Order of Sacraments

[mikeeh]

Should the Sacraments of Initiation be restored to their original order or should Confirmation continue to be given in middle school and high school?

 

[FrancescaMaria]

Should the Sacraments of Initiation be restored to their original order or should Confirmation continue to be given in middle school and high school?

I was told (25 years ago) that I could not receive Communion without having Confirmation first. I ended up having both during one weekday Mass, but Confirmation came first.

 

[dshix]

There’s no one right answer, objectively speaking. Every Catholic would do best to follow the custom which the local Church authorities use.

 

[Bookcat]

Original Order.

 

[DCNBILL]

Looking at the way many families treat their faith I would have to vote for Confirmation at middle to high school age. The reasoning being this, I see too many parents taking their children out of religious education classes or Catholic school after they receive Confirmation. If we use the original order I am afraid that we will loose these children much earlier than we are now.

The Confirmation preparation that our children receive may very well be the last formal education in their faith that they may get, so I would rather have it at a more mature age in hopes that it “takes.”

 

[Sy_Noe]

Looking at the way many families treat their faith I would have to vote for Confirmation at middle to high school age. The reasoning being this, I see too many parents taking their children out of religious education classes or Catholic school after they receive Confirmation. If we use the original order I am afraid that we will loose these children much earlier than we are now.

The Confirmation preparation that our children receive may very well be the last formal education in their faith that they may get, so I would rather have it at a more mature age in hopes that it “takes.”

I received my First Communion at age 7 and was confirmed at age 10. In my case age 10 was far too early as I look back on it. I really had little idea what was expected of me to remain a faithful, practicing Catholic until I was a little older. At age 10 my focus outside of being a reasonably good student in my public elementary school’s 5th grade class, was more on things such as playing second base for my town’s Little League’s runner-up team the Dodgers, and with regards to Confirmation, choosing a Confirmation name. I thought David would be cool because he slain the mighty Goliath.

 

[peter26]

What I find strange is that someone converting to the faith is first confirmed then receives first Communion, however someone growing up in the faith will usually receive first Communion first and then confirmation some years later.

 

[Sy_Noe]

What I find strange is that someone converting to the faith is first confirmed then receives first Communion, however someone growing up in the faith will usually receive first Communion first and then confirmation some years later.

After my post, I was thinking further. Maybe both should be later when there is greater maturity and understanding present. But I don’t know.

 

[phil19034]

I selected before.

Ideally, babies should receive Baptism, Confirmation & First Communion all on the same day (aka bring back the Catholic Christenings).

However, we will need to revamp our Child Faith programs before we do anything. Some parents only bring their kids for the sacramental prep. Others bring them because they want their kids to learn more about Christ & His Church.

The question is this: in the long run, is it better to have larger programs that are primarily focused on Sacramental Prep; or would it be better to have smaller groups made up of only have kids in the classes who come from devout families?

Basically, should CCD be sacramental prep like it is today, or should it be Theology Class for public school kids (covering as much of what is possible that the Catholic School kids get)?

We need to answer that question because this is the heart of the issue.

But we also need to take surveys of Catholic parents… “would you bring your kids to CCD if there was no sacramental prep because they received all their sacraments already at birth?”

To the best of my knowledge, such a survey has not been taken.

 

[Corki]

I am a big fan of the restored order of the Sacraments.

 

[Usige]

Since I am not, nor will ever be, a bishop this is purely my opinion.

In my opinion we should return to the restored order. I am glad that Archbishop Aquila has begun the process in Denver. Now if he could get Bishops Sheridan, Berg and Etienne on board that would be great.

I think holding the sacraments hostage to compel kids to stay in religious ed is a failure. Maybe not in having bodies there, but in keeping kids practicing. If that was the purpose of the sacraments (a reward for attending classes) then perhaps we should move it back to the mid 20s.

In an ideal world we wouldn’t need religious ed as the faith would be passed on at home. But therein lies the problem. A kid that does not practice their faith or see it modeled has little hope of maintaining that faith regardless of wether they are a newborn, 7, 12, 16 or 30 when they are confirmed.

But, just maybe, if the graces of the sacrament weren’t kept locked away they might have the strength to fight secular influences in their early teens. As it is we seem to be adding a fireblanket on top of a fire that is already trying to break out.

If we really want to use reception as a club to ensure their knowledge, then make the parents go to class and pass a test before letting a kid be confirmed. Perhaps then they woukd take seriously the role as primary educator instead of just trusting the parish to do it. Heck I would be happy if every catechist and volunteer was required to show they knew the faith before poisoning children with half formed ideas about the sacraments and faith.

