Confirmation and the FSSP

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Angel_Gabriel

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Well, DH and I are finally going to join are local FSSP parish (it was made a personal parish by our Bishop last fall). But it has got me thinking, what is Confirmation like at these churches? DS will be receiving his First Communion next year but I’ve heard no mention of when Confirmation is. For all the other parishes (OF parishes) in the diocese it is in the 8th grade. Now prior to Vatican 2, in my diocese, Confirmation took place before First Communion around age 7/8. So is it up to the Bishop or what?
 
It depends on the child. Some are confirmed earlier, some later. I have never seen a child confirmed before first communion, but I guess there is no impediment to doing that.

Confirmation is similar as to the liturgy, but there is additional solemnity in the EF compared to the OF.
 
I believe it’s up to the bishop to decide the age for confirmation. Where I live, parishes are allowed to decide somewhere between grades 7 and 9. The closest parish to me does confirmation at the end of 8th grade.

Some people do confirmation at the same time as first communion (end of 2nd grade). And the eastern churches do baptism and confirmation at the same time.

In most circumstances, Confirmation is not given at a young age in the west, but in certain circumstances (the child is fighting a severe or terminal illness like cancer) parents can request confirmation at a young age. I know of one family whose son had leukemia and he was confirmed when he was 5.
 
moon1234 said:
It depends on the child. Some are confirmed earlier, some later. I have never seen a child confirmed before first communion, but I guess there is no impediment to doing that.

Confirmation is similar as to the liturgy, but there is additional solemnity in the EF compared to the OF.
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There is certainly no impediment to a child being confirmed before First Communion since the Church says Confirmation is the second Sacrament of Initiation and Communion is the third and last.

In the Latin Rite, understanding Whom you are receiving in Communion and a capacity to receive reverently are required for reception of Communion, but there is no such requirement for Confirmation. Even a newborn may be confirmed if in danger of dying. In fact, when a priest performs an emergency baptism the rite says he/she should also confirm the newly baptized if he has the Sacred Chrism with him. Canon Law does not allow him to give the infant Communion though.

Of course in the Eastern Rites there is no such requirement that the child understand and infants are given Communion when they are baptized and confirmed (chrismated).

That said, Canon Law says that the age for confirmation is ‘the age of reason’ or around the age of 7. It allows Bishops’ Conferences to set another age for their countries. In the US, the USCCB has decided ‘age of reason to 18’ - so diocesan bishops are free to set any age they want within those parameters. In Canada, no age has been set beyond that mentioned in Canon Law. Our former diocese used to confer Confirmation and First Communion in the same celebration to 7 year olds and even some 6 year olds who demonstrated the proper understanding and reverence.
 
It is exactly the same as it is in an OF parish. The differences are ceremonial ones. The administrative stuff (age) is the same.
 
Check with your FSSP priest. he can fill you in on all the details.
 
The child will be allowed into the sanctuary for the confirmation. The Bishop will confirm and then slap the child on the cheek. There is no mass, The Bishop then has Benediction. Congratulations on joining a FSSP parish you will love it !!!
 
tradcathusa said:
The child will be allowed into the sanctuary for the confirmation. The Bishop will confirm and then slap the child on the cheek. There is no mass, The Bishop then has Benediction. Congratulations on joining a FSSP parish you will love it !!!
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Whether or not there is a Mass, Benediction or none of the above is up to the bishop and pastor. It varies.

The bishop does not slap anyone on the cheek. It is a tap. :rolleyes:
 
Chatter163 said:
Whether or not there is a Mass, Benediction or none of the above is up to the bishop and pastor. It varies.

The bishop does not slap anyone on the cheek. It is a tap. :rolleyes:
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It was only a tap even when I was confirmed in '61 but they had us scared to death about the blow we were going to receive.
 
Thank you everyone for your responses. I’m sure I’ll find out more in a few months when DS begins his First Communion instruction.🙂
 
Angel_Gabriel said:
Well, DH and I are finally going to join are local FSSP parish (it was made a personal parish by our Bishop last fall). But it has got me thinking, what is Confirmation like at these churches? DS will be receiving his First Communion next year but I’ve heard no mention of when Confirmation is. For all the other parishes (OF parishes) in the diocese it is in the 8th grade. Now prior to Vatican 2, in my diocese, Confirmation took place before First Communion around age 7/8. So is it up to the Bishop or what?
Click to expand...
It depends on the diocese. I was confirmed when I was in grade 6 in the the 90s. Now that diocese they have re-ordered the sacraments and confirmation happens in grade two during the same Mass for First Communion, and happens before they receive first communion. While there is no FSSP in this diocese at the moment, the bishop goes to the EF Parish and confers the sacrament in the EF.

In the diocese I’m in now, Confirmation happens in grade 6. Despite being in a large FSSP community, those being confirmed are confirmed by the Bishop in the OF. The FSSP priest has requested permission to confer the sacrament himself, but the bishop has refused to grant him that permission. 🤷
 
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