Well, he received special permission to do it outside of RCIA and in the old rite.What is most surprising is for him to do it of his own volition. A brief overview:
After his home parish said absolutely not, he found a priest that allowed him to be catechized from Baltimore 4. This went on for three months, and a date was set. He is coming over from Protestantism - Baptist. So he had to warm up to the idea of taking on saints, and asking them for their intercession.
He chose St. John the Baptist for his baptismal patron... a homage to his past religion? X^D
He chose St. Francis de Sales for his confirmation patron. Perhaps because Introduction to the Devout Life is the book on tape I let him borrow.
Part One - He abjured his past heresies.(That was a real thing.) " I, (your name here), XX years of age in the church of St. Patrick's, before you Fr. Get-in-trouble-if-I-used-last-name." Very cool.
Part Two - He was conditionally baptized (That is why the whole thing had to be done in private. Just close friends present as the diocese doesn't like to admit the baptist religion may not have valid baptism (they don't believe in the washing away of original sin.) First, the baptism took place in the vestibule to symbolize my roommate was outside the church. I will work on getting a link to the ritual. He tasted the salt of wisdom, his eyes and ears were opened (Epheta... that is "Be thou opened") He was EXORCISED! Not exactly politically correct. But it shows the difference in the old rite and the new. Secondly he was led into the church proper under the purple stole of the priest. Then made to prostrate before the altar. Lastly he was brought to the baptismal font and anointed and and dunked. JK... the priest just poured water over his head... "If thou has not been baptized... Ego te baptizo." His god-parents touched him as it happened to secure the bond.
Part Three - Conditional Confession. Just in case one of the two times he attempted baptism were valid, he would need to atone for all the sins committed since. So off they went and came back for the next step.
Part Four - Father started off by saying "The bishop is the normal minister of this Sacrament, but he has delegated permission so that I may confirm today." While it did not have all of the pomp an circumstance of a episcopal confirmation, it was modest and honest. My roommates sponsor placed his hand on his shoulder to seal the other bond!
Part Five - I assisted as acolyte and it was rubric according to Holy Communion outside of Mass. That involved a Confiteor, Absolution prayer, and Ecce Agnus Dei! Very Nice. My roommate has looked forward to becoming Catholic for a long time, and the Sacraments given to him were given the due respect they deserve.
The priest said to me afterwards that it was a shame how the new rite of baptism is "butchered." I will pray that he no longer uses the butchered form, but that is his call.
Pictures to come.
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