Too young to be confirmed?

[Sister_MM]

This kind of thinking raises a whole lot of other questions…

If the age of reason or discretion is absolutely necessary for a sacrament to be effective, what does one do with the mentally disturbed, the comatose and mentally handicapped? Some of these never reach an “age” of reason or discretion.

Do they never get Baptised? Do they never get Confirmed? Do they never receive Communion?

These sacraments are good for them.

For those who never reach the age of reason, only baptism is necessary. If they never reach the age of reason, they are incapable of committing sin. The Eucharist strengthens us for the journey - so we can avoid sin. That’s why Communion is not necessary until we reach the age of reason. We aren’t “on the journey” yet. We are still innocent. I was in a parish for awhile where the pastor allowed a woman aged 25 who was completely innocent, unable to speak, unable to swallow whole food even, to receive Holy Communion under the form of the Precious Blood. That poor woman was dragged to Mass almost every day by her mother, even though she could not participate in any way and had no idea where she was. All she could do was moan (and quite loudly!) all through the Mass… which really prevented other people from participating. And why did the pastor allow this? Not for the sake of that dear, handicapped woman who was already innocent and will enjoy a more glorious place in Heaven than I can ever hope to reach - he did it solely for the mother. In her ignorance, she thought her innocent daughter “needed” Holy Communion to be more in union with God. Being in the state of grace, she could not be in any more close union than she already is in.
I am sure there must be more to the story - because surely this pastor, who is a very good and loyal priest, would have known that giving communion to this handicapped woman was not necessary, and he could have catechised her mother so she would understand what a gift God had given her in choosing her to care for this innocent angel. (How many parents have the consolation of knowing that their 25 year old child is in the state of grace?) Instead, he chose to humor her… which meant that any priest she encounters later is practically bound to continue the practice.

I’ve known many mentally impaired people. I used to live near a facility where these dear people were housed, educated, trained to work, and even allowed to live “on their own” in a well-monitored apartment complex. I believe that they were all in the state of grace. I have never met happier people. The thought of hurting another individual (by word or deed) simply did not occur to them. When one was injured, all were truly concerned. It’s like that touching scene in the Special Olympics we’ve all probably seen, where one runner falls, and all the rest stop, help him to his feet, put his arms over their shoulders, and cross the finish line together. They are ALL winners in the race St. Paul talks about. Can you imagine what the confession of a mentally disabled person might go like? “Bless me, Father, because I didn’t know someone was hurting - or I didn’t help so-an-so enough.” And I’ll bet they would shed real tears of contrition. We could all learn so much more from these dear souls then we could ever hope to teach them.

 

[1ke]

But if you are old enough to understand it, and you are going along and “getting confirmed” you have made a choice no?

Catholics are obligated to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. It’s not optional.

 

[thomfra]

They aren’t making their very first commitment to the faith, though - they can renew their Baptismal vows (the whole “Do you reject Satan” thing is the Baptismal vows) but it’s not like they are making these vows for the very first time, or like that they are going from being non-Catholic to being Catholic.

Oh… I see. Well I really can’t say I was that far off then. Given I was an infant when baptised I had no say in the matter.

What had happened had I absolutely refused to renew my baptismal vows? Would I still be confirmed then?

 

[thomfra]

Catholics are obligated to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. It’s not optional.

So what if you refuse? That’s my question???

 

[jmcrae]

Oh… I see. Well I really can’t say I was that far off then. Given I was an infant when baptised I had no say in the matter.

What had happened had I absolutely refused to renew my baptismal vows? Would I still be confirmed then?

Your Confirmation might have been delayed, but as the poster above has rightly pointed out, Confirmation is not actually optional.

 

[mercygate]

So what if you refuse? That’s my question???

Having reached the age of reason, if you refuse to be confirmed, the sacrament cannot be forced on you.

I think some of the confusion here is between the sacramental and the pastoral realities.

Others have clarified the sacramental and theological reality. But the pastoral reality is that on your confirmation day, you DO step up at a level of greater awareness than you had at baptism and you repeat those vows in your own voice and under your own steam. You do receive the Holy Spirit for the life and work of a Christian and “seal” your baptism.

The pastoral experience of the sacrament, for the individual, is very much an affirmation of one’s commitment to Christ – in public.

 

[thomfra]

This does not negate anything I have said. There is nothing in the Sacrament that is about “accepting” Christ or “making a choice for Christ”

No, this is not part of Confirmation.

However, we (the entire congregation present at Mass) do often renew our baptismal promises during the Easter season by following the question and answer form of the Creed.

If you read some of the other posts, it would appear it is not so cut and dry.

