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Ricky
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
Can you please tell me the process for
becoming a Catholic?
I am 56 and a life-long, baptized Christian
and have heard that I would have to take classes
for a year.
Ricky
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{
Can
you tell me how to become
a Catholic and does RCIA mean I am not currently a Christian? }
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Ricky —
At most, the process for the Rite
of Christian Initiation for Adults
(RCIA) will take place from {September or
October} through Easter, so it's
maybe a eight or nine month process.
It is not always required, but is
a good thing to do.
Mary Ann
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John
replied:
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Hi, Ricky —
RCIA usually runs from September
through May or June, with the candidates
entering the Church in April at the
Easter Vigil.
A thorough program should continue
beyond the acceptance of candidates
into the Church.
These sessions are usually dedicated
to entering into the Mysteries of
our Faith, with some sessions also
focusing on finding one's calling
in the Body of Christ.
John
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Ricky
replied:
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Thanks guys —
The name the Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults implies that I am not a Christian.
- Why does everyone have the same
program when I am a 56-year-old,
baptized Christian man?
Ricky
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John
replied:
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Ricky,
When the Church uses the term Christian
it is in the context that it refers
to the fullness of the faith which
fully subsists in the Roman Catholic
Church.
Yes, you are Christian, by faith
and baptism, but you're faith formation
is incomplete. You are not yet in
perfect communion with the Church
that Jesus Christ established one
Peter and the Apostles.
When a candidate enters the Church,
[he|she] states that they accept
all the Teachings of the Church in
the areas of faith and morals. For
you to be able to do that, you need
to know what these teachings are.
- It doesn't mean you have
to completely understand them.
- It doesn't mean it won't
be a struggle to submit to them.
- It does mean you have
reached the point where you believe
the Church is the Church that
Christ founded, and therefore,
you accept Her authority, even
when you don't fully understand
it.
This journey takes some time and
commitment. Entering an RCIA program
is the first step. During your time
in the program, you continue to discern
and ask for discernment. It's not
unlike an engagement.
John
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Ricky
replied:
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Hi John —
- Is that why I am not allowed to share
in Communion; because I am not as
good as the rest of the parishioners?
That's how I feel.
I have been going to Mass for four
months with my Catholic fiancée.
I know that at any other church I
have visited, I have been allowed
to share as an equal member. The
reason I have considered joining
the Catholic Church is to be an equal
member of the Church and not feel
like a outsider, especially after
I am married.
Ricky
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John
replied:
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Ricky,
Reception of Communion for a Catholic
means (or at it least it should
mean) that the person is in full
communion with the Church and all
her Teachings in the area of faith
and morals.
Protestant Christians don't share
the same faith as to what the nature
of a sacrament is, let alone other
Teachings of the Church. Therefore,
the Church cannot allow those who
are not in full communion to receive
the Eucharist.
It has nothing to do with Catholics
being any better or worse than any
other Christians.
Catholicism is not a buffet or cafeteria where you pick and choose. One
cannot be 99% Catholic and still
be in full communion with the Church.
I'm sure as a good baptized Christian,
you wouldn't dream of sleeping with
your fiancée before you got married.
That doesn't mean you're not good
enough for her or she's not good
enough for you. What it means is
that both of you, as good Christians,
understand that the sexual relations
are reserved for those who are married.
Well, it's the same thing with the
Eucharist. You are not yet fully
part of the Bride of Christ which
is the Church. Therefore, it would
be illicit for you to receive Communion
until you've made the commitment
to be part of the Church.
Surely, as a good baptized Christian,
you know that Jesus came to save
sinners. His mission did not include
making people feel like
an insider or an outsider. This sort
of politically-correct emotionalism has little
to do with the Gospel. Jesus said,
I am the way, the truth, and
the light, no man comes to the
Father except by me. (John 14:6)
He invites us all to come to the
fullness of truth and to seek refuge
in Him, but He's not Dr. Phil
or Oprah!
We don't compromise the
truth for the sake of being inclusionary.
We are the Church of Jesus Christ,
not some fraternal lodge.
John
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Mike
replied:
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Hi, Ricky —
We are getting this question asked
more and more.
For that reason, I've updated my
web page with related postings
at the end.
When a Protestant is thinking about
joining the Church then hears that
the entrance program, RCIA, can possibly
be up to 9 months, it may seem like
a turn off, but it shouldn't be, if
one understands the reasoning behind it.
In some Protestant denominations,
they emphasize the Me and Jesus
aspect to the exclusion of the family
of Jesus aspect. This is not true
within the Church.
The Church believes in both:
- developing a personal relationship
with Our Blessed Lord Jesus, and
- developing a family relationship.
As my colleague John has stated,
developing a family relationship
includes understanding our body
of beliefs correctly, but it also
includes making new friends and family
members and discerning a calling
within your local parish/church.
From this view, eight to nine months
can seem like not enough!
Hope this helps,
Mike
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