My confirmation sponsor was my dad - what should I do?

[Flopfoot]

I was confirmed about 7 or 8 years ago, when I was 12 years old, and my dad was my sponsor. Until I read it in this thread forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=89419 just then, I never knew that my parent wasn’t allowed to be my confirmation sponsor. I guess my dad didn’t know that either and I never heard anyone mention that it was wrong.

Does it ‘not matter anymore’ or do I have to do something about this?

 

[cameron_lansing]

Flopfoot:

I was confirmed about 7 or 8 years ago, when I was 12 years old, and my dad was my sponsor. Until I read it in this thread forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=89419 just then, I never knew that my parent wasn’t allowed to be my confirmation sponsor. I guess my dad didn’t know that either and I never heard anyone mention that it was wrong.

Does it ‘not matter anymore’ or do I have to do something about this?

Dear Flopfoot,

I’m a degreed canon lawyer and work for the Diocese of Lansing in Michigan. I encourage you to put your mind at ease.

You need not take any action. While a sponsor is desirable, one is not required for either valid or lawful confirmation. (canons 892-892). It would not be possible, either, to “retroactively” do anything. However, neither of you knew about the law at the time, and this would be best characterized as a harmless mistake that might be forgotten.

There is a difference between presenting someone for confirmation and serving as a sponsor. Sometimes, parents do the former, but are not actually the sponsor.

You might, if you are interested and do not know for sure, contact the parish of your baptism in which the confirmation would have been recorded so see if and who is listed as sponsor.

You selected your father as a sponsor for a good reason, and I surmise, because of his faith and love for you. These are the important things. He will still be able to encourage you in the faith and in the way of Christian love.

Blessed Christmas Eve,

Deacon John M. Cameron JCL

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Flopfoot:

I was confirmed about 7 or 8 years ago, when I was 12 years old, and my dad was my sponsor. Until I read it in this thread forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=89419 just then, I never knew that my parent wasn’t allowed to be my confirmation sponsor. I guess my dad didn’t know that either and I never heard anyone mention that it was wrong.

Does it ‘not matter anymore’ or do I have to do something about this?

Yes the Canon Law has always been there and still applies. The fact that you had a disqualified Confirmation Sponsor does NOT in any was invalidate your Confirmation. At this point nothing needs to be done.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Br. Rich SFO:

Yes the Canon Law has always been there and still applies. The fact that you had a disqualified Confirmation Sponsor does NOT in any was invalidate your Confirmation. At this point nothing needs to be done.

This Code of Canon Law has had “the force of law for the whole Latin Church” since the first day of Advent, 1983. (John Paul II, Apostolic Consitution Sacrae Disciplinae Leges).

Before then parent sponsors for confirmation were clearly permitted. According to the General Introduction to the Rite of Confirmation, (dated 22 August 1971):

"5. As a rule there should be a sponsor for each of those to be confirmed. These sponsors bring the candidates to receive the sacrament, present them to the minister for the anointing, and will later help them to fulfill their baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit whom they have received.

In view of contemporary pastoral circumstances, it is desirable that the godparent at baptism, if available, also be the sponsor at confirmation. This change expresses more clearly the link between baptism and confirmation and also makes the function and responsibility of the sponsor more effective.

Nonetheless the option of choosing a special sponsor for confirmation is not excluded. Even the parents themselves may present their children for confirmation. It is for the local Ordinary to determine diocesan practice in the light of local conditions and circumstances."

(From The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN 0-8146-6015-0, page 480).

Did the 1983 Code of Canon Law intend to change this permission for parents to be sponsors? I am unsure, but here are arguments that there is no such intention:

The wording of canon 874 §1 5°, is “not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized.” So there is an explicit link to baptism, perhaps highlighting that this does not apply for confirmation. So by referrring to canon 874 in canon 893 §1 the intention and understanding may have been that canon 874 §1 5° not apply.

According to canon 846: “The liturgical books approved by the competent authority are to be faithfully observed in the celebration of the sacraments.” So if the liturgical book for confirmation has not been changed, then the 1971 General Instruction would seem to have force.

Given this uncertainity a case can be made that it is reasonable to follow the decision of the diocesan bishop on whether parent sponsors for confirmation are allowed.

