www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall I'm a Catechumen

Dear Teen Logo,

Congratulations, Big Guy!

In your zeal, I'm sure you'll put us to shame!

Alex

Congrats, Teen! I remember joining RCIA late in the season and being received at the Vigil. We'll be praying for you!

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Congratulations, Teen of the Incarnate Logos....

I went through RCIA 7 years ago......and came into the Church at Easter....Oh, the beauty of the Sacraments!!!! You are in for joy!

But, Teen, a little word of warning, this may also be the time for some of your strongest temptations.....to doubt, fear, draw back, or go a different, not quite right route, or even to feel plunged into a darkness of "unkowing" things you have known clearly.

All through the months leading up to my conversion, and during the first little while afterwards, I was plagued by some of these nasty temptations...however, 7 years later, I am still thrilled to have made this good and wonderful choice.

Daily Mass.....confession.....anointing of the sick (I have chronic health problems)....all are a wonderful source of strength....

May the Lord spare you temptations and trials,if it is His will....but if they come....know that others have had them before....

Blessings abundant!

Unity In Christ

Many years to you! May the Lord guide you always, may the Theotokos protect you, may the saints intercede for you.

With love in Christ,
Andrew

Once again, I continue to offer my humble gratitude for your prayers and positive reinforcement.

Dear Alice,

Actually, I've been to Rome and the Vatican twice (once in the spring of '99 and also spring '03). It's a truly awe-inspiring place. Words couldn't begin to describe the sanctity and beauty exuding from the place!! Hopefully I will be fortunate enough to go again sometime!

Logos Teen

I just got back from RCIA class. It lasted two hours. It was surprisingly orthodox! I was absolutely delighted.

Our next RCIA session (or maybe not the next, but one soon to come) is devoted to the Eastern Churches in Communion with Rome.

Also, there was an icon of Christ Pantocrator in the meeting room.

We had an opening and closing prayer. Both prayers began with the Sign of the Cross and the Glory Be, and ended with the Sign of the Cross.

I promise; it was orthodox!!

Logos Teen

Congratulations Logos Tean, I'm glad you're received in the orthodoxy of the Roman Catholic Church. I'll pray for you so that everything goes fine.

By the way dear forumers, can you tell me how does the RC works there about conversions?

Here in Mexico, the RC reluctantly recognizes Anglican or Lutheran baptisms as valid (but they do as far as I know), but the baptisms of all the non-historical protestant sects (baptists, evangelicals, "christians") are seen as invalid or graceless. (Recently my friend's girlfriend had to her baptism in the RC she converted from Methodist Church.) At the same time, the RC re-baptizes those who were baptized in disident Catholic groups (SSPX, Trent Union, for example).

Does the RC in USA see Protestant Baptism as valid in most cases?

Teen,

Congratulations on your upcoming reception into the Catholic Church!


Mexican,

The only baptisms considered invalid by the Catholic Church are those done by Mormons, Oneness Pentecostals or any sect that doesn't baptize in the name of the Holy Trinity. I'm surprised that baptisms done by Methodists, Baptists, Evangelicals and especially SSPX aren't recognized by the RCC in Mexico. I thought the guidelines on what baptisms to accept were universal within the Catholic Church.

In Christ,
Anthony

Dear Teen,

I am most happy that the Spirit has led you to seek communion with us in the Church. It is a time of rejoicing!

I think that you will find that the Latin Church is quite orthodox in her Faith. It seems that the local RCIA program there is an example of that.

I pray that you will find awe and joy in the wonderful workings of God as you enter more deeply into the life of the Church.

I have read your postings with great interest. Like most of us you have shown growth through your participation here. May your enthusiasm and faith and love enrich us all.

All of the Churches are enriched by your committment to seek entrance into the Church there in your home diocese.

Ad multos annos! In principio erat Verbum.... May you always follow Him.

Congratulations,

Steve

Mexican,

It may interest you to know that the norm here (and I thought everywhere?), from the Catholic POV, is that baptism by pouring or immersion is valid, but baptism by sprinkling is not.

Now, I have seen both pouring and sprinkling in the United Methodist Church. It generally varies from pastor to pastor. I asked my mom whether water was poured on me or sprinkled on me; she thinks it was poured, but can't remember clearly because I also have three younger sisters who were baptized (or were they?) by different pastors. If water was sprinkled on me, then I'm not validly baptized and must be baptized before entering this Easter. It seems I'll have to track down the pastor who baptized me (I know his name, but I just gotta find his phone number) and ask him how he baptized babies when he was an active Methodist minister.

When I say I've seen "sprinkling" in the Methodist Church, I'm not sure how accurate that is. I remember the baptism of my youngest sister, Emma. The pastor dipped his hand into the bowl of water three times, drawing water up with his hand, but not exactly cupping the water in his palm or anything. Then he placed his hand on my sister's head (the hand which was thoroughly wet with water), and said, "I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

So, from a Catholic POV, I'm not sure if that's a valid baptism or not. I mean, water did run down her head because his hand had been immersed in it, so it wasn't sprinkled, but it wasn't exactly poured in any great amount.

But my mother said that Katharine, one of my other sisters, was definitely baptized by pouring because Kate went crazy because of all the water. I can't remember Kate's baptism because I was only six years old, and she was somewhere around two months old.

The possibility of me not being baptized (although apparently I am, just gotta confirm) is bad enough, but I know how to remedy that. The possibility of my sister(s) not being baptized is very frightening!

Logos Teen

Well at least they used water; I read once of a United Methodist pastor who baptized with rose petals!