Melkite member of a Roman parish - is infant Confirmation allowed?

[Zekariya]

I am a Melkite Catholic who lives in the USA. I am a member of a Latin/Roman Catholic parish. I do not have access to an Eastern Catholic parish.

Suppose I get married… If my wife gave birth to a child, would the infant be allowed to be baptized and then immediately confirmed (i.e. chrismated) as long as the priest has the faculties to preform the sacrament of confirmation? If the priest does not have the faculties to confirm my infant, could the local bishop do the confirmation?

I would greatly appreciate it if you could shed some light on this. Perhaps you could show me something from the two Codes Canon Law or some other authoritative document on this issue that I have yet to find.

Any help with this would be welcomed! I hope that you have a spiritually satisfying Pascha.

In Christ,
Zechariah

 

[anp1215]

I believe that as an Eastern Catholic you have the right to receive the Sacraments (and have your children receive the Sacraments) in your own rites and ways.

I know someone else can come along and expand/explain this but I wanted to subscribe to the thread to see what they say.

 

[countertenor]

I am a member of a Roman Parish because there is no Byzantine parish within 5 hours of me and because I work at the Roman parish. My children are two and four and they both receive communion. The priest said it is their right because they are governed by the eastern canons and not the Latin canons.

 

[lucklove]

http://www.discounthotelbook.com

 

[Peter_J]

Good question. This is basically part 3 of a 3 part conversation. First we had a thread Eastern toddlers receiving communion in Latin Church about whether EC children under 7 would be allowed to commune in an LC parish, then Question about communion in Eastern Catholic Churches about whether an EC priest is obliged to give communion to LC children who haven’t yet been confirmed. (The latter thread is mostly theoretical: in practice, an EC priest will surely not object to giving communion to an LC child who has not yet been confirmed, even though the traditional order is Baptism-Confirmation-Eucharist for both the East and the West.)

 

[Vico]

Good question. This is basically part 3 of a 3 part conversation. First we had a thread Eastern toddlers receiving communion in Latin Church about whether EC children under 7 would be allowed to commune in an LC parish, then Question about communion in Eastern Catholic Churches about whether an EC priest is obliged to give communion to LC children who haven’t yet been confirmed. (The latter thread is mostly theoretical: in practice, an EC priest will surely not object to giving communion to an LC child who has not yet been confirmed, even though the traditional order is Baptism-Confirmation-Eucharist for both the East and the West.)

They eastern clergy must provide the Eucharist for those properly disposed of any Catholic Church sui iuris.

CIC Can. 923 Christ’s faithful may participate in the eucharistic Sacrifice and receive holy communion in any catholic rite, without prejudice to the provisions of can. 844.

CCEO Canon 16
The Christian faithful have the right to receive assistance from the pastors of the Church from the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments.

CCEO Canon 381

1. Clerics are to be ardent in apostolic zeal, an example to all in works of charity and hospitality especially towards the sick, the afflicted, the persecuted, the exiled and refugees.
2. Unless constrained by a just impediment, clerics are bound by the obligation to provide assistance to the Christian faithful out of the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments, when they ask for them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.
3. Clerics are to recognize and promote the dignity of the laity and the particular part which they have in the mission of the Church, especially by testing the multiform gifts of the laity, and also by channelling the experience of these lay people for the good of the Church especially in ways provided by the law.

 

[Loveolivia]

http://www.castoffdebt.comlol

 

[Peter_J]

They eastern clergy must provide the Eucharist for those properly disposed of any Catholic Church sui iuris.

CIC Can. 923 Christ’s faithful may participate in the eucharistic Sacrifice and receive holy communion in any catholic rite, without prejudice to the provisions of can. 844.

CCEO Canon 16
The Christian faithful have the right to receive assistance from the pastors of the Church from the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments.

CCEO Canon 381

1. Clerics are to be ardent in apostolic zeal, an example to all in works of charity and hospitality especially towards the sick, the afflicted, the persecuted, the exiled and refugees.
2. Unless constrained by a just impediment, clerics are bound by the obligation to provide assistance to the Christian faithful out of the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments, when they ask for them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.
3. Clerics are to recognize and promote the dignity of the laity and the particular part which they have in the mission of the Church, especially by testing the multiform gifts of the laity, and also by channelling the experience of these lay people for the good of the Church especially in ways provided by the law.

It isn’t a question of any Catholic priest (whether LC or EC) denying someone communion on the basis of what Church he/she belongs to, but for some other reason. In fact IIRC, someone already told of an instance where an LC priest *did *deny communion to an EC under 7 years of age.

 

[Vico]

It isn’t a question of any Catholic priest (whether LC or EC) denying someone communion on the basis of what Church he/she belongs to, but for some other reason. In fact IIRC, someone already told of an instance where an LC priest *did *deny communion to an EC under 7 years of age.

The parents must arrange with the priest in advance so it will not be disruptive. The practice is for very young infants, that cannot take solid food, to receive only the Blood of Christ.

 

[RyanBlack]

The parents must arrange with the priest in advance so it will not be disruptive. The practice is for very young infants, that cannot take solid food, to receive only the Blood of Christ.

Of cours there’s no guarantee this will work. My wife and I have experienced refusal from a Roman Catholic priest on this issue.

