Did girls get slapped during Confirmation, too?

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I got confirmed this April and my priest didn’t slap me 😦

Now I’m jealous. It sounds so awesome getting Confirmed and then Father being like WACK “And that’s so you remember it TK421!” I would have had such a hard time containing myself.

Next time I go to Confession I’m requesting a belated backhanded slap and a free sword & horse.
 
TK421 said:
I got confirmed this April and my priest didn’t slap me 😦

Now I’m jealous. It sounds so awesome getting Confirmed and then Father being like WACK “And that’s so you remember it TK421!” I would have had such a hard time containing myself.

Next time I go to Confession I’m requesting a belated backhanded slap and a free sword & horse.
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:rotfl:
 
I was confirmed in 1972, and if my memory serves me correctly, the Bishop tapped us girls on the cheek. I remember that kids at school (Catholic school), just before confirmation talking about getting a slap on the face. But I don’t remember it being a slap as such.
 
I remember only an anointing and that the Bishop would ask me a question and I would have to know the answer. Thankfully he asked me one I could answer. I like the idea of a pledge–would have to know ahead of time.
 
mommamaree said:
I am an adult convert and I did not get slapped during Confirmation, nor did anyone else, male or female.
I have never heard of such a tradition, and would be shocked to see it, honestly. I do hope that, if our bishop plans to slap our teens at confirmation, that we would be warned beforehand. And I hope that it is not a painful or humiliating thing.
That just seems strange to me, considering the scandal the Church has gone through. In my experience, the priests and bishops seem very concerned with avoiding any hint of impropriety, and a slap, whether forceful or affectionate or whatever, seems very improper. I am very curious to see what other people say about their experiences, or those of the teens of their parish.
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We were all slapped. Girls and boys. My kids were
slapped as well.
It is “not painful or humiliating.” but it reminds us
we should be ready for that which IS painful and
humiliating as we are promised that in life as our share
in the Cross of Christ.

If one is NOT prepared for pain and humiliation one
is not ready to be confirmed.

The slapping is also a reminder of our obedience
to the Bishop and Rome.

And a reminder to “turn the other cheek”.

And I doubt slapping or not slapping has anything
to do with the scandal.
 
Memaw said:
It was just a very slight tap, some like to make it sound worse than that. Let’s don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. God Bless, Memaw
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Who is making mountains out of molehills? The title says slapped, and I have never heard of any sort of slapping, ceremonial or otherwise. I was concerned that something like an actual slap was a possibility. That would be highly inappropriate.
 
marywarfield said:
We were all slapped. Girls and boys. My kids were
slapped as well.
It is “not painful or humiliating.” but it reminds us
we should be ready for that which IS painful and
humiliating as we are promised that in life as our share
in the Cross of Christ.

If one is NOT prepared for pain and humiliation one
is not ready to be confirmed.

The slapping is also a reminder of our obedience
to the Bishop and Rome.

And a reminder to “turn the other cheek”.

And I doubt slapping or not slapping has anything
to do with the scandal.
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What a ridiculous thing to say, that one should be prepared for pain and humiliation during the sacrament of Confirmation! I think cradle Catholics REALLY need to put themselves in the shoes of converts to the faith, who would not know what was happening or why, if they were hurt or humiliated in front of a Church full of strangers. I thank God it was only a tap, and not an actual slap, that was done before, but I am even more thankful that such is not done now. For those people who had such done, didn’t you have warning it would happen, and what it was symbolic of? Or were you blindsided? I bet you had a warning, right? Well, as someone who has never heard of this prior to today, if a bishop slapped my child at confirmation without warning or explanation, I would understandably be very upset. The title says slapped. Now everyone is redefining it as slight tap, except for you who is still calling it a slap, while at the same time being condescending to the convert (me) that reacted to the original description of slapping. So what is someone unfamiliar with this practice supposed to think? I have been slapped in the face, hard enough to rattle my teeth, so that is what I imagined, based upon the original post and title.
 
I made my confirmation in 1982. I remember the rumors flying around the classroom “the bishop’s gonna slap us”. Supposedly someone’s older brother told him that.

Our teacher told us no, we wouldn’t get slapped. I was still worried.

The time came and no slap.
 
Waaaaaaaaay back in 1972 when I was confirmed we were warned about two things. Being gently slapped and being asked questions on our faith by the bishop. Neither happened, but the warnings did not discriminate between boys and girls.
 
I waited a super long time to be confirmed and did hey a tap. Toys was about ten years ago…I was an adult and confirmed with one order adult and the parochial school class in November (not Easter).
 
mommamaree said:
What a ridiculous thing to say, that one should be prepared for pain and humiliation during the sacrament of Confirmation! I think cradle Catholics REALLY need to put themselves in the shoes of converts to the faith, who would not know what was happening or why, if they were hurt or humiliated in front of a Church full of strangers. I thank God it was only a tap, and not an actual slap, that was done before, but I am even more thankful that such is not done now. For those people who had such done, didn’t you have warning it would happen, and what it was symbolic of? Or were you blindsided? I bet you had a warning, right? Well, as someone who has never heard of this prior to today, if a bishop slapped my child at confirmation without warning or explanation, I would understandably be very upset. The title says slapped. Now everyone is redefining it as slight tap, except for you who is still calling it a slap, while at the same time being condescending to the convert (me) that reacted to the original description of slapping. So what is someone unfamiliar with this practice supposed to think? I have been slapped in the face, hard enough to rattle my teeth, so that is what I imagined, based upon the original post and title.
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Good heavens woman! Get a grip! You are lashing out at
everyone responding to your post.

