Rite of Acceptance issues

[John_Joseph]

I am currently enrolled RCIA. We had our “Rite of Acceptance” (ROA) yesterday and it was wonderful. I would like to say that it went off without a hitch but…

Right after the Homily, my wife, who is also my sponsor, turns to me and says, “Are you going up for Communion?” As I had my First holy Communion back when I was a child, and am only in RCIA to be Confirmed, I say “yes”. I have gone to Mass for years, although not nearly as much as I should, and have always delighted in the Eucharist. It is the most satisfying part of the Mass for me. So I go up, as do most of the other RCIA people, and then return to my pew. I have an embarrassing story I’ll share with you at the end of this post about my adventure to receive.

Anyhow, after the Mass, and after we have greeted the rest of the church alongside with our priest, the RCIA director comes up to my wife and I and says that we should not have received. She is apologetic though as she does admit that she should have told us beforehand. I know this has been debated here ad nauseum, but I still don’t understand why I am not expected to receive the Eucharist at the ROA but am encouraged to do so any other time. I have spoken to the priest and have been assured that I am allowed, and encouraged for that matter, to receive. Why not during the ROA? This seems a bit contradictory to me. Am I to assume that I can partake in the Eucharist at times but can be denied other times? It bothers me that for years I considered myself Catholic and now am being made to feel that I am a second class citizen. In my own church of all places! I am uncomfortable with this “earning” of acceptance. Maybe I am being too vain? I battle this problem all the time and it is always something I am seeking absolution from when I do confession.

Also, of more tragic note, one of the other RCIA members, who had not yet made their first Holy Communion, followed the rest of us up and received. Is this now considered that person’s First Holy Communion? Even if that person probably knew not the consequences of their action? If so, I feel bad because I was the first RCIA member to go up to receive and I might have been the catalyst.

Now for the embarrassing part. I was seated in the first row of pews at the end. I was a little nervous, had a brain cramp, and for some reason though that I was to lead the pew up for communion. Wrong! It was the other end of the pew that was to do the leading. To make matters worse, I stand up to “lead the way”, too soon I might add, get up to the front of the church, turn around to look at my wife, and notice I am the only one up there!! To make matters even worse, because the other end of the pew was supposed to lead, the line I am standing in is for the wine. The person holding the wine had to motion me to the to other (bread) line. Nice way to show your knowledge of how things work. I felt like screaming “I am not this stupid, I’ve been doing it the right way for years!” I could only imagine the whole church thinking, “we got us a real winner here!”

 

[otm]

I do not know what other parishes are doing with semi-catechised Catholics, but if you are a baptized Catholic, then your wife might be your Confirmation sponsor; however, you and she differ somewhat from a non-Catholic baptized Christian in that they need to make a conscious decision to join the Church; you are already a member.

My parish priest lumps everyone into the RCIA program. It is my humble opinion that unless you are uncatechised and have not received first Communion, if you are Catholic you belong somewhere else; specifically, in a class for Confirmation.

It wasn’t clear in your post if you participated in the Right of Acceptance, but if you did, you didn’t really belong there. It is not as if that was sinful (it is not), but it is specifically for those thinking about joining the Church. You are already a member.

As to another individual receiving Communion, I can’t answer other than that they had no business receiving, and whoever is running the RCIA program should have made that clear.

As to the appropriateness of you receiving Communion, since you had made your first Communion previously, and assuming you are in a state of grace, your RCIA director is just wrong.

 

[John_Joseph]

My parish lumps everyone into the same boat (RCIA). Therefore, I am in the same classes as those who have not even been baptised. I agree with you that I would be better off somewhere else as I feel like a highschool student forced to retake grade school. I don’t mean this as an insult to anyone in RCIA either. RCIA definitely has it’s place.

Also, I did have to participate in the Right of Acceptance. It was very humbling having to stand up in front of people I see every week and proclaim my desire to join something that I already thought I had joined.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

If you would reread your post I think you will see why the RCIA director would have rathered you did not recieve communion at this Mass.
John Joseph:

Also, of more tragic note, one of the other RCIA members, who had not yet made their first Holy Communion, followed the rest of us up and received.