 

[Hesychios]

Hello Sister,

For those who never reach the age of reason, only baptism is necessary. If they never reach the age of reason, they are incapable of committing sin. The Eucharist strengthens us for the journey - so we can avoid sin. That’s why Communion is not necessary until we reach the age of reason. We aren’t “on the journey” yet. We are still innocent. I was in a parish for awhile where the pastor allowed a woman aged 25 who was completely innocent, unable to speak, unable to swallow whole food even, to receive Holy Communion under the form of the Precious Blood. That poor woman was dragged to Mass almost every day by her mother, even though she could not participate in any way and had no idea where she was. All she could do was moan (and quite loudly!) all through the Mass… which really prevented other people from participating. And why did the pastor allow this? Not for the sake of that dear, handicapped woman who was already innocent and will enjoy a more glorious place in Heaven than I can ever hope to reach - he did it solely for the mother. In her ignorance, she thought her innocent daughter “needed” Holy Communion to be more in union with God. Being in the state of grace, she could not be in any more close union than she already is in.
I am sure there must be more to the story - because surely this pastor, who is a very good and loyal priest, would have known that giving communion to this handicapped woman was not necessary, and he could have catechised her mother so she would understand what a gift God had given her in choosing her to care for this innocent angel. (How many parents have the consolation of knowing that their 25 year old child is in the state of grace?) Instead, he chose to humor her… which meant that any priest she encounters later is practically bound to continue the practice.

I’ve known many mentally impaired people. I used to live near a facility where these dear people were housed, educated, trained to work, and even allowed to live “on their own” in a well-monitored apartment complex. I believe that they were all in the state of grace. I have never met happier people. The thought of hurting another individual (by word or deed) simply did not occur to them. When one was injured, all were truly concerned. It’s like that touching scene in the Special Olympics we’ve all probably seen, where one runner falls, and all the rest stop, help him to his feet, put his arms over their shoulders, and cross the finish line together. They are ALL winners in the race St. Paul talks about. Can you imagine what the confession of a mentally disabled person might go like? “Bless me, Father, because I didn’t know someone was hurting - or I didn’t help so-an-so enough.” And I’ll bet they would shed real tears of contrition. We could all learn so much more from these dear souls then we could ever hope to teach them.

Thank you for what seems to be an excellent exposition of Latin Catholic thinking on the subject.

Which I disagree with, of course.

I could never say “communion is not necessary”. Jesus Christ did say “Do this” and we do it. I believe that history would show your church once did likewise.

http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/2003/August/752/Detail/DSC_0100.jpg

Confession may not be necessary, considering the age of the individual or the state of mind, but who among us would deny anyone the graces that come with the Holy Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation?

Michael

 

[rwoehmke]

1 ke is quite correct in her statements. Like any other grace offered by God one always has the choice of rejecting it. This fairly recent concept of Confirmation being the time when one makes a decision for Christ or for the Faith arises out of a confusion with Confirmation in some non-Catholic Churches where it is just that and not considered a Sacrament. In the Catholic Church the seven sacraments consist of certain outward signs, some of which may depend on the individual to provide, which result in us receiving grace which is provided by the Lord. We do not make that grace, it is God who acts to provide that grace. Outside the sacrament, we could copy these outward signs on our own and they would be efficacious of nothing.

 

[jmcrae]

Hello Sister, Thank you for what seems to be an excellent exposition of Latin Catholic thinking on the subject.

Which I disagree with, of course.

I could never say “communion is not necessary”. Jesus Christ did say “Do this” and we do it. I believe that history would show your church once did likewise.

http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/2003/August/752/Detail/DSC_0100.jpg

Confession may not be necessary, considering the age of the individual or the state of mind, but who among us would deny anyone the graces that come with the Holy Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation?

Michael

That’s beautiful!

I am under the impression that persons who lack the full use of reason (and who are not likely to gain it) are welcome to receive both Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Catholic Church, without having to go to Confession, first.

 

[rwoehmke]

That’s beautiful!

I am under the impression that persons who lack the full use of reason (and who are not likely to gain it) are welcome to receive both Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Catholic Church, without having to go to Confession, first.

As a matter of fact the opposite is usually true. There are some very definite opinions among priests I have talked to (I have a brain damaged grandson who is now almost 20.) that without an ability to appreciate what the Eucharist is they are not welcome.

 

[1ke]

So what if you refuse? That’s my question???

Then you would be committing a sin.

 

[1ke]

If you read some of the other posts, it would appear it is not so cut and dry.

Yes, it is.

What someone might “think” about the Sacrament of Confirmation, or as one person put it the “pastoral experience” (whatever that means), is completely irrelevant.

What is matters, not what one “thinks” about the Sacrament.

