Does a mortal sin nullify the sacrament of Confirmation?

[fjawor]

Hello,

When I received the Sacrament of Confirmation, I was in a state of mortal sin. I was extremely remorseful and was unable to go to Confession. Did I not receive the graces of Confirmation? Do I have to receive it again?

 

[Fr.Eric_Filmer]

Hello fjawor.

Assuming that you were, indeed, guilty of mortal sin, you do not have to be confirmed again. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a person preparing to receive Confirmation should be in a state of grace (i.e., be absolved of any mortal sins one has committed):

1310: To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. More intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act.

However, whereas being in a state of grace is required to receive Confirmation in a licit manner (i.e., “lawfully”), it is not required for the sake of sacramental validity. If a person is not in a state grace when being confirmed then his Confirmation is still valid (assuming that it was his proper intention to receive it). Nevertheless, he does not actually benefit from the graces of the sacrament until he is restored to a state of grace (which is ordinarily done by making a good confession and receiving absolution within the Sacrament of Reconciliation). Prior to this, the Sacrament of Confirmation is dormant within him, but after he is absolved of mortal sin the sacrament becomes an active channel of grace into his life.

For more details on this topic, please read Jimmy Akin’s Confession and Confirmation Validity.