he knows I was baptized, which only complicates the situation. He says I have to be in full communion with the Church before I can go.
 
Bypass the instructor and share these concerns with your priest. You will find the answers you are looking for, and the priest will be the one to correct the misunderstandings of the instructor.
 
EricF said:
Bypass the instructor and share these concerns with your priest. You will find the answers you are looking for, and the priest will be the one to correct the misunderstandings of the instructor.
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Absolutely raise this with your priest. The RCIA instructor has misunderstood.
 
Obviously speak with your priest but, unless your Instructor “rugby tackles” you at the door to the confessional they can’t really stop you going to confession any more than they would expect you to prove that you had been. 😉
 
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