Can somebody be forced to have a Confirmation Sponsor?

[GoLatin]

I am wondering if somebody can be forced to have a Confirmation Sponsor.

For my Confirmation, I did not want a Sponsor, because I could not find anybody suitable that I knew. I like the Tridentine Mass(approved Masses only), and many of the people that I know who frequent such Masses have a schismatic mentality.

And plus, I did not know anybody at the place where I got Confirmed(which is not near where I live).

But the place(Tridentine Mass) where I was Confirmed forced me to find a Sponsor, which I eventually did, reluctantly. If I had not found a Sponsor, I would have been denied Confirmation.

I am under the impression that it is not strictly required to have a Confirmation Sponsor.

So was it wrong for me to be forced to have a Sponsor?

 

[Kielbasi]

It is definitely traditional to have a confirmation sponsor. It certainly isn’t absolutely required to have one, if someone is receiving the sacrament when in danger of death or some other unusual circumstance.

Personally, I think your just too picky, I’m sure there are plenty of good Catholics who never attend latin mass right in your family or community and could have made an excellent sponsor.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

GoLatin:

I am wondering if somebody can be forced to have a Confirmation Sponsor.

For my Confirmation, I did not want a Sponsor, because I could not find anybody suitable that I knew. I like the Tridentine Mass(approved Masses only), and many of the people that I know who frequent such Masses have a schismatic mentality.

And plus, I did not know anybody at the place where I got Confirmed(which is not near where I live).

But the place(Tridentine Mass) where I was Confirmed forced me to find a Sponsor, which I eventually did, reluctantly. If I had not found a Sponsor, I would have been denied Confirmation.

I am under the impression that it is not strictly required to have a Confirmation Sponsor.

So was it wrong for me to be forced to have a Sponsor?

Canon Law requires a Sponsor for Confirmation except in Emergency situations when in danger of death.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Br. Rich SFO:

Canon Law requires a Sponsor for Confirmation except in Emergency situations when in danger of death.

Canon 892 “As far as possible the person to be confirmed is to have a sponsor. …”. (From The Code of Canon Law: New Revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 0-00-599375-X, page 207).

 

[Gwyn]

When I was confirmed, we had the option to have a sponsor, if we did not then there was a common sponsor available. Most used the common sponsor. There was a couple (Charismatic) that helped our pastor train us for confirmation. And they were the common sponsor, the husband for the boys and the wife for the girls.

 

[Cristiano]

My understanding is that the having a sponsor is necessary because we are members of the church. We do not have just a one on one relationship with the Lord.
I will go out on a limb with my explanation but I hope it makes sense. Once we receive confirmation we become fully fledged soldiers of the church ready to fight evil. The sponsor is like a weapon instructor that assumes the responsibility of turning us in good fighters. It is our duty to accept the best instructor we can get.

 

[GoLatin]

But I don’t think that the people who have replied so far actually understand me. The people that I know from the Tridentine Mass are generally either too young to be a Sponsor, or they are adults whose viewpoints are so wrong that I would not want them as a spiritual advisor.

And the few people that I know from Novus Ordo Masses would not understand about my love for the Tridentine Mass. They are also generally to liberal.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

In your first post, you use the verb “was”. That indicates to me that you’ve already been confirmed. If you’ve already been confirmed, the act is done. You don’t have to continue the relationship after Confirmation, but that person is your Confirmation sponsor. As an adult, if you have a problem with the person who sponsored you, politely find that you’re washing your hair or some such that person calls.

NOW- If you used “was” and you meant “is”- Ask your pastor to pick somebody for you. Ask your RCIA instructor. Ask that old lady who always goes to daily Mass that inspires you. Or ask the Holy Spirit to drop somebody in front of you, and soon.

 

[chicago]

GoLatin:

But I don’t think that the people who have replied so far actually understand me. The people that I know from the Tridentine Mass are generally either too young to be a Sponsor, or they are adults whose viewpoints are so wrong that I would not want them as a spiritual advisor.

And the few people that I know from Novus Ordo Masses would not understand about my love for the Tridentine Mass. They are also generally to liberal.

A Confirmation sponsor does not necesarily have to be viewed as a spritual advisor to oneself or even someone who fully appreciates your spiritual path. Rather, it is merely someone who stands in on the part of the community to witness and support your being brought to Chistian maturity of the sacrament. As such, I would say that there is no need to find an ideal candidate for the job. Really, any sincerely practicing faithful Catholic will do.

It is sort of like the same thing with Godparent sponsors, really. Some people have fantastic Godparents who remain involved in the child’s life and provide guidance. Others have the worst Godparents in the world. Most Godparents are probably somewhere in between, if they are even in touch with their Godchildren at all. But their sponsorship certainly sufficed for the baptism.

My advice, then, would be to find someone who you can trust to minimally serve the role, even if it just be a relative, neighbor, friend from your parish who qualifies. Then worry about spiritual advisors distinctly and as a seperate matter entirely.