Can I continue receiving Communion before Confirmation

[ZoomerTrad]

So at Pentecost of 2019 I began to weekly attend Mass at an SSPX chapel. I was baptized as an infant and after reviewing my baptismal records they moved forward with my catechism. After gaining an understanding of the faith I went and gave my first confession. After giving my first confession, I received communion for the first time. Ever since then I’ve been embracing both these sacraments, but now I’m seeing (on the internet only) people saying things about not being able to receive communion before confirmation. Is this something that exists in certain rites? Am I only supposed to receive at certain times like Sunday mass and not daily mass? Sorry for the confusion I just want this to be made clear, for the severity of the topic. Thank you

 

[Vico]

… Is this something that exists in certain rites? Am I only supposed to receive at certain times like Sunday mass and not daily mass? Sorry for the confusion I just want this to be made clear, for the severity of the topic. Thank you

The order of Christian Initiation is: baptism, confirmation (chrismation), communion. The order of the latter two varies in practice, but the restored order (as listed) is used.

 

[Rau]

The order of Christian Initiation is: baptism, confirmation (chrismation), communion.

Interesting, in my experience Communion comes before Confirmation. It must be something that varies with jurisdiction.

 

[Vico]

Vico:

The order of Christian Initiation is: baptism, confirmation (chrismation), communion.

Interesting, in my experience Communion comes before Confirmation. It must be something that varies with jurisdiction.

It occurred when Pope St. Pius X lowered the age for first Communion to the age of reason yet did not do the same for confirmation, leaving the current practice of delayed confirmation. Some dioceses have restored the order, such as these ten in the United States: Saginaw (1995), Great Falls-Billings (1996), Portland, Maine (1997), Spokane (1998), Fargo (2002), Gaylord (2003), Tyler (2005), Phoenix (2005), Honolulu (2015), and Denver (2015).

Denver Becomes 10th US Diocese to Restore Order of Sacraments of Initiation - ZENIT - English

Home - Saints Among Us

 

[dochawk]

Interesting, in my experience Communion comes before Confirmation. It must be something that varies with jurisdiction.

That’s an accidental RC aberration.

Confirmation was separated from Batpism to reinforce the pastoral role of the bishop, at a time when bishops were coming to be seen by the city as administrators. As such, confirmation was had when he came to town.

As a separate matter, the cup was withheld to flush out heretics who claimed that the Eucharist wasn’t complete unless both species were received. As a consequence, infant Communion was no longer possible (infants were only given the blood).

Both were disciplinary, rather than theological, matters.

Everything after that, including the “age of reason” explanations, were really just falling dominoes . . .

Where you find EC jurisdictions in the US which don’t or didn’t hold all three sacraments of initiation at the same time, it is no more or less than latinizations.

 

[Minks]

So at Pentecost of 2019 I began to weekly attend Mass at an SSPX chapel. I was baptized as an infant and after reviewing my baptismal records they moved forward with my catechism. After gaining an understanding of the faith I went and gave my first confession. After giving my first confession, I received communion for the first time. Ever since then I’ve been embracing both these sacraments, but now I’m seeing (on the internet only) people saying things about not being able to receive communion before confirmation. Is this something that exists in certain rites? Am I only supposed to receive at certain times like Sunday mass and not daily mass? Sorry for the confusion I just want this to be made clear, for the severity of the topic. Thank you

Since you read this info on the Internet, it’s worth learning more about it to quell your questions, but listen to your priest. You can also make an appointment with any other priest, if you’re uncomfortable asking your priest. In the meantime, continue as you were taught.

Catholic doctrine (what we believe—the basic tenets of our faith) remains the same from country to country. Discipline (how we participate in our faith) can change from one country to another, and not all bishops within a single country may enact the same disciplines.

I was confirmed when the bishop visited our parish in the Mid-Central US, 3 1/2 years after having received First Confession absolution, followed by First Communion, in the 40s. So far as I know, this same policy is still carried out in our area.

 

[poche]

As long as you are in the state of sanctifying grace you can and should receive Holy Communion.

 

[thistle]

So at Pentecost of 2019 I began to weekly attend Mass at an SSPX chapel. I was baptized as an infant and after reviewing my baptismal records they moved forward with my catechism. After gaining an understanding of the faith I went and gave my first confession. After giving my first confession, I received communion for the first time. Ever since then I’ve been embracing both these sacraments, but now I’m seeing (on the internet only) people saying things about not being able to receive communion before confirmation. Is this something that exists in certain rites? Am I only supposed to receive at certain times like Sunday mass and not daily mass? Sorry for the confusion I just want this to be made clear, for the severity of the topic. Thank you

You do not need to be confirmed to receive Communion.
When I went through RCIA and became a Catholic I was immediately able to receive Communion and continue receiving (obviously when in a state of grace).
Our group was not confirmed until 6 months after we became Catholic.

 

[Dovekin]

There are often very similar situations that look to the untrained as if they are the same, but are handled differently.

When a non-Catholic Christian is received into full communion with the Church, they are confirmed and then receive their first communion. They cannot receive Communion until they have been receiived into the Church, which is when they are confirmed.

