Questions about Confirmation and My First Communion

[Maria1993]

Hi,

I have some questions. Is there a certain age i have to be to finally do my Confirmation?
I really want to!
And what is it about Confirmation that you chose a saint? Because i was wondering if it would be okay to chose St. Michael the Archangel since i am a female.

A question about my validity of my First Communion.
I can’t quite remember how old i was when it happened. Under 12 though.
Long story short, (and FORGIVE ME if I am scrupling, I am scrupulous. And i have checked out the Liguori website, ) I witheld what i know now is a sin, but when i had commited it i can say i was around 5 and a different one regarding a joke about a picture at around 2 or third grade. I was too ashamed at the time to confess, i can’t even really remember being there. I know NOW that holding in sins is ANOTHER sin.
But since those sins i commited when i was a kid, i did not know what i was doing, lack the categories of sins or mortal sins.

I didn’t think about this till now a couple of days ago, and i panicked a bit. Now that i really want to practice my faith and go onto Confirmation, i have a fear of it not being valid, (i even fear excommunication for some reason) and i doubt i can do it over again. I confessed this at my first confession since that time last month, and the priest told me to calm down (i was all over the place with my scrupulous/intrusive blasphemous thoughts) and that that was the past, and that today i started a new life, and God was still working in me for going to confession for the first time in like 6-8 years.

I really want to devote more to my faith now that I am older and know and actually pay attention, i did learn the required prayers back then though, but i still fear.
I want to move forward,anything helps really.

Again, sorry for the continuous posts.

(Honestly, i just don’t want to be driven away from the Church for something I did in the past. I just want to continue on.)

 

[1ke]

Talk to your priest regarding Confirmation. Each diocese varies on the age set by the bishop. It is between the age of discretion (7 or 8) and the end of high school (18).

If you are an adult who was never confirmed the parish usually has an adult confirmation class you can attend. The bishop will have a time set to confirm adults in his diocese who never received it for whatever reason.

Also continue to work regularly with your priest on your scrupulosity issues.

 

[LittleHannah]

Hi,

I have some questions. Is there a certain age i have to be to finally do my Confirmation?
I really want to!
And what is it about Confirmation that you chose a saint? Because i was wondering if it would be okay to chose St. Michael the Archangel since i am a female.

A question about my validity of my First Communion.
I can’t quite remember how old i was when it happened. Under 12 though.
Long story short, (and FORGIVE ME if I am scrupling, I am scrupulous. And i have checked out the Liguori website, ) I witheld what i know now is a sin, but when i had commited it i can say i was around 5 and a different one regarding a joke about a picture at around 2 or third grade. I was too ashamed at the time to confess, i can’t even really remember being there. I know NOW that holding in sins is ANOTHER sin.
But since those sins i commited when i was a kid, i did not know what i was doing, lack the categories of sins or mortal sins.

I didn’t think about this till now a couple of days ago, and i panicked a bit. Now that i really want to practice my faith and go onto Confirmation, i have a fear of it not being valid, (i even fear excommunication for some reason) and i doubt i can do it over again. I confessed this at my first confession since that time last month, and the priest told me to calm down (i was all over the place with my scrupulous/intrusive blasphemous thoughts) and that that was the past, and that today i started a new life, and God was still working in me for going to confession for the first time in like 6-8 years.

I really want to devote more to my faith now that I am older and know and actually pay attention, i did learn the required prayers back then though, but i still fear.
I want to move forward,anything helps really.

Again, sorry for the continuous posts.

Normally, Those who are confirmed are in high school age. But in my case I was 12 when I was confirmed (Because I received Baptism and First Communion also) I’m almost 15 now.
You can choose whichever Saint you feel close to it. I don’t think it matters whether the Saint is Male or Female. Just pick a Saint you like and that you could imitate in his/her life.
If you did’nt know it was a Sin that don’t worry about it. You did’nt have sufficient knowledge of the Sin whether it was Mortal or Venial. You confessed the Sins. You must forget them and move on. Hope this help! God bless!

 

[Maria1993]

Thank you, I am starting to work on it with a Priest.

What i worry though if there was anything that made my First Communion “Invalid”, or if it can be.

 

[LittleHannah]

Well it depends. If you received Communnion in a state of Mortal Sin then you committed Sacrilege.

 

[Maria1993]

Thank you.
I didn’t know that back then. And if that happened, im just saying this to be sure, would i be able to confess this and be absolved? And move onto Confirmation?

See, not until this year did i start learning about this because i could say i was away for a while… and only came to mass occasionally

Now that i actually do attend, this worries me.

 

[felsguy]

I believe it is generally accepted that a child of five is not even capable of committing a sin and highly unlikely that a child under 12 is capable of committing serious sin. God doesn’t expect the impossible of us.

By its definition scrupulosity renders one incapable of thinking clearly. Trusting the advice of your priest is sound advice when dealing with it.

God bless.

.

 

[CDB1718]

There is NOTHING so big you can’t confess it and receive absolution. Not a 5-yr-old’s imprudence or an 8-yr-old’s drawing or a 16-yr-old’s doubts or a 25-yr-old’s abortion or a 39-yr-old’s sexual sins… nothing.

God loves you and wants to draw you near to Himself. He will not place obstacles in your way. He gave you a priest and the sacrament of Confession with its glorious absolution. You are forgiven! Rejoice!

It used to be that our patron saint was the person or feast we were named for. There are different customs in different parts of the world on how the name and patron would be chosen. A person’s first name was also called his Christian name and Baptismal name. That name had a lot more significance than it does today. A special relationship was cultivated with this patron and the person celebrated on his name day, or the feast of his patronal saint. The sacrament of Confirmation has been delayed so long that in the United States people think of it as a coming of age instead of the seal of Baptism and armor of the Holy Spirit that it is. That cultivation of a relationship with a patron has been moved from Baptism to Confirmation and the confirmand is now encouraged to choose this patron for himself or herself. Some people are confirmed with both names, the Baptismal name and the new Confirmation name. Some choose to be confirmed with the same name they were baptized with. It’s all up to you!

St. Michael the Archangel is a great choice for a patron!

 

[curlycool89]

Thank you, I am starting to work on it with a Priest.

What i worry though if there was anything that made my First Communion “Invalid”, or if it can be.

First Communion is not a Sacrament per se like Confirmation is. Don’t jump on me, give me a few lines to explain.

When we speak of whether or not the Eucharist is valid or not depends on a valid consecration (valid priest, right words, right matter, proper intent). It’s impossible for someone to make their First Communion “invalid” because if the Eucharist is validly consecrated then what you receive is Jesus. You can receive it improperly (if you like) if you are in a state of mortal sin.

First Communion is essentially when you are ready to start receiving, which means you’ve been properly instructed and stuff. There’s nothing more special about the first time then the thousandth time; both times you receive Jesus in the Eucharist and the Graces associated with that.

I think you’re conflating “validity” with “mortal sin”. If you’ve received the Eucharist is a state of mortal sin then it is a(nother) mortal sin, but that doesn’t make it invalid. You won’t have to “re-do” First Communion or anything though.

 

[Maria1993]

I appreaciate the answers a lot.
Please keep me in your prayers. And that with the priests help i can jump off this treadmill of constant worry/scruples and be ready for Confirmation.
God Bless you all.

 

[felsguy]

I appreaciate the answers a lot.
Please keep me in your prayers. And that with the priests help i can jump off this treadmill of constant worry/scruples and be ready for Confirmation.
God Bless you all.