How much of the cause of this was this individuals confusion seeing you going up to recieve the Eucharist?

How many others at the Mass who saw you standing up for the Rite of Acceptance were scandalized when they saw you recieving the Eucharist?

This is one of the many reasons why First Communion should not occur before confirmation.

Have you had first confession? If not then you should not be recieving the Eucharist.

 

[otm]

ByzCath:

If you would reread your post I think you will see why the RCIA director would have rathered you did not recieve communion at this Mass.

How much of the cause of this was this individuals confusion seeing you going up to recieve the Eucharist?

How many others at the Mass who saw you standing up for the Rite of Acceptance were scandalized when they saw you recieving the Eucharist?

This is one of the many reasons why First Communion should not occur before confirmation.

Have you had first confession? If not then you should not be recieving the Eucharist.

The confusion, however, was not created by him, but by the RCIA director, who (apparently) does not fully understand the rite or the process. Any scandal given was not intentionally given by him (nor, presumably, by the RCIA director), and probabl;y should not enter the discussion.

Again, he is Roman rite, and correctly or not, Confirmation is removed by a number of years from First Communion; remember not to confuse the rites. I would assume that he has made his First Confession.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

otm:

The confusion, however, was not created by him, but by the RCIA director, who (apparently) does not fully understand the rite or the process. Any scandal given was not intentionally given by him (nor, presumably, by the RCIA director), and probabl;y should not enter the discussion.

Again, he is Roman rite, and correctly or not, Confirmation is removed by a number of years from First Communion; remember not to confuse the rites. I would assume that he has made his First Confession.

Yes I can agree with this but there are many bishops in the Roman Church who are restoring the proper order of the Sacraments of Initiation.

I would not say that we can assume anything and even if he did make is first confession, he can not recieve unless he has continued to go to confession. As Catholics we are obligated to go to confession at least once a year. If he has not gone every year then he should not be recieving. Again, this falls on proper Catechisis but there is some cupability on the individual as this is spelt out in the Catechism.

 

[John_Joseph]

ByzCath:

How much of the cause of this was this individuals confusion seeing you going up to recieve the Eucharist?

How many others at the Mass who saw you standing up for the Rite of Acceptance were scandalized when they saw you recieving the Eucharist?

Scandalized? I have stood beside some of these very same people when receiving the Eucharist on other occasions. Perhaps my post wasn’t clear, I have been receiving the Eucharist for years.

ByzCath:

This is one of the many reasons why First Communion should not occur before confirmation.

This is an old debate that is better suited elsewhere. Are you implying that eventhough I have received First Communion (when I was single digits in age; I’m now 37) I still should not be allowed to receive the Eucharist because I have yet to make Confirmation? If so that flies against everything I’ve been told. And I really wonder how I could “scandalize” others at Mass for doing something that I believe I am entitled to do.

Pardon my ignorance, but why then do Byzantines do Baptism, communion, and confirmation at the same time? According to you, they should be separate and in a certain order. For the record, my wife is Byzantine and both my sons were baptised Byzantine.

ByzCath:

Have you had first confession? If not then you should not be recieving the Eucharist.

I did confession three weeks ago. I NEVER receive the Eucharist if I think I am in a state of mortal sin. Again, I only need to be Confirmed. My beef is wondering why I can be deemed worthy of the Eucharist any time other than the Rite of Acceptance.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

John Joseph:

Pardon my ignorance, but why then do Byzantines do Baptism, communion, and confirmation at the same time? According to you, they should be separate and in a certain order. For the record, my wife is Byzantine and both my sons were baptised Byzantine.

Actually they are done in a certain order. They are not done at the same time.

The child is Baptized and then taken before the Royal doors and chrismated. The child recieves first Eucharist with the community during the Divine Liturgy that follows.

