Confirmation before graduating high school

[expectthebest]

My daughter complete Confirmation 1 classes last year and doesn’t want to do Conformation 2 this year beacus it is her senior year and she already has school, a senior project, and everythign else that is part of being a senior. Is it ok or possible for her to complete here Confirmation training after she graduates? Is there any way around having to go through an additional year of classes and projects in order to receive the Sacrement?

When I was a kid, you didn’t have to go through all these clases for two years to receive the Sacrement. Is there any way around this?

 

[expectthebest]

One more thing…she says it’s mostly socializing anyway.

 

[xformer7]

I believe your question properly needs to be answered by the folks running the Religious Education program where the requirements were set. The requirements you have cited differ from parish to parish. The pastor of your church would be, I think, the competent authority to determine the instruction required, but the RE Director should be able to guide you.

In any event, if it’s mostly socializing, it shouldn’t be much of an additional burden.

 

[JohnDamian]

You don’t have to recieve any classes.

If you buy your daughter a Catechism of the Catholic Church for reading; if she pays it a little attention every week or so for an hour or so she will have no problem demonstrating the knowlege of the Church which is generally desired before confirmation is administered.

I had no Confirmation classes at all before I was confirmed, just a (long) talk with a Priest about the Church.

 

[expectthebest]

It was the same for me. I had no formal classes, just a discussion with a Priest. However, the local parish office has told me that there are no cercustances that she could receive the Sacrement without completed two years of prepretory classes. Is this something that can be challeged through the Diocese? How can a requirement to receive a Sacrement differ from parish to parish??? We’re talking about something as important as a Sacrement!! It does not seem right that one person could be denied and other given the Sacrement based on regulations from one parish to the next.

 

[puzzleannie]

My daughter complete Confirmation 1 classes last year and doesn’t want to do Conformation 2 this year beacus it is her senior year and she already has school, a senior project, and everythign else that is part of being a senior. Is it ok or possible for her to complete here Confirmation training after she graduates? Is there any way around having to go through an additional year of classes and projects in order to receive the Sacrement?

When I was a kid, you didn’t have to go through all these clases for two years to receive the Sacrement. Is there any way around this?

call the diocesan office of catechetics and find out what is required. In this diocese, with permission of the pastor, a highly motivated senior is allowed to attend an adult class and complete preparation in one year. Have you spoken to your own pastor and see what he suggests? that is your first step. for those who get to college without having the chance for confirmation in high school, check out your Catholic campus ministry, they often have confirmation and RCIA classes for students.

 

[expectthebest]

I guess my next question is if the Sacrement of Confirmation is really necessary. If one does not receive it, can they still be considered a good Catholic in good standing with the Church and therefore with Sanctifying Grace??

 

[clmowry]

I think it differs from diocese to diocese. There is only one year of confirmation classes here and it is done Junior Year.

I would guess if it doesn’t happen on the normal schedule she would be looking at RCIA?

I would be real concerned about trying to get her confirmation after high school.

Is doing this while going to college or holding down a job going to be easier?

Chuck

My daughter complete Confirmation 1 classes last year and doesn’t want to do Conformation 2 this year beacus it is her senior year and she already has school, a senior project, and everythign else that is part of being a senior. Is it ok or possible for her to complete here Confirmation training after she graduates? Is there any way around having to go through an additional year of classes and projects in order to receive the Sacrement?

When I was a kid, you didn’t have to go through all these clases for two years to receive the Sacrement. Is there any way around this?

 

[puzzleannie]

I guess my next question is if the Sacrement of Confirmation is really necessary. If one does not receive it, can they still be considered a good Catholic in good standing with the Church and therefore with Sanctifying Grace??

Jesus said unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit he shall not enter the Kingdom of God and the Church understands this reference to the two sacraments of initiation baptism and confirmation so yes it is necessary. For an adult Catholic to refuse confirmation is to in effect refuse one’s baptism and it simply makes no sense that a Catholic would attempt the challenges of life in Christ, particularly those of vocation and marriage, without the guidance and gifts of the Holy Spirit. A pastor would be within his rights to question a person’s proper disposition for the sacrament of matrimony if they persistently refused the sacrament of confirmation.