 

[Vico]

Of cours there’s no guarantee this will work. My wife and I have experienced refusal from a Roman Catholic priest on this issue.

I know that you may not receive a satisfactory answer from a priest either regarding the justification for refusal.

 

[chaldobyzantine]

I understand this is all hypothetical but where do you live in the US where any kind of Byzantine-rite parish is less accessible than the local RC bishop? There are UGCC, Melkite, Ruthenian, and Romanian Greek-Catholic parishes everywhere in this country. Priests in those parishes are much more likely to distribute the sacraments in a manner to which you are accustomed.

This seems like much hoopla over nothing, though I might be spoiled thinking there are many Eastern parishes all throughout this country due to the high amount in my area

God Bless

 

[dixieagle]

I understand this is all hypothetical but where do you live in the US where any kind of Byzantine-rite parish is less accessible than the local RC bishop? There are UGCC, Melkite, Ruthenian, and Romanian Greek-Catholic parishes everywhere in this country. Priests in those parishes are much more likely to distribute the sacraments in a manner to which you are accustomed.

This seems like much hoopla over nothing, though I might be spoiled thinking there are many Eastern parishes all throughout this country due to the high amount in my area

God Bless

There are many parts of the country where the nearest Eastern parish of any rite is hours away. My husband is Ruthenian, and the closest parish is a good three hours away, in another state. There is a Maronite parish in our state, about 5 hours away.

So, yes, you are spoiled.

 

[Zekariya]

There are many parts of the country where the nearest Eastern parish of any rite is hours away. My husband is Ruthenian, and the closest parish is a good three hours away, in another state. There is a Maronite parish in our state, about 5 hours away.

So, yes, you are spoiled.

Very true. ^ ^ ^

Chaldobyzantine, I realize that I could possibly arrange, travel far, and show up at an eastern parish that I know nothing about. However, I would like my spiritual father to be the one who baptizes my future children. I have actually posed this question to him so that, if he comes across someone who would know the answer, he would ask about it.

 

[Peter_J]

I’m in a similar situation to chaldobyzantine: a couple of EC parishes right in my area, and a couple more less than an hour away. However, I have met *many *people who would have to drive an inordinate distance to get to an EC parish.

 

[Zekariya]

If I have children, I’d prefer to let my spiritual father have the honor of initiated him into the Church. My original post:

"Suppose I get married… If my wife gave birth to a child, would the infant be allowed to be baptized and then immediately confirmed (i.e. chrismated) as long as the priest has the faculties to preform the sacrament of confirmation? If the priest does not have the faculties to confirm my infant, could the local bishop do the confirmation?

I would greatly appreciate it if you could shed some light on this. Perhaps you could show me something from the two Codes Canon Law or some other authoritative document on this issue that I have yet to find."

Please keep to this topic: May my Roman spiritual father (who does have the faculties to confirm people) chrismate/confirm my Melkite infant since I am a member of his parish?

I fully realize that traveling is an option and that many people do it. This is not my question.

 

[Corki]

Please keep to this topic: May my Roman spiritual father (who does have the faculties to confirm people) chrismate/confirm my Melkite infant since I am a member of his parish?

I think you have to ask him. In general, Latin priests have the faculties to confirm in two very specific situation - adults entering the Church and anyone in danger of death. Otherwise, the Bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation. If you priest has been given broader than usual faculties for Confirmation, he will be able to tell you so. If not, he would probably be able to get them in order to confirm your child.

 

[Zekariya]

I think you have to ask him. In general, Latin priests have the faculties to confirm in two very specific situation - adults entering the Church and anyone in danger of death. Otherwise, the Bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation. If you priest has been given broader than usual faculties for Confirmation, he will be able to tell you so. If not, he would probably be able to get them in order to confirm your child.

My priest has the faculties, from the bishop, to confirm people. I have asked my priest and he doesn’t know the answer, with regards to the Roman age limit for confirmation. Being that I am not married this is not an important answer for my priest to search out at this time. I, however, would like to know if he could be granted permission (especially if there was an authoritative document or canon law stating it).

 

[Corki]

My priest has the faculties, from the bishop, to confirm people. I have asked my priest and he doesn’t know the answer, with regards to the Roman age limit for confirmation. Being that I am not married this is not an important answer for my priest to search out at this time. I, however, would like to know if he could be granted permission (especially if there was an authoritative document or canon law stating it).

There is no “Roman age limit” for Confirmation. Latin children are confirmed at various ages depending on circumstances, including in infancy. The age question for Latin parishes applies to the age where children are prepared for Confirmation and where Confirmation Masses are scheduled with the Bishop.

If the time comes when you have a child to present, and there is still no Easter parish nearby, the priest just makes a phone call to the Bishop. That’s it. You don’t need a document to do this.

 

[Zekariya]

There is no “Roman age limit” for Confirmation. Latin children are confirmed at various ages depending on circumstances, including in infancy. The age question for Latin parishes applies to the age where children are prepared for Confirmation and where Confirmation Masses are scheduled with the Bishop.

If the time comes when you have a child to present, and there is still no Easter parish nearby, the priest just makes a phone call to the Bishop. That’s it. You don’t need a document to do this.

Thanks, Corki!