I did confession three weeks ago. I NEVER receive the Eucharist if I think I am in a state of mortal sin. Again, I only need to be Confirmed. My beef is wondering why I can be deemed worthy of the Eucharist any time other than the Rite of Acceptance.

This is one of the failings of internet forums. Unless someone spells out everything we are forced to assume somethings.

As you ahve been recieving the Eucharist, I do not think you should be going through RCIA. RCIA is for those who are entering the Church. I agree with you that something seems off here but is it really that big of an issue?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

John Joseph:

I am currently enrolled RCIA. We had our “Rite of Acceptance” (ROA) yesterday and it was wonderful. I would like to say that it went off without a hitch but…

To start with hopefully you did NOT go through the Rite of Acceptance. I would consider you more a returning Catholic. Your path is to reconciliation with the Church. Even though you have been attending Mass, you have not been fully practicing the Catholic faith. (if I understand your original post) You do, assumming that you are in a state of Grace, have the right to receive Holy Communion at any Mass where the faithful may receive. It sounds to me that the leaders of this RCIA process need to get it together. I agree that Catechumens and Candidates should not be “rehearsed” but the Team and the Sponsors should be well rehearsed.

The Rite also calls for a very clear distinction between Catechumens and Candidates. All should understand that there are some who are dismissed and some who remain at Mass, some who do not approach Holy Communion and others who may receive.

 

[Cherub]

Br. Rich,

What are the differences in the Catechumens and the Candidates? My relative was in the Rite of Welcoming last weekend, along with one other man. They are not Catechumens, but they are still dismissed for breaking open the word. Is that the way it should be done?

Thank you.

 

[John_Joseph]

ByzCath:

I agree with you that something seems off here but is it really that big of an issue?

Actually, no, it’s not that big of an issue. The two hours a week I spend at RCIA is probably time I’d be using on something less important. Besides, it is a very good refresher course and one in which I think all Catholics would benefit from. My wife, a product of the Byzantine Catholic school system 1st through 9th grade, attended one class and said she would like to attend more. Unfortunately for her, we have no one to watch the kids.

I was just rubbed the wrong way when I was told I should not have went up for Communion. It made me feel like an outsider.

Thank you both for your (name removed by moderator)ut. It was much appreciated.

John

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Cherub:

Br. Rich,

What are the differences in the Catechumens and the Candidates? My relative was in the Rite of Welcoming last weekend, along with one other man. They are not Catechumens, but they are still dismissed for breaking open the word. Is that the way it should be done?

Thank you.

I edited my post. I misread something in the original post.

A Person who is not Baptized, after deciding to become Christian and seek Baptism goes through the Rite of Acceptance and then becomes a Catechumen. This places them into a special relationship with the Church, even though they are not Baptized. If they were to die before receiving Baptism, the Church would consider them Baptized by Desire and give then the Rite of Christian Burial.

A Baptized Christian from another Christian community is already a Christian but not fully united to the Catholic Church. They after deciding to make that committment to continue towards full union. Go through the Rite of Welcome which recognizes the validity of their Baptism and their desire for full communion through the reception of the remaining Sacraments of Initiation.

The Part of the Mass now called the Liturgy of the Eucharist was from very early times held very secret because of the dangers to Christians. Those who are not Baptized are the only persons who should be dismissed before the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Anyone who is validly Baptized has a right to remain for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, even though they may not be able to receive Holy Communion for whatever reason.

 

[John_Joseph]

Br. Rich SFO:

To start with hopefully you did NOT go through the Rite of Acceptance. I would consider you more a returning Catholic.

The paper we read from during the ceremony was titled “The Celebration of the Rite of Acceptance into the Catechumenate”. We were asked such questions as “What do you ask of God’s church?” and “What does this offer you?”. I am fairly certain that this is the Right of Acceptance. I could be wrong.

