Slap Them Sooner Confirmation & First Communion

[Good_Tidings]

Two Catholic bishops, Samuel Aquila of Denver and Larry Silva of Honolulu, have recently announced that they will restore the traditional order of the sacraments of initiation in their dioceses, celebrating confirmation and Eucharist in a single ceremony for Catholic children aged seven to eight who were baptized in infancy. They join a small but growing number of dioceses that have reviewed the practice of adolescent confirmation and found it wanting. In the words of Pope Francis, confirmation has become the “sacrament of goodbye” as adolescents “graduate” from confirmation programs and are never seen again. The pope has a point. These bishops are doing the right thing by moving confirmation to an earlier age, and I hope others will follow suit.

commonwealmagazine.org/slap-them-sooner

I think I like this.

 

[twf]

Yes, Pope Benedict applauded those who returned the sacraments to their traditional order. The Church’s traditional order for the sacraments of initiation is still seen in the reception of adult converts: 1) baptism 2) confirmation 3) holy communion

It is a very odd situation indeed to receive First Communion prior to confirmation…a novelty and a departure from tradition that makes little sense. Why deprive young children of the graces of confirmation?
Perhaps we could have some sort of special profession of faith and blessing for teens who wish to take “ownership” of their faith.

 

[jediliz]

Yes, Pope Benedict applauded those who returned the sacraments to their traditional order. The Church’s traditional order for the sacraments of initiation is still seen in the reception of adult converts: 1) baptism 2) confirmation 3) holy communion

It is a very odd situation indeed to receive First Communion prior to confirmation…a novelty and a departure from tradition that makes little sense. Why deprive young children of the graces of confirmation?
Perhaps we could have some sort of special profession of faith and blessing for teens who wish to take “ownership” of their faith.

My diocese has confirmation in 5th grade. Second grade is Reconciliation and Eucharist.

We never called it “faith graduation”.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

They still do slapping? Haven’t seen it for quite a while.

 

[phil19034]

My diocese has confirmation in 5th grade. Second grade is Reconciliation and Eucharist.

We never called it “faith graduation”.

Well… you do live in the best Diocese in America

 

[phil19034]

I think confirming them earlier will be best AS LONG AS they keep attending Child Faith Formation classes after Confirmation and until at least 8th grade. Then, in High School they participate in discipleship programs like YDisciple!

But if the parents stop taking them to Church after their Confirmation at 7 or 8 years old, then it will be a disaster.

 

[mek42]

Why do folks think there will be less attrition with a different order?

 

[phil19034]

Why do folks think there will be less attrition with a different order?

The theory is that parents will acknowledge that a 7 or 8 year old isn’t finished with Child Faith formation. So it would eliminate the “you have to attend CCD until confirmation” agreement that parents often make with kids.

 

[bitterhope]

My husband was baptized at birth and confirmed at age 2. He made first communion in second grade so I guess between 7 and 8. I’ve never understood why we wait so long in the US. My parents were both confirmed way before 5th grade and in my parish growing up it was all kids between 7-12 grade because the bishop only came every 4 years to our town. I missed it when it was my year because if an illness so I wasn’t confirmed until I was an adult. I had 4 baptized children and a sacramental marriage before I got confirmed. Doing it at or soon after baptism, or at least during first communion, would stop situations like that from occurring.

 

[Giggly_Giraffe]

I was Baptised, Confessed, & First Eucharist at ten. I think I might have went to a few confirmation classes, but I don’t remember. The catechism I recieved somehow left me to believe that I was fully finished and fully a catholic.

Quickly, I went into a prodigal daughter tour for a real long time. When I returned and had my first confession in super long time I had to ask for help in how to say a Hail Mary, what does a decade mean, and basically I was point blank asked, “Are you even a catholic?”

Well, I took RCIA after watching South Park and realizing these idiots who wrote the show knew more about my catholic faith than I did. I took it two years in a row, but never stood at the Easter Vigil ---- which I attended. I taught kindergarden, eight graders (3 years) and finally realized that I was never confirmed until I was getting married. they confirmed me with the group of eight graders that I taught that year. I guess I was not the only one. There were a few others I ran into who had a similar experience!

Still to this day, the sacraments of initiation confuse me. Yes, I’ve read he CCC and other materials … But it seems odd to have three sacraments upfront.

 

[Lucretius]

In my opinion, these Bishops don’t go far enough. First confirmation and Eucharist should be celebrated after baptism, even if the new-born is a newborn.

This is in accordance to the practices of the early Church, of course.

Christi pax,

Lucretius

St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us!

 

[phil19034]

I agree this would be a disaster. However a Sacrament is a gift from God, freely given and I don’t think it is something that we (as a church) should be “holding hostage” from children when the history shows that they were given it at a much younger age more often than not.

I think this is a case where, the children have a right to the sacraments. As a church community then it is our job to do all we can to keep them, and their families involved. I don’t think it proper to withhold Confirmation as some sort of dangling carrot until an older age in order to try and keep kids involved.

The Holy Spirit is smarter than we are! Let Him infuse these young souls with His marvelous grace and beautiful gifts and let us trust in Him. That’s my two cents anyway.

