RCIA?

[MarianD]

Mother Mary smiled on me and blessed me with the opportunity to attend RCIA. My local church starts it tomorrow, and it will lead up to Baptism, Confession, and the First Communion. Didn’t Mary say that those devoted to the Rosary would not die before receiving the Sacraments? She kept her promise.

Now here’s my question:

#1: I was already baptized as an Episcopalian. They baptize with a Trinitarian formula (“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”) and by pouring water on your head (not by immersion). Do I need to get baptized again? If not, can I opt out or just do it again?

#2: I’ve regularly been receiving Communion for the past couple of weeks. Is there a specific ceremony for “First Communion”? I’d feel guilty taking part in this ceremony after receiving Communion so many times before.

#3: Thank Mother Mary for keeping her promises! And pray for all those going through RCIA, that they may become good Catholics devoted to Christ through Mary.

 

[Kat127]

Mother Mary smiled on me and blessed me with the opportunity to attend RCIA. My local church starts it tomorrow, and it will lead up to Baptism, Confession, and the First Communion. Didn’t Mary say that those devoted to the Rosary would not die before receiving the Sacraments? She kept her promise.

Now here’s my question:

#1: I was already baptized as an Episcopalian. They baptize with a Trinitarian formula (“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”) and by pouring water on your head (not by immersion). Do I need to get baptized again? If not, can I opt out or just do it again?

#2: I’ve regularly been receiving Communion for the past couple of weeks. Is there a specific ceremony for “First Communion”? I’d feel guilty taking part in this ceremony after receiving Communion so many times before.

#3: Thank Mother Mary for keeping her promises! And pray for all those going through RCIA, that they may become good Catholics devoted to Christ through Mary.

Congrats! I just started my RCIA classes a few weeks ago. I was raised Catholic but never confirmed. Most of these questions will be answered in class and I’m sure lots of posters more knowledgeable than me will fill you in on everything.

I believe there is no need for you to have a second baptism, the Catholic Church accepts most other Christian baptisms.

The same is not true for Communion. You shouldn’t be participating in Communion yet. Don’t feel guilty about having taken Communion up to this point- if you honestly didn’t know you shouldn’t take it God will forgive you. You’ll learn why this is during your RCIA class but in the meantime just take this time during mass for your private prayers.

Welcome to the faith! This is a great forum- they can answer a lot of questions.

 

[jmcrae]

Mother Mary smiled on me and blessed me with the opportunity to attend RCIA. My local church starts it tomorrow, and it will lead up to Baptism, Confession, and the First Communion. Didn’t Mary say that those devoted to the Rosary would not die before receiving the Sacraments? She kept her promise.

Now here’s my question:

#1: I was already baptized as an Episcopalian. They baptize with a Trinitarian formula (“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”) and by pouring water on your head (not by immersion). Do I need to get baptized again? If not, can I opt out or just do it again?

You won’t be rebaptized - instead, you will go for your First Confession at some point just prior to receiving your Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

#2: I’ve regularly been receiving Communion for the past couple of weeks. Is there a specific ceremony for “First Communion”? I’d feel guilty taking part in this ceremony after receiving Communion so many times before.

Okay - God understands that you didn’t know - but yeah - you have to wait until your First Holy Communion for this - you aren’t supposed to be receiving, yet.

#3: Thank Mother Mary for keeping her promises! And pray for all those going through RCIA, that they may become good Catholics devoted to Christ through Mary.

 

[MarianD]

Ouch. I didn’t know I couldn’t receive Communion…I thought you only had to be baptized and believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist (that it’s His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity). I do believe this.

I’ve also gone to Confession recently as well. Can I still go to Confession, or do I have to wait until after RCIA is finished?

Thanks for responding.

 

[jmcrae]

Ouch. I didn’t know I couldn’t receive Communion…I thought you only had to be baptized and believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist (that it’s His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity). I do believe this.

You also have to be joined in full communion and good standing with the Church.

I’ve also gone to Confession recently as well. Can I still go to Confession, or do I have to wait until after RCIA is finished?

Normally, you are received by the Bishop in the Rite of Calling to Full Communion (this normally happens about six weeks before you are received into the Church), and the Bishop then gives special permission to your priest to hear your Confessions before you receive your Initiation.

Normally, the priest is not allowed to hear the Confessions of people who are not yet Catholic, except when they have received the Rite of Calling to Full Communion, which is one of the Rites of RCIA for baptized candidates.

Mention to the priest that you haven’t started your RCIA yet, but you have been going to Confession, and see what he says. Or else when you are in the Confessional just tell the priest that you are not yet a Catholic, but you are starting your RCIA process.

 

[bkayw]

:clapping: for MarianD
:dancing:

 

[scimitar60]

Good work, i started classes last week. Just ran all the way there and they weren’t there; darn, I guess They said it was fortnightly