Times & Ministers of Confirmation

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

It’s my understanding that in the Roman Catholic Church, or at least the Latin Rite, the Bishop is the Ordinary Minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation, but that Priests can, in certain circumstances & with Episcopal permission, administer the Sacrament as well (I believe the Franciscan Missionary Junipero Serra was permitted to administer Confirmations). Also, it is common for the Sacrament to be administered at a later age (eg 15-18, or some approximate age)

Has this always been the Practice in the RCC or was it at one stage the same as in the Orthodox Church, where the Sacrament of Confirmation/Chrismation is administered by the Priest immediately after Baptism-even in the case of newborns/infants?

Thanks in advance!

Peace & Blessings to all!

 

[Vico]

It’s my understanding that in the Roman Catholic Church, or at least the Latin Rite, the Bishop is the Ordinary Minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation, but that Priests can, in certain circumstances & with Episcopal permission, administer the Sacrament as well (I believe the Franciscan Missionary Junipero Serra was permitted to administer Confirmations). Also, it is common for the Sacrament to be administered at a later age (eg 15-18, or some approximate age)

Has this always been the Practice in the RCC or was it at one stage the same as in the Orthodox Church, where the Sacrament of Confirmation/Chrismation is administered by the Priest immediately after Baptism-even in the case of newborns/infants?

Thanks in advance!

Peace & Blessings to all!

The rite of Confirmation was reserved to the bishop from the earliest of times. Acts 8:14-17

Initially the Bishop presided at the Christian initiation of families with all three sacraments (Holy Mysteries). Later there were different disciplines adopted in different regions.

It was legislated at the Council of Seville (618 A.D.) “It is not allowed for priests to give the Holy Spirit to the Baptized by the imposition of hands”. – Arthur McCormack, Christian Initiation (New York, Hawthorne Book Pub, 1969) page 101.

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

This is very interesting, thanks! So where would the allowing of Priests to assist in administering the Sacrament fit in with the quote you cite: “It is not allowed for priests to give the Holy Spirit to the Baptized by the imposition of hands”? If its not allowed, would that have any adverse effect on the Sacrament performed by a Priest? Perhaps its covered in a later document or later canons?

Forgive me, an ignorant sinner! I’m eager to learn

 

[Vico]

This is very interesting, thanks! So where would the allowing of Priests to assist in administering the Sacrament fit in with the quote you cite: “It is not allowed for priests to give the Holy Spirit to the Baptized by the imposition of hands”? If its not allowed, would that have any adverse effect on the Sacrament performed by a Priest? Perhaps its covered in a later document or later canons?

Forgive me, an ignorant sinner! I’m eager to learn

The Latin Catholic and eastern Catholic churches allow a priest to confirm (chrismate) with the oil blessed by the Bishop nowadays, but for the eastern church’s priests it is ordinary but for the Latin Catholic church priest it is extraordinary. I don’t recall the time period that this occurred but I think it is covered in the book Christian Initiation by Arthur McCormack. Note that the chrism is always blessed by the Bishop.

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

Thanks for the information!

yes, it’s the same for us Orthodox-the Chrism is always blessed by the Bishop and then distributed for use by the Priests in Chrismation

 

[Phemie]

This is very interesting, thanks! So where would the allowing of Priests to assist in administering the Sacrament fit in with the quote you cite: “It is not allowed for priests to give the Holy Spirit to the Baptized by the imposition of hands”? If its not allowed, would that have any adverse effect on the Sacrament performed by a Priest? Perhaps its covered in a later document or later canons?

Forgive me, an ignorant sinner! I’m eager to learn

The Bishop may delegate Confirmation to the Pastor. This usually happens in isolated parishes when the Bishop, for one reason or another, can’t make it to the parish in a reasonable time; or, as has happened in my parish before, a confirmand was unable to be present for the parish Confirmation so the priest was delegated to confirm him.

On the other hand, Canon Law gives the Priest who baptizes adults or receives them into full communion the right to confirm them. He is also to confirm any non-confirmed baptized Catholic in danger of dying, regardless of age.

 

[Dovekin]

Can. 863 The baptism of adults, at least of those who have completed their fourteenth year, is to be deferred to the diocesan bishop so that he himself administers it if he has judged it Expedient.

This may help you understand what is going on.

The bishop is the preferred minister of adult baptism, which includes confirmation. This is the starting point, not that the bishop is the ordinary minister of confirmation.

Priests and deacons are ordinary minister of baptism, but they do it in association with the bishop. Rather than looking at confirmation as a stand alone sacrament, the practice is clearer if you look at baptism, at least in my mind.

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

Thank you! That’s very helpful! I always wondered about this difference between us. I grew up in very Catholic Countries (Chile & Brazil, but without too much exposure-Old Believers are very reclusive even among Orthodox).

