RCIA Woes, Please Help

[Marysann]

You have received a lot of good information from the previous posters. My suggestion would be to also watch Father, now Bishop, Robert Barron’s “Catholicism” DVD series. The visual treatment of the beliefs and teachings of the faith may help you fill in the gaps that you are finding in your study. Welcome home to the Church.

 

[PJM]

Wafflenator:

Our pastor recently told me to study ahead in the RCIA curriculum, but our RCIA director said that there is no curriculum and I should keep going to classes.

Nobody wants to teach the basics. It took me six months to figure out how to ask questions that wouldn’t get deflected. Now my pastor wants me to read ahead, but I don’t know where to find the information.

I learned by chance about receiving communion on the tongue. I learned by chance about patron saints. I learned by chance about Eucharistic Adoration, indulgenced prayers, and daily devotions. The list goes on and on. Our RCIA director says that these things are optional, but how can I choose if no one will teach me the options? Ignorance is not freedom.

Here are some of my questions:

18 Where can I learn about baptism, what it is, why it is done, everything I must do to prepare for it, and the optional things that I may do?

19 Where can I learn about confirmation, why it is done, how to prepare for it, and what choices I must make?

20 Where can I learn about communion? Not just the bare minimum, but everything I could possibly do to honor our Lord.

1 How should I enter the church?
2 How should I enter the sanctuary?
3 How do I approach the tabernacle?
4 What’s this bowl of water?
5 How do I genuflect?
6 When do I genuflect?
7 When do I cross myself?
8 Why are people rubbing their thumbs on their faces?
9 What are the parts of the Mass? Where do they come from?
10 When should I kneel?
11 How should I approach the Eucharist since I’m not Catholic?
12 How should I approach the Eucharist once I become Catholic?
13 How do people know the antiphonal responses?
14 What prayers should I memorize?
15 What’s a sponsor? How do I find one?
16 What are godparents? Should I have some?
17 How do I know if a resource is genuinely Catholic?

21 Is there a trustworthy resource I can use to learn these things on my own? I spend all of my time reading Catholic books and none of them really talk about this stuff. I want to move forward with the rites of initiation, but I don’t know what to study. Can anybody point me in the right direction?
**
MY REPLY**

**The REPLY will likely be on 2 consecutive POST **because of space limitations

GREAT Questions, thanks. And I can answer ALL of them but as a “Newbee” you may not be aware that space is limited. So will be my replies HERE must be brief
For more in-depth info send me a private message. My replies will be fully in-line with Traditional RCC teaching and practices. This is NOT always the case in every parish; but nevertheless ought to be the guide you use.

18 I offer a completely FREE of ALL cost home study e-mailed course: 1 Lesson per week that will answer ALL of your questions and a lot more. Send me a Private Message If I can be of further help? I’m a trained and certified teacher of our Catholic Faith

**I have numbered your Q’s so you can follow along. **

1 Enter into Church reverently and quietly. You ARE in the presence of our God

2 The “Sanctuary” by definition is the space at the front of the Church where the Altar is and Mass is said. That portion of the Church where the people {laity} congregate is termed the “Nave.”

3 Every RCC is to have a Tabernacle wherein resides Jesus Himself, in Person {the Real Presence]. Therefore one OUGHT to genuflect upon entering the Church where the Tabernacle is Visible and present to all, all of the time.

There are some churches that do not have a visible Tabernacle in the Sanctuary; choosing instead to have a “Eucharistic Chapel”, in this case one should still genuflect or give a “Deep-Profound bow.” {From the waist, not simply a nod. Christ is represented in and by the Altar of Sacrifice. {Main Altar]

4 Upon entry into the Church you will find by each door “a container of water”. This is Blessed or ‘Holy Water” [termed as part of a group of “sacramental’s” [things that can lead us closer to God]

We dip our fingers into it, and then make the “Sign of the Cross” on our bodies, while saying: “in the Name of the Father [touching our forehead}, the Son [our chest], and the Holy Spirit [left & right shoulders], then “Amen” “ *

This is a grace AND a reminder that we are NOW in the presence of our God.

5 A Genuflection is NORM made upon entering the Church or exiting it, AND anytime one passes in from of the Reservation Tabernacle where in is Jesus; unless one is in a procession, than a Profound Bow will do.

It is accomplished by being of the right knee to the floor, while looking at either the reservation Tabernacle or the main-Altar and again making the sign of the Cross on our bodies.

