Confirmation ceremony without Holy Mass

[Fergal]

Yesterday I attended the Confirmation of my godson. I was going to attend 8.30am Mass before the ceremony but then thought that I would wait and get Holy Mass at the Confirmation at my godson’s Parish in Dublin.

I noticed about 10 mins into the ceremony that neither the officiating Bishop nor the ‘concelebrating’ Priests were wearing chasubels. Then to my horror I noticed that there was a huge bouqet of flowers on the Altar which was staying out of use for the ceremony.

I was very shocked I have to say. I have never heard of a Confirmation ceremony taking place outside of Holy Mass. Maybe my ignorance is blinding me here folks. I always thought that the ceremony of Confirmation took place within the Holy Mass??

Now I know the sacrament of Confession does not happen within the Mass neither, usually does Baptism. Is Confirmatioin another?

I was trying to understand why maybe they decided not to celebrate Holy Mass. All I could come up with was since it was a very disadvantaged part of the city a lot of parents are single, either never married or seperated / divorced etc. there maybe grave profanation of the Blessed Sacrament. I then though that this was not a reason to deny those just confirmed of the Holy Mass.

I also thought that since there exist so many abuses these days in the Holy Mass introduced, I have to say, ignorantly by those preparing our Young People for these sacraments do you feel that it is right to seperate the Confirmation from Holy Mass? Does it make sense?

 

[Pious]

Congratulations to your godson

That is strange, I always assumed the Confirmation ceremony took place with in the Mass; that is what happened when I got Confirmed on Thursday.

 

[EddieArent]

I attended a Confirmation with the Tridentine ruberics. There was a benediction, prayers, ect. then the confirmands were Confirmed. Afterwords, they were asked to recite the Apostle’s Creed, Our Father, and Hail Mary. Then Mass started.

I’ve never see a Confirmation without a Mass, but as long as the Confirmations were done with proper form, matter, intent, etc. then of coarse they are valid just in case there was any question in that regard.

 

[ames61]

Can. 881 It is desirable to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation in a church and during Mass; for a just and reasonable cause, however, it can be celebrated outside Mass and in any worthy place. Code of Canon Law

Sometimes people take the exception of “just and reasonable cause” too lightly. Kind of a bummer though not to have it with in a mass. Congrats to your Godson, and to you, Pious as well!

 

[Fergal]

Thanks folks!

Well done Pious on becoming a ‘soldier for Christ’

Serve Him well!