 

[TimothyH]

I find the idea of a poll on this topic a bit odd. It’s like taking a poll on whether the sky is blue or dogs bark IMO.

The proper order of the sacraments is pretty clearly taught by the Church. That the sacraments should be given in the proper order seems self evident to me. A poll doesn’t change that.

-Tim-

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

I think it should stay in the current order of having Holy Communion first then being confirmed in high school.

 

[peter26]

The proper order of the sacraments is pretty clearly taught by the Church.

Then why does the order differ from one diocese to another?

 

[paduard]

What I find strange is that someone converting to the faith is first confirmed then receives first Communion, however someone growing up in the faith will usually receive first Communion first and then confirmation some years later.

Yes! - same where I am.

paduard

 

[Oneofthewomen]

This!! I agree 100%!

In my diocese, the usual confirmation age was between 6-8th grade (11-14 years), with the option of doing “restored order” if that is what the Pastor of the parish wanted.

We got a new Bishop a couple of years ago and he not only stopped the restored order, he raised the age for confirmation to 10th grade (15-16) and made it a mandatory 2 year prep. Confirmations have dropped off about 40%.

Since I am not, nor will ever be, a bishop this is purely my opinion.

In my opinion we should return to the restored order. I am glad that Archbishop Aquila has begun the process in Denver. Now if he could get Bishops Sheridan, Berg and Etienne on board that would be great.

I think holding the sacraments hostage to compel kids to stay in religious ed is a failure. Maybe not in having bodies there, but in keeping kids practicing. If that was the purpose of the sacraments (a reward for attending classes) then perhaps we should move it back to the mid 20s.

In an ideal world we wouldn’t need religious ed as the faith would be passed on at home. But therein lies the problem. A kid that does not practice their faith or see it modeled has little hope of maintaining that faith regardless of wether they are a newborn, 7, 12, 16 or 30 when they are confirmed.

But, just maybe, if the graces of the sacrament weren’t kept locked away they might have the strength to fight secular influences in their early teens. As it is we seem to be adding a fireblanket on top of a fire that is already trying to break out.

If we really want to use reception as a club to ensure their knowledge, then make the parents go to class and pass a test before letting a kid be confirmed. Perhaps then they woukd take seriously the role as primary educator instead of just trusting the parish to do it. Heck I would be happy if every catechist and volunteer was required to show they knew the faith before poisoning children with half formed ideas about the sacraments and faith.

 

[mikeeh]

There’s no one right answer, objectively speaking. Every Catholic would do best to follow the custom which the local Church authorities use.

I agree. I was a little bored and wanted to get people’s opinion on the subject.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

What I find strange is that someone converting to the faith is first confirmed then receives first Communion, however someone growing up in the faith will usually receive first Communion first and then confirmation some years later.

Most converts are brought into the Church as adults which is why they receive all 3 Sacraments of Initiation. Being born into the Church, you are baptized as a baby, receive First Communion around 7 with your parents accepting responsibility for raising you in the faith. Most cradle Catholics are confirmed as teenagers when they are deemed mature enough to accept responsibility for their faith.

 

[mikeeh]

I find the idea of a poll on this topic a bit odd. It’s like taking a poll on whether the sky is blue or dogs bark IMO.

The sky is black, it only looks blue during the day.
Not all dog breeds bark.

The proper order of the sacraments is pretty clearly taught by the Church. That the sacraments should be given in the proper order seems self evident to me. A poll doesn’t change that.

You would think that is case, but many dioceses in the United States still push back Confirmation to a later age. I hear few have gone back to the proper order, so maybe others will follow.

 

[mikeeh]

We got a new Bishop a couple of years ago and he not only stopped the restored order, he raised the age for confirmation to 10th grade (15-16) and made it a mandatory 2 year prep. Confirmations have dropped off about 40%.

You bring up a very good point. I was reading an article about how earlier Confirmation means children will leave the Church earlier in life, but many still leave even if the sacrament is done at a later age. Basically, once they’re finished with all three sacraments they leave. The issue the article did not discuss is which method produced the higher number of Confirmed Catholic. In other words, if 50 children made their First Communion those 50 would have also made their Confirmation if the sacraments are done together, but would all 50 have stayed or returned to make their Confirmation in middle or high school if the sacraments were separated in that way? My diocese is next to the Mexican border. One issue we have is parents taking their children to Mexico to get a quick Confirmation after finding out our program is two years long.