Some Questions about Blessings and Confession

[trentonzero]

I wanted to ask some questions.

I decided to become a Catholic last fall.

I am unbaptized, and unsure when I can get baptized due to language barriers (this December at the earliest).

The priests at the local parish know all this.

I wanted to ask a few things related to this:

1. I know I should not take communion. I also know that I can go up in the communion line with arms crossed to receive a blessing from the priest, and have been doing this on a regular basis. Is there anything I should know about this? Should I only do this during certain times, or is it okay for me to continue doing it on a regular basis (I attend mass about three times a week, and usually go up for the blessing one or two of those times.) Am I doing this too often?
2. I’ve also been going to confession regularly (at least once a month), whenever the confessional is open and I know the priest who speaks a little English is inside. Should I be doing this?

The priests have never indicated that either of these activities are wrong or improper, but even the priest who knows a little English does not feel comfortable using it.

1. On a totally different note, one of the things I do for the church is give free English lessons every Wednesday night to anyone that wishes to come (mostly it is the priests and the nuns from a nearby convent, but all are made welcome). When we began the lessons, my wife and I were told that they wanted to learn parts of the mass and common prayers (the Our Father, the Hail Mary) in English.

Now, teaching a normal ESL English class where my students have to simply memorize something, like the names of the months or the days of the week, I would try to get the students to play some memorization games with it.

The question is: Is it appropriate to play memorization games in order to learn these things? We make no pretense that when we are learning the prayers in English that we actually saying them as prayer.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

1. I know I should not take communion. I also know that I can go up in the communion line with arms crossed to receive a blessing from the priest, and have been doing this on a regular basis. Is there anything I should know about this? Should I only do this during certain times, or is it okay for me to continue doing it on a regular basis (I attend mass about three times a week, and usually go up for the blessing one or two of those times.) Am I doing this too often?

You are correct you cannot receive Holy Communion or any other Sacrament until after you have been Baptized. In my opinion you should not even approach Holy Communion (for a blessing) until you can receive. A blessing is given to all at the end of the Mass.

1. I’ve also been going to confession regularly (at least once a month), whenever the confessional is open and I know the priest who speaks a little English is inside. Should I be doing this?

Like approaching Holy Communion when you cannot receive, Confession is a Sacrament that you cannot receive until after your Baptism and should not approach the Sacrament either.

1. On a totally different note, one of the things I do for the church is give free English lessons every Wednesday night to anyone that wishes to come (mostly it is the priests and the nuns from a nearby convent, but all are made welcome). When we began the lessons, my wife and I were told that they wanted to learn parts of the mass and common prayers (the Our Father, the Hail Mary) in English.

Now, teaching a normal ESL English class where my students have to simply memorize something, like the names of the months or the days of the week, I would try to get the students to play some memorization games with it.

The question is: Is it appropriate to play memorization games in order to learn these things? We make no pretense that when we are learning the prayers in English that we actually saying them as prayer.

Memorization is simply a teaching tool, nothing more.

 

[FightingFat]

I wanted to ask some questions.

I decided to become a Catholic last fall.

:extrahappy:

1. I know I should not take communion. I also know that I can go up in the communion line with arms crossed to receive a blessing from the priest, and have been doing this on a regular basis. Is there anything I should know about this? Should I only do this during certain times, or is it okay for me to continue doing it on a regular basis (I attend mass about three times a week, and usually go up for the blessing one or two of those times.) Am I doing this too often?

I think you’re fine, any restrictions should come from your priest, but as far as I know there’s no problem with you going up for a blessing every time you attend mass, I’d positively recommend it!

1. I’ve also been going to confession regularly (at least once a month), whenever the confessional is open and I know the priest who speaks a little English is inside. Should I be doing this?

Not sure about that one…Can’t see what harm it would do, but the traditional way is you are Baptised, go to confession, receive your first holy communion then are confirmed.

The priests have never indicated that either of these activities are wrong or improper, but even the priest who knows a little English does not feel comfortable using it.

The I wouldn’t worry!

1. On a totally different note, one of the things I do for the church is give free English lessons every Wednesday night to anyone that wishes to come (mostly it is the priests and the nuns from a nearby convent, but all are made welcome). When we began the lessons, my wife and I were told that they wanted to learn parts of the mass and common prayers (the Our Father, the Hail Mary) in English.

Now, teaching a normal ESL English class where my students have to simply memorize something, like the names of the months or the days of the week, I would try to get the students to play some memorization games with it.

The question is: Is it appropriate to play memorization games in order to learn these things? We make no pretense that when we are learning the prayers in English that we actually saying them as prayer.

Gosh that’s a good question. I think you can use your own conscience to decide wether you feel the games you are making up are appropriate or not.

Another way to think about it might be that your intention-- the end result is worthy of a little liberal wordplay!

Peace be with you!

 

[puzzleannie]

If there were problems with any of these practices the priest would have told you. You are fine to continue as you are. As long as you can understand enough to make a profession of faith you can be received into the Chruch, because this preparation is the beginning, not the end of your life long learning of doctrine and formation in faith. Even if you are confessing to a priest who does not understand the language you can still say all your sins, and express your contrition, and he will understand that and can absolve you. Obviously you would not use this as an excuse to make a bad confession in any way.

memorization is a very good way to learn, and God bless you for the work you are doing. Along with Mass and prayers if you can help with words related to their ministry, such as terms for people, places and things in church and Mass and sacraments, and words needed in pastoral situations, that would also be helpful. flashcards with pictures, which you can make yourself, are helpful for this.

 

[InLight247]

1. Get as many blessings as you want.
2. You are not supposed to go to confession without being baptized first.
3. memory game as teaching tool is fine.

Congratulations on your wise decision of becoming a Catholic!!

 

[John_Lilburne]

Baptism is required before one can go to the sacrament of confession (also called “reconciliation” and “penance”). Some documentation on this:
Code of Canon Law, canon 849 “Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments, …”.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“980 It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church.”

Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“200. How are sins remitted? … The first and chief sacrament for the forgiveness of sins is Baptism. For those sins committed after Baptism, Christ instituted the sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance through which a baptized person is reconciled with God and with the Church.”

Being in the Communion Procession to receive a blessing instead of Communion is not in the liturgical books. It should not happen. In fact the liturgical books discourage someone preparing for baptism (a catechumen) from even attending the second half of the Mass.

From the liturgical book “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”:
“The Church, like a mother, helps the catechumens on their journey by means of suitable liturgical rites, which purify the catechumens little by little and strengthen them with God’s blessing. Celebrations of the word of God are arranged for their benefit, and at Mass they may also take part with the faithful in the liturgy of the word, thus better preparing themselves for their eventual participation in the liturgy of the eucharist. Ordinarily, however, when they are present in the assembly of the faithful they should be kindly dismissed before the liturgy of the eucharist begins (unless their dismissal would present practical or pastoral problems). For they must await their baptism, which will join them to God’s priestly people and empower them to participate in Christ’s new worship.”

(From the RCIA n. 75(3). The RCIA introductions for England and Wales are at catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA . )