Bishop Aquila receives Pope's praise for reordering sacraments

[irishpatrick]

Rome, Italy, Mar 8, 2012 / 03:58 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo said he is delighted to have first-hand papal approval for changing the order by which children in his diocese receive the sacraments.

“I was very surprised in what the Pope said to me, in terms of how happy he was that the sacraments of initiation have been restored to their proper order of baptism, confirmation then first Eucharist,” said Bishop Aquila, after meeting Pope Benedict on March 8.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/bishop-aquila-receives-popes-praise-for-reordering-sacraments/

 

[timotheos]

Bishop Aquila said he made the changes because “it really puts the emphasis on the Eucharist as being what completes the sacraments of initiation” and on confirmation as “sealing and completing baptism.”

When the sacraments are conferred in this order, he said, it becomes more obvious that “both baptism and confirmation lead to the Eucharist.”

The Bishop of Fargo said the changes have also distanced the Sacrament of Confirmation from “some false theologies that see it as being a sacrament of maturity or as a sacrament for ‘me choosing God.’”(emphasis mine)

I love my bishop.

 

[puppypatrol]

I like this idea. Too many times the teens think that, once they have been confirmed, they can quit going to Religious Education. I wonder what age they are getting confirmed? When do they receive their First Communion?:ehh:

 

[Phemie]

I like this idea. Too many times the teens think that, once they have been confirmed, they can quit going to Religious Education. I wonder what age they are getting confirmed? When do they receive their First Communion?:ehh:

It’s usually in the same ceremony at the age of discretion. Our diocese did this for 9 years and the kids were confirmed and received Communion at the age of 7, some at the age of 6 if it was determined that they understood what they were doing. Unfortunately, our diocese was suppressed and the diocese we were amalgamated with confirmed in grade 10. The compromise was to raise us by 4 years and lower them by 4 years so that now confirmation can take place between grades 6-10 depending on what the parish decides.

From experience teaching the program I know that the 7 year olds “get it” much better than the teens. Not to mention that the 7 year olds are excited to be there and, usually, that’s not the case with the teens.

 

[irishpatrick]

From my perspective I feel it is critical that we have more Confirmed Catholics in the world. Too many young Catholics are allowed to walk away from the Church after First Eucharist, and that leads to all sorts of spiritual problems later. We “need” the seal of the Holy Spirit to have any chance in this lif (spiritually speaking).

IMO (and I know of no study regarding this, so it is just my opinion), I believe there is a direct corrrelation between those Catholics with a very weak faith (and have not been confirmed), versus those Catholics who have a very strong faith (and have been Confirmed). I believe most people who have been Confirmed will be stronger in the faith, and will likely weather the storms of anti-Christian bias in the world, better than if they had not been Confirmed.

So, I am all for a change that leads more Catholics to be Confirmed, whether they are choosing it for themselves or not.

 

[ringil]

Sounds fine to me. If the Pope thinks it’s a good idea then I’m all for it.

 

[unafraid]

I was eight years old when I received Reconcilliation and First Holy Communion, and I can remember the thrill of it as though it were yesterday. It is the perfect age for one to experience the spiritual awe of that momentous occasion. The purity and innocence of that particular age is very appropriate for the profound holiness of one’s first experience with the Eucharist.

 

[curlycool89]

I was eight years old when I received Reconcilliation and First Holy Communion, and I can remember the thrill of it as though it were yesterday. It is the perfect age for one to experience the spiritual awe of that momentous occasion. The purity and innocence of that particular age is very appropriate for the profound holiness of one’s first experience with the Eucharist.

To put my own life into perspective, I’m only in university.

I don’t remember my first communion at all. I know what grade it happened, but that’s about. I can’t positively say whether or not I had a first reconciliation (I’m assuming it’s a yes), can’t remember a thing.

I had the later confirmation at 12, and still can’t remember that (my memories are a few pictures and going on on a short not even day-long retreat). I also drifted away after confirmation, so I can’t exactly say how it really helped me.

