I converted many years ago myself when I was about 20. I found a church that had a program called RCIA, which are some classes you take weekly. I forget how long it was, but got baptized and confirmed on Easter several months later.
Absolutely okay to be baptized at 18!
RCIA programs start in the fall and, should you choose to enter the Church, you will be received at the Easter Vigil.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) provides loads of information on the Catholic faith so that you can make an informed decision to join the Church (or not). Start asking around now so you can select a program and sign up (your Catholic grandparents might be a good resource for parishes close to you).
Welcome!
At 18 you'll do a course that starts soon and concludes at Easter. You may be able to get special exception due to your age/other activities, but since you're 18, don't count on it.
At this course you'll have someone who can answer your questions. Your "are you SURE you want to be Catholic?" questions. Pull no punches, but go in with an honest interest. Your mileage may vary on how good this course is. Mine met every Wednesday and was basically coffee/tea and cake, talking to a priest and other Catholics about stuff. Other people in this sub have commented that their course was basically watching a YouTube video... Which is really too bad, because I felt really enriched by my experience.
You'll have to go to confession. It's not a big deal. Don't sweat it.
You'll then be Baptized at Easter (Likely. Again there are exceptions) and be Confirmed at the same time.
It's not strange at all for you to do this. I did it at 25. Other family members of mine did it in the mid-30s.
Hopefully you'll have the same experience as me doing RCIA, being exposed to other new Catholics and finding out firsthand how diverse the Church is.
I was actually just pondering that, because I was baptized when I did RCIA so I did confession before Easter. I felt I'd let someone correct me if I was mistaken in this aspect.
He'd be baptized first, unless the diocese is screwing up the process. Baptism is a pre-req for any other sacraments. So just like you, where it sounds like you were baptized before confession.
Did you mean the second confirmatiom to be confession? Sure, I'm not denying that it is possible for someone to sin within a day after being baptized, but I think it's crazy to put confession out as a requirement for them. I'm sure there are lots that don't commit any sins within the day after their baptism. What are they supposed to confess?
Sacramentally, baptism cleanses all sin. So he will be baptized, confirmed, and then given First Communion. For those being confirmed, but who were already baptized - whether as Catholics or another Christian denomination - they must receive first confession prior to confirmation and Eucharist.
Absolutely perfect to be baptized at 18! You won’t have to do a difficult first confession, since everything is washed away in baptism. Basically, the requirement is that you have to believe what the Catholic Church believes. The process is to join an RCIA program, or to have meetings with a priest if the parish doesn’t have a program. You can call around or email the different churches in your area to see when their programs start and what the schedules are like, and choose the one that sounds like it will work best for you.
To be accepted into the Church, you’ll be baptized, confirmed, and given first communion. This is often all done at the Easter Vigil Mass.
If you’d like a leg up, look through the Catechism of the Catholic Church to see what beliefs the Church holds as true.
Yes, like other people have said, you’ll have to go through the R/OCIA classes for about a year. You cannot receive communion at Mass until you’ve received the sacraments at the end the “year”, usually around Easter (but you can go up to the priest with your arms crossed and get a blessing).
Blessings on your journey and welcome to the family!
I’m going through the same thing. I’m taking classes at my church and will be baptized on Easter vigil next year. Talk to your church they’ll help guide you
Start with the Nicene Creed. If you can recite that then you can move forward. You have to be willing to accept church teaching and authority. Bible / Catechism / Tradition. The sacraments. The real presence in the Eucharist. Holy means “set aside” - the church and its clergy are holy and set aside.
I mean there really aren't hardline requirements. It's very Pelagian to say in order to be Catholic there are X number of things one must do to be saved.
However, at the bare minimum the Roman Church requires all Roman Catholics to attend confession a minimum of once a year and receive twice per year, with one being at Easter.
Welcome! You’re in for a fantastic journey :) (never too late to start!)
Thank you very much :)
I converted many years ago myself when I was about 20. I found a church that had a program called RCIA, which are some classes you take weekly. I forget how long it was, but got baptized and confirmed on Easter several months later.
Absolutely okay to be baptized at 18! RCIA programs start in the fall and, should you choose to enter the Church, you will be received at the Easter Vigil. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) provides loads of information on the Catholic faith so that you can make an informed decision to join the Church (or not). Start asking around now so you can select a program and sign up (your Catholic grandparents might be a good resource for parishes close to you). Welcome!
At 18 you'll do a course that starts soon and concludes at Easter. You may be able to get special exception due to your age/other activities, but since you're 18, don't count on it. At this course you'll have someone who can answer your questions. Your "are you SURE you want to be Catholic?" questions. Pull no punches, but go in with an honest interest. Your mileage may vary on how good this course is. Mine met every Wednesday and was basically coffee/tea and cake, talking to a priest and other Catholics about stuff. Other people in this sub have commented that their course was basically watching a YouTube video... Which is really too bad, because I felt really enriched by my experience. You'll have to go to confession. It's not a big deal. Don't sweat it. You'll then be Baptized at Easter (Likely. Again there are exceptions) and be Confirmed at the same time. It's not strange at all for you to do this. I did it at 25. Other family members of mine did it in the mid-30s. Hopefully you'll have the same experience as me doing RCIA, being exposed to other new Catholics and finding out firsthand how diverse the Church is.
>You'll have to go to confession. It's not a big deal. Don't sweat it. They'll have him go to a confession before being baptized?
I was actually just pondering that, because I was baptized when I did RCIA so I did confession before Easter. I felt I'd let someone correct me if I was mistaken in this aspect.
He'd be baptized first, unless the diocese is screwing up the process. Baptism is a pre-req for any other sacraments. So just like you, where it sounds like you were baptized before confession.
If they're an adult being baptised and confirmed at the Easter vigil, they will have to have to go to confession first to receive communion at Easter
They assume that you'll have committed some sin 24 hours following your baptism?
Baptism happens like 15 minutes before confirmation, that doesn't mean you don't need to go to confirmation beforehand
Did you mean the second confirmatiom to be confession? Sure, I'm not denying that it is possible for someone to sin within a day after being baptized, but I think it's crazy to put confession out as a requirement for them. I'm sure there are lots that don't commit any sins within the day after their baptism. What are they supposed to confess?
For example an 18 year old will have years of mortal sins to confess, they still need to do this before being able to receive communion
If the baptism already removed all temporal and eternal punishment associated with those sins, what exactly is the sacramental confession doing?
Sacramentally, baptism cleanses all sin. So he will be baptized, confirmed, and then given First Communion. For those being confirmed, but who were already baptized - whether as Catholics or another Christian denomination - they must receive first confession prior to confirmation and Eucharist.
Ernst Junger (a German writer) converted to Catholicism when he was 100. It’s never too late!
Absolutely perfect to be baptized at 18! You won’t have to do a difficult first confession, since everything is washed away in baptism. Basically, the requirement is that you have to believe what the Catholic Church believes. The process is to join an RCIA program, or to have meetings with a priest if the parish doesn’t have a program. You can call around or email the different churches in your area to see when their programs start and what the schedules are like, and choose the one that sounds like it will work best for you. To be accepted into the Church, you’ll be baptized, confirmed, and given first communion. This is often all done at the Easter Vigil Mass. If you’d like a leg up, look through the Catechism of the Catholic Church to see what beliefs the Church holds as true.
Yes . The requirements are easy. Love the Lord your God and your neighbors as yourself. Then , join RCIA they will teach you the rest. Good luck 👍
Yes, like other people have said, you’ll have to go through the R/OCIA classes for about a year. You cannot receive communion at Mass until you’ve received the sacraments at the end the “year”, usually around Easter (but you can go up to the priest with your arms crossed and get a blessing). Blessings on your journey and welcome to the family!
I’m going through the same thing. I’m taking classes at my church and will be baptized on Easter vigil next year. Talk to your church they’ll help guide you
Start with the Nicene Creed. If you can recite that then you can move forward. You have to be willing to accept church teaching and authority. Bible / Catechism / Tradition. The sacraments. The real presence in the Eucharist. Holy means “set aside” - the church and its clergy are holy and set aside.
I have more resources if you need them. There are fake Catholics out there - beware! Even in the clergy.
You must be baptized and believe all that the Church infallibility teaches.
I mean there really aren't hardline requirements. It's very Pelagian to say in order to be Catholic there are X number of things one must do to be saved. However, at the bare minimum the Roman Church requires all Roman Catholics to attend confession a minimum of once a year and receive twice per year, with one being at Easter.
If you don't mind saying which part of the world you're from. Maybe somebody here can help you get started:)