Sacraments of Initiation

[Pilgram2000]

Hello friends,

I have a question. A baptized non Catholic is being received into the Church and will receive confirmation and communion. Do they also need to receive the sacrament of penance? I think the order should be penance, confirmation and communion.

 

[Marysann]

It is normal practice for a baptized Christian who is being received into the Catholic Church to go to confession before receiving the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. If this is not done in your parish, the person being received in to the Church should ask those in charge of the program for clarification. Maybe there was a miscommunication, or the person did not understand what was said. If in fact the converts are not taught about the sacrament of penance, and opportunities are not made for individual confessions, the person should go to the pastor. The pastor needs to know that the new converts in his parish are not being taught about confession. I am sure that the pastor will straighten out that situation in a hurry!

 

[Pilgram2000]

My concern is that without confession first, they would be receiving the Eucharist unworthily. Those who enter the Church via baptism are white as snow afterwards but those entering by confirmation are not.

What about the order confirmation, penance, Eucharist?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

You are correct. A first confession should be made before confirmation and communion, in the case of converts previously baptized.

 

[Horton]

My concern is that without confession first, they would be receiving the Eucharist unworthily. Those who enter the Church via baptism are white as snow afterwards but those entering by confirmation are not.

What about the order confirmation, penance, Eucharist?

Those entering the Church with valid baptism go to Reconciliation prior to the Easter Vigil. This can be a week before, a few days before or at a Lenten Penance service.

I don’t understand your concern with the order of the Sacraments of Initiation. Since the Sacrament of Reconciliation is private, between the priest & penitent, we should not be concerned with their penance.