 

[Sullibe]

Food for thought:

My sister-in-law attended all of the confirmation classes, was confirmed with the rest of those her same age in her parish, and consequently made her mother very happy.

Her brother (my husband) attended confirmation classes, decided he was not ready to be confirmed, and consequently made his mother very unhappy. (she blamed his friends who had fallen away from the church)

My sister-in-law fell away from the Church during college and is now a practicing Methodist.

My husband, after taking a couple of Theology classes his Freshman year of college, completed his confirmation classes, was confirmed his sophomore year of college, graduated with a B.A. in Theology/Pastoral Ministry, received his MA. in Theology, and is now the Director of Catechetical Ministries for our diocese.

Interpret as you will.

 

[expectthebest]

Jesus said unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit he shall not enter the Kingdom of God and the Church understands this reference to the two sacraments of initiation baptism and confirmation so yes it is necessary. For an adult Catholic to refuse confirmation is to in effect refuse one’s baptism and it simply makes no sense that a Catholic would attempt the challenges of life in Christ, particularly those of vocation and marriage, without the guidance and gifts of the Holy Spirit. A pastor would be within his rights to question a person’s proper disposition for the sacrament of matrimony if they persistently refused the sacrament of confirmation.

So, if you need both Sacrements to get in to Heaven? I always thought it was just Baptism.

 

[DianJo]

Just a couple of years ago, I was in charge of our parish’s high school CCD which included Confirmation.

Generally the term “Confimation” means to confirm something. In this case it’s your Baptismal promises. Since the child (presumably) was an infant when she was baptized, this is her opportunity to step forward as an adult in the faith to say that SHE is now confirming all that you, her parents, promised.

To step forward as an “adult in the faith” means that you must have some basic understanding of what you’re confirming. That’s the problem with high school kids, they’re more into their “feelings” than the actual teachings of the church - particularly concerning the social justice and moraltiy issues. They need to be taught.

Most of the kids that I dealt with had no experience with Jesus at all other than going to Mass. Some/most of the kids couldn’t pray even the basic prayers or even the rosary. They didn’t attend confession regularly and didn’t understand the importance of Confession before the reception of Communion and even some didn’t even attend Mass regularly. And I could go on. This I feel is a parenting issue.

How can a person (no matter what age) who knows virtually nothing about their faith without instruction and proper exposure to Jesus be expected to understand what Confirmation is really all about? How can you love someone without knowing them?
It is very important for your daughter to go through instruction for the years before the reception of the sacrament. This is the time when she will (hopefully) be exposed to the teachings of Jesus and the Church and what it means to have a relationship or to know Jesus and what it means to be an adult in the faith.

It always hurt my heart when parents would tell their kids that they didn’t have to attend because the things of the world were more important. It says to the child that it’s not important to make time of God and His many Graces that they will need throughout their lives. At a time when all of society is saying that God doesn’t matter, don’t reinforce that sentiment, please. Our children need to experience Christ, know Christ and love Christ and they need to understand that they need to learn to make time for Christ no matter how difficult! The rewards will far outweigh the difficulty!

Help her go through the classes and help her make a really spiritual Confirmation!

 

[Penitant]

Code of Canon Law:

Can. 879 The sacrament of confirmation strengthens the baptized and obliges them more firmly to be witnesses of Christ by word and deed and to spread and defend the faith. It imprints a character, enriches by the gift of the Holy Spirit the baptized continuing on the path of Christian initiation, and binds them more perfectly to the Church.

Can. 890 The faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the proper time. Parents and pastors of souls, especially pastors of parishes, are to take care that the faithful are properly instructed to receive the sacrament and come to it at the appropriate time.