For Already baptised Catholics, there is no requirement that they be received into the Church since they are already members. Catechesis and confession prepares a Catholic for first Communion. Usually Confirmation is done by the bishop, which can take longer to arrange, so it is not unusual for people to receive communion for a time before they are confirmed. It may even be several years, and some people never get confirmed though they are faithful communicants.

These are the two most common situations, but other similar cases arise as well. The. Practice with non-Catholics is to be received into full communion with Confirmation, and then receive the sign of full Communion. With Catholics, they receive communion when ready and confirmation follows.

 

[Phemie]

But obviously, based on thistle’s post above, not all who are received into full communion are confirmed at that time. I don’t understand why they are made to wait in certain parishes/dioceses.

 

[paperwight]

I was a non Catholic Christian when I was received but wasn’t confirmed until over a year later, receiving Holy Communion meanwhile.

 

[Dovekin]

But obviously, based on thistle’s post above, not all who are received into full communion are confirmed at that time. I don’t understand why they are made to wait in certain parishes/dioceses.

I do not understand that either. The bishop is responsible for receiving people into the Church, but if someone else is authorized to do that, they are allowed to confirm. Maybe some bishops prefer to stay involved in receiving non-Catholics and split up the rite accordingly? Just speculating.

Participation in the Eucharist should be the culmination and end of the process. Having Confirmation after the Eucharist seems anticlimactic to me. Instead of every Eucharist being a continuation of first communion, there is another ending put in.

But bishops are more experienced with confirmation than I am, so they might know a good reason for doing this.

 

[Vico]

I was a non Catholic Christian when I was received but wasn’t confirmed until over a year later, receiving Holy Communion meanwhile.

Latin Canon Law (CIC)

Can. 889 §1 Every baptized person who is not confirmed, and only such a person, is capable of receiving confirmation. §2 Apart from the danger of death, to receive confirmation lawfully a person who has the use of reason must be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises.

 

[MarkRome]

In fact, if you were Baptized Catholic, you have access to Reconciliation and the Eucharist and the Sunday obligation applies to you so you shouldn’t be leaving Mass for Breaking Open the Word, or you should be attending another Mass in addition to fulfill the obligation. I’ve brought this up to my pastor in the past but it doesn’t seem to be communicated.

 

[paperwight]

paperwight:

I was a non Catholic Christian when I was received but wasn’t confirmed until over a year later, receiving Holy Communion meanwhile.

Latin Canon Law (CIC)

Can. 889 §1 Every baptized person who is not confirmed, and only such a person, is capable of receiving confirmation. §2 Apart from the danger of death, to receive confirmation lawfully a person who has the use of reason must be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises.

Sorry, am I missing something? Why is this referring to me?

 

[Vico]

Vico:

paperwight:

I was a non Catholic Christian when I was received but wasn’t confirmed until over a year later, receiving Holy Communion meanwhile.

Latin Canon Law (CIC)

Can. 889 §1 Every baptized person who is not confirmed, and only such a person, is capable of receiving confirmation. §2 Apart from the danger of death, to receive confirmation lawfully a person who has the use of reason must be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises.

Sorry, am I missing something? Why is this referring to me?

You said your were not confirmed for a year after becoming Catholic. A possible reason for the delay could be shown in the canon law which requires that the confirmant “must be suitably instructed”.

 

[Phemie]

paperwight:

Vico:

paperwight:

I was a non Catholic Christian when I was received but wasn’t confirmed until over a year later, receiving Holy Communion meanwhile.

Latin Canon Law (CIC)

Can. 889 §1 Every baptized person who is not confirmed, and only such a person, is capable of receiving confirmation. §2 Apart from the danger of death, to receive confirmation lawfully a person who has the use of reason must be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises.

Sorry, am I missing something? Why is this referring to me?

You said your were not confirmed for a year after becoming Catholic. A possible reason for the delay could be shown in the canon law which requires that the confirmant “must be suitably instructed”.

But shouldn’t one receive all the necessary instruction BEFORE being received into full communion?

 

[Dovekin]

The rite of Christian Initiation has a section on uncatechized Catholics, directing that they should be initiated at the Easter Vigil (along with nonchristians). If they cannot be confirmed because a proper minister is not available, confirmation should follow as soon as possible, preferably during the Easter season.

Catechesis should be completed before first Communion. Spiritual and instructional preparation for Communion should also suffice for Confirmation. but preparation is always individualized to some extent, so there might be reasons for it. I do not know what those reasons might be.

 

[paperwight]

Oh, I see what you mean now.

I was instructed personally by a university chaplain, as I was a student at the time, and being received involved a general confession and conditional baptism. AFAIR, there was no mention of Confirmation being needed as a priority, just have it done some time. which I followed up two or three years late after little things like finals and getting married.

Mind you, that was 50 years ago.

 

[Rau]

Usually Confirmation is done by the bishop, which can take longer to arrange, so it is not unusual for people to receive communion for a time before they are confirmed. It may even be several years, and some people never get confirmed though they are faithful communicants.

In some jurisdictions, by design, confirmation of children is about 3 years after first communion.