 

[1ke]

I could never say “communion is not necessary”. Jesus Christ did say “Do this” and we do it. I believe that history would show your church once did likewise.

“Not necessary” only in the sense that baptism is necessary for salvation. The others do not have that same character

That does not mean they aren’t efficacious. They certainly are.

 

[Hesychios]

“Not necessary” only in the sense that baptism is necessary for salvation. The others do not have that same character

That is a distinction I cannot agree with. I don’t think we “know” this for sure.

There is this idea floating around that unbaptised infants which die are damned to hell. Or possibly denied something of the bliss of the next life.

In my understanding the Baptism is the initial step, along with Confirmation and Communion, in living the life in Christ. That is not to say we know that it’s lack will damn people. Hard to say.

The western church has traditionally taken a much harsher attitude on the subject of the unbaptised. Now I already understand that we are coming from different directions here, so we will have to agree to disagree.

But I would not presume to know a sacrament of God is “not necessary” and am dismayed that such a criteria as “understanding” takes precedence. I think that all the sacraments are useful: Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. And they are efficacious whether or not we “understand” them, because the Holy Spirit acts. I would not look for reasons to justify not distributing these sacraments, it seems rather contrary to the purpose.

Michael

 

[1ke]

But I would not presume to know a sacrament of God is “not necessary”

The Church teaches baptism is necessary for Salvation. The Church does not teach that about the other six.

and am dismayed that such a criteria as “understanding” takes precedence. I think that all the sacraments are useful: Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. And they are efficacious whether or not we “understand” them, because the Holy Spirit acts. I would not look for reasons to justify not distributing these sacraments, it seems rather contrary to the purpose.

I completely agree with you. I am in favor of infant Confirmation and Communion and wish that the Latin Rite would change it’s practice and canon law on the matter.

 

[Peter_J]

Why do Catholics have confirmation at such a young age? Have they really made an informed decision? Should the age be raised, if so by how much?

I was not confirmed at “such a young age”. In fact, I was confirmed after I had already been receiving the Eucharist for years.

 

[fellowChristian]

Children don’t always make the “right” choice.

ask a child of 8
would you like candy or carrots?

would you like to go to school or to the park?

Teens don’t always make the “right” choice either.

ask a 16 year old
would you prefer to do homework or watch t.v.?

That is why they have parents.

As parents we decided to enroll them into religious ed.

We decide to take them to church.

We make the choice to educate them until we have no breath left.

Very rarely do you see it the other way around.
I’ve seen it,sons trying to convince parents that Mass should not be missed,but it is rare.

My children were sealed into The Body of Christ at the age of seven when they also received The Body and Blood of our Lord. Some might say that is to young but I know of people who say they shouldn’t be baptised until they can decide for themselves.

“And they shall baptise the little children first. And if they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their parents answer or someone from their family.”

** Hippolytus of Rome, Apostolic Tradition, 21 (c. A.D. 215). **

And even though they have completed the three sacraments of initiation into The Body of Christ their education on our Faith has only just begun. We as parents know that they haven’t “graduated” that they still need to be taught.

“They who are baptized must after Baptism be anointed with the heavenly chrism, and be partakers of the Kingdom of Christ.”
Council of Laodicea, Canon 48 (A.D. 343-381).

We live in the culture of death children need every grace that God gives.

“Have you an infant child? Do not let sin get any opportunity, but let him be sanctified from his childhood; from his very tenderest age let him be consecrated by the Spirit. Fearest thou the Seal on account of the weakness of nature?”
Gregory Nazianzen, Oration on Holy Baptism, 40:17 (A.D. 381).

 

[fellowChristian]

Catechism of the Catholic Church

ARTICLE 2
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

IV. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?

1306
Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation.123 Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that "the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time,"124 for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.

1307
For centuries, Latin custom has indicated “the age of discretion” as the reference point for receiving Confirmation. But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion.125

1308
Although Confirmation is sometimes called the “sacrament of Christian maturity,” we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need “ratification” to become effective. St. Thomas reminds us of this:

Age of body does not determine age of soul. Even in childhood man can attain spiritual maturity: as the book of Wisdom says: “For old age is not honored for length of time, or measured by number of years.” Many children, through the strength of the Holy Spirit they have received, have bravely fought for Christ even to the shedding of their blood.126

1309
Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit—his actions, his gifts, and his biddings—in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.127

1310
To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. More intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act.128

1311
Candidates for Confirmation, as for Baptism, fittingly seek the spiritual help of a sponsor. To emphasize the unity of the two sacraments, it is appropriate that this be one of the baptismal godparents.129

Catechism of the Catholic Church
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art2.htm