Okay, you’re saying if they feel called to “bypass” RCIA, the church permits that?
… But my understanding after reading most of the responses here was that it was something I had to do. I guess I’m confused.
I said I wasn’t going to become Catholic, and now I seem to be feeling that tug again. So I’m feeling weird. I just wish I could get this whole thing settled inside myself.
Pray and continue to read. As a Baptised Christian (I presume), you are, in some mysterical manner, already part of the Church of Christ. When you feel that the Catholic Church is the fullness of the means for worshiping and praising and knowing about Jesus Christ, you’ll know what to do.
I am saying, as an RCIA Coordinator, that a faithful follower of Christ, who happens to be a Protestant, has an opportunity to “bypass” the long RCIA process. It depends on a number of things: Your particular walk in Christ, your knowledge of Catholicism, and the RCIA Coordinator’s openness to bypassing the process and doing something more suitable to the need of that individual. Naturally, some Coordinators are more open to discerning whether someone may be ready for this. I personally would recommend against it. Why? Because most Protestants have little experience of Liturgy and are unfamiliar with the local Catholic community. RCIA is an opportunity to learn and experience both while being guided into faithfully following Christ as a Catholic. However, I have made exceptions for people I thought were already experiencing the Liturgy - such as a gentleman who was a Lutheran but was going to Mass for years with his Catholic wife and knew people in our community.
So each case depends on a number of issues.
Not that I don’t believe you, but could you maybe post the specific writings you’re referring to…or perhaps tell me where I might be able to read them online? Maybe I have too much Protestant ingrained in me. I didn’t realize there was such a waiting period even in the first century. What happened if you died before you could be confirmed and take your first communion?
Here is the Didache…
earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html
If you glance through the first six chapters, you’ll notice a bunch of exhortations on how to be a Christian. Naturally, for the pagan, this would take some time to learn and practice this. Chapter 7 begins:
And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water.
The “
these things” are chapters 1-6, discussion on what sort of practices must stop and what we must now begin to do… These are typical catechetical exhortations that were typically guided by a spiritual mentor when a catechumenate wanted to join the community. Of course, he wasn’t expected to know about all of this, being a pagan, so he was assigned a sponsor who taught him the “two ways”. In time, this sponsor would vouch that the candidate was ready for baptism.
According to the teachings of the Church, a baptized Christian is already being conformed with Christ, buried with Him (Romans 6). However, Christ wants us to continue our growth in Him and to share with Him His entire Life, especially in the Eucharist. Canon Law states that a catechumen who dies is entitled to a Christian burial, for such a person is considered “baptized by desire”. You (presumably) are already baptized, so you are already united to the Church in some manner. This is an ancient teaching that goes back to the 3rd century. Baptism is the door into the Church, but Christ wants you to come in and share with Him.
It’s really not about wanting a “bus ticket” NOW. It’s just that I’m already a Christian…or so I thought, because sometimes I wonder if I’ve ever believed properly…
You are a “real Christian” already by your baptism. As long as you were baptized with water in the name of the Trinity, you have been buried with Christ. But this, as you know, is only the first step on our walks with Christ. Being transformed, sanctified, is an ongoing process, one that is aided by the fullness of Jesus Christ, received in the Church through the sacraments and proper understanding of the Savior. If you are already an active Christian, than wouldn’t you want to learn more about Christ through these Catholic sacraments? Before boarding the barque of Peter, don’t you want to know what you are getting into, the significance of these ‘sacraments’? Come to a better understanding of who Mary is in the eyes of the Church, or what we do during the Liturgy? These things are not necesssarily learned through book reading, but experiencing them. Thus, the time of waiting.
What’s this “discernment” stuff all about? Do you mean if someone wants to become a Christian, it has to first be determined if they are really interested and acceptable or not…?
Many people fall away because they jump in too soon. Discernment helps to ensure that in your heart, you are doing the right thing in God’s eyes. It’s not all about being accepted “to us”, but whether our community is acceptable to you.
Sorry…I’m just depressed and tired of this whole thing. It confuses me. I hope, if anything, you guys will forgive me…and maybe pray for me. I’m not doing so well lately it seems.
You know, we all go through up’s and down’s in our walk. Look at the men described in Hebrews 11 and take heart that God is not subjecting us to the rigors that these men went through. God will provide for us if we don’t turn away from Him. Continue to pray, meditate on the Gospels, perhaps Luke 15 might be helpful.
Regards