 

[gusano]

Flopfoot:

I was confirmed about 7 or 8 years ago, when I was 12 years old, and my dad was my sponsor. Until I read it in this thread forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=89419 just then, I never knew that my parent wasn’t allowed to be my confirmation sponsor. I guess my dad didn’t know that either and I never heard anyone mention that it was wrong.

Does it ‘not matter anymore’ or do I have to do something about this?

Hi Flopfoot,
YES. …it matters, and you have to do something as you probe into your Faith.
Since it is Jesus who makes our Confirmation EFFECTIVE…
and not your sponsor, (Matt. 3: 11)
Here are (3) things you can do;
(1)… Come to Jesus and drink… (John 7: 37-39)
(2)… Learn every promise Jesus made concerning The Holy Spirit.
(3)… Ask your Parish Priest to lay hands on you and “Stir into flame”… The Gift of the Holy Spirit… according to 2 Tim. 1: 6

(4)… pay close attention to every scripture that is read in Mass concerning The Holy Spirit.

I will Include you in my OFFERING at the Altar in every Mass.

gusano

 

[thistle]

gusano:

Hi Flopfoot,
YES. …it matters, and you have to do something as you probe into your Faith.
Since it is Jesus who makes our Confirmation EFFECTIVE…
and not your sponsor, (Matt. 3: 11)
Here are (3) things you can do;
(1)… Come to Jesus and drink… (John 7: 37-39)
(2)… Learn every promise Jesus made concerning The Holy Spirit.
(3)… Ask your Parish Priest to lay hands on you and “Stir into flame”… The Gift of the Holy Spirit… according to 2 Tim. 1: 6

(4)… pay close attention to every scripture that is read in Mass concerning The Holy Spirit.

I will Include you in my OFFERING at the Altar in every Mass.

gusano

I’m not sure what point you are trying to make to the OP.
He’s not questioning his Faith, only whether his Confirmation was invalid because his father was his sponsor. It does not invalidate his Confirmation so what’s all this about asking the parish priest to lay his hands on him to Stir the flame…?
You are not a charismatic by any chance are you??

 

[Flopfoot]

Thanks to all who answered, including the fella who PM’ed me. So basically, if someone knows about it then they shouldn’t have their parent as a sponsor, but since we didn’t know about it and I am confirmed now, no action is necessary.

 

[thistle]

Flopfoot:

If you look at his profile, yes he is a Charismatic. Don’t worry thistle - gusano always talks like this (-:

Kind of similar to how you temporarily hijacked one of my threads before to talk about praying the rosary (it was a while ago, so don’t worry if you don’t remember it) - gusano likes to put bits in threads talking about scripture and charismatic movement and etc. regardless of how relevant… not that I mind though (-:

Thanks to all who answered, including the fella who PM’ed me. So basically, if someone knows about it then they shouldn’t have their parent as a sponsor, but since we didn’t know about it and I am confirmed now, no action is necessary.

LOL!! I remember now!!

 

[gusano]

thistle:

I’m not sure what point you are trying to make to the OP.
He’s not questioning his Faith, only whether his Confirmation was invalid because his father was his sponsor. It does not invalidate his Confirmation so
what’s all this about asking the parish priest to lay his hands on him to Stir the flame…?
You are not a charismatic by any chance are you??

If you don’tknow about “Laying on of hands” and “Stir into Flame the Gift of God…”
Maybe it would be worth your time to Return to your First Love…
Rev. 2: 4

I consider myself a Baptized, Confirmed, Eucharistically on fire Catholic…and by ONE CHANCE I am Charismatic.

** “I have come to cast fire upon the Earth and how I would that it were already ablaze.” ** Luke 12: 40

gusano

 

[Della]

Flopfoot:

Thanks to all who answered, including the fella who PM’ed me. So basically, if someone knows about it then they shouldn’t have their parent as a sponsor, but since we didn’t know about it and I am confirmed now, no action is necessary.

If you want complete peace of mind about this, as in all such matters, talk to your priest. I’m sure he’ll put your mind at rest. God bless.