I noticed that in both of these countries-at least in my areas, the age for Confirmation among Catholics was around 18, during the final academic year. I know Vico said in an earlier reply that there were some varying local disciplines, but is this age normal?

Peace & Blessings to all!

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

Thank you, that’s very interesting and helpful! I always wondered about this, since in the Orthodox view these 2 Sacraments are very clearly & explicitly linked.

Peace & Blessings!

 

[Gorgias]

The Bishop may delegate Confirmation to the Pastor. This usually happens in isolated parishes when the Bishop, for one reason or another, can’t make it to the parish in a reasonable time; or, as has happened in my parish before, a confirmand was unable to be present for the parish Confirmation so the priest was delegated to confirm him.

In my diocese, the bishop delegated to pastors for confirmations due to COVID. Originally, it was valid through February or thereabouts, and I’m hearing rumors that he extended it through June. So, when it comes time for our students to be confirmed this spring, it’ll be our pastor who confirms (again).

in the Orthodox view these 2 Sacraments are very clearly & explicitly linked.

For us as Catholics, too, they’re linked! It’s just that they happen at different times…

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

Yes, thank you. I’m beginning to see the links more clearly. This seems to be a possible drawback of separating them by significant periods of time-that people don’t realise the links between them as clearly.

Of course, I’m sure this can be remedied by the Instruction for the Preparation for Confirmation

What is the normal age for reception of the Sacrament where you are?

Peace & Blessings to all!

 

[Gorgias]

What is the normal age for reception of the Sacrament where you are?

Those baptized as infants are confirmed at around the age of 13 or 14. (Their instruction includes discussions of the “sacraments of initiation” and how they are intimately inter-related.)

Those baptized as adults are confirmed immediately.

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

That’s very interesting. Thanks! Is Communion given before Confirmation, or only after? I know that according to the Eastern Canons, the Eucharist can’t be given until after Chrismation & this may be 1 reason it’s given earlier. Is it the same in the Catholic Church, or not?

Peace & Blessings to all!

 

[Gorgias]

That’s very interesting. Thanks! Is Communion given before Confirmation, or only after? I know that according to the Eastern Canons, the Eucharist can’t be given until after Chrismation & this may be 1 reason it’s given earlier. Is it the same in the Catholic Church, or not?

In the normative Easter Vigil ceremony, adults are baptized and confirmed, and then the liturgy proceeds with the “Liturgy of the Eucharist”. So, Eucharist is received following the sacraments of initiation.

For teens being confirmed, they’ve naturally already been receiving the Eucharist for 5-7 years prior to the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

I see, that’s very interesting. From an Orthodox Perspective (at least what I’m accustomed to/aware of), it is very strange to speak of receiving Communion before Confirmation/Chrismation as it isn’t allowed or done.

Do you know if-in the case of those raised in the Catholic Church from infancy, this was always the order of things (Baptism-Eucharist-Confirmation) or was it ever done the same way as the Orthodox & then “reconsidered” at some point, if that’s the right word?

Peace & Blessings to all

 

[EugeneCharles]

Would it be too late or bad if a person would be confirmed at the age of 18?

 

[Gorgias]

From an Orthodox Perspective (at least what I’m accustomed to/aware of), it is very strange to speak of receiving Communion before Confirmation/Chrismation as it isn’t allowed or done.

Right. Ya’ll have retained the ancient practice of administering the sacraments of initiation all at once, so it’s not an issue. As a historical consideration, however, the Latin Church found it necessary to separate the two, in order to preserve the celebration of confirmation to bishops.

Do you know if-in the case of those raised in the Catholic Church from infancy, this was always the order of things (Baptism-Eucharist-Confirmation) or was it ever done the same way as the Orthodox & then “reconsidered” at some point, if that’s the right word?

Right. It happened over the course of time, and in response to certain physical limitations. Bishops were – quite naturally! – not able to be present at each baptism, and rather than delegate authority as a matter of course, they decided to continue to reserve Confirmation to themselves. This meant that they would come by at particular times, rather than at each baptism. As the situation resolved itself, the Latin Church tended to separate Confirmation to a particular time in a person’s life. So: baptism / Eucharist / Confirmation. Highly interrelated, but separated chronologically.

 

[Gorgias]

Would it be too late or bad if a person would be confirmed at the age of 18?

Nope! In fact, in the case of Catholic adults who wish to marry in the Church, the Sacrament of Confirmation is strongly recommended! So, folks can just call their parish and say “I’m a Catholic, but I was never confirmed”, and let them help you through the process!!!

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

I don’t know, but I do know that certainly when I was growing up in Santiago, Chile, in the local Catholic Archdiocese, this was the standard age.

Peace & Blessings to all!

 

[Pilgrim_Wanderer]

Ahhh, I see! That makes a lot more sense now!! Thank you very much for the explanation! I’ve always wondered about this!

Peace & Blessings to all!!