There are materials out there to assist with this. We have had a number of children like this complete their sacrament prep. We have a parishioner who is an EC teacher in the school system. We use Loyola Press: loyolapress.com/special-needs.htmNot trying to hijack the thread, but what does one do when they have a 13-year-old developmentally disabled (nonverbal with autism) child who has only received the sacrament of Baptism.
To be honest, I haven’t thought much about trying to have him receive his First Holy Communion or Confirmation as he would not have an understanding of either sacrament.
But as I read Don Ruggero’s post about being marked with the ontological character of Baptism and Confirmation, I’m wondering what exactly that means and the importance of it.
Does it mean he would have greater glory in Heaven even though I would be ensuring his reception of the sacraments outside of his understanding?
Peace.
+JMJ+
Well let’s just put it this way - if you send them away, don’t expect to see them back again. Mixed (or dubious) motivations are always a problem with the sacraments of initiation but my response to critics is simple: would you rather they didn’t come at all? Once they’re there, it’s our job to make the most of their presence.Can’t kids be “kicked out” of Confirmation for bad behavior? Or is it like public school - the Church has to accept them? Just wondering.
The western Church originally administered confirmation straight after baptism - as it still does today for catechumens. the two became separated around the middle ages - baptism was done in infancy and confirmation whenever the bishop showed up - and in the 18th century, a practised developed of conferring confirmation after first communion. Later, the age of first communion was lowered but the age of confirmation remained unchanged. There is however a movement back to conferring confirmation before first communion. Part of the problem is the requirement for confirmation to be administered by the bishop although this faculty can be delegated to priests - and this actually happens all the time at the Easter vigil. For their part, the Eastern Churches which administer confirmation immediately after baptism consider the bishop to be present in the oil of chrism which is consecrated by him.By the time young adults are confirmed in the Roman Catholic church, most have already lost their faith. When did the church start that practice? The Eastern churches confirm and commune infants at their baptism, hence, they are fully sacramentalized. My Eastern branch has been latinized withholding first communion until 2nd grade but our priest wishes to be allowed to return to the ancient practice.
Well let’s just put it this way - if you send them away, don’t expect to see them back again. Mixed (or dubious) motivations are always a problem with the sacraments of initiation but my response to critics is simple: would you rather they didn’t come at all? Once they’re there, it’s our job to make the most of their presence.Can’t kids be “kicked out” of Confirmation for bad behavior? Or is it like public school - the Church has to accept them? Just wondering.