 

[thistle]

gusano:

If you don’tknow about “Laying on of hands” and “Stir into Flame the Gift of God…”
Maybe it would be worth your time to Return to your First Love…
Rev. 2: 4

I consider myself a Baptized, Confirmed, Eucharistically on fire Catholic…and by ONE CHANCE I am Charismatic.

** “I have come to cast fire upon the Earth and how I would that it were already ablaze.”** Luke 12: 40

gusano

Can you only talk by quoting scripture verses? Which do you quote when you order food in a restaurant?
My question to you was what did what you were telling the OP to do have to do with his post. Nothing!

I checked with other websites in which you have appeared and the consensus seems to be that you believe the only true Catholics are charismatics (which of course is nonsense) and the posts you make have nothing to do with the thread subject but rather your own charismatic agenda.

I therefore ask you again, what did telling the OP to go to a priest to get him to lay his hands on him have to do with the OP’s topic? He wanted to know if his confirmation was still valid even though his father was his sponsor. The answer is that it is valid.

 

[gusano]

Flopfoot:

Thanks to all who answered, including the fella who PM’ed me. So basically, if someone knows about it then they shouldn’t have their parent as a sponsor, but since we didn’t know about it and I am confirmed now,** no action is necessary**.

Well, now that the sponsor question is settled, if you are satisfied with that…OK.

but,

There is still the AVAILABILITY (from 2 Tim. 1: 6) … should you ever desire more,

"For this reason I remind you to enkindle afresh THE GIFT OF GOD which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

if you don’t want or need more… this verse is un-necessary.

 

[BlestOne]

Flopfoot:

I was confirmed about 7 or 8 years ago, when I was 12 years old, and my dad was my sponsor. Until I read it in this thread forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=89419 just then, I never knew that my parent wasn’t allowed to be my confirmation sponsor. I guess my dad didn’t know that either and I never heard anyone mention that it was wrong.

Does it ‘not matter anymore’ or do I have to do something about this?

I never knew this either and my dad was my sponsor too. I found out when my oldest was confirmed…they wouldn’t let me be his sponsor, but when my second was confirmed, his brother was allowed to sponsor him.

 

[thistle]

gusano:

Well, now that the sponsor question is settled, if you are satisfied with that…OK.

but,

There is still the AVAILABILITY (from 2 Tim. 1: 6) … should you ever desire more,

"For this reason I remind you to enkindle afresh THE GIFT OF GOD which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

if you don’t want or need more… this verse is un-necessary.

His question is already answered. Stop going off at a tangent!!

 

[gusano]

thistle:

His question is already answered. Stop going off at a tangent!!

Hi Thistle,
Please help me understand…
Is this post about Confirmation, or is it about something else ?
or are you simply wanting me to “shut up!” ?

Confirmation is the Sacrament through which The Gift of God, the Holy Spirit, is given (bestowed) through the “Laying on of Hands”, by the Bishop generally.
is that right ?
Please explain how …2 Tim. 1: 6, which encourages us all to “Fan into flame…The Holy Spirit,” whom God has given us through the laying on of hands by the Bishop,
…can be called
“going off at a tangent”

on the contrary, 2 Tim 1: 6 encourages us ** INTO THE HEART of Confirmation, ….into** the heart of God.

how is that …“off at a tangent ?”

gusano

 

[thistle]

gusano:

Hi Thistle,
Please help me understand…
Is this post about Confirmation, or is it about something else ?
or are you simply wanting me to “shut up!” ?

Confirmation is the Sacrament through which The Gift of God, the Holy Spirit, is given (bestowed) through the “Laying on of Hands”, by the Bishop generally.
is that right ?
Please explain how …2 Tim. 1: 6, which encourages us all to “Fan into flame…The Holy Spirit,” whom God has given us through the laying on of hands by the Bishop,
…can be called
“going off at a tangent”

on the contrary, 2 Tim 1: 6 encourages us ** INTO THE HEART of Confirmation, ….into** the heart of God.

how is that …“off at a tangent ?”

gusano

The original post is ONLY about whether his Confirmation was valid or not. The post is not about any/all aspects of Confirmation for which you are of course free to start a new thread.

 

[Marian_Carroll]

The question has been apparently answered sufficiently - and thanks to all who provided informative discussion.