I called it a slap because historically it has been called
a slap! It just was mea culpa!

Do you really believe someone in your Church is
going to back hand your kid without warning?

You have no way of knowing if I’m a cradle catholic
as I have no way of knowing you are a convert.

I gave you only the historical name and significance
of the action. That’s all.

I hope this is not indicative of your reaction when
learning more about the Church and I hope you
eventually learn to trust the Church more than
wondering if someone is going to hit your kids
or worrying about the scandal.

Wow. Chill.
 
VeritasLuxMea said:
I didn’t know about this. Creepy stuff.
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How is this creepy? It is a simple and symbolic tap on the cheek. It doesn’t seem to have emotionally damaged any of the people on this thread who have experienced it. Why are you making more out of this than there is? It might seem weird to our modern sensibilities, but the world has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. When I was a kid, we all loved the little naked kid in the Coppertone ads. Now, that would practically be considered child pornography, or at least highly inappropriate. Nobody thought twice about it then. We’ve just become so reactionary.

When you think about those generations of Catholic children who received a symbolic tap on the cheek, remember Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes:
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Celtic_Maiden said:
As an Adult Convert I got a tap (not a slap) why don’t people say what they mean and mean what they say, it was a slight tap on the cheek, given to boys and girls, no distinction, and why should there be.
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Catholic Encyclopedia describes it thus: “Finally, he (the bishop) gives each a slight blow on the cheek saying: “peace be with thee”.”

But every kid my age heard about being ‘slapped by the bishop’ at Confirmation. I think it was a conspiracy perpetrated by those who’d gone before to ensure that we would be just as scared as they had been. 😃
 
mommamaree said:
Who is making mountains out of molehills? The title says slapped, and I have never heard of any sort of slapping, ceremonial or otherwise. I was concerned that something like an actual slap was a possibility. That would be highly inappropriate.
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Yeah, a real slap would be pretty inappropriate - at this time, in our culture.

I have a friend from Iraq, a Chaldean Catholic. She’s in her mid-30s and immigrated within the last 10 years. She was telling me a story about her bishop in Iraq and said that he would have slapped someone for some transgression or another. (I don’t remember the details.) I assumed she was exaggerating, but she went on to tell me of a particular instance in which the Bishop had slapped someone, in public. Seems to be normal behavior for them, though it makes me glad to be in my own culture, soft wimps though we may be. 🙂
 
babochka said:
Yeah, a real slap would be pretty inappropriate - at this time, in our culture.

I have a friend from Iraq, a Chaldean Catholic. She’s in her mid-30s and immigrated within the last 10 years. She was telling me a story about her bishop in Iraq and said that he would have slapped someone for some transgression or another. (I don’t remember the details.) I assumed she was exaggerating, but she went on to tell me of a particular instance in which the Bishop had slapped someone, in public. Seems to be normal behavior for them, though it makes me glad to be in my own culture, soft wimps though we may be. 🙂
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Oh yada yada. Lol. I think I’d like the Chaldean.
Now let’s all wax on about Nicholas of Myra/ good old
St. Nick dropping money to poor people down chimneys.
But what is he remembered for?

All together now- PUNCHING ARIUS!! Oh the scandal!!!
If he could have just learned to Molly coddle a bit more.
 
mommamaree said:
What a ridiculous thing to say, that one should be prepared for pain and humiliation during the sacrament of Confirmation! I think cradle Catholics REALLY need to put themselves in the shoes of converts to the faith, who would not know what was happening or why, if they were hurt or humiliated in front of a Church full of strangers. I thank God it was only a tap, and not an actual slap, that was done before, but I am even more thankful that such is not done now. For those people who had such done, didn’t you have warning it would happen, and what it was symbolic of? Or were you blindsided? I bet you had a warning, right? Well, as someone who has never heard of this prior to today, if a bishop slapped my child at confirmation without warning or explanation, I would understandably be very upset. The title says slapped. Now everyone is redefining it as slight tap, except for you who is still calling it a slap, while at the same time being condescending to the convert (me) that reacted to the original description of slapping. So what is someone unfamiliar with this practice supposed to think? I have been slapped in the face, hard enough to rattle my teeth, so that is what I imagined, based upon the original post and title.
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Again, I’d like to quote the words of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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To live a Christian life, we must be prepared for men to revile us and speak falsely of us. Yes, this is painful and humiliating. We received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to give us the strength to endure such treatment, and rejoice and be glad when it comes. It seems that a symbolic “slap” is an entirely appropriate symbol to remind us of this.

If it were still the common practice where you lived, I’m sure that it would have been explained to you, so that you could be at ease with it. I was confirmed as an infant in a different rite, so it was not done to me, but I went to Catholic schools and participated with my classmates in their preparation for confirmation. They were all well prepared for it and understood why and how it would occur. Most of them were much more terrified at the possibility of being asked a catechism question by the bishop.
 
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