As I posted earlier, I feel bad that one of the RCIA members had never received Communion and mistakenly went up with the rest of us who already had.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

John Joseph:

The paper we read from during the ceremony was titled “The Celebration of the Rite of Acceptance into the Catechumenate”. We were asked such questions as “What do you ask of God’s church?” and “What does this offer you?”. I am fairly certain that this is the Right of Acceptance. I could be wrong.

As I posted earlier, I feel bad that one of the RCIA members had never received Communion and mistakenly went up with the rest of us who already had.

It was not correct for you to go through the Rite of Acceptance. The RCIA director and Team need some serious training.

The person who received, received the Body and Blood of Christ and could possibly have received some grace proportional to the state of their soul. It was not in any way your fault that this happened. The group should have known that you and maybe others are already members and fully united to the Catholic Church, with a right to approach and receive Holy Communion.

 

[Pug]

I’m so sorry you felt unwanted or second class. It makes total sense to me that you would have felt that way. I would have too.

One issue with RCIA is that many parishes mix up all types into the program. It is one size fits all, though I don’t think it should be. Also, for privacy reasons, they don’t tell the team anything (at least in my parish). I have no clue who has received what or whatever, unless the person tells me. Eventually, I figure out who has done what, but only after I know the people for awhile, and gotten to know them personally.

BTW, is there some internet document that fully describes everything that is supposed to go on during RCIA?

 

[asquared]

Pug:

BTW, is there some internet document that fully describes everything that is supposed to go on during RCIA?

the document is the ritual book for the Rite of Christian Initiation. No one should be directing an RCIA program without a thorough knowledge and study of the Rites. It is available from Liturgical Training Publications LTP, don’t know if there is an on-line version, but I think they have it on CD.

The Rites are very specific and we are instructed over and over not to confuse catechumens (the unbaptized) with the baptized. There are similar rites for each in some cases, and they may be catechized together, especially if they are “on the same page” more or less and need the same instruction.

The Rite of Acceptance is ONLY for the unbaptized. The baptized receive the Rite of Welcoming, which can be at the same time, or on another occasion, to avoid the confusion that is being described here.

Your parish needs somebody on the RCIA team, preferably priest or deacon, whose job it is to know the rites, the versions acceptable, the timing, and how they are to be carried out. Any error is not on the part of the catechumens or candidates, but on the part of the RCIA director. But even so, the priest should know better, because the liturgy is his job.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Pug:

BTW, is there some internet document that fully describes everything that is supposed to go on during RCIA?

Yes it’s called the RCIA =Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. You may be able to find it on the EWTN site or the USCCB site? It is thick, almost 400 8 1/2 by 11pages. There are also the National Statutes which are found in the back of the study edition.

 

[JimG]

Isn’t it standard practice that after the Rite of Acceptance, the catechumens would be dismissed after the Liturgy of the Word?

If so, there would be no possibility of one of them inadvertently receiving communion.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

JimG:

Isn’t it standard practice that after the Rite of Acceptance, the catechumens would be dismissed after the Liturgy of the Word?

If so, there would be no possibility of one of them inadvertently receiving communion.

You do have a point.

 

[John_Joseph]

asquared:

The Rite of Acceptance is ONLY for the unbaptized. The baptized receive the Rite of Welcoming, which can be at the same time, or on another occasion, to avoid the confusion that is being described here.

Well I know for a fact all of the RCIA people were baptised. I’m looking over the RCIA schedule and there is no Rite of Welcoming. Only a Rite of Acceptance in November, a Rite of Election in February, and a Reception into the Church in March where I will finally receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

It appears to me that this is definitely a one size fits all approach. My priest even told me this is a cost effective way to conduct the RCIA. Not a huge deal as the Priest and most of the people I know at church understand my situation. As I mentioned earlier, it is really only a humbling experience. But my desire to be Confirmed is far greater than my desire to not be considered a “second class citizen”. This whole thing could have been handled better, but I love my church and hold no grudges. As a matter of fact, your posts, and my prayers, have made me feel a lot better than I did when I originally posted. Thanks to all.

Looking forward to Confirmation,
John