Things non-baptized Catholics don't/may not do

[Cassandra_Lyn]

I don’t receive holy communion or bless myself with holy water because these are reminders of our baptism.

Is there anything else I don’t do?

Should I be saying the profession of faith / Nicene creed with everyone else in mass?

I know I should go through the RCIA, but the only day I don’t have school or work is Friday, so that is difficult to make happen.

 

[peter26]

The only things you can’t do is receive Communion or certain other “sacramental” things such as confession. You can use Holy Water if you wish to.

You may recite the Creed if you are happy to say that you believe in the various things stated and can join in all the responses throughout the Mass.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I don’t receive holy communion or bless myself with holy water because these are reminders of our baptism.

Is there anything else I don’t do?

Should I be saying the profession of faith / Nicene creed with everyone else in mass?

I know I should go through the RCIA, but the only day I don’t have school or work is Friday, so that is difficult to make happen.

Cassandra, please see a priest about possibly having private instruction to enter the Church, because Baptism is the Sacrament which makes one a Catholic. You also cannot have a sacramental marriage without being baptized. You can say the Creed with everyone.

RCIA is not the only way to enter the Church if one cannot make the classes. You may have to look around a bit for a parish that will accommodate you.

 

[peter26]

Incidentally, it may make a difference to how you can join the church what you are at the moment. Are you part of another Christian group?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I don’t receive holy communion or bless myself with holy water because these are reminders of our baptism.

You can bless yourself if you like. Using holy water is not only a reminder of our baptism, but can also express your hope for baptism to come.

Should I be saying the profession of faith / Nicene creed with everyone else in mass?

You can participate in the praying and singing at Mass to the extent that you are comfortable.

I know I should go through the RCIA, but the only day I don’t have school or work is Friday, so that is difficult to make happen.

Have you actually spoken with someone in your parish to see what options might be open to you? Sometimes anticipating a problem is worse than the reality and there may be options you haven’t considered.

 

[Tagetes]

I read the Creed when I was a catechumen. But I was allowed to be blessed with holy water: both dipped my fingers to do the sign of the cross upon entering the church, or when the priest blessed the parish during Mass (Laetare Sunday and such).

Are there multiple parishes in your area or is this one your only option?

 

[Cassandra_Lyn]

Oh I forgot that I can walk up and receive a blessing instead of Communion!!! I can’t remember the etiquette for that…

I do have to call the church sometime between 8 and 4, hopefully before or after class tomorrow.

Thanks guys for your answers, it is easier for me to ask here…

There is a small part of me that feels out of place in that world… I was never baptized, my family didn’t go to church… I went to my grandmother’s methodist church with her a few times, and then to a non-denominational one with a friend in high school… I was religious when I was in the military at 18 and then fell away from it… Throughout my twenties, I had no religion whatsoever and lived without much discretion I’ll say. I struggled with substance abuse and made some poor decisions in the past year that I carry around a lot of shame about currently, I turned my life back to Christ last year and have been sober since and trying to live a better life. All this is to say, I see the life I want and the kind of person I was supposed to be, in the Catholic church… but I am also acutely aware of what I used to live like… for some reason that’s holding me back…

 

[CB_Catholic]

Oh I forgot that I can walk up and receive a blessing instead of Communion!!! I can’t remember the etiquette for that…

I do have to call the church sometime between 8 and 4, hopefully before or after class tomorrow.

Thanks guys for your answers, it is easier for me to ask here…

There is a small part of me that feels out of place in that world… I was never baptized, my family didn’t go to church… I went to my grandmother’s methodist church with her a few times, and then to a non-denominational one with a friend in high school… I was religious when I was in the military at 18 and then fell away from it… Throughout my twenties, I had no religion whatsoever and lived without much discretion I’ll say. I struggled with substance abuse and made some poor decisions in the past year that I carry around a lot of shame about currently, I turned my life back to Christ last year and have been sober since and trying to live a better life. All this is to say, I see the life I want and the kind of person I was supposed to be, in the Catholic church… but I am also acutely aware of what I used to live like… for some reason that’s holding me back…

Please do not let anything hold you back from joining the Church. God loves you more than you can imagine and is waiting for you with open arms. There is nothing He can’t forgive and when you are baptized you will have the slate wiped clean and become a new person in Christ Jesus. We welcome you with open arms also. There is nothing like being able to receive Jesus Himself into your body and becoming one with Him–and He desires this greatly.