Can. 891 The sacrament of confirmation is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion unless the conference of bishops has determined another age, or there is danger of death, or in the judgment of the minister a grave cause suggests otherwise.

Confirmation is not the decision to make the faith one’s own. In fact, in the Eastern tradition, Catholics are confirmed when the are baptised: infancy. Confirmation completes and strengthens the graces that were given us at our baptism.

 

[clmowry]

So, if you need both Sacrements to get in to Heaven? I always thought it was just Baptism.

I believe you are correct if you mean that baptism alone takes away all original and personal sin.

Neither of course “gets you into heaven.”

Chuck

 

[expectthebest]

Just a couple of years ago, I was in charge of our parish’s high school CCD which included Confirmation.

Generally the term “Confimation” means to confirm something. In this case it’s your Baptismal promises. Since the child (presumably) was an infant when she was baptized, this is her opportunity to step forward as an adult in the faith to say that SHE is now confirming all that you, her parents, promised.

To step forward as an “adult in the faith” means that you must have some basic understanding of what you’re confirming. That’s the problem with high school kids, they’re more into their “feelings” than the actual teachings of the church - particularly concerning the social justice and moraltiy issues. They need to be taught.

Most of the kids that I dealt with had no experience with Jesus at all other than going to Mass. Some/most of the kids couldn’t pray even the basic prayers or even the rosary. They didn’t attend confession regularly and didn’t understand the importance of Confession before the reception of Communion and even some didn’t even attend Mass regularly. And I could go on. This I feel is a parenting issue.

How can a person (no matter what age) who knows virtually nothing about their faith without instruction and proper exposure to Jesus be expected to understand what Confirmation is really all about? How can you love someone without knowing them?
It is very important for your daughter to go through instruction for the years before the reception of the sacrament. This is the time when she will (hopefully) be exposed to the teachings of Jesus and the Church and what it means to have a relationship or to know Jesus and what it means to be an adult in the faith.

It always hurt my heart when parents would tell their kids that they didn’t have to attend because the things of the world were more important. It says to the child that it’s not important to make time of God and His many Graces that they will need throughout their lives. At a time when all of society is saying that God doesn’t matter, don’t reinforce that sentiment, please. Our children need to experience Christ, know Christ and love Christ and they need to understand that they need to learn to make time for Christ no matter how difficult! The rewards will far outweigh the difficulty!

Help her go through the classes and help her make a really spiritual Confirmation!

You assume the classes are worth the time and that she couldn’t get just as much or more with home study.

 

[expectthebest]

Yes but one of the replys above indicates that one cannot be saved without both Sacrements. is this true?

 

[DairyWife]

It was the same for me. I had no formal classes, just a discussion with a Priest. However, the local parish office has told me that there are no cercustances that she could receive the Sacrement without completed two years of prepretory classes. Is this something that can be challeged through the Diocese? How can a requirement to receive a Sacrement differ from parish to parish??? We’re talking about something as important as a Sacrement!! It does not seem right that one person could be denied and other given the Sacrement based on regulations from one parish to the next.

Your own statement says it all. We are talking about a sacrament. It is not asking too much for your daughter to participate in the Confirmation prep classes that your parish requires. The Sacrament of Confirmation confers graces on your daughter that will help her as she enters adulthood. Our young adults need all the help they can get dealing with our secularized culture.

 

[expectthebest]

Confirmation is not the decision to make the faith one’s own. In fact, in the Eastern tradition, Catholics are confirmed when the are baptised: infancy. Confirmation completes and strengthens the graces that were given us at our baptism.

What does “appropriate time” mean?

 

[expectthebest]

So, would it be a mortal sin for me to teach her on my own and allow her to go through the actual Sacrement at a later time? Or find a Priest that will allow it without the classes based on her knowlege?

 

[davidv]

You assume the classes are worth the time and that she couldn’t get just as much or more with home study.

Part of being Catholic is learning how to be a part of a community. If one does not participate with the community how does one expect to be a part of it?