Traditional Form of RCIA?

[Joamy]

I volunteered to help with RCIA at my parish this year and it got me wondering.  What do those parishes that solely use the extraordinary form (I'm thinking like the FSSP or others) use?  From what I know (coming as a convert), RCIA in its current format is fairly new since Vatican II.   

[jovan66102]

No such thing as a Traditional RCIA. It is a liturgical rite, attempting to 'recreate the practice of the Early Church', introduced as part of the V II 'reform'.

[kimbaichan]

How do they receive converts without RCIA?

[jovan66102]

How do they receive converts without RCIA?

After proper catechesis they make a profession of Faith during Mass or receive whichever Sacraments are missoing, i.e. baptism &/or confirmation. In my case I was Orthodox, validly baptised and chrismated (confirmed), so after my profession, I got a hand shake.

[CatholicThurifer]

Aww come now, no priestly blessing???

How do they receive converts without RCIA?

After proper catechesis they make a profession of Faith during Mass or receive whichever Sacraments are missoing, i.e. baptism &/or confirmation. In my case I was Orthodox, validly baptised and chrismated (confirmed), so after my profession, I got a hand shake.

[markadm]

How do they receive converts without RCIA?

Same way they receive anyone. RCIA is merely an optional, although recommended process. The only RCIA element I participated in was the "Rite of Election", a bolt "Ad sum" on to a Mass 4-weeks prior to Easter (or some timing like that, my memory's hazy).

I was received into the Church from the "High Church" of the Anglican Communion. Instead of RCIA, my Spiritual Director kindly invested hours in instruction (which was often trick questions, to my delight), and when the time had come I was duly abjured of my heresies, professed, received, and Confirmed.

[Mac_Giolla_Bhrighde]

markadm is right, the old way is to meet with the priest and go over the teachings of the Church one on one or in a small group.

[markadm]

markadm is right, the old way is to meet with the priest and go over the teachings of the Church one on one or in a small group.

It was truly awesome, by the way. Far more enjoyable than I have heard RCIA - with no disrespet intended!

He's a very wise and experienced Priest, who is now (lucky for me) my Spiritual Director.
I used to get questions like: "What is the primary sacrament of forgiveness?" (think about it!)

[mike6240]

markadm is right, the old way is to meet with the priest and go over the teachings of the Church one on one or in a small group.

As an Anglican convert 2 years ago, this is the way I did it - one on one with my parish priest after Mass each Sunday in the rectory.  Father and I had coffee and a light snack (call it "afternoon tea") in the rectory parlor and we discussed the catechism (Trent), the Mass, moral issues, ect.  I had come from the high church end of the Anglican tradition so I knew and believed about 90% of traditional Catholicism.  We met each Sunday from the end of January until April when I made my first Confession,  profession of faith (the trent profession in the Rituale Romanum), and received my first Communion on the Easter Vigil.  Oh, and my parish is Diocesan.  My pastor couldn't stand the "RCIA" and would never subject his parishoners (or future ones) to it.  When I asked him about RCIA he said that our meetings each Sunday was "RCIA" for anyone who asks.

[kimbaichan]

RCIA is bad but in the one I attend even if Monsignor is not teaching he's present so I guess it's not that different as far as the process.
I was thinking maybe there was some traditional process without the Rites, which sound embarrassing.

[Mac_Giolla_Bhrighde]

RCIA is bad but in the one I attend even if Monsignor is not teaching he's present so I guess it's not that different as far as the process.
I was thinking maybe there was some traditional process without the Rites, which sound embarrassing.

what do you mean by "without the rites"? Do mean as in doing your baptism, confirmation and so forth privately? I would think confirmation needs to be public as you are officially stating that you accept the Church in all her being. Frankly it was no big deal for me and I'm an introvert who hates being up in front of large crowds. Granted I was with 20+ other people, so that made it a lot easier.

Oh yeah, I went the RCIA route and the length of time and the silly shenanigans was off putting. I was ready to join the day I walked in, so doing a 10 month program was a beating, but I slogged through it. It was great if you are an extrovert that likes playing games and so forth, but not for me.

[kimbaichan]

Rite of Acceptance - at church during Sunday Mass, Rite of election - we go to the Cathedral for this one, then the biggie during Easter Vigil Mass, which is at the church again.. I understand that confirmation needs to be public but why all these things?

[Joamy]

I appreciate the responses.    I know that RCIA didn't come about until VII. I had understood, like Markadm, that it is the reccomended process for someone converting but that there is some leeway.  My sponsor is a woman that I worked with at the time I went through RCIA.  Her mother was a convert (well before VII) and just met with the priest until she was ready to come into the church. 

Thankfully the RCIA program I went through was fairly good.  No funny business.  That said, I was ready to convert after about a month.  It took me 10 years to get to  RCIA after reading everything Catholic I could find.

[markadm]

Rite of Acceptance - at church during Sunday Mass, Rite of election - we go to the Cathedral for this one, then the biggie during Easter Vigil Mass, which is at the church again.. I understand that confirmation needs to be public but why all these things?

That's just it, Kim! They don't. They are not required in order to become a Catholic.

[The_Harlequin_King]

Rite of Acceptance - at church during Sunday Mass, Rite of election - we go to the Cathedral for this one, then the biggie during Easter Vigil Mass, which is at the church again.. I understand that confirmation needs to be public but why all these things?

Sometimes I actually wish I had to go through each of those processes. I actually like public rites for converts, and I support the basic idea behind restoring the formal catechumenate.

By the time I approached my parish for baptism, I was so well-read on my catechism that I was baptized and confirmed pretty much the weekend after I first asked. I didn't undergo a single class or one-on-one session or anything! My baptism and confirmation were also done privately, i.e. just me, my godfather, the pastor and deacon. My first Communion was just by going to Mass later that day. It was the Vigil of Christmas, but still, I would've liked to have had my own liturgy, so to speak. My parish kind of goes in the opposite extreme from the NO establishment's love of corny community-building rituals; we don't even do baptisms on the Easter Vigil. I find that a glaring and ridiculous omission in what is otherwise a pretty fine parish.


Back to the topic, I suppose there is no such thing as a "traditional RCIA" because RCIA itself is a rather new construct. That doesn't make it necessarily bad, though. If I was a pastor of a parish, I would probably make use of the general program's structure combined with one-on-one counseling and direction. No lay instructors.