My son.....the next Martin Luther

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I said I wasn't sure. Back in the day when I went to Catholic Schools you could convert with the sacrament of baptism. Then you had to also receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion, and THEN Confirmation. However it might just be my diocese that did it this way.

~Amanda

RCIA has been around for years....and all are performed during the same mass (except reconciliation).

If you are already baptized, they have you do a reconciliation at some time prior to your conversion.

If you are unbaptized--the Baptism takes care of that.

ETA: I had all done during the same mass in the mid-90s...except reconciliation.

 

[kirbsam]

I tend to agree with the poster who asked about his convenience. Rules are rules. We go to classes to get a drivers license, some will think it is too much. When we get a new job, we go through a training sesssion, even if we tell our boss that we already know how to do it. If he wants to get confirmed, there is nothing wrong with just following the rules even if it inconveniences him. If he truly has no time to earn money, I would really have a talk with his school. It doesn't sound like the extra time to get confirmed should be the reason to not being able to get a job. I have never heard of a church of any religion that does not have funds to help needy families pay for things such, as retreats, if they can not afford them. If that is an issue in your church, I suggest you find a new church. It doesn't sound like yours is a very good one. If he wants a license, or a degree, or a job, or to be confirmed, he needs to follow the rules, even if he thinks they are stupid.

 

[FINFAN]

I only read page 1, but just wanted to let you know that a lot of kids around here basically drop going to church after their confirmation because they are burnt out. I am not Catholic so I have no idea what all is covered during RE etc., but I can tell you that DD tells me all the time how miserable her friends were and how none of them go anymore, and it all seems so "technical" to her. I guess your DS is not alone feeling the way he does. I think you are being a great Mom for listening to his frustration and he is a great kid for sharing it with you.


Pam

 

[sodaseller]

I only read page 1, but just wanted to let you know that a lot of kids around here basically drop going to church after their confirmation because they are burnt out. I am not Catholic so I have no idea what all is covered during RE etc., but I can tell you that DD tells me all the time how miserable her friends were and how none of them go anymore, and it all seems so "technical" to her. I guess your DS is not alone feeling the way he does. I think you are being a great Mom for listening to his frustration and he is a great kid for sharing it with you.


Pam

I hear ya. I will say that one of the things I love about our DRE is that all catechesis is "Whole Church" catechesis, meaning it revolves around the whole family's participation and is centered around certain parts of the Liturgical calendar with intense all day instruction those days (and fun, instead pf regular weekly instruction. We love it

 

[cardaway]

So there are some "fuzzy" rules.... interesting.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I have a reaction that seems to be different from the rest of the posts on this thread.


Is he going to complain when he's required to go to college for four long years and take all those silly classes just to get a degree?

Ummmmm,
a college degree is supposed to be earned...
A license sometimes has to be earned...
A paycheck has to be earned...
We do not have a 'right' to ANY of these things

Salvation is supposed to be a 'Gift'

By 'Faith', not by 'Works'

 

[BeckyEsq]

I can just hear my mother's voice now . . . "Christ died on the cross for you, is [insert task here] really too much to ask?"

Apart from the religious aspects of it, I think it's a good opportunity to teach a lesson, being that you do what you have to do in this world. He is at the perfect age to learn that sometimes things worth doing are not easy.

As for the $70, I would be SHOCKED if the church didn't waive the fee if your family is truly in need. The Catholic Church is extremely charitable and I can't imagine they would make him pay or refuse to allow him to go if your family is truly low income and in need. Talk to the teacher if it's a problem.

ETA: I was thinking about the way they encourage going to church with peers, I would guess this is b/c being confirmed means becoming an adult member of the Church as a whole -- I think it probably is mean to symbolize joining and taking on responsibility in the Church community, outside of one's family -- idea being as children our families are our communities, and as we mature our communities expand. Also I think it is probably very good for teens to see other teens practicing their faith.

 

[jrydberg]

I'd take this as a good lesson in Catholicism. The Roman Catholic Church is not an organization that takes a survey to see if something's popular. They're not an organization that looks for individual interpretation of policies and procedures. The rules are the rules and they are, in most cases, non-negotiable.

Good luck with everything

 

[cardaway]

I'd take this as a good lesson in Catholicism. The Roman Catholic Church is not an organization that takes a survey to see if something's popular. They're not an organization that looks for individual interpretation of policies and procedures. The rules are the rules and they are, in most cases, non-negotiable.

Those exact words could have come from the OP if it were a different subject, but yet here it seems like she is supporting her son in challenging the system. Guess it hit home.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I can just hear my mother's voice now . . . "Christ died on the cross for you, is [insert task here] really too much to ask?"

Nothing like a great big helping of guilt to inspire a young teen into Spiritual Responsibility.

My kid went through the Lutheran confirmation study with his 8th grade class 2 years ago. By the end of it, I think I was more tired of the work and memorization than he was.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Those exact words could have come from the OP if it were a different subject, but yet here it seems like she is supporting her son in challenging the system. Guess it hit home.

Card, I should've seen you popping in here. He is not seeking to change doctrine here. He is not trying to change the sacrament itself.

And, I support my son's rights to challenge something he doesn't believe in anyway, whether I believe in it or not (see the other thread I have going). I would even support his right to protest against any anti abortion law that would ever come about. So don't try and bring some hypocrisy charge against me, okie dokie?

 

[JudicialTyranny]

Ummmmm,
a college degree is supposed to be earned...
A license sometimes has to be earned...
A paycheck has to be earned...
We do not have a 'right' to ANY of these things

Salvation is supposed to be a 'Gift'

By 'Faith', not by 'Works'

That argument ("Faith" vs. "Works") does not apply here.

1. The sacrement of Confirmation has nothing to do with salvation. Catholics do not believe that you will not be saved if you do not receive Confirmation.

2. There are no "Works" (i.e. charity) involved - it is simply learning. Do Protestants not study the Bible?

I don't know if the Protestant denominations have a "confirmation" equivalent or not, but if they do, can any baptized individual just walk in and receive it? If yes, then what meaning does it have, in terms of confirmed vs. non-confirmed?

What good is it, my brothers if you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother is naked and lacks daily food, if one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill', and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (James 2:14-16)

 

[phillybeth]

2. There are no "Works" (i.e. charity) involved - it is simply learning.

Actually there are. Most parishes/dioceses require community service- I remember having to do it and that was way back in the late 70's/early 80's. If your community service wasn't completed you couldn't recieve the sacrament.

 

[disneymom3]

I can just hear my mother's voice now . . . "Christ died on the cross for you, is [insert task here] really too much to ask?".

Oh my gosh, if I had a cousin named Becky, I would swear we were related!!! My mother used to say the EXACT same thing. Fidgeting in church, sore toe, hungry??? Christ suffered a lot more than that so buck up and deal with it!!!

 

[BeckyEsq]

Oh my gosh, if I had a cousin named Becky, I would swear we were related!!! My mother used to say the EXACT same thing. Fidgeting in church, sore toe, hungry??? Christ suffered a lot more than that so buck up and deal with it!!!

It's funny, but it's true, isn't it? When you think about the things we actually find time to complain about? Especially teenagers! They are so put upon. :lol: