Was I validly confirmed?

[fly_irish]

I was confirmed about 3 years ago. I was in a bad place in my life and was taken in by a catholic church community and they helped me a lot. They also convinced me to get confirmed even though I had not regularly attended church for about 10 years (I was raised episcopalian). When I was confirmed, it was following about 8 weeks of catechesis. I did not realize that I was going to be asked whether I believed everything the catholic church taught so, when I was asked during the ceremony, I panicked and said yes even though I did not. I was scared of embarrasing people if I said no. I have to ask then - is my confirmation valid? Basically, am I catholic or not? Thanks.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I was confirmed about 3 years ago. I was in a bad place in my life and was taken in by a catholic church community and they helped me a lot. They also convinced me to get confirmed even though I had not regularly attended church for about 10 years (I was raised episcopalian). When I was confirmed, it was following about 8 weeks of catechesis. I did not realize that I was going to be asked whether I believed everything the catholic church taught so, when I was asked during the ceremony, I panicked and said yes even though I did not. I was scared of embarrasing people if I said no. I have to ask then - is my confirmation valid? Basically, am I catholic or not? Thanks.

Baptism is what determines if you are Catholic or not. You are validly confirmed. Belief or lack of it doesn’t invalidate the Sacrament.

 

[fly_irish]

I wasn’t baptized catholic though. So - to make sure though - I was confirmed even though I wanted out of the ceremony when I realized what I was agreeing to - but because I was too scared to say no I validly became catholic?

 

[ConstantineTG]

I wasn’t baptized catholic though. So - to make sure though - I was confirmed even though I wanted out of the ceremony when I realized what I was agreeing to - but because I was too scared to say no I validly became catholic?

As long as you are Baptized validly (proper Trinitarian Formula) then you are a Christian, thus a member of the Church.

You don’t need to be confirmed to be Catholic. Many kids do not get confirmed until their teens, and yet they’re Catholic. You mentioned you were Episcopailian, so chances are you received valid Baptism and thus are a member of the Church.

 

[fly_irish]

Perhaps I am being slow here - I just want to be sure I know what you are talking about - do you mean the catholic church?
Many thanks.

 

[DJgang]

This is going to be an interesting thread.

I guess my question would be…since your confirmation have you been living as a Catholic. Receiving the Sacraments worthily, etc.

And another question … why do you want to know.

My guess … and only my guess because I am not a Apologists … yes, your Confirmation is valid, however, because YOU lied, YOU have not received the graces that comes with the Sacrament.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Perhaps I am being slow here - I just want to be sure I know what you are talking about - do you mean the catholic church?
Many thanks.

The play of semantics come in. Christ established a Church, once you are baptized you are a member of that Church (as long as the baptism is valid). Now, today people adhere to different faiths, Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, etc. While some are fuller in the Church than others, all are members of Christ’s Church regardless, albeit varying degrees of communion with the Church.

Yes, the Catholic Church has the fullness of this faith and communion with Christ’s vicar, the successor of Peter. But validly baptized Protestants also are members of this Church even though their communion is imperfect.

 

[ConstantineTG]

This is going to be an interesting thread.

I guess my question would be…since your confirmation have you been living as a Catholic. Receiving the Sacraments worthily, etc.

And another question … why do you want to know.

My guess … and only my guess because I am not a Apologists … yes, your Confirmation is valid, however, because YOU lied, YOU have not received the graces that comes with the Sacrament.

Christ’s acts (the graces received through the Sacraments) cannot be affected by the sins of man, even of the priest. He would have still received the graces, but via the lie would have commited a sin and therefore would need to go to confession.

 

[FirstCalled]

The circumstances appear to make it a valid sacrament. Simply because you didn’t know everything about the CC doesn’t make it invalid. Or even if you “think” you disagree about some things.
You are a Catholic, capital C!
Nothing can erase that mark of confirmation. You are a member of our Catholic Church. I pray you are a good one. Even if you falter though and commit sins, when you are ready to return, the Catholic Church will absolve your sins and you are then in perfect standing with the Church.

 

[fly_irish]

Surely it is natural to want to know whether you have validly recieved a sacrament? It may have implications of course…

I have tried to live as a catholic. Having said that - I find myself unable to live this life in a way that gives me abundant life. I guess - an explanation for this might have been that I was not validly confirmed - but I dont want to trust my own judgement as I messed it up the first time.

 

[puzzleannie]

OP’s information is incomplete. If he was baptized validly in any Christian denomination, and subsequently confirmed in the Catholic Church by the bishop, or by a priest delegated by the bishop, he is confirmed and is indeed a Catholic, as he states he made his profession of faith at that time. The sacraments work because they work, that is, because Jesus Christ works in the sacraments through the bishop or priest. The work of the recipient is not a condition for validity. Therefore if the Catholic priest or bishop followed the proper form and intended to do what Confirmation does, then OP is Confirmed and is Catholic.

Now, like all the newly confirmed, his task is to continue to learn and practice the Faith.

Welcome Home!

If for some reason OP was not properly instructed so that he did not confess his sins and is conscious of mortal sin, the graces of the sacrament are not available to him until he is sacramentally absolved and returns to the state of grace, but the sacrament of confirmation is valid. he should also have been prepared for and received his first communion at the same time (preceded by sacramental confession and absolution).

best next step: make an appointment with the priest of this parish and discuss your concerns with him.

 

[DJgang]

Christ’s acts (the graces received through the Sacraments) cannot be affected by the sins of man, even of the priest. He would have still received the graces, but via the lie would have commited a sin and therefore would need to go to confession.

Understand.

But would you say that he received all graces associated with the sacrament? Or is that even something to consider? Just curious, not debating at all.

 

[FirstCalled]

Surely it is natural to want to know whether you have validly recieved a sacrament? It may have implications of course…

I have tried to live as a catholic. Having said that - I find myself unable to live this life in a way that gives me abundant life. I guess - an explanation for this might have been that I was not validly confirmed - but I dont want to trust my own judgement as I messed it up the first time.

Do your best.
Never miss weekly Mass(unless sick), avoid occasions of sin, and all will be well.
If your in a spiritual funk try praying the divine office. Or it is called Liturgy of the Hours. It is the prayer of the Church, outside mass of course. divineoffice.orgThis site has the hours. (They aren’t really hours, it really only takes about 10 minutes to say one of the hours.)

 

[ConstantineTG]

Surely it is natural to want to know whether you have validly recieved a sacrament? It may have implications of course…

I have tried to live as a catholic. Having said that - I find myself unable to live this life in a way that gives me abundant life. I guess - an explanation for this might have been that I was not validly confirmed - but I dont want to trust my own judgement as I messed it up the first time.

There are four things that make a valid Sacrament. Form, matter, intention and minister. Sometimes the intention and minister is lumped into one so there’s three on the list, but I decided to separate them to explain it more clearly.

form - how the Sacrament is administered, the proper words or actions are to be used
matter - the proper physical sign is to be used. For Confirmation, its the Sacred Chrism which is a blessed oil
intention - to do what the Church intends to do for the Sacrament. If the minister (normally a Bishop, maybe a priest if given the faculties by the Bishop) intends to seal you in the Holy Spirit
minister - as mentioned above, in this case its the Bishop or a properly deputized priest.

So what you believe in or feel or think has no bearing on the validity of the Sacrament.

 

[fly_irish]

So - to be clear - not wanting to recieve the sacrament has no bearing? I am not arguing - just wanting to be clear in my mind.

 

[runningdude]

This is going to be an interesting thread.

I guess my question would be…since your confirmation have you been living as a Catholic. Receiving the Sacraments worthily, etc.

And another question … why do you want to know.

My guess … and only my guess because I am not a Apologists … yes, your Confirmation is valid, however, because YOU lied, YOU have not received the graces that comes with the Sacrament.

Doesn’t work that way. A valid sacrament confers grace.

To the OP, sacraments are really difficult to mess up. Perfect knowledge is not required, consent and a rudimentary understanding of the faith is required for adults.

Since you “consented” to the confirmation, which is demonstrated by participating in 8 weeks of lessons, and actually showing up for the ceremony , then the sacrament is conferred! That you got thrown a curve ball question doesn’t matter!

 

[ConstantineTG]

So - to be clear - not wanting to recieve the sacrament has no bearing? I am not arguing - just wanting to be clear in my mind.

Yes, although it may be sacreligous to do so. It is traditional in the Church to confirm infants, and it continues today in the East. Infants cannot choose to receive or not to receive Confirmation but it doesn’t affect the validity.

Did you not want to receive the Sacrament or did you just lie about believing everything the Church teaches? Did you not want to receive it because of what you think the Sacrament does? There are many questions here about your intention and what sin or non-sin you may have committed. This should be discussed with a priest if you so wish. But the Sacrament is valid as it is.

 

[Julian0404]

I was confirmed about 3 years ago. I was in a bad place in my life and was taken in by a catholic church community and they helped me a lot. They also convinced me to get confirmed even though I had not regularly attended church for about 10 years (I was raised episcopalian). When I was confirmed, it was following about 8 weeks of catechesis. I did not realize that I was going to be asked whether I believed everything the catholic church taught so, when I was asked during the ceremony, I panicked and said yes even though I did not. I was scared of embarrasing people if I said no. I have to ask then - is my confirmation valid? Basically, am I catholic or not? Thanks.

Do you want to be Catholic or not? Are you asking for comfort to assure you, or for an excuse to avoid the confession?

 

[fly_irish]

Honestly, I never wanted to be catholic. I was told that, by becoming catholic, the parish would look after me by helping me find a place to live (I was living in a cardboard box at the time) and getting me a job. That is the only reason I went.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Honestly, I never wanted to be catholic. I was told that, by becoming catholic, the parish would look after me by helping me find a place to live (I was living in a cardboard box at the time) and getting me a job. That is the only reason I went.

Okay, but the Confirmation is still valid.