 

[on_the_hill]

but I am also acutely aware of what I used to live like… for some reason that’s holding me back…

What are you thinking? That because someone is Catholic he or she is somehow able to lead a sinless life?

There is not a Catholic alive or dead who isn’t a sinner. People cite the Catechism a lot, and that’s good, but it’s hardly a guarantee that any of them are following it.

The reality is that we are humans and humans make mistakes and commit sins. Some mistakes are minor and some are abhorrent.

The stuff that’s holding you back is *exactly * the kind of stuff that ought to push you into the Church. It’s the *only *place where you can truly make up for how ever it is you used to live like.

Visit a church when it’s holding a Penance Service, and then you’ll see what Catholics are like in real life–when our particular church does it, we’ll have five or six or seven priests all hearing confessions at the same time and there’s still nearly an hour wait sometimes!

 

[Tagetes]

Oh I forgot that I can walk up and receive a blessing instead of Communion!!! I can’t remember the etiquette for that…

It varies from parish to parish (from diocese to diocese, from country to country, you get the point), but as far as I remember, an index finger on your lips is the most common signal.

There is a small part of me that feels out of place in that world… I was never baptized, my family didn’t go to church… I went to my grandmother’s methodist church with her a few times, and then to a non-denominational one with a friend in high school… I was religious when I was in the military at 18 and then fell away from it… Throughout my twenties, I had no religion whatsoever and lived without much discretion I’ll say. I struggled with substance abuse and made some poor decisions in the past year that I carry around a lot of shame about currently, I turned my life back to Christ last year and have been sober since and trying to live a better life. All this is to say, I see the life I want and the kind of person I was supposed to be, in the Catholic church… but I am also acutely aware of what I used to live like… for some reason that’s holding me back…

I was baptized as an adult too. Baptism will remove the Original Sin AND all the sins you have managed to commit throughout life. Each and every one of them. Don’t worry.

Also, don’t be too hard on yourself for the sins you’ll need to confess after your baptism. I was super scrupulous during my first practicing year, used to self-flagellate (metaphorically, but on the verge of literally) for tiny venial sins, or even for things that weren’t sins at all. A merciful confessor saved me.

Good luck

 

[Kielbasi]

“non baptized Catholic” isn’t really a valid category, you’re really not a Catholic until you are baptized

 

[Cassandra_Lyn]

So I’m just a Christian who happens to attend Catholic church and tries to practice Catholic customs but I’m not a Catholic. But when someone says “What church do you go to?” and I say St. Whatever, and they say “Oh so you’re Catholic” I am not really going to say no and confuse them. The religion I believe in and practice is Catholic. I have chosen that and would like to convey that rather just saying I am a Christian.

 

[casslean]

So I’m just a Christian who happens to attend Catholic church and tries to practice Catholic customs but I’m not a Catholic. But when someone says “What church do you go to?” and I say St. Whatever, and they say “Oh so you’re Catholic” I am not really going to say no and confuse them. The religion I believe in and practice is Catholic. I have chosen that and would like to convey that rather just saying I am a Christian.

I used to tell non-Catholics that I was Catholic, or that I attended the Catholic church, before I was baptized, because I felt that I was Catholic - and because I wasn’t going to get into long explanations. To other Catholics, I called myself a catechumen, meaning I was someone who was not baptized, but was intending to join.

In terms of receiving a blessing, check with your parish priest. In our parish, we were to approach with our arms folded across our chest. Your priest can direct you accordingly as to if you should approach and how.

If you are interested in joining the church, but the normal RCIA schedule doesn’t work for you, speak to your priest. I’m sure accommodations can be made. And welcome home! It’s a beautiful journey!

 

[Cassandra_Lyn]

casslean, thank you! I would’t want to offend anyone.

