Becoming Catholic
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Are you curious about the Christian faith? Were you raised in another Christian tradition, but are wondering about the Catholic Church? Were you raised in the Catholic Church, but never received Confirmation, or are just coming back to your faith?
Do you want to learn more about the Catholic Church, what the early Christians believed and the Church Fathers taught, and share with us in the journey of encountering Jesus in the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation? If so, we invite you to join our Becoming Catholic group at Holy Rosary Edmonds.
These gatherings are for those who are unbaptized, baptized Christians from other traditions, as well as baptized Catholics in search of re-connection to the faith. Learn the mysteries of the faith, understand the sacraments, and discover what we believe. What have you been wondering?If you want to join us, or just want to talk to someone to get more information,
fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page.
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Christian Initiation:
The Sacraments
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The sacraments of Christian initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist—lay the foundations of every Christian life. (Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 1212)
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The sharing in the divine nature through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity. (Source: CCC, 1212)
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The Sacrament of Baptism:
Born into God's familyBy Baptism we become members of the Church, the Body of Christ. The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters....Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.
In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.
(Source: USCCB, The Sacraments: Baptism)
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The Sacrament of Confirmation:
Strengthened by the Holy SpiritIn the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.
The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission. Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John. Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church. After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world....We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service.
(Source: USCCB, The Sacraments: Confirmation)
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The Sacrament of the Eucharist:
Nourished by ChristThe Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The term “Eucharist” originates from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving.
In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present – body, blood, soul, and divinity – under the appearances of bread and wine, the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.
Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because he loves us. By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ through his humanity. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (Jn 6:56). In being united to the humanity of Christ, we are at the same time united to his divinity. Our mortal and corruptible natures are transformed by being joined to the source of life.
(Source: USCCB, The Eucharist)
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Christian Initiation:
The Stages
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The process of initiation in the the Catholic Church (OCIA, formerly RCIA) has a few stages. Whether you're formally in this process or not, they're a great model of faith development.
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Asking:
The Period Evangelization & PrecatechumenatePrior to beginning the process of becoming a Christian, an individual comes to some knowledge of Jesus Christ, considers his or her relationship with Jesus Christ and is usually attracted in some way to the Catholic Church. This period is known as the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate. For some, this process involves a long period of searching; for others, a shorter time. Often, contact with people of faith and a personal faith experience lead people to inquire about the Catholic Church. After a conversation with a priest or a parish director of Christian Initiation, the person, known as an "inquirer," may seek acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, through the Rite of Acceptance. During this Rite, the inquirer stands amidst the parish community and states that he or she wants to become a baptized member of the Catholic Church. The parish assembly affirms this desire and the inquirer becomes a Catechumen. (Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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Seeking:
The Period of the CatechumenateThe Period of the Catechumenate has historically lasteed for as long as several years or for a shorter time. It depends on how the person is growing in faith, what questions they encounter along the way, and how God leads them on this journey. During this time, the Catechumens consider what God is saying to them in the Scriptures, what changes in their life they need to make to respond to God's inspiration, and what Baptism in the Catholic Church means. When a Catechumen and the priest and the parish team working with him or her believes the person is ready to make a faith commitment to Jesus in the Catholic Church, the next step is the request for baptism and the celebration of the Rite of Election. Even before the Catechumens are baptized, they have a special relationship to the Church.
The Rite of Election includes the enrollment of names of all the Catechumens seeking baptism at the coming Easter Vigil. Typically, on the first Sunday of Lent, the Catechumens, their sponsors and families gather at the cathedral church. The Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book and they are called the Elect. (Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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Knocking:
The Period of Purification and EnlightenmentThe days of Lent are the final Period of Purification and Enlightenment leading up to the Easter Vigil. Lent is a period of preparation marked by prayer, study, and spiritual direction for the Elect, and prayers for them by the parish communities. The Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation takes place during the Easter Vigil Liturgy on Holy Saturday when the Elect receives the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Now the person is fully initiated into the Catholic Church. (Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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Mystagogy:
The Period of Post-Baptismal CatechesisAs a newly initiated Catholic, they continue their formation and education in the Period of the Post-Baptismal Catechesis, which is also called Mystagogy. This period continues at least until Pentecost. During the period the newly baptized members reflect on their experiences at the Easter Vigil and continue to learn more about the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. In addition they reflect on how they will serve Christ and help in the Church's mission and outreach activities. (Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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Christian Initiation:
Resources & FAQ
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Coming into full communion with the Catholic Church describes the process for entrance into the Catholic Church for already baptized Christians. In most cases, these individuals make a profession of faith but are not baptized again. To prepare for this reception, the people, who are called Candidates, usually participate in a formation program to help them understand and experience the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. Although some preparation may be with Catechumens preparing for baptism, the preparation for Candidates is different since they have already been baptized and committed to Jesus Christ, and many have also been active members of other Christian communities. The Candidates may be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil or at another Sunday during the year depending on pastoral circumstances and readiness of the Candidate. (Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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Generally speaking, if you have already been baptized in another Christian faith tradition (e.g. Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, etc.), either as an adult or as a child, you will not be baptized again. Our confession of faith states that we "believe in one baptism." That is, we believe that baptism done "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," places us within Jesus' life, death, and resurrection through his own baptism. The Sacrament of Baptism is shared by all orthodox and creedal Christians, and cannot be broken by schisms, and this is why we do not rebaptize Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.
There are some cases however, where what is called a "provisional baptism" may be performed. This is done in cases where someone's baptismal status cannot be confirmed for certain. There are also cases where baptism would not be accepted, involving those coming from other sects and traditions that do not hold what we would consider an orthodox Trinitarian view (Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostalism, etc.). As such, the Catholic Church (along with most Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and other Trinitarian Christians) would not consider these to be valid baptisms.
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For Catholics who have been Baptized, Confirmed and made First Communion but then drifted from the faith, the way they return is through the Sacrament of Penance. Catholics who were baptized but never received Confirmation and/or Eucharist also participate in a period of formation. This process of formation is completed with the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion often at the Easter Vigil or during the Easter Season. (Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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The Easter Vigil takes place on Holy Saturday, the evening before Easter Sunday. This is the night that "shall be as bright as day" as proclaimed by the Exsultet, an ancient church hymn, as we joyfully anticipate Christ's Resurrection The Holy Saturday Liturgy begins with the Service of Light, which includes the blessing of the new fire and the Paschal candle which symbolizes Jesus, the Light of the World. The second part consists of the Liturgy of the Word with a series of Scripture readings. After the Liturgy of the Word, the Catechumens are presented to the parish community, who pray for them with the Litany of the Saints. Next, the priest blesses the water, placing the Easter or Paschal candle into the baptismal water. Those seeking Baptism then renounce sin and profess their faith after which they are baptized with the priest pronouncing the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
After the Baptism the newly baptized are dressed in white garments and presented with a candle lighted from the Paschal Candle. They are then Confirmed by the priest or bishop who lays hands on their heads, and invokes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He then anoints them with the oil called Sacred Chrism. The Mass continues with the newly baptized participating in the general intercessions and in bringing gifts to the altar. At Communion, the newly baptized receive the Eucharist, Christ's Body and Blood, for the first time.
(Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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Prior to the Rite of Election, the Catechumen may choose one or two godparents, who will accompany the Catechumen on the day of Election, at the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, and during the Period of Mystagogy. They are called to show the Catechumens good example of the Christian life, sustain them in moments of hesitancy and anxiety, bear witness, and guide their progress in the baptismal life. (Source: USCCB, Christian Initiation of Adults)
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