Confirmation

[othan]

Instead of the formula “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”, if the priest celebrant (authorized by the bishop) says “Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” when celebrating Confirmation, is the sacrament valid?

 

[JohnDamian]

I am pretty certain that it is not valid.

The most important part of the Sacrament of Confirmation is the anointing and the sealing of the graces bestowed at baptism; - and not a “reception” of new graces.

I would ask the Priest; and then the Bishop.

 

[TheDoctor]

I may be wrong, but I think it is valid but illicit.

Canon 880 states you have to have chrism applied to the forehead with the words prescribed:
Can. 880 §1. The sacrament of confirmation is conferred by the anointing of chrism on the forehead, which is done by the imposition of the hand and through the words prescribed in the approved liturgical books.
According to paragraph 1300 of the Catechism the licit words are “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”:
1300 The essential rite of the sacrament follows. In the Latin rite, "the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand, and through the words: ‘Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti’ [Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.]."114 In the Eastern Churches of Byzantine rite, after a prayer of epiclesis, the more significant parts of the body are anointed with myron: forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, chest, back, hands, and feet. Each anointing is accompanied by the formula http://www.usccb.org/images/catgreektxt.gif (Signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti): "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."115
Since the intention of the Bishop was to confirm and he applied the chrism and said the “words” (although they may be slightly wrong), I am not sure it is enough to invalidate the sacrament.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I may be wrong, but I think it is valid but illicit.

Canon 880 states you have to have chrism applied to the forehead with the words prescribed:
Can. 880 §1. The sacrament of confirmation is conferred by the anointing of chrism on the forehead, which is done by the imposition of the hand and through the words prescribed in the approved liturgical books.
According to paragraph 1300 of the Catechism the licit words are “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”:
1300 The essential rite of the sacrament follows. In the Latin rite, "the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand, and through the words: ‘Accipe signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti’ [Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.]."114 In the Eastern Churches of Byzantine rite, after a prayer of epiclesis, the more significant parts of the body are anointed with myron: forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, chest, back, hands, and feet. Each anointing is accompanied by the formula http://www.usccb.org/images/catgreektxt.gif (Signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti): "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."115
Since the intention of the Bishop was to confirm and he applied the chrism and said the “words” (although they may be slightly wrong), I am not sure it is enough to invalidate the sacrament.

I don’t see how you can separate the importance of the correct actions. Both of your citations say that an annointing must occur and the words said and they list the words “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”, if either one of them is omited I think it may invalidate the Sacrament.

Best to call the chancery on this one.