It tells the person who is asking what I identify as, and helps them understand me better. A Christian could be lots of different things.

 

[casslean]

casslean, thank you! I would’t want to offend anyone.

It tells the person who is asking what I identify as, and helps them understand me better. A Christian could be lots of different things.

To me, the fact that you feel the need to identify as Catholic says that you need to take more active steps toward actually joining the church and getting to experience the fullness of the faith, including the Eucharist. It’s such an amazing experience - truly indescribable. The process isn’t as structured as you might think. If the current programs won’t work with your schedule, I’m quite sure something can be done.

 

[melekali]

Talk to the Pastor about your scheduling difficulty and he should be able to help you enter the Church.

 

[melekali]

Oh I forgot that I can walk up and receive a blessing instead of Communion!!! I can’t remember the etiquette for that…

I do have to call the church sometime between 8 and 4, hopefully before or after class tomorrow.

Thanks guys for your answers, it is easier for me to ask here…

There is a small part of me that feels out of place in that world… I was never baptized, my family didn’t go to church… I went to my grandmother’s methodist church with her a few times, and then to a non-denominational one with a friend in high school… I was religious when I was in the military at 18 and then fell away from it… Throughout my twenties, I had no religion whatsoever and lived without much discretion I’ll say. I struggled with substance abuse and made some poor decisions in the past year that I carry around a lot of shame about currently, I turned my life back to Christ last year and have been sober since and trying to live a better life. All this is to say, I see the life I want and the kind of person I was supposed to be, in the Catholic church… but I am also acutely aware of what I used to live like… for some reason that’s holding me back…

To quote Therese of Liseux, if you want mercy, ask for it and if you want judgment, ask for that. Somehow I think you prefer mercy to judgment. Ask and you shall receive.

 

[Cassandra_Lyn]

I still haven’t called… honestly, I have this fear that they will tell me no, I have to do the RCIA, and even if I don’t, it’s too close to Easter already.

Maybe it’s ignorant of me, but after going to a few masses, and feeling like sort of held back and left out of everything… It’s a very childish feeling, but I feel outcasted and unwelcome and don’t want to push to try to get in to somewhere I don’t belong.

 

[casslean]

I still haven’t called… honestly, I have this fear that they will tell me no, I have to do the RCIA, and even if I don’t, it’s too close to Easter already.

Maybe it’s ignorant of me, but after going to a few masses, and feeling like sort of held back and left out of everything… It’s a very childish feeling, but I feel outcasted and unwelcome and don’t want to push to try to get in to somewhere I don’t belong.

Call!!

You absolutely belong! It may be too close to Easter for you to go through the program this year, but it isn’t getting better the more you put it off. And even if it is too close this year, the good news is, Easter comes every year (also, even though it is normal for RCIA candidates to come into the Church at Easter, it can be done at other times if circumstances warrant).

You won’t be rejected and you won’t be unwelcome, and even if you are asked to wait until next Easter to be received into the Church, I am sure the priest will do everything he can to help you engage more fully with the Church, including becoming involved in the faith community until that time.

So, call!! Or just walk up to the priest after Mass some day! As someone who has been on a similar journey, trust me when I say I have never met a Catholic who didn’t love to meet someone who had found their way to the Church!

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I still haven’t called… honestly, I have this fear that they will tell me no, I have to do the RCIA, and even if I don’t, it’s too close to Easter already.

If you don’t call, you guarantee that the answer is “no.” If you don’t call, you ensure that a year from now or two years from now or five years from now you’re still not part of the Church and are, as you put it, left out.

If you do call, you open up a world of possibilities. Maybe they will be welcoming. (Maybe not.) Maybe they will suggest that you start RCIA now even if you’re not baptized this year. (Maybe not.) Maybe they will be able to accommodate your schedule. (Maybe not.) Maybe they will refer you to another parish that would work better for you. (Maybe not.) Maybe they will tell you about the wonderful Newman Center at your university. (Maybe not.)

The fear of all the bad things that can happen can be overwhelming. But now that you’ve worked through all the worst case scenarios, perhaps it’s time to see if some best case scenarios might actually work out for you.