Rite Questions: RCIA – Conditional Baptisms, Confirmation Faculties, and Candidates for Full Communion
Sep 7, 2024

Rite Questions: RCIA – Conditional Baptisms, Confirmation Faculties, and Candidates for Full Communion

Editor’s note: It’s not uncommon that the parish RCIA process gets underway in the fall of the year. This beginning, coupled with the imminent implementation of the revised Order of Christian Initiation of Adults—optional on the First Sunday of Advent (December 1, 2024) and mandatory for use on Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2025)—offers an occasion to answer common canonical questions in the RCIA. Also note that, until the revised OCIA becomes effective, we refer here to “RCIA,” employ its translation, and cite its reference numbers.


Q: For the purposes of RCIA, who is considered an adult?

A: When it comes to the sacraments of initiation, an adult is one who has attained the use of reason, about the age of seven (Code of Canon Law (CIC), 97). This means that, all things being equal, a seven-year-old answers the questions put to him or her directly prior to baptism and, like other adults, is confirmed immediately after baptism. In fact, when a pastor or chaplain baptizes one at or beyond this age or receives one already baptized, he must confirm the person:

  • “By universal Church law, the pastor or chaplain can and must administer the sacrament of confirmation to those persons who are no longer infants and whom he baptizes. (cf. Cann. 530, 1º; 566, §1; 882; 883, 2º and 885, §2; RCIA, 14, 24, 215, and 305)
  • “By universal Church law, the pastor or chaplain can and must confirm those persons who have attained the use of reason but already have been baptized in another church or ecclesial communion, when they are received by him into full communion with the Catholic Church. (cf. Cann. 852 §1, 866, 883, 2º, and 885, §2; RCIA, 481; NSC, 35)

In short, a seven-year-old child is fully initiated in the same way (liturgically speaking) as a 77-year-old—and his confirmation must not be delayed. This is not the case, however, with children who have not attained the age of reason (i.e. “Cradle Catholics”).


Q: What is required for proof of a valid baptism?

A: A valid baptism uses proper matter (immersion or pouring of water on head), form (“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”), the minister’s proper intention to do what the Church does, and the willingness of the recipient (or the parents, in the case of infants). (See Code of Canon Law (CIC), 849-871.) Acceptable proofs include:

  • An authentic copy of a baptismal certificate.
  • A “simple copy” if there is no reason to doubt the fact of the baptism and if an authentic copy is unavailable.
  • A declaration of the person (under oath) if he or she was baptized as an adult (see CIC, 876).
  • A declaration of at least one credible witness. (see CIC, 876)

Q: How is one needing conditional baptism treated in the RCIA process?

A: If doubt of the fact or validity of the baptism remains after a serious enquiry, the person is to be baptized conditionally (“John, if you are not baptized, I baptize you….”). (See CIC, 869; RCIA, 480)

One preparing for conditional baptism is to have the reasons for doubting the validity of the baptism explained to him, is enrolled in the RCIA as a “candidate for full communion,” does not celebrate the Sacrament of Penance prior to conditional baptism, is baptized in private, and is received into the full communion of the Church at a later Sunday celebration (National Statues on the Catechumenate (NSC), 37).


Q. In which instances does a pastor have faculties for confirmation?

A: Presently, a priest has the permission, either in virtue of universal Church law or by grant of the diocesan bishop, to confirm the following persons:

(a) Those persons who are no longer infants and whom he baptizes (cf. Cann. 530, 1°; 566, §1; 882; 883, 2° and 885, §2; RCIA, 14, 24, 215, and 305);

(b) Those persons who have attained the use of reason but already have been baptized in another church or ecclesial communion, when they are received by him into full communion with the Catholic Church (cf. Cann. 883, 2° and 885, §2; RCIA, 481; NSC, 35);

(c) The baptized Catholic who has been an apostate from the faith (cf. Can. 883, 2°; NSC, 28);

(d) The baptized Catholic who through no fault of his or her own has been raised in a non-Catholic religion or joined a non-Catholic religion (ibid.);

(e) Those who are in danger of death (cf. Cann. 566 §1 and 833, 3°)

These permissions are not limited to the Easter Vigil but are applicable at any time initiation may take place throughout the year.

If, however, a priest wishes to confirm a baptized Catholic who has been practicing the faith, or a baptized Catholic who through no fault of his or her own never put the faith into practice, permission for the faculty to do so must be requested from the diocesan bishop (Can. 882, Can. 884, §1).


Q. When should candidates for Confirmation be received into full communion?

A: For catechumens (or, more properly, the Elect), “the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation should take place at the Easter Vigil” (RCIA, 23). For candidates, the RCIA itself says, “The high point of their entire formation will normally be the Easter Vigil” (409). The Vigil, then, is not at all an inappropriate time for candidates to be confirmed and to receive their first holy Communion. The combined rite is found in the RCIA book beginning at number 562.

On the other hand, the National Statues on the Catechumenate (found as Appendix III in the current edition of the RCIA book) offers strong language in support of full initiation at a time other than at the Easter Vigil. “The reception of candidates,” the National Statues instruct, “into the communion of the Catholic Church should ordinarily take place at the Sunday Eucharist of the parish community….” And again, “It is preferable that reception into full communion not take place at the Easter Vigil lest there be confusion of such baptized Christians with the candidates for baptism…” (32-3). Furthermore, the Easter Vigil in the Roman Missal envisions candidates for Baptism only, and contains no rubrics mentioning those candidates for full communion.


Q. When (and how) should questions surrounding a candidate’s previous marriage be asked?

A: One of the most complex aspects of the RCIA process are marriage questions—particularly of former marriages—that need to be addressed and clarified. For if one has been in a prior marriage, and if that marriage is determined to be a valid bond, then any present or future “re-marriage” places the candidate and his or her spouse potentially in an invalid and sinful relationship. When the dimension of the initiation sacraments is added, it is all the more difficult: for, having been received into the full life of grace in the Church, the newly received may be in a position of returning to a relationship that is sinful and contrary to the new life in Christ just begun.

For these and other reasons, it is important to address marriage questions early in the initiation process. Bringing up former marriages with somebody one has just met and who may not be convinced that he or she should even join the Church is not easy, especially since the breakup of former relationships is often a painful memory. At the same time, it is not pastorally advisable to wait too long into the process, since if a marriage does need to be examined, this often takes time and may be a cause to delay full initiation and the convalidation of a present union. Ideally, marriage questions should be addressed prior to the Rite of Acceptance or the Rite of Welcome.


Q. What are the requirements to serve as a godparent or sponsor?

A: A sponsor helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.

To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:

1. be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister, and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;

2. have completed the 16th year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;

3. be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;

4. not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;

5. not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized. (see CIC, 872-874, 892-893)

—Answered by the Editors

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The Editors