Confirmation Words Omitted - Invalid?

[kolpers15]

The words in the rite are “N., be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” but the priest who confirmed me only said “N., be sealed with the Holy Spirit.”

Would this be invalid and do I have to bring this up with a priest/the bishop? It’s been a year since confirmation and I only realised this omission after reading the text of the rite out of interest and watching the video when it happened.

 

[edward_george1]

You should definitely talk to your priest about this. This is not an insignificant omission.

I’m sure a lot of people would respond to this thread by saying “I’m sure God understands,” or, perhaps more elegantly, “ecclesia supplet–the Church supplies.” I’m sure God does understand, but the principle of ecclesia supplet only applies to executive power of governance. The Church cannot supply for a botched formula or invalid matter, as though you could try to consecrate Doritos and Mountain Dew and say “ecclesia supplet.” Doesn’t work that way.

The formula is important. You should speak with your priest, and if that doesn’t work, you might write the bishop about your concerns. I’m not usually one to push for that, since it seems people get trigger happy with saying “call the bishop,” but this might be a case where that’s warranted.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[kolpers15]

Thanks for replying Father, would this be a lengthy process(from contacting bishop to action being taken) or would it be relatively short?

 

[Thomasbradley312]

Let me get this straight.
They make you prepare for being confirmed for what , 1 or 2 years?
And then the Bishops who I assume confirmed you, of all people has the nerve to not even use the correct formula? It isn’t as if he doesn’t know better.

 

[TomH1]

And then the Bishops who I assume confirmed you,

He says he was confirmed by a priest. Priests can and do confirm but not that often. May be that’s why the priest made a mistake, but not a good one as it effects the form of the sacrament.

 

[jimXroberts]

There are a number of stages which you will have been through. You will have received a course of formation so that you understand what it means to be a confirmed member of the Catholic Church. Your diocesan bishop will have delegated permission to your priest to perform the Rite. It was your intention to receive the sacrament and the priest’s intention to confer it. I cannot see that the accidental omission of a word would invalidate the sacrament. If the priest did it deliberately or carelessly, that would be a different matter.

 

[DIERM]

Why would it be invalid? Illicit perhaps, but not invalid.