So, that’s a bit of a different perspective and opinion on early confirmations.

 

[unafraid]

To put my own life into perspective, I’m only in university.

I don’t remember my first communion at all. I know what grade it happened, but that’s about. I can’t positively say whether or not I had a first reconciliation (I’m assuming it’s a yes), can’t remember a thing.

I had the later confirmation at 12, and still can’t remember that (my memories are a few pictures and going on on a short not even day-long retreat). I also drifted away after confirmation, so I can’t exactly say how it really helped me.

So, that’s a bit of a different perspective and opinion on early confirmations.

I mean this in the most charitable way possible, but our childhood memories are (should be) deep wells from which we can draw the wisdom of simplicity (and holiness), and they can sometimes edify us as we enter the darkness of modern reality. Our childhood memories are a wellspring from which we regain strength.

If you cannot recall these events from your past, perhaps you have some sort of memory deficit disorder. God has blessed us with the capacity to recall our prior experiences for a reason. If you lack this capacity, perhaps we should seek the reason why.

 

[curlycool89]

I mean this in the most charitable way possible, but our childhood memories are (should be) deep wells from which we can draw the wisdom of simplicity (and holiness), and they can sometimes edify us as we enter the darkness of modern reality. Our childhood memories are a wellspring from which we regain strength.

Speaking as someone who’s had some background in the matter, that’s nothing more than pseudo-science. There’s not even scientific consensus on memory, how it works, or why it’s different for different people.

If you cannot recall these events from your past, perhaps you have some sort of memory deficit disorder. God has blessed us with the capacity to recall our prior experiences for a reason. If you lack this capacity, perhaps we should seek the reason why.

Respectfully, you’re not a doctor, so don’t pretend to diagnose me. Saying that I have a memory deficit disorder is insulting.

Maybe I’m not remembering because I shouldn’t be dwelling on the past, or even worse looking at the past through rose-coloured glasses (the “nostalgic” effect if you will). Like I said memory isn’t well understood, so maybe some people have better memories of childhood events (like confirmation) then others. Maybe we should poll people on it.

 

[Nix89]

Oh! Good News! I’ve been praying this order would be restored. Kids need the sacramental graces of the Holy Spirit ASAP. In my own case I was Confirmed after First Communion, but I lucked out. Growing up in a small town in the hinterlands of the diocese Bishop only made the rounds to confirm once every 4 years. I made First Communion in second grade on the Feast of Christ the King in the Fall and was Confirmed that following Spring per Bishop’s schedule! And by the time we got to high school in the late 60s that grace was a precious thing. God Bless this Bishop!

 

[ringil]

Speaking as someone who’s had some background in the matter, that’s nothing more than pseudo-science. There’s not even scientific consensus on memory, how it works, or why it’s different for different people.

Respectfully, you’re not a doctor, so don’t pretend to diagnose me. Saying that I have a memory deficit disorder is insulting.

Maybe I’m not remembering because I shouldn’t be dwelling on the past, or even worse looking at the past through rose-coloured glasses (the “nostalgic” effect if you will). Like I said memory isn’t well understood, so maybe some people have better memories of childhood events (like confirmation) then others. Maybe we should poll people on it.

I agree with you.

Memory is complicated. Many of our childhoood memories are really constructs of imagination and not even neccessarily related to the event we think we are remembering.

I believe I remember something of my First Communion- I think. I had on all white so that is kind of stuck in my head. I can’t say I remember my first Confession.

 

[Dale_M]

I wonder what age they are getting confirmed? When do they receive their First Communion?

Diocesan policy is for confirmation immediately after the age of reason is achieved. Usually, this is considered to be age seven.

First communion will be received immediately after confirmation.

Here is a three page Q&A about confirmation on the Diocese of Fargo website. The bulk of it is spent answering questions and concerns about the new policy.
fargodiocese.org/EducationFormation/Evangelization/Catechesis/PDFdocuments/ConfirmationQ&A.pdf