Ages for First Holy Communion & Confirmation

[otjm]

Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. Childhood is a time when you’re told what to do, and you react positively to reward and negatively to punishment. Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what’s right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it’s the right thing to do. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4) and gave them courage to practice their faith. Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts and fruits.

Any thoughts? I have never been confirmed, but I always thought this was the correct way to interpret it.

Over time, there have been a number of views of what Confirmation “means” - it is not for no reason that it has been called the sacrament in search of a theology.

And historically, within the Catholic Church, it has, and continues, to be given at differing ages; within the Eastern Rites, at baptism, and within the Roman rite, as late as 18 (as in, regularly scheduled; some who never were Confirmed my do that later in adult life).

Your comment is certainly not out of line, but it is one aspect; the Church sees several.

And as you can see from comments, the issue of age is a bit fluid.

 

[Bookcat]

I was asked recently why Catholics have their children recieve the sacraments of Holy Communion (usually at 7 years old) and confirmation (usually at 13 years old) at such young ages, for such serious of sacraments. I did not have a good answer. Could anyone here please give me some suggestions for a response?

Thank you.

Eastern Catholics - who are yes part of the Catholic Church - they receive Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist as* infants.*

In the west we ordinarily First Communion yes around 7 years old. Confirmation varies -in fact in some places it has been restored to the previous order and is received just prior to first Holy Communion.

Pure gift of grace of God.

Let the Children come to me Jesus said…

 

[Bookcat]

Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny…

No would not put it that way.

One has already been living that all along.

See the Catechism on the full meaning of Confirmation

 

[Bookcat]

I was asked recently why Catholics have their children recieve the sacraments of Holy Communion (usually at 7 years old) and confirmation (usually at 13 years old) at such young ages, for such serious of sacraments. I did not have a good answer. Could anyone here please give me some suggestions for a response?

Thank you.

Eastern Catholics - who are yes part of the Catholic Church - they receive Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist as* infants.*

In the west we ordinarily First Communion yes around 7 years old. Confirmation varies -in fact in some places it has been restored to the previous order and is received just prior to first Holy Communion.

Pure gift of grace of God.

Let the Children come to me Jesus said…

 

[Bookcat]

Ah OLD thread.