RCIA student in mortal sin?

[NaturalEnquirer]

Well, I’m back. I’m definitely glad that I went.

It was sort of an odd experience. The priest and I started with a friendly conversation. He wanted to know a little about me personally, and we moved on to some more spiritual discussions. I told him I wasn’t yet Catholic, of course, and I think he wanted to get a sense of where I was coming from. That I was serious about becoming Catholic, and that I knew at least the basics of the faith.

He then heard my confession and granted absolution. It’s kind of funny – when I left, I actually felt a little anti-climax. I’m not sure what I was expecting, maybe some kind of touch-feely “born again” type thing. But as I’ve been working on my penance, I’m really feeling a lot better. If nothing else, it’s sort of a stronger internal conviction, that I’m really serious about this.

Obviously I’m still sorting it out. I think Bennie really hit the nail on the head earlier. If you feel called, go!

Hope that helps (somehow). Good luck!

 

[Shellie]

Well, I’m back. I’m definitely glad that I went.

Excellent.

 

[Bennie_P]

Well, I’m back. It’s kind of funny – when I left, I actually felt a little anti-climax. I’m not sure what I was expecting, maybe some kind of touch-feely “born again” type thing. But as I’ve been working on my penance, I’m really feeling a lot better. If nothing else, it’s sort of a stronger internal conviction, that I’m really serious about this.

anti-climax - that is how I sort of feel afterwards also, I think it is because I do so much soul searching in order to do a good confession, when it is over it’s like I was so full of anxiety and fear before going that I expect the heavens to open up. But what is left is a sense of peace - I feel clean like just coming out of a shower or bath. And I feel stronger.

Isn’t God Good?!?!:clapping: :extrahappy::clapping: :dancing: :clapping: :extrahappy::clapping:

 

[Ani_Ibi]

So, I’m confused. If I understand correctly, non-Catholics’ sins can be forgiven, without confession, right? Salvation isn’t solely for Catholics.

So, if I had remained Methodist, but sincerely repented of my sin, I would be OK, right (where OK means simply “not damned”)? So why the need for confession of sins that have already been forgiven, by some other means?

Thanks very much!

Sin affects the following:

your relationship with God;
your relationship with others (the Church);
your relationship with yourself.

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

Sin affects the following:

your relationship with God;
your relationship with others (the Church);
your relationship with yourself.

I certainly agree. But I’m not sure I get your point.

 

[teachccd]

It is not possible for a non-Catholic to commit a mortal sin. For a sin to separate you from the Church you have to have been joined first. All sins are taken away in baptism. That is not to say that those intending to join the Church shouldn’t try to live by her rules as preparation, but they do not yet have any obligations.

Where did you get this idea?? This is incredible… :doh2:

 

[Ani_Ibi]

"Malcolm McLean:

It is not possible for a non-Catholic to commit a mortal sin. For a sin to separate you from the Church you have to have been joined first.

Where did you get this idea?? This is incredible… :doh2:

For those of you who are entering the Church, here is the Catechism on confession.

This sacrament is also called: the sacrament of conversion; the sacrament of penance; the sacrament of forgiveness; the sacrament of reconciliation.

The instruction in 1456 is also useful:

When Christ’s faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest, “for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know.”

And the instruction in 1458:

Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear “man” - this is what God has made; when you hear “sinner” - this is what man himself has made.

Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made … When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. the beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.