I don’t disagree. I personally like them to be able to receive earlier. I just want to make sure parents keep the the kids in CCD after Confirmation

 

[pianistclare]

I think confirming them earlier will be best AS LONG AS they keep attending Child Faith Formation classes after Confirmation and until at least 8th grade. Then, in High School they participate in discipleship programs like YDisciple!

But if the parents stop taking them to Church after their Confirmation at 7 or 8 years old, then it will be a disaster.

Exactly.
I can tell you as a DRE…if we didn’t hold that carrot out…NO ONE would be enrolled in High School catechesis.
And then see how well the media catechizes your kids re: SSA, Homosexual Marriage, Abortion, and everything else. We’ll have a whole new crop of people who want to get married on the beach!

We reap what we sow. Give up on the kids earlier, then they’ll not be Catholic. Period.
CAF people are not the norm. Most people would jump at the chance to be “done” with religious ed at an earlier age.
After all…there’s soccer on Sundays.

 

[pianistclare]

In my opinion, these Bishops don’t go far enough. First confirmation and Eucharist should be celebrated after baptism, even if the new-born is a newborn.

This is in accordance to the practices of the early Church, of course.

Christi pax,

Lucretius

St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us!

How come all of a sudden, early practices are great?
People lament receiving in the hand, people want to kneel for communion…clearly these things were not done in the Early Church.
Jesus likely was facing the Apostles…hmmmmm

 

[Usige]

Exactly.
I can tell you as a DRE…if we didn’t hold that carrot out…NO ONE would be enrolled in High School catechesis.
And then see how well the media catechizes your kids re: SSA, Homosexual Marriage, Abortion, and everything else. We’ll have a whole new crop of people who want to get married on the beach!

We reap what we sow. Give up on the kids earlier, then they’ll not be Catholic. Period.
CAF people are not the norm. Most people would jump at the chance to be “done” with religious ed at an earlier age.
After all…there’s soccer on Sundays.

That may be true, but if the kid’s family is just going through the motions to get the next brass ring you probably are really changing anything regardless of how many yeas you make them hang out to get the next ring. The hope is that receiving the graces earlier will help strengthen them through their early teen years.

Strengthen the bridge before it colapses not after it starts falling down.

 

[pianistclare]

That may be true, but if the kid’s family is just going through the motions to get the next brass ring you probably are really changing anything regardless of how many yeas you make them hang out to get the next ring. The hope is that receiving the graces earlier will help strengthen them through their early teen years.

Strengthen the bridge before it colapses not after it starts falling down.

Actually we turn a lot of kids around. Good catechists can accomplish much. You’d be surprised how many of them go home and instruct their parents and correct misconceptions about what the Church teaches. I’ve seen them bring parents back to confession after being away from the Sacrament for 20 years.
Education is never wasted.
Especially Religious Ed.

 

[Kelfa28]

I really like the idea of the sacramental order being Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and Communion.

But, if you’re going to do it in that order…the kids should probably be older then 7 or 8 years old for the last three sacraments.

That is too young to conclude faith formation.

I remember receiving my first Communion at age 7. I had no idea what was going on.

Confirmation at our Parish literally went up to age 17. We had to attend CCD for an additional 10 years for Confirmation.

That is way too long for faith formation…especially when RCIA only takes a year for an adult.

Our Parish (and it could be Diocese wide…I’m not sure) does Confirmation at 14. That is a bit more reasonable but I still think that is too long.

 

[pianistclare]

I really like the idea of the sacramental order being Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and Communion.

But, if you’re going to do it in that order…the kids should probably be older then 7 or 8 years old for the last three sacraments.

That is too young to conclude faith formation.

I remember receiving my first Communion at age 7. I had no idea what was going on.

Confirmation at our Parish literally went up to age 17. We had to attend CCD for an additional 10 years for Confirmation.

That is way too long for faith formation…especially when RCIA only takes a year for an adult.

Our Parish (and it could be Diocese wide…I’m not sure) does Confirmation at 14. That is a bit more reasonable but I still think that is too long.

Catechesis is a lifelong endeavor.
We are never finished learning about the faith.
It’s not too long. People play baseball for 12 years. Football fro 10 years. Ballet for 16.
A person’s conscience should take at least as long.

 

[ForeverJoy]

Speaking as an Convert-to-be (stupid annulment)… my 10yr old was accepted into the Church this past Easter Vigil. He was baptized, confirmed and received first communion. Now, maybe it’s because of my Protestant background, but neither he nor I think he’s reached a “finish line.” In fact, he already knows that he’s going to be doing the confirmation activities with the other kids when he gets to 8th grade, just because I think they will be good for him, even though he’s already received the sacrament. Maybe it’s a matter of retraining the way the parents think (everyone should always be striving to learn/grow more) rather than holding back on sacraments?

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t disagree. I personally like them to be able to receive earlier. I just want to make sure parents keep the the kids in CCD after Confirmation.

If the “bribe” aspect is taken away, then the real reason for needing to go will become more obvious, and parents will be more motivated to keep their kids in until they age out of the program - and start teaching it, hopefully.