6 see #5*

 

[PJM]

PART 2 of 2

REPLY to Wafflenator

7 We “Cross ourselves” when we use Holy Water, when we enter the church and at times during the Mass. I suggest at first until you become comfortable that you sit towards rear of the church and follow the gestures of those around you

8 This takes place prior to the reading of the Gospel by the PRIEST or Deacon [only]
It is making three small signs of the Cross while saying
On our forehead {Lord Bless our minds}
On our lips {Lord Bless my lips]
On our hearts {Lord fill my heart]

9 2,000 years of history and Tradition simply don’t permit a brief reply here. PLEASE check out these sites:

[1] usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/

[2] catholic-pages.com/mass/newmass.asp

[3] catholic.org/prayers/mass.php

[4] catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-mass-explained.html

[5] prezi.com/njsanc0svcnu/4-main-parts-of-the-mass-and-4-specific-parts-of-the-mass/

10 By sitting in the rear of Church you’ll be able to follow along with no problem

11 This may vary a bit from parish to parish. BUT generally you MAY approach the Altor {BE SURE TO BE IN THE LINE FOR THE PRIEST or Deacon, NOT a Lay-Eucharistic Minister: Cross your arms over your chest like an “X”, do NOT extend your hands for Holy Communion before becoming a Catholic. Generally you will receive a Blessing, NOT Holy Communion. BUT Lay-Ministers are not authorized to do this Blessing, so AGAIN, be in the line for the priest. Ask an Usher or someone what part of the Church you should sit to be in “communion line for the PRIEST”. Some priest prefer to NOT offer a Blessing to non-Catholics in the Communion like. Check with your pastor or RCIA team on this point
.
12 MOST parishes have a book that you can follow along the Mass. Here is a web site you can also use on a smart-phone. www.Laudate.com

13 begin with the prayers of the Rosary [send me a private message and I can provide all the information you will need]

14 A “sponsor” is an Informed and fully practicing Roman Catholic, usually of the same gender as yourself. They make a commitment to keep you on track in your Catholic Faith journey. Ask your RCIA team on how you might “find one”, they ought to help you in this regard. {If they don’t then send me a PM]

15 “God Parents” are the witness’s to your Christian Baptism. They too are obligated to assist you in your Faith path and journey. If you’re NOT Baptized yet, your Sponsor can be one of them [there are usually 2], and they too must be practicing Catholics for a NEW Baptism, if you have yet to be Baptized with can only be done 1 time

17 THAT is the “MILLION $ Question”

The short answer is that they MUST teach in total agreement with what the RCC teaches. IF in doubt then find another source.

I am a trained, experienced, certified Teacher of the RCC. See #21 above

18 Baptism is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ [John Chapter 3: verses 5 “Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” & Matthew 28: 19-20 “ Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world”
Space prohibits me from a more in depth reply. Please send me a Private Message

19 Confirmation too is another Sacrament [source of Sacramental Grace & a commitment] through this Sacrament one freely chooses to make a personal life-time-covenant with Almighty God. Again send me a PM for more information.

20 Communion {The REAL Presence of Jesus in Catholic Holy Communion] Is biblically grounded & testified to by 5 different authors of the New Testament.
Mt. 26:26-28
Mk. 14: 22-24
Lk. 22: 18-20
Jn. 6: 47-58
Paul 1st. Cor. 11: 23-30

My friend you have asked GREAT questions, BUT space does not permit the depth you seek & DESERVE. Please send PJM [me] a Private message and I promise to provide all and more of what you seek. I taught RCIA for 3 years before retiring.

God Bless you
Patrick

 

[LiamQ]

OP, is it possible for you to find a different parish in your area?

Unfortunately, it is the case that some RCIA programs are less than faithful to the teachings of the Church. If you’re discerning something odd in this parish, I would certainly encourage you to look around. If you find a parish that has reverent Masses and lots of time devoted to Confession, I think you can have confidence that they’re likewise faithful and true in their theology. And don’t underestimate the variety of parishes you can find in a given area. In my own part of Virginia, I have access to parishes ranging from what seems to be a fairly liberal parish, to a parish with Tim Staples’ brother, Fr. Terry, for a pastor.

In terms of the various traditions: I only went to a couple of Masses before converting, and I’ve learned almost everything I know since my conversion. I think it’s important to keep in mind that you don’t have to be some sort of expert on all things Catholic to discern whether or not to convert. You simply need to know enough to make a decision about whether or not you are sincere about being Catholic, and whether you’re pursuing this for the right reason, i.e., because it’s true. Everything else will come in good time and from living a Sacramental life.